Chapter 15: Money

I checked into the hospital. Dad had a heart attack that left me completely shocked. My legs were shaking with every step, and my chest was aching with every breath. I stepped into the elevator and punched the third-floor button. After a while, the door ding opened, and I walked out, rushing towards his room.

I stopped dead on my track when I saw my mother, sitting in the waiting room and looking pale and helpless. Her head rested against the chair as she was staring at the ceiling blankly. I didn't have enough courage to face her. After a moment, I took a deep breath and walked towards her.

"Mom," I whispered, and placed my hand on her shoulder.

She looked up. Her eyes were red and puffy. "Alice, your dad." She broke into a sob. I quickly pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back.

"Everything is going to be alright, Mom. Nothing will happen to him. He's going to be okay. He's my strong dad, and he is a fighter." I didn't know if I was convincing her or to me, but it was the best way to comfort her.

The doctor came out of the room with a distressed expression on his face. I quickly reached for him and asked, "Doctor, how is my dad?"

"We need to perform surgery immediately. His condition is worsening with every second." He paused for a second. "You need to deposit a sum of money only after that we will perform surgery."

"How much?"

"$50000."

I gasped in shock. I didn't have that much money. Hardly I had twenty thousand dollars. How would I be able to manage the rest?

"This is some paperwork you have to complete first."

"Doctor, could you please give me some extra time to arrange money?" I was feeling ashamed because I was unable to pay for my father's treatment.

"I'm sorry, but if you cannot deposit money on time, we cannot perform surgery. We're giving you a day to arrange money. Until then we will keep him in the ICU."

"Thank you, doctor." He handed me a paper before he walked away. I looked at mom and gave her an assuring nod. "I'll be right back." I filled the form and headed to the receptionist.

"Alice." I froze when a familiar voice sounded in my ears. I turned around to see Vivian. He was heading toward me. "What a coincidence? We meet again, what a small world."

I lifted my gaze at him, clutching papers against my chest, and said nothing.

"Oh. Why are you crying?" Amusement laced in his voice. He stepped up to me and wiped my tears away with his thumb.

I immediately backed away from him. "Leave me alone…" I gritted out.

"No humanity, huh?" He chuckled. "Here I'm consoling you and you…" His lips pulled into a smirk. He was feeling happy, wasn't he? Watching me helpless and sad gave him satisfaction. "What is that?" He snatched papers from my hands.

"Please don't…" I lunged to snatch it back, but he was faster than me.

After glancing at the papers he made a sad face. "Oh…your dad. I feel sad for you…" He stared into my eyes, gripping papers in his hand. "You know what, now you'll feel what's the pain of losing someone special in your life," he whispered. "Ava is still in a coma and dying on that fucking bed."

"It wasn't my mistake," I whispered, defeated. I was not in a condition to explain everything.

I was exhausted!

He didn't speak and kept gazing at me for a few beats. "I can help you," he said and surprised me. "But only under one condition."

"What condition?" I asked quickly.

He stepped closer to me, leaning forward. "Be my whore for one night, I'll pay you one million." I shot my eyes at him and froze in shock. "You need the money and I need…" He let his eyes run down my body. "Let's exchange it. You satisfy my desire. I'll satisfy your needs."

"How dare you? You're the worst person I've ever seen in my life, Vivian Miller! I'm not a whore, for god's sake!" I gritted out as my eyes burned into him.

He smirked. "It's my offer, sweetheart, but it's up to you whether you accept it or reject it." He grabbed my hand and placed a card on my palm. "This is my card. I'm looking forward to fuck you."

*****

I entered the house. Jessica was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Henry and Paul were sitting at the dining table having their breakfast. I walked quietly so that no one would notice me.

"Where have you been?" Henry asked and made me freeze. I swallowed hard when he stood up, coming towards me. Shit! He stared at me, waiting for my answer. I bowed my head, avoiding looking into his eyes. "I'm asking you something. Where have you been the entire night?"

"I went to the hospital to check out one of my friends. She met in an accident yesterday," I lied because I didn't want him to know about my father. I knew him very well. If he came to know about him, he would make it worse for me.

"How's she now?" Paul asked and approached us.

"She has a few bruises but she's now out of danger," I said and forced a smile. "Excuse me. I need to take shower," I mumbled, and headed straight to my room. I could feel Henry's eyes burning into the back of my head. He looked like he didn't believe me.

I took a long shower to ease my tension. Whenever I closed my eyes, my father's images flashed in my head. He was lying on the hospital bed, unconscious. I couldn't understand what I should do. How would I be able to manage thirty dollars?

I would never accept Vivian's sickening offer. Henry and Vivian were the same. They wanted their revenge. They would never care about others' pain and feelings. They would do anything to make others' lives pitiful. They were arrogant bastards.

After getting out of the shower, I put on a pair of jeans and a top and pulled my hair into a messy bun. I applied natural makeup to hide my gloominess.

When I went down. "Good morning," Jessica said with a smile.

"Morning." I gave her a forceful smile and sat down. Henry was still here. It was nine in the morning and he should have left for his work but why was he still here?

"You look pale," Paul stated, inspecting my face. He placed his hand on mine. "What happened to you? Is your friend alright?"

When Henry's eyes dropped on our hands, I quickly snatched my hand away from Paul's.

"Nothing, I told you, she is fine," I said, ignoring Henry's piercing gaze on me.

"I'm leaving today. I got an urgent call, and I have surgery to perform. I wanted to spend some more time with you guys, but unfortunately, I have to leave."

"I'll give you a ride to the airport," Henry stated, looking relaxed.

Now we don't need to pretend to be a loving husband and wife!

"Alice, I'm looking forward to meeting you again," Paul said, and I smiled at him. He stood up and gave me a quick hug before walking away. He was such a generous person. He was frank, cute, and gentle. I was going to miss him. Henry pushed his chair back and stood up, and without a word, he walked away with Paul.

I sighed in relief. Jessica was doing the dishes, and I was still sitting in a chair, thinking about money. I had already lost my appetite. I had nothing in my head except my father. I had to get him out of danger. It was my responsibility to arrange money as soon as possible and get him heart surgery.

"Why are you not eating?" Jessica asked, frowning.

"I don't have an appetite," I said.

"I'll prepare your favorite pancake if you don't want to eat sandwiches"

"No, thank you, Jessica. It means a lot to me but I badly want some rest," I said politely and got up, making my way to my room.

My room was the only place where I could feel peace. I sank onto the couch, thinking about my father. I couldn't understand how I could arrange money. I tried to call Sarah, but she was in Italy and her phone was out of coverage. If I told Henry, god knows what he would do. Mom and dad had no relatives who could lend us money. And dad's company would not lend us until we pay back their previous debts.

Mom would be waiting for me in hope. I couldn't see her like that. I had the only choice, and I was going to do this. I promised her nothing would happen to her husband. And now I would do anything to save his life.

I phoned him. In two rings he received it as if he was waiting for me. "Alice," he said in his deep voice.

"V-Vivian…" I stammered and heard his chuckle.

"I know. That's why I have already set up everything for my little whore."

Little whore? I despised him. No! I despised myself, thinking of spending the night with him. I had never dreamed that I would have to do this thing. But I had to do this for the sake of my father.

"I'm sending you a dress. Wear it and come to my place. I'm texting you my address."

"If I refuse to wear that dress?" I gritted out.

"You'll have to wear that dress, whether you want it or not. I know you'll do this to save your poor father," he said calmly.

"I…I…"

"I'm waiting for you, sweetheart," he said and hung up without listening to me.

The next moment, Jessica knocked on the door. "Alice, there is a parcel in your name," she said and I walked to the door and opened it and found her with a brown bag. "This is for you."

I snatched the bag from her hand and forced a smile. "This might be one of my friends or Sarah." I swallowed. "Thank you, Jessica."

"Is there anything I can do for you?" She asked.

"No, thank you," I said, and waited for her to head downstairs. When she walked away, I closed the door and breathed hard. After a few moments, I eyed the brown bag and removed a red dress from it. "Asshole!" I hissed and threw the dress across the bed. "I'm not going to wear this." I plopped into the bed and took my head between my hands, feeling a severe headache. "Oh, God! I need money badly."

After an hour, I got ready and put on that dress, it barely covered my breasts, and reached my thighs. I made my brown hair into a slight curl and applied some natural makeup with red lipstick. Putting on six inches heels I checked my appearance one last time in the mirror before walking out of my room.

I walked downstairs and headed to the exit door. "Alice," Jessica called me out. I turned around and clutched the black jacket tightly around my body so that she would not notice my short dress. "Where are you going?"

"Visit my friend."

She scanned me for a while. "Let me call Joseph, he'll drop you there."

"No, please, don't bother him. One of my friends is going to pick me up."

She gave me a confused look. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, please, take care of yourself." She smiled.

I smiled back and turned around, walking out of the house. I took a cab and gave the driver the same address Vivian had texted me.

*****

"Here you go, ma'am," the driver said, and dropped me at one of the luxurious hotels in New York City. Paying him, I climbed off and headed to the hotel. I went into the elevator, pressed the top floor button. After a while, the door opened, revealing a luxurious penthouse suite. Swallowing hard, I walked out and looked around. High ceilings, marble floor, and custom furniture. Everything was shiny and elegant.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with text messages. I read the text: Come straight, sweetheart. I walked straight and quietly opened the first room's door.

My heart missed a beat when I saw Vivian. He was sitting on the couch wearing a black shirt and jeans different from his daily suit. His face was cleanly shaven and his hair was styled to perfection. I felt like I came here for a date and he looked like a teen boy. He was handsome but cruel.

"Hey." He turned his head and stared at me. "You look exactly what I've been imagining you. Hot and sexy." His eyes trailed down my whole body and gave me a shiver down my spine. "Come here," he ordered and patted a space on the couch next to him.

I sat down beside him, feeling my heartbeat against my chest. Gently, he held my hand and rubbed it. I yanked my hand away and breathed hard. I was feeling extremely uncomfortable next to him.

"Don't defy me! The more you turn away the more I become excited." He smirked.

"You're making me feel uncomfortable."

"Then you shouldn't have accepted my offer, sweetheart." He eyed my lips and made my breath hitched. "I want to kiss you," he said and caught a handful of my hair and yanked my head onto him. He kissed me, kissed me hard enough to bruise my lips. He kissed me roughly. He demanded to kiss him back, but I didn't respond to him. Before I removed my mouth from him, he pulled me into his chest and growled, "Kiss me, dammit!"

After a few moments of struggle, I kissed him back and was feeling ashamed. I felt his smirk as his kiss softened. He parted my lips and thrust his tongue inside before our tongue synced together. I was about to pull myself away from him, but the door flew open and made me jump in fright.

"How dare you?" A man growled and my heart in my throat when I recognized his voice. Henry. I jerked my head to see him standing in the doorway. He glanced at my swollen lips before turning back his gaze into my eyes. His expression was unreadable, but I could see the fury in his eyes.

He hated me more now! I could see that in his eyes.

"She cheated on you," Vivian said and shocked me. I snapped my head at him and found a smirk on his lips. He planned everything. What a fool I am! How could I believe him, how could I forget he was a criminal who didn't spare anyone's life? How could he spare my life? After all, I had caused his sister a brain injury.

It was his revenge.

I turned my head back to Henry, but he was no longer there. Shit! I had to talk to him. I rose to my feet and rushed to the door.

"Where are you going?" Vivian grasped my forearm and stopped me.

"Why did you do this?" I whispered as angry tears gathered in my eyes.

"Because I want my revenge, Alice. You deserve it! I want Henry to hate you more. My sister deserves him, not you. She loves him so much and it'll hurt her if she finds this out." He pulled out a cheque from his pocket and placed it in my hand. "Here is your money."