5. No Other Options

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. After tonight, I can't keep you here," Rosaline said, watching as Daphne kept her head lowered.

She rose from her seat and walked over to the cabinet. A moment later, she returned with an envelope and handed it to Daphne. "This is your payment for tonight. Mr. Harrington also left you a tip."

Daphne lowered her gaze, clutching the envelope in her hands. "Did he tell you what happened in the room?"

Rosaline tilted her head slightly, trying to catch Daphne's downcast eyes. She gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind Daphne's ear, her expression softening.

"No. He only told me to make sure you received your payment." Rosaline gently lifted Daphne's chin with the tip of her finger. "My decision has nothing to do with him. I just don't think you belong in a place like this."

"I understand." Daphne forced a small smile. She understood. Rosaline was only doing what any business owner would do. She needed someone who could handle the job, and Daphne clearly wasn't that person.

"Count it," Rosaline said with a faint smile.

Daphne hesitated, but eventually opened the envelope. Surprise washed over her face as she counted the money inside. "Isn't... isn't this too much?"

Rosaline smiled at her reaction. "I told you before, he's an important client. Doesn't this amount tell you enough? Men like him are always generous."

Daphne fell silent. She didn't feel she deserved the money. She hadn't even done what she was hired to do. Even though it was enough to cover a large part of her father's debt, she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling in her chest.

***

Daphne stared out the bus window, watching the city lights blur past in the night. Her mind replayed everything that had happened in the room. The shame still clung to her. She tightened her grip on her jeans as the memory of standing naked in front of him resurfaced.

The moment he had almost been inside her, she had instinctively pulled away. Even the memory of it now sent a shiver down her spine. She had tried her best, but her body had betrayed her.

If there was one thing she was grateful for, it was that he had treated her gently, nothing like the frightening man she had imagined.

After a while, Daphne got off the bus and walked the rest of the way home. Every step felt unbearably heavy, as though she had endured something far heavier than exhaustion.

She pushed open the front door and found her father sprawled across the sofa in complete disarray. Empty liquor bottles were scattered all around him.

"Daphne... give me some money. You have money, right? I want to buy more drinks," Simon mumbled, only half awake.

"Seriously..." Daphne whispered, staring at the sight before her. "How much longer are you going to live like this?" she shouted, her voice filled with frustration.

Her body trembled as tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. She stood there, her face flushed as she struggled to hold back her sobs.

A moment later, she walked into her room. The moment the door closed behind her, she sank to the floor, utterly drained. She buried her face in her knees as the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.

Rosaline's words kept echoing in her mind.

"You don't belong in a place like this."

She had no idea what she was supposed to do now. She couldn't go back to the brothel, and she doubted any other place like it would be willing to keep someone who couldn't even do the job.

Then she remembered something. She reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out the business card the man had given her. She stared at the address written on the back for a long time.

She remembered the way he had looked at her. The way he had tried to make her feel comfortable. The way he had stopped. The way he had handed her the card before telling her not to come back.

Daphne traced the edge of the card with her thumb, staring at it for a long moment as if weighing something in her mind.

She had no other options.