CHAPTER 6

TARA

"It's for a project, Dad. Please, can I have the money today?" I pleaded with my father over the phone, pacing about in my room.

I've been on the phone with him for over twenty minutes straight. That's because my old man is making this simple request hard by suggesting something I don't like nor do I want to accept it.

"For the eighth time Tara, talk to your brother."

"Dennis isn't the one who promised to take care of my school bills and feeding. That's your duty, Dad!" I whined, kicking my legs around with a big frown plastered across my face.

"You promised to take care of me. Don't you love me anymore, Daddy?"

"Tara, you're not a baby anymore. I hope you remember that?" Father pointed out, chuckling from his end.

I grumbled at his words, ready to beg him one more time. But that's when I heard the sound of footsteps through the corridor outside my room.

"Dennis!" I uttered his name under my breath, as my eyes immediately searched for the wall clock in my room.

It's almost eight. He must be heading to the motel to see that harlot.

"Pervert," I grinned, excitement overwhelming me as I became desperate to go after him, but I was still on call with my father and needed him to give me what I wanted.

But here he was lecturing me about some kind of agreement he made with Dennis?

I don't know what he's saying. I wasn't listening, honestly.

"If you still insist on troubling me on my honeymoon, how about you pay for the project from your feeding money? When I'm back..."

"My money?" My heart skipped as I looked down at my bed where my empty purse lay.

There's no money left. I spent it all on that woman to get back at Dennis!

"But that's my money. You gave me to take care of myself. Can't you try and squeeze out something before..."

"Tara," He called, getting fed up with my demands.

I didn't want him exploding over this nor did I want to ruin his honeymoon.

So, Instead of dragging or getting on his nerves with this matter, "I'm sorry, Dad," I apologized in my little girl voice, hoping it calms his mood.

I heard Dad sigh from his end, as he assured me that he wasn't mad. "I just want you to understand things from my point of view and..."

"I totally get you, Dad. And I'm so sorry for calling you on your special break," I apologized with a smile, walking over to the door slowly to check.

"I'll meet Dennis and get the money from him. He's my brother after all, right?" I said, opening the door carefully to see if my stepbrother was still around.

"Now you're talking. Be a good girl and ask Dennis politely, okay?"

"Yes, Daddy," I promised, but I wasn't fully focused on what he was saying nor did I plan to meet Dennis and collect any money from him.

The corridor was silent. No footsteps, no sign of my stepbrother.

I had to take a peek outside my room, just in time to hear the front door closing.

"Yes! He's on the move." My lips grew wide into a large grin.

"It's time for payback."

"Did you say something?" Dad asked when I muttered that sentence.

Due to my excitement and eagerness to go after that jackass, I lied to my father that I had an assignment to face before I head to bed.

That brought our conversation to an end, with goodbyes and kisses.

"Make sure you head to bed once you're done."

"I will, Dad. Bye," I giggled, ending the call.

The moment I did that, my phone began buzzing loudly from a familiar number.

"Dennis is calling," I freaked out, dropping the phone down, waiting for it to stop ringing.

I forgot to give him his date's line. Now he's calling mine.

"Stop ringing. Stop ringing!" I groaned, almost losing my patience.

Then finally, the buzzing stopped.

Swiftly, I grabbed my phone and called my stepbrother's date, asking her of her whereabouts.

"At the motel, waiting."

"Good. I want you to contact him and let him know you're there. He just called my line and I couldn't pick it up. Reach out to him now," I instructed, rushing over to my closet to grab my dress.

Only for me to hear this lady hiss from her end, asking if she'll get an extra payment for this as well.

"I didn't really sign up for all this stress, lady. I hope at the end of all this, you're gonna pay me something good."

This woman is something. Has she forgotten my promise from earlier?

"Yes, I will. Just call him. And I hope everything is set?" I asked, rolling my eyes at her attitude.

She assured me that the phone had been placed in a hidden spot in the room as planned.

"Perfect. I'll be on my way. I'll call you later to know if the work is done," I said, ending the call.

"Oh Heavens. Look at the mess I've gotten myself into. Making plans with a harlot to punish my stepbrother... This is all his fault!" I groaned, feeling a bit frustrated.

"Well, once I get his video, I will blackmail his ass till he can't say a word anymore. And maybe I can squeeze out a lot of funds from his pocket and pay that woman," I planned cunningly, getting dressed.

Once I was set, I left the house and made my way to the motel, hoping for a good result.

But when I arrived, my phone began to ring.

It was the harlot calling.

"What now? Isn't she supposed to be with Dennis by now?" I wondered, looking at the time.

It's already nine, so why is she calling me?

To find out, I answered the call. "What is it now?" I questioned, leaning next to a tree beside the motel, eyes darting about to make sure no one notices me.

"Is Dennis with you?"

She whispered, "Yes, he is. But we're not in the room yet."

"Not in the room? Where are you?" I narrowed my brow over her words, before lifting my gaze to look at the other side of the building.

My eyes were fixed on a door upstairs, right at the extreme end—It's the last door upstairs. That's the room she paid for to meet with Dennis.

But now she's saying they're not inside?

"We're at the bar having a drink. He said he wants to get himself fully charged so we can have a lot of fun."

Yuck! Of course he wants to charge his batteries. All that practice behind closed doors needs to come to light tonight.

"But that's not why I called you."

"Oh. So, what is it?" I asked, leaning comfortably against the tree, listening. Only for her to drop a bomb that caused me to lose my balance.

"YOU WHAT?!" I shrieked, covering my mouth quickly.

She apologized over the line and pleaded for my help.

"I thought I turned it on, but I forgot. I only remembered when he asked to take a pic with me. Please don't be mad," She apologized, explaining herself.

But I was on the verge of exploding.

"I told you to make sure everything was set! How will you turn the camera on when you two get back to the room? You know he can't find out about the plan, right?"

"I know, that's why I called to ask for your help," She whispered, clearly keeping her voice down so Dennis wouldn't hear.

"The room is unlocked. You'll see the phone behind the rose flower vase next to the closet. Please, help me turn it on before he drinks his last glass," She requested, causing me to frown even more.

This is not how we planned this.

How could she mess this up!

I wished I could say no and tell her to fix this mess herself, but I needed that video so badly, so I had no other choice.

"Just so you know, I'm deducting from your money," I promised sternly, so she'll know how angry I was.

The harlot accepted my decision, apologizing one more time.

"Fine, I'll handle it," I sighed, ending the call.

"You brought this on yourself, Tara," I grumbled, hurrying over to the building.

The motel manager's office was on the other side, making it easy for me to head up the stairs without being noticed.

A few people who booked a room here —standing outside discussing smoking and doing one or two things— gave no damn about who I was, because I acted like I had a room at the motel, as I walked past them without trembling.

Once I got to the room, I held the knob and pushed it open.

"Who leaves their motel room unlocked? It's not safe," I muttered, sneaking inside, looking for the flower vase she spoke about.

Once I spotted it in the not-so-dark room, I hurried over to the vase to get the phone.

But as soon as I reached behind the vase to get it... "Wait... Where is it?" I was confused.

There's nothing back here, and this is the only flower vase in the room. The only one close to the ONLY closet in this room!

"I don't understand this lady. She said it's here." I lifted the flower vase to check, and even looked behind the cabinet the vase was placed on, to see if the phone had fallen behind.

Nothing!

This was beginning to annoy me.

I wanted to call that woman and give her a piece of my mind when suddenly... "Fuck," I froze in shock, staring at the mirror right next to the flower vase.

In the mirror... Someone was standing behind the door, staring at me!

I was shaken to the core not because I wasn't alone, but because this intruder was none other than... "Dennis?"

I turned around swiftly in fear, facing my stepbrother who stood still behind the door, arms crossed with a devilish smirk spreading across his face!

I thought that woman said he's at the bar?

How is he in the room?!