Chapter Three

Maria's POV

“How much is your offer.”

“Double of what you ask for,” he replied calmly

“I will do it,” I whispered.

A nod was all I got. I'm here selling myself off and all he could do was nod?

He stood up slowly, adjusting his cufflinks, “Meet me in the parking lot in five minutes and he left.”

“That's it?” I mumbled. He sure do know how to exit.

The ride was quiet; a pin could be heard if it dropped. I took a glance at the person next to me, and he was scrolling through his phone. His face tightened, as if he had received bad news.

“He didn't even ask what I needed the money for, not that I wanted him to anyway. What more can I expect from a business man, it's always business” I sighed loudly.

The sound of the car stopping jogged me out of my thoughts.

“Follow me,” he said and stepped out of the car.

I got out and ran behind him.

The glass door slid open without a sound, and the cool air invaded my privacy, caressing my skin. The chandelier hung beautifully from the ceiling and the floor, and I could see my reflection in it. Like it was cleaned multiple times.

“Good evening sir, your room is ready.” The girl at the front desk greeted, handing him the key with a smile.

I scoffed under my breath. “Of course he comes here regularly”

He didn't react, he just took the key like someone taking what already belonged to him.

He starts walking. I hesitated for a second before following him.

The elevator door swung open with a quiet ding. We stepped inside and it went quiet again, the space suddenly felt small.. too small. I could hear my own heartbeat.

He stood beside me, hands in his pockets. Calm. Unbothered as always.

I tried reading him, trying to understand why this felt normal to him and life-changing for me, but he was unreadable.

The elevator stopped.

The hallway stretched before us and he walked ahead of me like he owned the place.

He stopped at a door and slid the key in.

“You can leave if you want to.” His voice was steady. Not rushed, not persuasive, just certain.

I stirred at the door in front of me, the hallway felt colder. For a moment I felt like I was screaming but no words came out.

I could decide to turn back and pretend this never happened or go inside and nothing will ever be the same again.

But one thing was certain, I needed the money.

I took a deep breath. “I’m not leaving.”

A smile crept up his face and he masked it as quickly as it came.

We stepped into the room and the door closed behind us.

I woke up with an aching body and immediately noticed the bed was empty. He left already. Memories of last night crept in. He wasn't like he looked, when I told him it was my first time, he was gentle, attentive, and sweet.

I noticed a black briefcase at the top of the drawer, sliding out of the bed, the cold floor kissed my feet as I moved towards the drawer. With every step my heart pounded, I reached out to the briefcase, which was filled with money.

My eyes widened in shock.

This was more than what I asked for, it was enough to cover up my mom's medical bills, enough for the surgery, even to pay off all our debts.

Who is this man? Where is he from? He must be so rich to just give away this huge sum of money and now I can't thank him.

With tears in my eyes, I rushed into the bathroom, had a quick shower, grabbed my things, and ran out of the room.

“Good morning miss, please do you know the name of the man I came in with yesterday,” I asked the girl at the front desk.

“Ma, I'm sorry but we can't share our clients' information,” she replied nicely.

“That's alright,” I lied through my teeth. Nothing was alright, I just had a one- night stand with a man I don't even know his name.

Pushing those thoughts behind me I headed to the hospital clinging to the briefcase like my life depended on it.

“Doctor!” I yelled as soon as I stepped into his office. “I can't find my mom at her bed, where is she?”

“Calm down, Maria. Your mom is fine, her condition worsened, so she was moved to an emergency ward.” He assured me.

“I’ve got the money for the surgery, can you start the operation now.”

“Uhmm.. yeah.. Maria, that's great news.

We can schedule the operation for today, just let us prepare our things and we will let you know when everything is ready. For now, deposit the money at the cashier’s office.”

“Thank you very much doctor.” Relief washed over me.

Finally, my mom is going to be fine, and we are going to be happy together again.

I went into the emergency room where she was kept, and more machines were around her, she looked paler than before.

“Hi mama.”

She just looked at me with a smile.

“Hang in there mama, I finally got the money for the surgery, everything will be alright soon.”

“Where did you get the money from Maria?” She managed to complete her words.

“That doesn't matter now, just focus on fighting for us okay,” tears flowed down my cheeks.

A nurse walked in with a tray, “Miss you need to step out, we have to prepare her for the surgery.”

“Be strong, mama. See you after the surgery,” I kissed her on her head and left the room.

I waited outside the room while they prepared her. She was rolled out in a wheelchair with a drip hanging above her head.

“Good luck mama, you are going to be okay after this.”

“I love you Maria,” she smiled at me.

“I love you more Mama.”

I waited helplessly in the hallway, the clock on the wall sounded louder than it ever had, tick. tick. tick. Each second landing is like a reminder. It felt like something was going to happen. Putting that thought behind me, I tried distracting myself with some of my favorite songs.

The surgery lasted for hours and then the theatre lights went on.

I stood up immediately when the doors were open.

“Doctor, how is she?” I ran to him as soon as he was out.

He went silent.

“We did all we could.”

“What do you mean”, I walked past him looking into the theatre “Where is my mom?”

“I'm sorry Maria. We had a complication during the surgery. We couldn't save her”

I could hear what he was saying afterward. My mouth opened to speak but I couldn't find my voice. I clung to his coat as my knees gave way.

“No…she… she can't leave me, she promised.”

I opened my mouth to speak again but my words were stuck, my chest tightened. Tears blurred my eyes, I held on to my chest, air refusing to pass through.

She… I couldn't finish my words before it went dark.