Chapter two: A Night of Fate

The next day, I woke up with the cold wind blowing on my window. The house was quiet, empty of life—just like me.

The silence of my mother was crushing; it all felt dreamy—an agonizing emptiness that permeated into my bones.

I clutched the thin blanket around me, praying and hoping it was all just a nightmare. If I could just hold my eyes shut long enough, I'd wake up to the aroma of her morning tea wafting through the air.

But the silence existed; the pain existed, too.

With a searing knife lodged in my chest, the words of the doctor lingered in my head.

"Sophia, I am sorry, your mother's health is extremely poor. She must be treated right away if she is to live."

I closed my eyes tightly, trying to forget the incident, but it flashed back in waves.

The sum of 10,000 dollars is payable for an urgent surgery. Late payment will take your mother's life."

"No, Doctor!" I had cried out, panicked, and trembled. "I will pay for the money, please. My mom's life is important to me. Do everything you can to save her. Don't let her die."

I exited the hospital with just one thing in mind—to get the money by any means necessary.

I went to see my family, rang their doorbells, and pleaded with them, but all I received was sympathetic stares and empty apologies. Some did not even bother to hide their disinterest.

"Sophie, these are difficult times."

"You should have set aside for emergencies such as this one. We know it's a question of saving your mother's life, but we cannot do it." Their words cut deep into my marrow.

I had no choice but to visit my best friend, Kattie.

I told her everything and begged her to help save my mom's life.

She was quiet for a second, and then let out a deep breath before looking at me with a mix of concern and resolve.

"Sophie, sorry, I can't help you now. I just paid my tuition fees a couple of days ago, and you know that. But. I have an idea that might help."

"There is only one way to get that kind of money in a few hours."

I wiped away my tears quickly. "How? Were? Just tell me something, please. I will do anything. Anything at all," I said.

She talked in an uncertain tone, but continued, "There is this club in town owned by rich men only—billionaires and CEOs. Hey, wait, let me get this out. Don't stare at me like that," she said under her breath. "All I am saying is that if we go there and you play your cards right, you might find someone who wouldn't even bat an eye at giving you that kind of money—and more."

I frowned and stared at her, my heart pounding. "Kattie, what am I listening to? Do you even hear yourself? You're telling me to—"

Go ahead and talk," she interjected. "No one's forcing you to do anything. You desperately need the money, Sophie. Remember, it's your mother's life we're working with here. Go, get a cocktail, and see what happens. If there's any hope of securing the money. Isn't it worth trying?

I begrudged the fact that she was right. I had no other option. My mother's life was at stake. Trembling, I nodded. "Okay."

That night, we went into The Velvet Lounge, a club unlike any I had previously known. When we walked in, the atmosphere shifted, dominated by the scent of designer cologne, perfume, and alcohol.

Modern and black walls gleamed with soft golden light. A massive, swinging chandelier hung in the center, creating a shimmering reflection on shiny marble floors.

Beautiful, elegant women dripped silk and diamonds. Women's laughter had a melodious ring as luxurious men in smartly tailored attire leaned in, their cocktails mixing in crystal glasses. The low, sensual music pulsed as a deep-throated vibration in the atmosphere.

I swallowed hard and slapped my hand around Kattie's arm. "I don't belong here. This is more than I asked for. Let's go home, please."

"Neither do I," she breathed just as vehemently. "But we have to. Tonight we pretend to."

She led me to the bar, her composure unmarred. I, on the other hand, could already feel my heart racing against my chest. My little black dress was constricting, the stilettos too high. I had no idea how to play the game.

At one glance, I saw him.

He sat in the VIP lounge, surrounded by other men who smelled of power and wealth. Even among them, he stood out.

A billionaire—there was no mistaking him. His dark blue suit was molded to his muscular, tall physique. His watch glinted in the golden lights—worth more than all that I had ever managed combined.

His sharp jawline, with only the slightest hint of stubble shadowing it, gave him a roughness. His sharp eyes had something behind them.

He was a man who commanded attention as being dangerous, enigmatic, and powerful.

We locked eyes. He tipped his glass by a fraction, nodding at me.

A few minutes after, Kattie bent over and leaned into my ear—"Hey, look at that handsome man. Go talk to him."

I took a breath. Though there was everything in my body screaming for me to move away, I leaned forward.

I walked towards the round table where he was sitting. "Hi, may I sit close to you?" My tone was softer than I expected.

He arched an eyebrow, a look of amusement flicking across his face.

"Hi. You're welcome—make yourself at home," he replied.

I sat down in the chair opposite him, taking very careful note of each movement.

He regarded me for a minute before leaning forward a little. "Hey, you're not the usual type of women who come in here. You're. different-looking."

"What is it you think makes me different?" I tried to hold my voice steady.

His lips twisted into a perceptive smile. "Because you look like you've got something desperate on your mind. You look troubled."

And that's when my stomach knotted. I had to be careful about what I said. I couldn't just tell him my story, so I went along with it.

We talked. We drank. We swayed to the music in the background. The warmth of the booze seeped into my nerve endings, and I got lost. I didn't even realize when I was leaning in closer. His fingers brushed against my skin, and a shiver ran down my spine.

The evening was lost to me. One drink followed another, then a third.

The room leaned to one side, but I didn't care. For the first time in my life, I felt light—free.

Things changed suddenly. He leaned on me, his warm breath on my ear. He breathed gently, "Come with me."

My heart was thumping. I knew that. I knew what I should do.

I walked with him to the elevator, my thumping heart—not of fear, but something else. Restraint.

I required the money. I could not allow my mother to die. So I silenced the voice yelling inside of me. And into the night I walked.

The world felt altered the next morning. I did not know when I had last been at the hotel. I only knew that I had the cash gripped in my shaking palms as I bolted out.

I called Kattie. "Hi—I got the money. I did it. I saved my mom's life!" I ran to the hospital, hopeful.

When I arrived, my heart pounded with excitement. I pushed into the hospital entrance, breathless, with the envelope.

But the moment I pushed through the hospital doors, hope was lost. The look on the nurse's face chilled my blood.

I spun around, frantically looking for the doctor. My legs were water under me.

And then I saw him—his expression a mask.

"Doctor, what's the matter? Why are you doing this? Why do you all look at me like this? Where is my mother? Here's the money—I have just exactly the money you asked for!" I prattled.

The doctor took a deep sigh, his eyes brimming with sympathy.

"Miss Carter. We couldn't help it."

"You couldn't help what?" I interrupted, nervously. "Doctor, where is my mother?"

Your mother passed away an hour ago. Sorry.

The bottom fell out of my world. The letter dropped from my hand to the floor.

I was speechless. Without hope.

"Miss Carter," the doctor said softly, "you might have saved your mother's life. But you didn't get here in time. It was too late."