No other option.

EMMA•

I stayed with my mom after she was moved to a room, Amy had gone to our house to get me some clothes knowing I would stay the night,

I couldn’t sleep, and neither could I let go of my mother’s hands through the whole night as the silence that swallowed us whole was the loud beeping of the monitor that checked her vitals while she slept, she looked peaceful.

“ Mom, don’t worry”, I whispered to her, my hands moved to push away her hair from her face soft pale face “ I will do what I can to get the money” that’s was a promised.

After three days I returned to my house, the doctors had put her in a medically induced coma, and they said it would slow down the growth of the tumor, I just hoped I could pay up before then.

I trudged into the apartment slumping down on the small old couch, it was quiet, too quiet, it made me feel hollow, how was I going to come up with the money?

I brought out my phone to check my account balance, I had seven thousand dollars saved, it was supposed to be for my tuition since I was in my junior year, but it means I would have to take a year off,

I had begged the manager of the restaurant I worked at that I wanted to do night shifts, even with working night shifts straight for a week, I only made a little short of two thousand dollars in the week I worked,

And since that day I ignore all calls from Paxton, even though he was very persistent in calling especially during my work hours,

“ Emma!” my manager called, my break was already over as it was time for my new shift, I arranged my casual waitress uniform, a white crisp shirt with a back short skirt, and platforms before I walked to where he stood

“ yes sir?” I called

“ you see that table?” he pointed to a VIP table where two women sat, “ They are important guests so do not, mess it up! Alright!” he gritted through his front teeth, but to others, it would have looked like he was smiling

I have him a slight nod before I put up my usual smile and went to the table

The two ladies were as rude as they could be,

“ wow why are her clothes so tacky?” the blonde snickered to her friend who chuckled

Like, excuse me I was right there!?!

“ what would you like to order?”

“ can’t you see we were talking?” the blonde sized me up before she rolled her eyes, I wanted to roll mine too, they ordered their food which I brought to their tables, all their remarks were filled with complaints and snickers, it seems I was the butt of the joke

I was fed up, with the stress of working overnight, my mother, and the fact I haven't been to College for over a week “ hey server girl!” the blonde called to me, I tried to keep up my smile even if I was itching to give her a piece of my mind

“ get me a glass of Borders” she called

“ you mean Bordeaux?” I corrected, it looked like I struck a chord the way she looked at me, she stood up and took her friend’s wine and splattered it over my clothes

People in the restaurant let out a loud gasp from the scene they were watching, and I was the main show, humiliated by her

“ oh my God amber!” her friend called also surprised by her friend's outburst, “You dare correct me? Do you know who I am?”

She turned to raise a hand to slap me, I closed my eyes ready for impact, but it never came, I looked up to see a tall man holding her hands she wanted to use to strike me,

her face had turned from anger to fear and embarrassment from getting interrupted by the man, I couldn’t see who my savior was because he was right in front of me and I could only see his hot back, tailored in a suit that framed his greek body, with a tall frame that towered over me

“ go” his husky voice whispered to me I gave him a quiet “ thank you” before I went back to the kitchen, all the other servers and cooks looked at me with sympathy

I hated that look, the look of pity they gave me, I took my phone and went outside, my right hand held a wet rag to use to get as much wine stain that I could get rid off my clothes,

I stepped outside and my phone rang at that moment, it was Amy, she always called when she was right around the corner from the restaurant and I looked at the time it was eight o’clock and Amy was going to the club where she worked

I stepped outside and saw her walking closer to me with a smile but it changed completely to a frown when she saw my drenched top

“ Emma! What happened?!”

She called rushing tone with a heavy scowl on Her face, I knew she would start a fight if tell her the truth, she was that daring and crazy

“I..spilled the wine on my body, I’m so clumsy”

She looked skeptical about my made-up story, she didn’t believe it

“ tell me the truth”

“ one of the customers..did it but it’s been solved they aren’t even here anymore Amy”

“ seriously Emma, I feel like shit seeing you like this, and I haven’t seen you in school for over a week now, you don’t answer my text”

I just sighed at her and decided to rip the bandaid that was the news out “ I am dropping out,” I explained “I’m taking a year off, just until I can get the money for moms surgery”

“ Emma, you don’t “

“ I have to, this shitty job isn’t paying me much but it’s still something, I just can’t leave it I have nothing or no one to just drop three hundred thousand on my table and a college student can’t take that insane amount of a loan!”.

It was decent work and I had ten thousand dollars saved now, I just needed two hundred and ninety thousand dollars to go, Jesus.

“ what if.. what if I tell you that there is an easy way to get money, would you do that?” She asked me, but her eyes were swimming with worry,

“ what is it?”

“ the club I’m working at, there is another level where only VVIP’s come, and they spend millions on girls but,… it’s a sex club”

She whispered, I looked at her like she had gone crazy, was she expecting me to have sex with strangers?

“Amy that-”

“ no! That isn’t what I meant, I would never tell you to sell yourself, some workers just serve drinks there, but you still get hefty tips, you can get up to Five thousand a night”

A night?!? That was way more than I earned after working double shifts for a week!, it all sounded too good to be true, and I didn’t want to risk it,

“ I’m sorry Amy but,”

“ It’s alright, I can never force you to do what you’re not comfortable babe, shit! I have to go! call me ok?!” She called looking at the time before she kissed my cheeks goodbye

I decided to stay outside for a few minutes to let myself breathe, I didn’t even thank the stranger that well, I just hoped he heard me

My thoughts were cut off by the buzzing of my phone in my pockets, my heart skipped when I saw it was the hospital number ID

“ ..hello?” I whispered,

“ Miss Smith, you need to come to the hospital right now, it’s your mother”

From those words alone I ran off without a word, I didn’t bother to change as I entered a taxi with my drenched clothing,

I ran into the hospital building with tears already blurring my eyes, “ I ran up to the desk to see the nurse on night duty ”

“ I’m here to see my mother, I was called off an emergency?”

“yes miss smith, the doctor would see you now”

The doctor filled me in on what happened, I just sat there and listened to him, she had a seizure, and they had to use a defibrillator to bring her back, this was just a lucky chance, there might not be the next time, he told me

I walked out of the doctor’s office, passing my mother’s room, I was too weak to even look at her, I made out an open area to clear my head, I needed the money fast, and there was a very clear option to get it fast

a spirit of determination pierced through me, I reached for my phone, cleaning my tears as I called Amy, she picked on the second ring,

“ Hello Amy, I’ll do it,”

I’m going to work in the club