All Chapters of Worst Prize? Dating Him: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I'd just deposited my prize money when the hospital called.Mom's condition had gotten worse. She needed surgery right away.Surgery and follow-up treatment would cost about $30,000.I kept checking the math. The $20,000 prize plus the $10,000 I'd quietly saved over the years would just cover it.But that night, Alvin said he was in trouble too. He needed $20,000 to get by.For the first time, I didn't send it right away.Clutching Mom's test results, I asked quietly, "Can I keep this money for now?"My mom needs surgery. The doctor said she can't wait any longer."Alvin stared at me, then scoffed. "Callie was right. You're a gold digger. You only gave me money before because the amounts were so small."So twenty grand was all it took to show your true colors."I had no idea what he meant.Then the door opened.A woman in a designer suit walked in and glanced at me."Alvin, I told you. Girls from families like hers always care about money."That was when I learned Alvin w

The guards threw me out.The next day, notices went up by every elevator.My photo. One line in bold.[No dogs or Lena Hart allowed on the top floor.]People stared all day.Some hid their laughs behind their hands.Others went out of their way to pass me and whisper."That's her. Tried to hook up with Mr. Danford. Ms. Mercer caught her.""Girl scrubs toilets and thinks she can land a rich husband."I kept my head down and cleaned like I couldn't hear them.Thirteen floors. Dozens of restrooms.Mop. Scrub. Wipe down sinks.By quitting time, I could barely straighten up. Cleaning chemicals left my fingers pale and cracked.But whenever I left work, I felt someone watching me.I'd turn around. Empty hallway.Two weeks went by.I'd just finished the twelfth floor when Winnie called."Lena, get to the lobby. Now."Downstairs, a crowd packed the lobby.Martha Wayson, the office cleaner, pointed at me."It was her! I saw her take it!"I stopped.Before I could ask what

That afternoon, before my shift ended, Alvin showed up at the cleaners' break room.From the end of the hall, he watched male employees crowd around me, grinning like creeps. His face darkened.Once they left, he came over and sneered."You really know how to work it, Lena."Two weeks here, and you've already got guys lining up."I kept my head down and wrung out the mop.My silence seemed to piss him off. "What? They're not paying enough? Nobody here good enough for you?"Come to a party tonight. Maybe you'll score someone with real money."He just wanted to humiliate me. I kept my voice low. "Partying with my boss isn't in my job deion."Alvin pulled out an envelope like he already had my answer. He flicked it, scattering cash over my head.Bills landed in my hair, on my shoulders, around my feet."Eight grand. You in or not?"Eight grand.Enough to cover the $7,200 he'd docked, plus $800.After a few seconds, I crouched and picked up the bills one by one."I'll go."

Once, his words would've hurt so much I couldn't breathe.Now I just needed to find Mom.I fought his grip and tried to run deeper into the cemetery."I'm not lying! Mom's here!"Her ashes are gone. I need to find someone who works here. I need—"He yanked me back, pain shooting through my wrist."Enough."His grip was tighter than at the party.I stumbled, slamming my knees into the stone steps.My short dress left my skin exposed. The rough ground scraped it open, leaving drops of blood."Quit making a scene. You're coming with me!"Alvin dragged me out of the cemetery and shoved me into the car.Back at the party, he hauled me into the private room and threw me to the floor.Everyone went quiet and stared.He stood in the doorway, his face dark."Do whatever you want with her."Then he turned to leave.The guy from earlier whistled.Shaking, I scrambled after Alvin."Alvin! Don't leave me here!"I reached the door, and a stiletto slammed onto my hand.The heel d

Alvin barely remembered getting to the hospital.The blood from the footage kept flashing through his mind.He rushed into the ER and grabbed a nurse. "The girl in the black dress from last night. Where is she?" His voice was hoarse. "Lena Hart!"The nurse checked, then frowned. "Lena Hart? She'd already miscarried when she arrived. About eight weeks pregnant."She'd lost a lot of blood, but we treated her in time."She checked herself out this morning."Alvin froze.Eight weeks ago, they'd still been together.The baby was his.The nurse remembered something."She wouldn't let go of her bag. When we checked it later, it was stuffed with cash."'The money.'His face went white.He called the guys from last night again.The first few played dumb. Then he mentioned the footage, and one cracked."Alvin, okay! I'll tell you!"She kept trying to leave. We were drunk. We shoved her back in, just to scare her."She fought us. Then she started bleeding. We freaked, threw our c