Chapter 8- At the edge

"He.... he is just my friend. He works at the same company where I work, too." Samantha said, trying to find the correct words.

Her mother was listening to her with sheer concentration. 

Fidgeting her fingers, Samantha was still thinking of some excuse to make, which should look real. She was aware of her mother's condition. She couldn't hurt her feelings by saying the truth. 

Though she gagged out in the reception flauntily, in front of her mother her sense became weak, and she could see through her lies easily. 

Her mother frowned at her silence and shook her hand slightly. 

Samantha looked at her mother with red eyes, but she quickly controlled herself. She couldn't show her weakness here. She has to be strong for her mother. 

She composed herself and took a deep breath.

"You know, Mom, I have lots of work in the company and my boss is exultant of my work. So He wants to send me to the company's head office in the USA. It would take one month for me to return. It's a big opportunity for me, but I want to stay with you no matter what it is." She side-hugged her mother. "You are the most important person in my life. I can't stay away from you for a second." She then kissed her mother on tempo.

Her mother sighed and removed her hands.

"You should not worry about me. The doctors and nurses are there, aren't they?" She asked with mute actions.

"Mom, I am yet to decide whether I should go or not. That's why I am here to ask you first. If you agree, then only I will go. He will accompany you here in my absence." She said while stealing a glance.

She has to make a credulous story else her mother's life and hers, too, would be in danger. 

"Mom, will you be alright when I am away?" her voice was breaking. Tears already brimmed on the edges.

Her mom was having teary eyes, too, but she nodded and smiled. She caressed her daughter's face lovingly and kissed the forehead. It elated her pale face that her daughter was doing well in her life, so she need not worry about her after she departs from this world.

She was well aware of her sickness and how her daughter was doing everything in her power to save her. 

Though she would feel lonely once she was away, she didn't want to become her weakness. 

"Do your best without any worries. I am always with you." She told her with gestures.

Samantha hugged her again, but her heart was still beating fast. Her guilty concise was killing her bit by bit.

"OK, Mother, I have to go now. My flight is in the middle of the night so I might not come to visit you again, but Martin will stay with you, right from the moment." She side glanced at him and then looked at her mother.

After finishing the dinner, she wrapped up the disposals and discarded them in the dustbin. 

Samantha picked up her handbag and kissed her mother's forehead again. Her tears rolled down her cheeks, even after great control. 

"Now, you should sleep, I will be video calling you every day Once I settle in the new country. Take care, Mom." She hugged her once again. She silently cried but quickly controlled her while facing her.

Then she quickly dashed out of the ward. The more she would stay, the more it would be difficult for her.

Martin too, came out of the ward tailed behind him. Her face was red because of crying with teary eyes she turned towards Martin and faced him. 

"I know it's none of your business and you are here just to fulfil your part. I know, it doesn't matter to you. But can you promise me one thing?" The voice was shaking fearing rejection. Still, she has to make sure for the sake of her mother.

Martin who had been watching all this drama for long, looked at her in distress. His glare bewildered her, and her hope dimmed out.

"Huh," He scoffed.

"Can you please do your best to take care of my mother? She is so naive. Her heart is so pure. Never in her dreams, did she hurt anyone. But .till stood strong for me all the time. In her last few days of life, can you help me to make it her best? I know she won't tell anything to you or me but she deserves to get a peaceful death with all her dreams fulfilled." She said in one go. Without looking into his beastly eyes. 

Though it didn't melt his heart but might have shaken him a little from inside. The lovely pair like this mother-daughter he had never seen. He didn't utter a word for the moment.

Samantha thought he had rejected her plea. So she turned back with a dejected look and started to walk away.

Martin coughed a little. From the moment he looked at her, he was enthralled with her beauty.

Till now he just took her like all the other strippers but seeing her other part of life melted something inside him. Even he was confused about what it was. 

"I will take care of your mother as you wish but you have to promise that you will return to me after finishing your task." Martin gave her a cunning smile, hiding his true feelings.

Samantha got a chill in her spine. How could he say that? He was aware that she loved Alvin and betraying him was the last thing she would think of. 

"Are you out of your mind?" She enraged.

"I work for Derek, not you, so bury your intentions in the place where they arise from." she scoffed.

"Then I can't guarantee your mother's health." He smugly said while caressing his beard and chin.

"Derek assured me of her security…" She was about to say something more when he suddenly made her shut by packing her mouth. 

She was aware of their partnership till now and tried to make him remember that Derek was their boss after all.

But since they were in the hospital, she was feeling something fishy in his behaviour. The Martin she met with in the hotel room was not there. 

However, he was a bastard as well and she couldn't believe him when it was a matter of her mother's life.

"I am not Derek." He deeply looked into her eyes. He wanted to show his feelings but this was not the right time. So he left that thought for the time being.

"Leave me," she wiggled and removed his hand after a great struggle.

"What are you doing?" She yelled at him.

He was no different from Derek. Both were using her mother as a trump card and playing with her.

"Think of that. I can be a better option than Derek." He smirked. Martin was a drug addict and whoremaster. 

He wanted to use her for his interest. 

"Disgusting," She looked ridiculously upon him and left.

She was walking fast as she could but his voice suddenly boomed in her ears.

"Then forget your mother forever."

His voice halted her walking steps.

She just looked at him with ridiculous and then walked away without looking back.

In front of the entrance of the hospital, she called a cab and entered. The door was closed and wheeled out for the destination.

Alvin was still driving and thinking about Samantha the whole way to his place. She never acted like this in the past. Though he was at fault too, that he behaved childishly yesterday and ruined everything. He patted his forehead in frustration. 

The ridiculous thing was that he trusted Pamela too much to be his assistant. She just added more fuel to his swinging relationship. He hit hard on the steering wheel to vent his anger. 

He was about to reach his house but instead of turning in that direction he moved passed to it. 

Though it was already past midnight he wouldn't be at ease until he talked to her and cleared the things.

He stopped in front of her hostel and called again. But it was the same she didn't pick it up. He came out of his car decided to meet her and started walking to enter the gate.

He had taken only two steps when he saw a cab stopped by there and Samantha stepped down from it. She paid the rent and the cab left her there quickly. 

Alvin was looking at her with pleading eyes but more of that he was confused about why she was out this late. He a anned her from top to bottom and from nowhere she looked like if she returned from her job.

Samantha was about to walk saw Alvin standing there waiting for her.