Pay The Price

"You must be joking, Madam Lawrence. You know well how the media would make up a baseless story."

Despite whatever I was blabbing, still, Anna shot me a curious gaze—showing she was not convinced.

"I agreed. Journalists love to write up false news. I did not believe it until I saw you open the door. Then? What are you doing here, Mr. Graham?"

Indeed. What am I doing here? The realization dawned on me.

'Why do I have the one to entertain her visitors?'

I look like that disgusting woman's butler!

~

ANNA'S POV

"Who are you looking at? Is your husband's handsomeness isn't enough scenery for you tonight?"

Whining next to me, the expression written on my husband David's face was funny but cute, and I couldn't help giggling.

"Who are you looking for?" he asked.

Finally, he noticed I had been craning my neck to search for someone in every corner of the venue. David repeated his question when I only smiled at him. Thus, I answered him this time.

"I'm searching for Krishna but couldn't find her."

"Krishna? Who is she?"

My husband queried, and I could tell he was mulling over when the name was familiar. So I said, "You've seen her earlier. She is the one that Donny and I dressed up when you arrived at the store."

"Hmm..."

David hummed, then nodded. But I could see he was not interested in talking about a trivial girl, especially when she was only a stranger unless it involved his cases, such as a terrorist member or an assassin.

David and I were childhood friends; thus, I know him very well, so I could distinguish his mood.

And when he is silent all of a sudden, he will try to listen even though he is not interested in talking about it.

"Well… Krishna hasn't been here yet when she is one of the highlights at this party as part of the hotel's anniversary celebration. So I am wondering if there are any accidents on the road. Have you heard anything?"

"I didn't receive any major accident report concerning a hotel guest."

"Glad to hear that." I was relieved to hear that, but it was a mystery to me why Krishna wasn't here when she first left the store.

"Why are you concerned about her?" David asked me when I kept looking at the entrance in the hope Krishna had arrived.

"I wanted to discuss something with her. I want to invite her to be a model for me. Did you notice how gorgeous she is? Her hazel eyes were mesmerizing! And the frame of her face killed me. Her heart-shaped lips and prominent nose were perfect for the shape of her face! Moreover...."

"Are you pregnant?" David interrupted me before I finished my last sentence, and his assumption surprised me.

"What did you say?" I want David to repeat his question; might my ears hear wrong?

"From what I see, instead, you were talking about yourself. More likely, describing yourself."

"Oh, am I? Are you saying that Krishna and I look alike?" Now that David mentions it, there is a little resemblance, indeed.

"Kier emailed me the raffle draw winners' information. I just realized now," said David.

"My ancestors are from her country, so the possibility is that we will look a little alike. There will be a few people similar to me, and Krishna is one of them." I smiled at my husband and gave him a quick kiss. I leaned on his shoulder and asked coquettishly. "Do you think my behavior lately is because of pregnancy? I have been busy this month, so I give less attention to my body."

I helped my best friend Blaire to organize the hotel anniversary since they reopened it five years ago. So I was too occupied lately to care about every little detail of the changes in my body, including my temperament.

"Let's buy a test kit on our way home," David suggested, and it brought sparks to my eyes.

"Good idea! I wonder if we will have a girl this time."

"Maybe we were expecting a princess again because you adore a girl so much, like when you conceive our eldest. Most of the time, you avoid talking about a stranger girl in front of me. It was also rare for you to overly praise someone."

"You are right, my love. It was the first time I met Krishna, but I was fond of her instantly. So I'm praying to heaven that it is indeed a girl, my love!"

"And if that would be, I am confident she will be your spitting image."

"Let's hope for that!" Our eldest is a carbon copy of David, so he wishes for a girl who would look like me.

My chest filled with warmth just thinking of a cute little girl in my arms. As happiness clothed me, I encircled my arms around my husband's neck and covered his lips.

"Dear, I'm so sorry to interrupt your intimate moment."

David and I were still kissing when someone approached us and tapped my shoulder. I turned my head and discovered it was Donny, my make-up artist.

"Donny, what's the matter?"

"Well... I was searching for Krishna, but I could not find her."

"Oh. I'm also looking for her to talk about. But she seems to haven't arrived yet."

"Hmm? But I saw her photo on the red carpet. She's already here."

"Oh. Is that so? Then I'll inquire around." I got up, and my husband immediately supported me. "Thank you, love. Donny and I will look for Krishna. Later, we will introduce the raffle draw and first prize winners so she will be here."

"Then allow me to ask around. You and Donny wait here."

"Okay, love." I smiled at my husband. We weren't sure if I was pregnant, but he was already overprotective of me. He is typically this thoughtful, and it tripled every time I got pregnant.

David gave me a gentle look, and I understood the message he conveyed to me. He is worried I got tired. So I invited Donny to sit down and waited for David to return.

My husband is a secret agent at the same time; he is a commander of the city's SWAT Team. Searching for someone is just a piece of cake.

After five minutes, David returned with the information that Krishna was unwell because of some stomach ache.

"Maybe we served her a spoiled snack?" I was worried and felt guilty. I'm thankful that Donny comforted me.

"Stop thinking that! I had the same dessert Krishna had eaten earlier. But my stomach was not upset."

"Okay. But I still wanted to check on her." It was what I told David, and it surprised us that Mr. Graham opened the door.

"Mr. Graham? What are you doing here? Are you Krishna's boyfriend?" I asked him, curious why he was in Krishna's suite.

Mr. Graham explained then. "No. I am not interested in her. I'm only here to hide from the paparazzi."

Mr. Graham might tell the truth. But I found the former and Krishna were a perfect match.

"Well, can I see her?"

"Of course. Please come on in. Miss Palermo is in her bedroom."

I glanced upstairs and then shifted my gaze to my husband. David conveyed a meaningful look at me. I nodded, then took the stairs to check on Krishna.

George told me which bedroom Krishna had entered. I steered toward the door and knocked three times before I heard some movement inside.

"What do you want? Why haven't you disappeared yet?"

Krishna shouted behind closed doors, and I could sense the anger and frustration in her voice.

"Krishna? It's me, Anna.."

Silence had passed for a moment before the door opened forcibly.

"Mrs. Lawrence, what are you doing here?"

"Hi! How are you? I heard you are feeling unwell. Is your tummy alright? Or do you need a doctor? I can call my sister to check on you."

Krishna smiled at me and then invited me inside. We sat down in the accent chair, facing each other.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Lawrence…."

"Anna… Just call me by my name, will you?"

"Okay. Erm… Anna, I'm fine, so you don't need to worry much. I think I will be fine if I rest early."

David is probably right that I am pregnant. Krishna smiled at me, and I couldn't get over her. She was too gorgeous in my eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I'm worried that the food we served was spoiled food…".

"No… no… don't think it was your fault. I only have an undigested issue."

~

KRISHNA'S POV

I could not put a word about how embarrassed I was.

Telling that my stomach got upset is a complete lie. I am only making up an excuse because of the secret I uncovered today, which weighed me down.

I am not happy that my best friend is destroying someone's marriage. Camilla knew how painful it was to lose someone because of an affair.

"Alright. I will ask my sister to prescribe you stomach medicine." Anna spoke, which snapped my thoughts. I return to my senses and maintain a composed posture before her.

"Thank you, Anna."

"Okay. I will ask your assigned butler to bring you some soup and fruit. You must avoid any solid food for tonight," said Anna.

I replied and smiled gratefully. "I understand. Some tea could help."

"Then? I will no longer keep you from resting… If you need anything else, you can contact me directly."

Anna handed me a calling card as she went on. "Here is my personal contact and home phone."

"Thank you, Anna."

"Small thing." Anna smiled and then got up from her seat. She walked toward me and gave me a warm embrace.

"I will revisit you tomorrow."

Anna left with her husband, David. I breathed a sigh of relief when Mr. Crazy George was nowhere in my suite. I beamed, thinking I could finally regain my peace of mind.

Unfortunately, that's just my belief because I vomited blood the next day after recognizing the man occupying the other room in my hotel suite.

Scanning his half-naked body up and down, I was more in rage to know he didn't ask my permission.

"Who gives you the right to stay in my suite!?"

"Your suite?" Mr. Crazy George beamed, and this gave me goosebumps.

"Stay away from me!" I screamed when this crazy guy walked over and halted before me. I step backward, but my back is already pressing at the door.

Mr. Crazy George's right arm was stretched and resting on my head. He leaned over and whispered, "Do you know my company sponsors your stay?"

"But we won it through a raffle draw!"

"Is it? Or you won because of some conspiracy Florian had pulled off behind my back?"

Mr. Crazy George curled his thin lips when I was rendered speechless. My face darkened, but I couldn't retort. All I could do is only throw a fuss inwardly.

'What are you planning, Camilla? Why are you getting involved with a married man? Are you here to get your revenge? I love sister Cecil too, and it broke me when she committed suicide. But why must I suffer and pay the price on your behalf?'