"What? Did you just say you can't help my family, you ingrate?" Alicia asked, her vein almost popping out.
Seeing Alicia sound this way and obviously looking angry, Sabrina smiled. She couldn't be more satisfied than this. Enough is enough.
"Are you deaf? You heard me, you cheap bitch. Stop acting like you are better than a stripper when you stole a stripper's man," Sabrina's harsh words hit Alicia's ears like a whip.
Since she knew Alicia's next statement, she decided to use it against her. "You can have Mr. Thompson, after all, you took the scumbag from the trash for me."
"Would you both stop this shit? I am trying to think of a solution, but you both are arguing? Do you think you girls are still babies?" Mr. Kieran asked, putting on that facade of kindness he always used to deceive Sabrina. "Sabrina, please save this family. You are the only one who could do that. He mainly requested for you."
"I would, but that is if you drugged me like last night and dragged me out to him. For as much as I am sober, I would never allow an ex-convict with three rolls of rape crime to touch me!" Sabrina remained adamant.
She didn't wait for him to continue before she dashed out of the house. Knowing she had no money and no phone with her, she decided to visit her friend at the building opposite theirs.
She hates asking for help from her friend because she barely could render one in return. For that reason, she decided to be on her own.
She rang the doorbell twice before she got a response.
"Sabby? It's been a long time. I can't believe you are finally checking up on me," her friend, Gabriella, embraced her in a warm hug.
"Gabby, I am not here for this. I need your help," she said with urgency in her voice.
Gabriella sighed before leading the way into her living room. This building was gifted to her by her father during her graduation last year.
"What do you need?" Gabriella asked with eagerness in her voice, wondering what Sabrina wants to request that she feels so shy about.
"Can you lend me a thousand dollars?"
Her request made Gabriella burst into laughter. Gabriella expected a much bigger request that would put her in a tight spot since Sabrina hardly requests anything from her until it is worse for her.
She even offered to sponsor Sabrina to university, but she refused. All the help she offered out of their friendship was turned down by Mother Theresa, as she calls Sabrina.
"Just a thousand dollars? What do you want to use it for?" She asked curiously, sounding like she was teasing Sabrina.
"I want to use it for my transport fare back to the hotel. I have a client I want to tend to, and my boss is short of funds," Sabrina lied, making sure she sounded believable.
"Won't—"
"I would get going if you want to talk about me quitting my job. All I want is a thousand dollars, which I will return tomorrow," she was quick to cut Gabriella off.
Gabriella smiled faintly before reaching into her purse. She brought out five thousand dollars and handed it to Sabrina. "No need to return it."
"But I requested—"
"Get going. Don't keep your client waiting," Gabriella said calmly before leading the way out. She shook her head as she watched Sabrina walk out of sight.
She admired and pitied Sabrina at the same time. She believes Sabrina will find happiness and finally know the truth hidden away from her.
Meanwhile, Sabrina, who had already reached the main road, waited for a few minutes before she could see a cab heading to the Sawyer Hotel.
The hotel had been around for almost three decades. The hotel is mostly patronized by wealthy businessmen, women, and politicians. With tight security, customers' safety is assured.
"Ma'am, we are here," the driver's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
She got out of the car, paid the driver before entering the hotel. With the receptionist already informed, she headed to Atticus's suite.
With a faint knock on the door, the door opened.
"The guards aren't here, why?" She asked curiously before Atticus could reply.
"They are running errands. What about you? Why are you here?"
Atticus's question made her frown. "Should we talk about it here?"
He chuckled at her clever words before opening the door fully, giving her access in.
"I thought you said you would rather be a stripper until your last day on earth than become any man's toy?" He asked, trying to provoke her. She isn't the only one who has ways with her words.
He just wanted to act like the good boy his papa thought him to be.
"That was when it wasn't a choice for me," she replied calmly, sounding like a different lady compared to the sharp-tongued lady he talked to a few hours ago. "Since it is now a choice, I would rather be your toy than a dangerous man's possession."
"But you said you can't steal your sister's fiancé."
"But she stole mine first."
The both of them paused at the sudden sound of the knock on the door. Atticus excused himself to open the door.
Outside the suite is Mr. Francis, Atticus's secretary.
"I am sorry for disturbing you. It is just that your family requested a dinner with Kieran family. You have to be there too," his secretary informed him.
"Okay, I will be there. Just prepare what I asked of you. I need to bring along with me a gift," with that said, he walked back in.
Staring at the pale-looking lady who has lots of worries and deep in her thoughts, he was reminded of his own pain. His own misery. It was only sheer luck it took for him to come out of that fiery pity.
"Are you bothered about the path you choose?"
His question made her snap out of her thoughts. She raised her gaze to look at him, "No. I am just bothered if your family would accept a stripper like me."