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 thought of an excuse that should look natural. She was aware of her mother's condition, but she couldn't hurt her feelings by telling the truth. 

Though she gagged out in the reception flauntily in front of her mother, her senses 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 quickly controlled herself. She couldn't show her weakness here; she had to be vital to 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 have yet to decide whether to go. 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 must make a credible story, or her mother and her lives will be in danger. 

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

Her mom had teary eyes, too, but she nodded and smiled. She caressed her daughter's face lovingly and kissed the forehead. It exhilarated her pale face that her daughter was doing well in life, so she needed not worry about her after she had departed 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, gesturing.

Samantha hugged her again, but her heart was still beating fast. Her guilty conscience 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 revisit you, but Martin will stay with you right from now on." She side-glanced at him and then looked at her mother.

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

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

"Now, you should sleep. Once I settle in the new country, I will video call you daily. 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 difficult it would be for her.

Martin, too, came out of the ward, trailing behind him. Her face was red because she was crying, and 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, and she feared rejection. Still, she had to make sure for the sake of her mother.

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

"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 say 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, it might have shaken him slightly. 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 gloomy look and started to walk away.

Martin coughed a little. He was enthralled with her beauty when he looked at her.

Until now, he had just taken her like all the other strippers, but seeing her other side 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 you will return to me after you finish 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 knew 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 until now and tried to make him remember that Derek was their boss.

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

However, he was also a bastard, and she couldn't believe him when it came to her mother's life.

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

"Leave me," she wiggled, removing 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 as fast as she could, but his voice suddenly boomed in her ears.

"Then forget your mother forever."

His voice halted her walking steps.

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

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

Alvin was still driving and thinking about Samantha the whole way to his place. She had never acted like this before. He was also at fault; 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. To vent his anger, he hit hard on the steering wheel. 

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

Though it was 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 only taken two steps when he saw a cab stop by, and Samantha stepped down. She paid the rent, and the cab left her there quickly. 

Alvin looked at her with pleading eyes but was more confused about why she was out this late. He inspected her from top to bottom, and from nowhere, she looked like she had returned from her job.

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