Chapter Four

Champagne sighed while watching the last customer leave, she could finally take a seat without the manager breathing down her neck

Good enough she was done with the cleaning and the only thing left was for her to go home and rest.

Her feet and back felt sore, and she laid back closing her eyes for a minute or two. The day had been so hectic for her but at least she earned enough tips to top up on the money she needs.

The twelve weeks she had been given would be ending soon and she hasn't even raised half of the money.

How was going to handle him this around, it would be hard to convince that man to give her a few more days.

Champagne felt her head ache immediately when she thought of that man coming after her, she shuddered in fear and her muscles became tense.

"Champagne.. " the familiar voice cut through her thoughts and her eyes flew open, champagne knew that voice.

She turned to look behind her and caught sight of her little sister Lilly.

Her nostrils flared and her brows knitted.

Lilly stood there nervously as guilt rushed through her veins. Her brown waves covered half of her face and her emerald eyes were lowered.

"What are you doing here ?" 

Champagne stood up harshly and the chair scraped against the floor making Lilly take a step back.

"I..." Lilly lifted her head to explain and  finally her sister noticed the scar on her face.

It was vertical across her cheek with blood dried on it.

Champagne's eyes roamed all over Lilly's body, she had on a blue sundress that was all dirty and her body was covered in scratches.

All the rage within her veins vanished and was replaced by care and worry, Champagne took a step towards her sister.

"What happened to you?" She questioned and tears welled up in Lilly's eyes.

Champagne realised that Lilly was shaking violently even though it wasn't that cold. Her  she looked breathless.

She pulled out a chair quick and made Lilly sit on it.

"Hey baby girl, tell me what happened ?" Champagne whispered soothingly.

"He threatened me " Lilly whispered, her voice breaking. It showed how much she was trying so hard to avoid crying.

"Who.. ?" 

"Raphael.. "

Champagne froze, her lips set in a thin line, her heart thudded. Sweat beaded her forehead.

"You saw him "  worry gnawed at her as she stared at Lilly. 

"Yeah.. " Lilly whispered but then her eyes widened, she held out her hands that were shaking violently

"I killed him.. " 

Champagne felt so confused, she inclined her head.

Lilly eyes widened in realisation. 

"I killed him.." She whispered again.

Champagne didn't know what to do or say, she watched as Lilly panicked. 

Champagne felt so numb, she didn't know how to cope up with this, she slid to the floor.

If Raphael is back then things were about to get worse especially now that she couldn't protect Lilly from him.

Tears sprung down her cheeks, she got up and tried to calm Lilly.

"It's okay.. Am right here " 

Champagne whispered soothingly for while until she had Lilly back.

She went to the locker room and grabbed her stuff, she helped Lilly up and hailed a cab.

After everything that happened between them, Champagne didn't think that she would become the big sister again.

She was hurt by what happened but knowing that Raphael is back. Her protective instincts kicked in, she had promised her parents that she would take care of Lilly and Champagne hated breaking her promises.

Champagne tucked her Little Sister in bed and walked out, she closed the door behind her and walked into the sitting room.

She wondered what exactly had happened to Lilly when she met Raphael. What would have made Lilly have a panic attack again after all these years.

Champagne knew Raphael and what he was capable of.. She just hoped he didn't hurt Lilly in any way.

As she walked to the kitchen, she saw the balcony curtains flying due to the windows. She walked over to close it's glass doors and her eyes caught something.

Champagne walked over to the balcony and her eyes pinned on the black SUV across the street. She had this feeling that who ever was in that car was watching her too.

After a few minutes the car zoomed off, and Champagne watched it with curiosity. Her fingers curled around the rails and she bit on the inside of her cheeks, her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths.

Champagne had someone knocking on her door and she tried to calm her self down, she walked back inside and closed the glass doors.

She calmed her breath and walked over to the main door pulling it open.

"Have you heard ? " Sam spoke up as walked inside.

Champagne closed the door and turned to her. "What happened ?" She asked without any form of interest. She walked away to her small kitchen to prepare herself some coffee.

Sam followed her and took a seat by the counter.  "Thomas is dead "

Champagne froze, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She turned to Sam, hoping it was just a silly joke but her friend's face said the otherwise.

"You.. What are you saying ?" 

"His body found in a dumpster two blocks away from his house " Sam added and Champagne felt her knees go weak.

She slowly slid the down the counter and Sam stood up, walking towards her.

"Champagne.. " she whispered sitting next to her.

Champagne felt cold, she placed her palm on her lips. 

"Raphael " she whispered as everything started to click in. Lilly kept murmuring that she murdered some one and then Thomas is dead.

It must have been Raphael.

Champagne remembered the car she had seen outside, was he stalking her.

An alarm ran in her head and her chest tightened in fear. 

" I need to do something or Lilly's life is in danger " 

Sam stared at her best friend as she stood up. "You still worry about her after all she did "

"She's my responsibility Sam "

"But she did hurt you Champagne, she doesn't deserve all this your doing now "

"You're saying all that because you don't know who Raphael is and what his capable of.. "

"Then tell me about him,  we are best friends Champagne aren't we? " 

Champagne stared at Samantha and then lowered her eyes, her lips set in a straight line. 

"I don't want to drug you in to this Samantha, you may get hurt and I won't be able to bare that " 

"But I may be able to help.. "

Champagne stared at her best friend who was trying to convince her. She pondered on how to let her down easily.

The was another knock on the door and Champagne's eyes snapped up locking with Samantha's.

She wondered who could it be at this hour.

Champagne walked out of the kitchen towards the door and unlocked it, there was no one specific but a box of chocolates and a bunch of roses.

Her eyes lifted and scanned the hallway but no one was around, her gaze landed back on the flowers and she bent down to pick them up  and heard a click as a blue light flashed her way.

Champagne her head quick and stood to up, she was sure she heard a camera and even saw a light. Someone was watching her, she been right some one was stalking her.

Her eyes turned to the flowers again, she was growing more suspicious of these flowers. Champagne picked them up with the box of chocolate's and walked inside.

She walked to her bedroom and grabbed the vase on her desk bringing it back in the living room, Sam stared at her curiously.

"Who gave you that ?" She asked and Champagne shrugged.

"I don't know but something is fishy here" Champagne sat down on the couch and pulled the new banquet to her lap, she searched through the flowers.

For something that could feed her curiosity but there was nothing not even a card. She looked up at Samantha and there eyes locked. 

"Who ever is doing this has a motive either bad or Good but who could it be ?"  Champagne questioned.

She wondered who was taking pictures if her, who was giving her these Flowers.

What happened to Lilly, who could have murdered Thomas and why.