Chapter 4

Mona

"W-what?" I stammered.

"I didn't think you had it in you honestly," she continued laughing, "All I said was that you should get some incriminating photos with him. But I guess a win is a win anyway."

"Is your engagement with him broken?" I asked, eager to get this over with.

"Of course. Father is about to release a press statement announcing that his precious daughter won't be marrying such a monster," she said happily, "I am finally free and it's all thanks to my quick thinking. Mother would be so proud of me."

"So our deal is over?"

"What deal?" She asked flippantly.

Confusion made my eyebrows pull down low, "I don't understand. You got what you wanted. You owe me a check for fifty thousand dollars."

"Oh darling," she drawled, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

My blood immediately ran cold, "I don't understand. What do you mean by that? We had a deal!"

"What deal?" Mia laughed, "I don't make deals with pathetic scum. Why would I? It's not like I need your help in anything. What can someone like you possibly do for someone like me?"

"B-but_"

"B-but what?" She mocked, "If you say we really had a deal, then where's the signed agreement? Now, I'm going to hang up and I hope you won't be stupid enough to call me again."

Panic lanced through me immediately. Why the hell had I trusted Mia. I could have known this deal was too good to be true, but I hadn't thought twice because of my desperation.

"If you don't honour your deal, I'll tell everyone." I threatened, clutching the phone tighter.

Ahead of me, I heard the bells echo, signifying that it was midnight. Which meant that my time to return the dress was gone.

Mia let out a bark of laughter like my threat was the funniest thing in the world, "Hmm. So the kitty has claws? What do you think you're going to say, hunh? You're going to tell the world that I asked you to take an incriminating picture with my beloved fiance and you ended up assaulting him? Who is even going to listen to a nobody like you?"

"You bitch!" Tears ran down my eyes, ruining the little make up I had managed to apply for tonight, "You used and deceived me."

"That's the way of the world, Mona." She scoffed, "People like me use people like you. It's nothing personal."

"Please, Mia. My mother is going to die if I don't get this money." I wept, "Don't do this to me. Just have some mercy."

There was a long pause, and for a moment, I thought my words had softened her heart, but her next words shattered that hope, "In life, you have to know when to let go. This is one of those times."

Before I could say anything else, the line had gone dead. I stared at the blank screen, feeling like the world had just been swept off from under my feet.

The feeling of helplessness was still settling like a Ten ton weight on my shoulder when my phone began to buzz again. I somehow knew it was the hospital even before I glanced down at the screen.

I picked with shaky hands, holding back my sob with sheer force of will, "Hello," I said, "Something came up and I think you should hold on with the_"

"Miss Carter." The nurse interrupted me, panic threading her voice.

My heart immediately went into overdrive, "What happened? Is she okay? What's wrong?"

"Your mother just passed out, and her heart stopped beating for several minutes," she informed me, "we had to use a defibrillator, but she's stable now. If we don't go ahead with surgery withing forty eight hours, I'm afraid your mother won't make it."

My stomach bottomed out, and I tried to suck in air, all to no avail, "I'll get the money."

"You have to make the deposit today, so we can start gathering a proper team by tomorrow."

"You'll get the money." I swore. It seemed I was all out of options. I had no choice but to take Mrs. Elliot's advice now. There had to be a desperate man somewhere that would pay for my body.

"There she is!" Someone screamed.

I spun around, eyes going saucer wide as I saw dozens of reporters with microphones and cameras heading for me, eager gleams in their eyes. Shock froze me to the spot, as they surrounded me like hyenas.

"Who are you miss?"

"Can we get your name?"

I winced as the lights flashed in my eyes, nearly blinding me. The reporters spoke above each other, each one trying to get me to look into their own camera and answer their own questions.

"Can you confirm that you're Ian Harrison's mistress?"

"There are rumours that you are pregnant with his child, and you plan to keep it."

"Is it true that you're Mia Elliott's long lost sister?"

"Leave me alone!" I roared, trying to fight off the crowd, but they kept swarming closer. My head began to pound as they encircled me, uncaring that I looked like I was on the edge of a mental break down.

My whole life was falling apart and I had paparazzi hounding me too.

"Leave me alone!" I screamed again, covering my ears with my hands, tears blurring my vision. One of the men moved too close, knocking me off balance. I fell to the floor with a scream, but even that wasn't enough to turn them away.

"Are you married ma'am? How long have you and Ian been together? Are you in love with him? Does his fiance know about you?" The reporters were relentless in their enquiry.

Just as I began to feel faint, I heard the screech of tires, and the sound of a door banging shut. I raised my head and met the striking blue eyes of Ian Harrison.

"That's enough," he growled, and miraculously, the reporters all fell silent.