Chapter 8- Offer

“Why don’t you want to accept my proposal? Can’t you see? I’m being generous to you.” Jeremy said.

They were inside the VIP room of the Vegas club where Felicity was working. He didn't let Felicity dance. Instead, he let her sit, and Jeremy wanted to lend a hand to her. But this young lady doesn't want to accept it.

“I don’t know if you're slow-witted or what… But how many times will I tell you? Your proposal is quite teasing, but I’m not the kind of person that will quickly get blinded by your money. I still have money. I can send my son to a prestigious school, and I'm not broke just, so you know. Also, I don't want to owe from anyone. Besides, if I'll accept your help, what's next? And ask something in return? No… I won't sell my body to you. I'd rather be strip dancing than asking for your help." She lowered her voice in the end.

Jeremy was offering her to send Apollo to a much better school, plus he will give her a business that she could manage. Aside from that, Jeremy promised that he would give her a monthly allowance in exchange for she will stop working in a club. But Felicity doesn't like to accept any help from him.” She rolled her eyes as she put her arms across her chest while sitting on the couch opposite him.

“Well, I will keep my offer open until you decide to accept it,” Jeremy said with a smug look on his face. He was sure that Felicity would accept his help soon. But Felicity chuckled at his remarks like she had heard a ridiculous joke and found it amusing. It was the first time he had heard her laugh, and it made him smile. ‘She looks more pretty when she smiles. I’ll make her smile every day. And I will make sure that aside from her son, I will be the reason why she laughs like this time.’

“Mister… You are too confident with yourself. If I were you, I will not make a fool of myself.” She shook her head while laughing. But the smile in her eyes turned to an icy stare. “After you insulted me during Andrew’s bachelor’s party until now… Do you think your generosity will flutter me?” she asked mockingly.

“Just like the other guys I’ve known. You wanted to help me, then what? Ask something for me that I can not refuse. I will leave early, mister. Just deduct my salary for this day since I did not do anything for you. I will inform madam Sonia about this matter.” She stood up and picked up her things.

“Thank you for the effort of not letting me dance on the stage. Instead, you let me stay here in this room without doing anything for you. But I want you to stop doing this. I’m not charity work, to begin with.” She left, leaving Jeremy in awe.

With what Felicity has said, she earned more respect from the ruthless CEO. He couldn’t believe that even though Felicity had an unsatisfactory life, she would not use someone to earn money. Her job may be dirty because she was a stripper who was strip-dancing in the club, but it doesn't mean that he would leech to those rich clients just to make her life easier. What's more, she wouldn’t ask for an extra service, which was supposed to be included in her job. It already contented Felicity that she receives her salary twice a month without asking for more tips. And because of this, Jeremy was determined to help her.

***

Felicity dropped by the fast-food restaurant on her way home. She remembered that there was a new kiddie meal that Apollo loves, that she wanted to be for him. She was in the line waiting for her turn when she received a call from Apollo’s nanny.

“Miss Felicity…” Felicity suddenly felt nervous when she heard the shivering voice of the nanny from the other line.

“W-what is it? Is something wrong?” She asked, quivering.

“A-apollo has a high fever and now he is suffering from a convulsion. We’re in the hospital right now.” Felicity’s knees went weak, and from the fast food, she hurriedly ran to the hospital near their house. 

*** 

In the hospital

“Doc, how’s my son?” Felicity asked when she saw Apollo’s doctor. The doctor smiled weakly.

“Miss Mondragon, we need to run more tests for your son. For now, we are getting his fever down. But we need to wait for the results of his lab test.” Felicity’s brows furrowed in confusion. 

“Why does he need more tests? Was it serious? Tell me, doc.” Her lips were trembling as well as her hands. Tears keep on falling down her cheeks while waiting for the doctor’s reply.

“I’m sorry, Miss Mondragon… But I can see symptoms of an early stage of leukemia from your son.” With what she heard, Felicity's world seemed to collapse upon hearing the news from Apollo's doctor. 

It felt like the clock had stopped while she was alone, standing in a dark place, and the only light was where she was standing. Felicity’s mind went blank, and her knees weaken which cause her to fall to the floor. She felt like she was going to collapse any minute.

“Miss Mondragon!” the doctor exclaimed and asked some nurses to bring a wheelchair and send her to the Emergency room for a check-up. At first, Felicity tried to resist, but she was too weak. She let the nurses take her to the ER while the nanny was waiting inside Apollo’s room.

“Miss Mondragon, stay strong for your child. He needs you. Let’s just hope that I am wrong. For now, let us wait for the lab results.” The doctor said and gave her a glass of water.

When she calmed down, Felicity went back to her son, Apollo, who was waiting for her in a private room. She wiped her tears before entering the room with a smile plastered on her face. She doesn’t want to show weakness in front of Apollo.

 “Hi, Young man,” she greeted as soon she entered the room and saw her son sitting on his bed.

“Mommy,” Apollo smiled when he saw his mom approaching him.

Felicity hugged Apollo tightly, which made the kid protest. “Mommy, it’s too tight. I can’t breathe.” He taps her back with his little hands, which made Felicity loosen her grip on him.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Mommy, I felt tired again. And look at this,” he raised his arm and showed the bruise under his arm, “I don’t know what happened to this, but it hurts.” He pouted. 

Felicity noticed that her son lose some weight, which she did not notice as she was busy working her ass off to feed her child. Now she regretted that she did not pay much attention to his son’s health. A tear escaped from her eyes.

She thought that after the dengue, his son had 3 years ago, Apollo will not be sick again. But this time, there was a possibility that his son has leukemia.

Three hours later, the result of the lab test came out. And the doctor confirmed that his son has come out. The doctor asked her to go out of the room, so they can talk about Apollo’s condition.

“Miss Mondragon, your son was being diagnosed with Acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL).”