Chapter Two

Phoenix parked his car in front of his parent’s mansion.

The massive mansion was a three-story Victorian-style with modern detailed designs. There’s a Greek-style fountain in front of the massive mansion and the surroundings were filled with colorful flowers.

He turned the engine off and went to open the passenger’s door and held his hand to Brooke, his fiancee.

“Thanks, my love.” Her sweet voice rang in his ears, but it didn't have much effect on him.

It’s Saturday and it’s their weekly family dinner. It’s a family tradition, the old McIntyre couple made it a point to spend time with family once a week despite their busy schedule.

Maids and staff of the mansion bowed and greeted them as they made their way to the dining hall.

“Oh, my dearest! You’ve made it!” Therese McIntyre exclaimed in glee when she saw her son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

“Hi, mom.”

“Good evening, Mrs. McIntyre.” Brooke greeted.

She kissed Phoenix on the cheeks and hugged Brooke. “As always, you look exquisite, dear. I’m so glad you were able to make it tonight. Emilia just got home, she’s excited to see you.”

Emilia McIntyre, Phoenix’s youngest sister. She was based in Paris and just came home to celebrate the success of her debut art exhibit.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, Mrs. McIntyre. I missed Emilia, I can't wait to see her.” Brooke smiled brightly at the former newscaster.

“Come, they are in the dining room already. Your father is waiting for you, Nic.”

Therese went ahead of them. She’s already in her seventies but she looked younger than her age. She wore an elegant black dress and her graying hair was pulled into a low bun.

Phoenix fought the urge to sigh loudly. He already knew why his father wanted to talk to him, it’s about the upcoming election.

Brooke rubbed his arms and smiled at him. “C’mon, babe.”

The dining room was filled with laughter. They entered the luxurious room and were greeted with the happy face of the old Daniel McIntyre, he was laughing with something Emilia was telling him.

All heads snapped in their direction when they entered.

“Nicky!” Emilia exclaimed, her face filled with joy upon seeing her eldest brother. She immediately ran towards him and gave him a tight hug. ''I missed you, old Nicky!''

“There’s definitely a bias here. Why aren’t you that happy when I fetch you at the airport?” Zeus commented, and everyone in the dining room laughed.

“Hey, little sister. Welcome back! Dad.” Phoenix greeted his father and nodded in his direction.

“I have so many gifts for you. I can’t wait to show them to you. Hi, Brooke, it’s nice to see you again. I got so many dresses from famous designers, we’ll try them later.” Emilia looked so happy to finally be back home.

“Welcome back, Emilia.”

“Let’s eat. The food is ready!” Therese announced.

Food and beverages were served at the table like there was a feast. The whole dining room was filled with laughter and teasing.

This is a regular event every Saturday whenever they get together.

“When are you going to get married, Zeus? Do you have a girlfriend right now?” Therese asked.

Zeus groaned in annoyance.

“Mom, Zeus doesn’t do relationships, he just wanted to stick his dick to every woman he met!” Emilia bluntly said.

“Hey, your mouth, young lady. We are in front of the food.” Her mother reprimanded her.

“I was just stating a fact here. Believe me, he has no plans.” Emilia gave Zeus a knowing look.

Then the two began their argument, from one topic and it led to another.

Phoenix shook his head. It’s good to be with his family like this, it’s a breather from all the stressful surrounding he had in the Senate house.

“When are you two going to get married? Have you set a date already?” Daniel suddenly asked.

Phoenix snapped his head toward his father, speechless.

It’s not a secret to everyone that Brook and he were only engaged because of a business merger. Their upcoming marriage is not out of love, it’s more like an obligation to the family business.

“Nic and I decided that we’ll get married after the election. I don’t want him to be pressured by the wedding while he’s busy with the campaign.” Brooke answered, her voice sweet and laced with love.

Phoenix fought the urge to scoff, he knew Brooke too well to be mesmerized by her sweetness.

Daniel nodded in agreement. “Well, that’s good to hear. The merger won’t be happening as long as you two won’t get married.”

Desserts were served and after the dinner, Emilia hauled Brooke to her room for dress fitting.

Phoenix went to the garden alone with a bottle of brandy in his hand. He wanted to have a moment of peace. He’s been not himself for a few days now, and it all started after he witnessed that woman dance.

“You’re fucking insane, Phoenix.” He chugged the contents of the bottle. The alcohol burned his throat and he doesn’t seem to care. He wanted to get drunk and forget about that woman.

She was haunting him in his dreams, and he would always wake up with a massive hard-on every morning. And what he hated the most is that he ends up jacking off in the bathroom just to make his soldier calm down. He's like a horny teenager.

“Something is bothering you, I can see it in your eyes.”

Phoenix was pulled from his deep thoughts when he heard his father behind him.

“Dad.” The old man sat beside him on the garden bench, he too, had a glass of wine in his hand.

“I will not ask you what it is, I know you can handle that since you're old enough.”

“Maybe, I was just pressured, with the upcoming election and the wedding, it’s stressing the hell out of me.” He lied.

Of course, he’s not going to tell his father that he’s been fantasizing about a woman who works as a stripper, that’s just so embarrassing. Who in their right mind wanted to fuck a dirty woman?

“It’s not about a woman?” he suddenly asked.

Phoenix almost spilled the alcohol out of his mouth.

Daniel chuckled. “I’m too old, boy. I can tell if a man was obsessed with a woman with just one look.”

Obsessed? He’s obsessed with that stripper? Not a chance.

Nic wanted to laugh. That’s ridiculous. He doesn’t even know that woman!

“No, Dad. You’re mistaken. There is no woman. It’s just work, I swear.” He winced.

“And now you sounded defensive.” Daniel let out a chuckle.

Nic wanted to punch his mouth for being too tactless.

“But, I will not ask. I believe you can sort this thing out before the wedding.”

The old man stood, tapped Phoenix on his shoulder, and left him with his thoughts.

He drove Brooke home after dinner. It was almost midnight when they arrived at her house.

“You want to come in?” She smiled seductively and caressed his thighs with her dainty hand. An invitation he should grab.

But he was not in the mood to fuck Brooke now. Yes, he's horny but he wanted to fuck another woman.

He smiled at her and removed her hand near his crotch. “Some other time, Brooke. I still need to review some papers.” He reached for her cheeks and kissed her.

It was funny how he never felt any electric friction when Brooke caressed him near his shaft, but he would instantly get a painful hard-on just by thinking about that woman.

***

Brianna couldn’t control the shaking of her hands. She’s so nervous while waiting for the doctor.

Today is the release of her mother’s medical examination. She’s been feeling sick these past few weeks and Brianna took her to the hospital for a check-up.

She must be getting paranoid already. She just hoped the result will turn out to be nothing serious, and that her mother just needs some rest.

Brianna wouldn't know what to do if her mother would undergo the same situation that happened two years ago.

“Miss Wilson, Doctor Pratts is ready to see you.” The secretary announced. She gave her an encouraging smile.

Brianna let out a shaky breath before she entered the doctor’s clinic.

Just as she expected, she was welcomed with very bad news, the one that she's been dreaded to hear.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Wilson.” Doctor Pratts sighed and looked at her with sad eyes.

That was the first thing that registered in Brianna’s mind. And at that moment, she died.

Her heart was in deep pain for her mother. She balled her fist to control the shaking of her hand.

“Her cancer has recurred, and this time it’s more aggressive. We need immediate treatment, but still, that doesn’t guarantee that she’ll survive. It's a thirty percent chance of survival. I will be very honest with you, Miss Wilson. This is much more costly than the last one she had.”

Brianna's world collapsed.

How the hell will she be able to pay for her mother’s treatment? She's earning at the club, but it's not enough.

She left the hospital with a heavy heart. She needed a huge sum of money for the treatment, and she needed it now, as soon as possible.

She bit her lower lip to suppress her tears in public but to no avail.

She cried while she was aboard the train while going home.

And how will she tell this bad news to her mother?

“Hey, are you alright, miss?” The woman beside her asked in concern.

Brianna just shook her head. “I’m fine, thank you.”

Her mind was flooded with questions and possibilities.

No matter how much she tried, the money she’s making at the club will never be enough for the medication. And she can’t let her mother die. No, she will not allow that.

“You’re home early, Bri.” Elvie Wilson came out of her room when she heard Brianna come in. Her smile was weak and her eyes were tired.

Brianna let out a cry and hugged her mother the moment she saw her.

“Hey, What happened?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.

“I dropped by at the hospital, Mom.”

Elvie stiffened. She let out a sigh and caressed Brianna’s back. “I already know, honey. I can feel it, it’s the same as before.” She admitted she sounded so lonely.

Brianna wiped her tears with the back of her palm. She pulled her mother to sit on their worn-out couch.

“The doctor said we’ll have the treatment as soon as possible. Don’t worry about it, Mom. It will find a way. We’ll go to the hospital tomorrow and set a schedule, okay?”

Brianna cried while looking at her mom’s thin face. She looked so frail and sick.

No, she’s not going to let her mom die. If she has to sleep with a client just so she can get the money that she needs, she will not hesitate to do it.

“Oh, honey. You don’t have to. We can ask for help from your uncle Vince. I’m sure they will help me this time.”

Brianna nodded her head. “Yes, I will call him tonight, but I will still find a way so that you can get your schedule tomorrow, Mom. The sooner, the better.”

Brianna was determined to save her mother. Tonight, she will accept whatever kind of offer she receives, it doesn’t matter anymore, as long as she gets the money that she needed.