Chapter 4

Valerie's head throbbed as she stepped out of the elevator into her penthouse. The board meeting had dragged on for hours. They were on the verge of closing a major deal but a staff had made a silly mistake, forcing them to restart the entire process. Add that to her humiliating encounter with Rick Cameron earlier in the week, and she was ready to collapse.

"Clara?" she called out, dropping her bag on the counter.

No response. Strange. Clara was always there to greet her.

Valerie kicked off her shoes and massaged her aching feet. That's when she heard voices coming from the kitchen. One voice was definitely Clara's. The other...

Valerie froze. She'd recognize that voice anywhere.

"Clara?" Valerie called again, her voice sharper this time.

The conversation in the kitchen stopped abruptly. Clara appeared in the doorway, wringing her hands nervously.

"Ms. Valerie, I'm so sorry. I tried to tell her you weren't home, but she insisted on waiting and..."

"Who let her through security?" Valerie demanded, already knowing the answer.

Clara looked down at the floor. "She said she was your sister."

"I know who she is," Valerie said coldly. "That doesn't explain how she got past Billy."

As if summoned by her words, Stacy sauntered out of the kitchen, a half-eaten apple in her hand. Valerie barely recognized her. In the six months since she'd last seen her sister, Stacy had undergone yet another transformation - her previously blonde hair was now jet black with purple streaks, her lips were so full that it looked like it was about to burst, and there was a new tattoo snaking up her neck. Valerie counted at least three new piercings scattered across her face.

"Hey, sis," Stacy said casually, as if she hadn't been banned from Valerie's building after her last "visit" had ended with a missing Cartier bracelet and two bottles of vintage champagne. "Looking uptight as ever, I see."

"How did you get past security?" Valerie repeated, ignoring the barb.

Stacy grinned, revealing teeth that had been filed to sharp points - her latest body modification. "Told Billy I was bringing you some urgent family news. He's always had a soft spot for me."

Valerie made a mental note to fire Billy immediately. "What do you want, Stacy?"

"What, I can't just stop by to see my big sister?" Stacy flopped down on Valerie's white suede couch, her combat boots leaving dirt marks on the seats.

"No," Valerie said flatly. "You can't. Not after last time."

"Oh please, it was just a bracelet," Stacy rolled her eyes. "You probably didn't even notice it was gone. You have so much shit."

"Clara," Valerie said, not taking her eyes off her sister, "please call Billy and tell him to come up here immediately. Then you're free to retire for the evening."

Clara hesitated. "Are you sure? I haven't prepared dinner yet and..."

"I'm sure," Valerie said firmly. "Go to your quarters."

Clara nodded and disappeared.

Once they were alone, Valerie crossed her arms. "You have two minutes. What do you want?"

Stacy sighed dramatically, her shoulders slumping. "It's Mom. She's sick."

"She's always sick," Valerie replied, unmoved. "Usually with a hangover."

"No, Val. She's really sick this time. Cancer." Stacy's eyes welled with tears that Valerie didn't believe for a second. "The doctors say she needs treatment, but you know we don't have that kind of money..."

Ah, there it was. The real reason for the visit.

"So you want money," Valerie said, moving to her bar and pouring herself a glass of whiskey.

Stacy wiped away her fake tears. "Well, yeah. The treatment is expensive, and Dad can't work because of his back..."

"His 'back'?" Valerie laughed bitterly. "You mean his liver. Tell me, is he still drinking a bottle of Jack a day, or has he upgraded to two now?"

"That's not fair, Val. They're our parents."

"They stopped being my parents the moment they sold me to a man three times my age for a check," Valerie said, downing her whiskey in one gulp. "Or have you forgotten that part?"

The memory of that night flashed through Valerie's mind again. Her father grabbing the check before the ink was even dry. Her mother already planning what to do with the money. And Stacy - 17 year old Stacy - watching from the staircase, her eyes filled with excitement.

"That was years ago," Stacy protested. "And besides, it worked out great for you, didn't it? Look at all this." She gestured around the penthouse. "You're fucking loaded now, and you can't even spare a little cash to save our mother's life?"

Valerie poured herself another drink. "Is she really sick, Stacy? Or is this another one of your scams?"

Stacy's face flushed. "You think I'd lie about Mom having cancer?"

"Yes," Valerie said simply. "I do. You'd say anything for money. Just like your parents."

"You think you're so much better than us," Stacy spat. "The high and mighty Duchess of New York. But I see right through you, Val. You're still that scared little girl from the trailer park, terrified someone will find out where you really came from."

Valerie felt a sharp pain in her chest. The same pain she feels whenever she thought of that life. She turned to Stacy, "Your two minutes are up. Get out."

"Not until you give me the money," Stacy said, crossing her arms. "Ten thousand should cover the first round of treatments."

Valerie laughed. "Ten thousand? You think I'm going to just hand you ten thousand dollars? So what - you can blow it on more tattoos and plastic surgery?"

"It's for Mom!" Stacy yelled, jumping to her feet. "She's dying!"

"If Mom is really sick, I'll pay the hospital directly," Valerie said. "You don't see a cent."

Stacy's expression darkened. "That's not going to work."

"Because there is no hospital, is there?" Valerie moved closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "There's no cancer. There's just you, trying to milk me for cash like you always do. Like they trained you to do."

"Fuck you," Stacy snarled. "You cold-hearted bitch. You think you're so perfect with your fancy clothes and your perfect face. Well, at least I know who I am. At least I didn't have to fuck an old man to get what I wanted."

The words hit Valerie like a physical blow.

"Get out," Valerie whispered, her hands trembling with rage. "Get out before I kill you right here!"

"Fine I will. But for someone so determined to escape the past, you sure do like to hold onto it. Maybe if you let it go, you wouldn't be so goddamn miserable all the time."

Before Valerie could respond, Billy appeared in the doorway.

"Ms. Calder, I'm so sorry about the misunderstanding. I didn't realize..."

"You're fired," Valerie said flatly. "Escort Ms. Stacy out of the building and don't ever let her in again. Then clear out your desk."

Billy's face fell. "But Ms. Calder, I've been with you for..."

"I don't fucking care if you've been with me since the dawn of time," Valerie snapped. "You disobeyed a direct order. She is not allowed in this building. Ever. Now get her out of my sight."

Billy nodded, taking Stacy by the arm. Stacy jerked away from him.

"I can walk myself out," she growled.

After they left, Valerie poured herself a third drink, her hands still shaking. She took a long sip of her whiskey, letting the burn in her throat distract her from the unwelcome thoughts of her past.

Why should she care if Bertha was dying? These people had sold her to a monster without a second thought. They'd taken the money and disappeared, not bothering to check if she was okay, if she was even alive.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Melissa;

"Your new weekend lover confirmed for tonight. Details forwarded to your email."

Valerie stared at the message. Another nameless, faceless man to help her forget. Another few hours of pleasure that would leave her feeling even emptier afterward.

Suddenly, Rick Cameron's face flashed in her mind like it always does - the way his intense eyes had trailed over her - even though his gaze had been filled with hate.

She couldn't deny it any longer. She wanted him. Wanted him between her legs fucking her while she stares into those beautiful eyes.

One night was all she needed with Rick and then she'll flush him out of her system, and forget he ever existed.

She typed back a quick response to Melissa;

"Cancel the appointment."