8|My Regrets

[Darcy]

Today was a long day. The day that was both painful and shocking. I had a troubled family, but I didn't expect my father to borrow that much money without my knowledge. Why didn't he learn from his mistakes?

I was the CEO of our family company. Twice, the company collapsed in my hands because he wasn't honest about financial management. How could he ruin my good name for his own pleasure? They must have used the money for splurges.

I had little time and needed to save my son. The new problem came when I thought I was at the lowest point in my life. Was I being punished for my past sins? My eyes heated up, remembering all my crimes.

“We're here,” Felicia, my boss, said. She opened the car door and gestured for me to get out on the same side.

I complied. The building ahead of me was the nearest apartment to Sinclair's nightclub. That was the name of the heartless man. Felicia approached the entrance, so I followed her. Two men walked with us to the elevator.

Felicia pressed the twenty button, and we waited until the elevator arrived at the destination floor. My boss got out and turned left when the doors opened. She strolled and then stopped in front of a door. There was a two-oh-oh-five on the door.

“This is your apartment. You can use all the facilities inside. The office will only cover your meals during working hours. You have to take care of yourself outside of that. If you need anything, there's a convenience store on the ground floor.”

She pointed in the direction we came from. “My room is over there. Two-oh-oh-three. I don't like to be disturbed. So, please call the receptionist if you have any problems. Our connection is just coworkers, and I want to keep it that way. Do you understand?”

“I understand.” I nodded slowly.

“We'll leave for work at eight-thirty. Don't forget. You'll sign the contract at nine. Sin doesn't like his employees to be late.” She handed me a card.

Felicia walked to her apartment, so I opened the door with the card. A man who followed us told me my belongings were in the bedroom. He must have taken it from the hotel room. Thankfully, I didn't have much stuff.

I inserted the card into the key card switch, and the room's lights turned on. There was a door to my right and a kitchen to my left. In front of me was a sitting room with a couch, table, cabinets, and a television. I opened the curtains to see the night view of the city.

I checked the door to the right of the room. It was a room with two single beds. I opened the door on the left. It was a room with a queen-sized bed. I saw my suitcase and purse near the wardrobe.

At least the apartment was better than the hotel. I approached the bed and sat on its edge. Tears fell on my cheeks. My chest felt tight, and my heart was beating fast. I tried to catch my breath to calm myself down but failed.

I headed for the bathroom and entered the shower room. I turned on the water and screamed at the top of my lungs. I'd been enduring the pain since I was at the hotel. Sinclair's arrival prevented me from venting my frustration. My in-laws hurt me. Why would my father do the same?

I pounded my aching chest, though it didn't ease the pain. If I didn't have Keane, I would've gone after Cullen. In my entire life, I'd never been in a state of despair without someone who loved me.

“Mommy!” I turned at the call. Looking at Cullen's face, I frowned. “What? Do you think a six-month-old baby can talk?” He laughed.

“Stop teasing me, Cullen! It's not funny!” I reached over and pinched her cheek.

But seeing the baby in his arms, I rested my head on his shoulder. Keane must have woken up hungry, and Cullen brought him into our room for me to nurse him. I couldn't get pregnant, but I could breastfeed him thanks to advances in medical science.

Keane cried, so Cullen gave him to me. My husband helped me sit up and put a pillow on my lap. I nursed our baby comfortably, thanks to the cushion. Cullen sat beside me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“I'm happy to have you and Keane. I don't expect anything else in the world. I hope you're content with everything we have,” he whispered.

My eyes heated up at that, remembering all my crimes against him. “I have everything I dreamed of in my arms and by my side.” I rested my head on his chest.

“I love you, Darcy.” Cullen kissed my hair.

“I love you, Cullen,” I replied.

I opened my eyes, and my tears welled up. I looked around me. Realizing those painful events were real was like a dagger to my heart. And being together with Cullen and Keane was only a dream, discouraging my spirit.

Why did regret only come too late? Had I known Cullen would leave so soon, I would have treated him better. I would have pampered, loved, and fulfilled everything he asked for. I regretted wasting his love.

Remembering my appointment with Felicia, I forced myself to get out of bed. I got ready for work. Since we would be practicing all day, I wore casual clothes. Looking at the passbook in my bag, I needed to do something during the day.

“Oh. Good morning,” Felicia greeted me as she opened the door to her apartment.

“Good morning,” I replied.

“Why are you standing here?” She glanced toward the elevator. “You can wait in the lobby. I would have seen you, and we could have left together.”

“I wanted to ask you, but I didn't know your number.” I took out my phone.

“Ah, yes.” She accepted my phone and typed in something. “That's my number.”

I accepted my phone and saved the number. “And that's my number,” I said as I dialed the number.

“Okay.” She checked her phone. “Come on. Let's go downstairs now.”

We entered the club through the back door. Felicia escorted me to a room. A man was waiting inside. My boss introduced us. That man was Enzo Oakley, Sinclair's assistant. It seemed he and the man were the same age.

Felicia left the room after excusing herself to Enzo. The man and I didn't talk when we were alone. He was busy with his tablet, so I didn't interrupt. Seeing him work so hard reminded me of my assistant. It was strange. I missed that woman.

Sinclair entered the room after knocking on the door. The aura of the room changed with his presence. His demeanor was cold and intensely mysterious. I couldn't read anything on his expressionless face. It made me feel terrified. An unpredictable man was scary.

The contract signing process went smoothly. The agreement was detailed and corresponded to our conversation on the hotel rooftop. I admired the honesty of the man and his attorney. I didn't know how much I would get for one performance, but I had to pay off that debt immediately.

Thus, I practiced diligently. Felicia seemed surprised by my skills. The previous students might have been amateur dancers. I studied dancing in elementary school and became a professional performer in high school.

“I can perform tonight if you believe in my abilities,” I said as we took a break.

Felicia smiled meaningfully. “You must want to pay off your father's debt quickly,” she guessed.

“No offense. I'm uncomfortable working like this for the long term,” I admitted.

“I understand. I wouldn't work at this place either if I could choose,” my instructor muttered. “We could go to Sin and ask him what he thinks.” Felicia stood up and walked towards the door.

“Now?” I asked in surprise.

“Now.” She smiled.

Felicia opened the door and walked to the corridor on the left. She approached the far door, which suddenly opened. A man took a surprised breath, not expecting her. Seeing us, he shifted to let us in.

“Darcy wanted to ask you something, Boss,” Felicia reported to our superior.

Sinclair glanced at Enzo and moved his head to order the man out. His assistant complied by leaving and closing the door. “What is it?” he asked.

“Can I perform tonight? I can do all the moves my instructor taught me,” I said, getting brave.

“Felicia?” Sinclair glanced at my instructor.

“I can polish her moves a bit. She can master it in a few hours before the club opens,” Felicia said in a reassuring tone.

“I'll let you start tomorrow night, but not tonight,” Sinclair stated. “I don't want to risk the new person ruining my club's reputation.”

“You can watch me perform. Be my first customer,” I insisted, not giving up. “If I can make you want me, let me perform tonight.”