Money is Life

Someone banged on the door again. Neither of them reacted.

People had been hammering on it for minutes and then it went silent.

Somebody must have called security on those paparazzi.

Good.

She started pacing back and forth across the room.

Everything was silent except for the hum of the air conditioner in the Hotel Room. Nobody was talking. Blake got his eyes fixed on the TV as he frantically attacked monsters with his consoles. Alexander was on his laptop with his headphones wasting his time watching Youtube.

Cathryn sat on the couch as she glowered at Blake and Alexander's direction who was pretending she didn't exist.

She shook her head as she looked at her watch. She was thirty minutes late from her first class in the afternoon. She couldn't believe that she had skipped class today.

Art courses were so expensive at Uni and she still had to maintain the scholarship. She never skipped class. Ever. Not even once for the entirety of her existence.

Except for today.

Cathryn's phone was on low battery so she had to charge it by the wall-hook up along with their phones. Now, she didn't have anything to do except stare at the two of them.

Well, she might as well bother the fuck out of them.

"Alexander." She called out as she tapped on her foot impatiently. No reaction.

Maybe, he didn't hear him.

Oh, the bastard got his headphones on.

She walked around and carefully advanced beside him, shrieking near his left ear, "ALEXANDER!"

Alexander jumped and swore, his laptop almost falling from the bed, "WHAT?"

"Give me my ten thousand dollars, you bastard."

"Or what?"

She pinched her lips together as she thought of things that will make him feel guilty. "Or I will cry."

'Hmm."

Blake snickered as he continued to play his game, mocking her threats. The bastard heard what he said and that was his reaction?

These guys were fucking heartless.

Well, if they are heartless and they wanted it like this, then she would demand divine retribution.

"You know, Alexander. I'm tempted to go out of this room and talk shit about the band to the paparazzi. You probably didn't know how well-versed I am on creating outrageous scandals and nasty rumors."

Now, that statement caught Alexander and Blake's attention.

"You wanted to go home?" Blake asked concern etched in his sharp features. "It's still dangerous right now. Paparazzi are camping outside."

She groaned. "If you can't help me get out of this goddamned hotel then at least give me the goddamned money."

"Cathryn, you're starting to sound like a debt collector from an infamous mafia syndicate."

She had never felt so violent that she wanted to beat up a popular rockstar. Well, that would probably put her name on the headlines. She splayed hands out wide to stretch then relaxed them, preparing herself.

"I need the money. I'm a University Scholar at Xavier's and when I skipped Art classes in the second week that��s a minus on my reputation. I need to support myself." She continued to rant, every harsh words that come out of her mouth were daggers that would automatically incite pity to those who will listen. "Do you know how expensive Art Courses are? I wasn't some rich motherfucker who could afford things so I need the money. You promised to give me if I win the card games. Both of you can't be trusted with anything. I bet you are going to cheat on your wives in the future."

Alexander flinched a little. The fucker had the nerve to feel offended.

Or maybe it was true? He could imagine himself cheating on his wife and leaving his family as my father did? Cathryn sighed heavily. If it was true that she was indeed attracted to jerks such as Alexander, then she got some Daddy issues she needed to solve.

"Okay, give me your bank details. I'll wire it." Alexander rubbed the back of his neck as he watched me intensely. "But don't go home yet."

"Why? You're weird, Alexander." Cathryn asked in frustration after she sent him her Bank Account number. "I have no purpose here."

"Just stay." Alexander clenched his jaw, still staring at her.

"You barely give me any attention," Cathryn spoke through her teeth with restrained.

"So, you wanted attention." As he moved closer and leaned towards her, Alexander grinned and made quick hot glances on her body which sent a wave of heat running through her body. "I could give you attention."

"No, never mind." Cathryn rolled her eyes and waved a hand, dismissing him. "Send me the receipts."

"Okay," Alexander said grudgingly.

"Wait for it," Blake replied as if it didn't even matter.

"YES! MORE MONEY!" Cathryn was elated when she checked the money sent into her account that she did a little victory dance and both of them grinned, looking at her funny. She never thought these bastards were true to their word. She couldn't believe her luck so far. When she came back down from Cloud Nine, she tilted her head and asked, "So when can I get out?"

"I called one of my managers," Alexander said calmly as he poked her cheek. "I think he will be here in five minutes so be patient and wait for it. I want you to be safe so I need him to personally get you to school."

More banging on the front door.

Alexander just looked at me and shrugged, "That must be the manager."

"Ms. Woods?" a big voice boomed. "Alexander had called for my assistance."

Blake got up from his consoles, opened the little black case he got near his bedside lamp, shoved his sunglasses onto her face, and then grabbed her hand. "It's ShowTime."