Chapter 2 Betrayal

10:01 p.m

Valeria dropped from the taxi and hands the driver $500 note. She was scared and frightened about all of these… Meeting a married man in an hotel. Hopefully, he doesn't harm her in anyway. She closed her eyes and made a silent prayer.

Just then, she saw him buying spicy meat skewer opposite the road. He sighed her to wait, then he crossed over.

"Val baby, sexy girl!" He wanted to touch her face but she flinched. "So you came alone, right?"

"Yes sir, good evening." She greeted, looking down. "I only came here for the money sir."

Mr Felix noticed her shyness and laughed noisily. He always wanted to have her like he had been doing to other girls; mostly prostitutes. And now was his only chance.

"Okay, let's go in then… To get the money." He leads her through the gates as they walked into the presidential suit.

It was said that Nicon Luxury, Las Vegas is one of the top 5 hotels in the whole of America. To other girls, it would be a dream or an achievement but to Valeria, it was Hell! All she needed was the money and nothing else. She wondered why he wouldn't just hand it to her somewhere else but she followed him. Shivering into the room he booked for earlier that day. ROOM 406.

It was extremely decorated with lights and gold but it still meant nothing to poor Valeria.

She felt a torment in her mind and body and tried to stop him. Now we're here. Please Mr Felix, hand me the money so I can save my mother immediately… You might be having years but she's only having hours." She cried, still standing beside the door.

Even if she spoke with so much courage, her tiny voice sounded so faint and shaky.

"Hahahahaaaaa!" He laughed at her nervousness. A crooked smile settled on his slim, chapped lips. "We haven't even entered yet and you want the money?"

He placed his hand and pulled her to sit on the large, master-sized bed. It felt so soft and cozy.

"Don't worry my dear, I'll take care of you tonight. You've been through enough already and I promise to help you. I know you've been avoiding me… Why did you send immature Scar to my office instead of coming yourself?"

"I was busy with something…"

"What is more important to you than me? Nothing! Don't worry, just lie back and calm down. You're the reason why I booked here you know? Just for you, only for you…." He joked stupidly. "Interested in meat skewer?"

"No…" She muttered.

Valeria sat at the edge of the bed, looking speechless and frustrated. She wasn't comfortable with his presence and words in that room...as if she couldn't breath.

Definitely, they're lies. She knew he never cared for her and her family. He betrayed her father after all, but she didn't say anything about it. Valeria knew that getting him angry could make him change his mind and that wouldn't go well. So she kept shut, staring quietly like a shy pussy.

He walked to the wardrobe and brought out a black,shiny suitcase.

"So…. Here it is, baby doll." He placed the suitcase in front of her and opened it.

"One million dollars for you!"

A flash of happiness stiles through Valeria's unsettled face. She was happy that Mr Felix actually wanted to help her family this time. Suddenly, he closed the suitcase and kept it aside. If you won't eat the meat skewer, then take a bit of juice before going. He poured her an orange juice into a very transparent glass cup and handed it to her. Hand over the money to me sir. It's just 11:00 p.m, I can still meet the doctor to discuss all about my mom's treatment before time runs out.

You wouldn't visit a place like his and leave without taking anything, ehn? At least, if you wouldn't spend the night here, then take this juice and give this meat skewer to Scarlett for me…" He handed her a pack of meat skewer and she collected it. The nice one the other hand was cold and mouthwatering as she was very thirsty already. Valeria wasn't interested in the drink but was in a hurry to still meet up with the doctor before midnight.

She took a sip and dropped the cup on a small shelf.

"Just hand me the money already sir," She pleased.

"No, not until you complete at least, half of the bottle. See it as a way of telling me 'thank you' to me and I'll be grateful also. Perhaps, why are you rushing, this money is yours already. You'll save your mother anyways."

Frustrated with all his pestering, She gulped the whole bottle down her throat. Suddenly… She felt very dizzy and passed out.

6:00 a.m,

The Next Morning.

The room was dim and chilly. She was lying on the bed, alone. Valeria quickly sits up in fluster, shivering about the thought of what happened last.

'Where am I? What am I doing here? This isn't my room, is it?' The questions flooded through her mind as if she was still dreaming. She asked herself over and over again, snapping at the thought of it.

Suddenly, the bathroom door slides open. A huge, chubby figure came in, walking towards where she was.

"Oh My! My head hurts... It's Mr. Felix!!" She cried inside.

He tied a soft white towel around his waist, sitting close to where she was.

"What did you do to me, sir? Why was I here at the first place!!" She panicked. Her weak eyes starts to stream out tears. She felt so confused and used.

Mr Felix wears a crooked smile and sit crawled to her body. She was still dealing so weak and a bit dizzy.

"You came here for money last night but decided to get intimate with me… I mean? I could I say no to a very young virgin like you?" He laughed out loud. Wanting to steal a kiss from her neck, she pushed him away.

It was just then she noticed that she was lying naked and Mr Felix actually drugged and raped her.

***

"What have you done?!" She cried and threw herself out of the bed.

The spot she slept on, on the white soft bed was stained with blood as she stood up. Tears steamed down her face with regret of ever coming to the hotel in the first place.

"You drugged me, you wicked old man! How dare you drug me! I mistake your wickedness for kindness." She wept bitterly.

"Calm down my dear, sexy Val… There's no need to cry over the spilt milk. Yes, I did it." I confesses. "I drugged you so what's the big deal? Don't tell me that you never wanted it too. It is everything girls dream these days you know? You should be appreciated instead of causing drama the way your sister did yesterday…birds of the same feather!" He cursed under his breath.

Valeria remembered clearly how she became dizzy and slowly laid her on the bed. Plundered by all his kiss and touch. What happened next was a mystery… How she felt so weak and slept off, not knowing what was happening to her all night.

She had never been so disappointed and humiliated this way, ever before.

"I would expose you to your wife and the entire public! I hate you so much for this, Mr Felix!" She pointed at him in anger.

"I'm loving you even more Val but please, don't disappoint yourself. Although, You keep breaking my heart but… Where is the proof? The cup is totally clean and the bottle is empty? Are you going to use that?" He pointed to the bloodstains on the bed. "You're going to be the next crazy girl on the headlines and I'll be with my beloved family watching the news. Remember, you came here willingly at the first place…"

She felt bitterly angered by his words and reactions. It's no doubt, he must have planned this all along.

"How would she live her life now? What would she tell her sister and mother?!" Valeria sat in the darkness, crying out aloud while Mr. Felix puts on his clothing's.

"Let the past be past now. There is the money." He pointed, adjusting his expensive hula (cap). "And… "Don't ever tell anyone about this, else?…" He threatened, then smile sheepishly.

"I know you would talk, right?…" and he left the room.

Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!

Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!

The vibration of her old Nokia phone brought her back into reality.

It was Doctor Ashley, calling.

She quickly wiped away her tears and picked up the call.

Doctor Ashley Declan is a very close friend of their mum's who happens to work at University of Mississippi Teaching Hospital, Mississippi America. For the past six months, She's been using half of her salary for Michelle's treatment and she's also been very supportive to the girls.

"Hello."

"Valeria, where have you been?! I tired calling you through out the midnight but you weren't picking up?!"

"What's the matter ma, is everything alright? Hope all is well?" Valeria's voice tensed up a little.

"You need to calm down… It's bad news my dear. Just come here immediately."

"Please tell me ma! What happened to my mother?!" Her heart felt like sinking sure to the ocean of curiosity overwhelming her.

"We did all we could but I'm sorry…" Her voice sounded very calm and cracky. "We've lost Michelle…"

Valeriaa's heart stopped beating for a moment..

"Tell me its a lie, Doctor Ashley. Tell me it's impossible!" Immeasurable tears poured down her swollen eyes. "She still had hours left, didn't she?"

"Only God could predict time, not doctors…" Humaira unconsciously cuts and call and ran out of the hotel like a mad woman.

In grief and heartbreak, she stopped a taxi and flew to the direction of the hospital. The sensitive driver sped up when he saw Humaira's state but it was already late. She knew nothing would save her mother now! If not for that stupid rapist, she would have been beside her mother through out the night.

Even after he used her body for a million, she couldn't save her mother. Everything now is useless. She cried, baring the torturing pain in her heart, body and mind.

As soon as she came down from the taxi, she noticed she wasn't having any penny on her. And because of the shocked condition she was in… She must have forgotten the money in the hotel. Luckily, the taxi driver was a very kind man, he driver told her to forget about the payment. When she went into the ward, she didn't meet her mum there was her body was packed into the morgue. Seeing Michelle's body was so heart smashing for her, unbearable. Valeria cried bitterly over her mother's dead body, knowing she already failed.

"Is this God's will? That I lost my mother and my virginity on the same day?' She thought within herself.