Chapter 4 Valeria's Big Mistake

09: 59 p.m

Wednesday Evening,

Valeria met him packed his huge black, Toyota highlander behind the hotel. She had been waiting for him about a minute ago, so they could go in together.

He pointed to her, indicating she should come into his jeep, so he took her inside. He was wearing an expensive looking suit with a black, shiny shoe to match. Valeria was in her usual mini-gown and black leather flats. He took her into a room he had booked for earlier that day and asked her to wait a bit, so he would discuss with the hotel manager personally on the issue. And she agreed.

30 Minutes Later

Valeria was surprised to see that he came in with the same briefcase.

"So… Here it is!" He said happily, handling her the briefcase.

"Thank you sir, I'm really grateful." She jumped over it.

"I'm glad they kept this for me. The manager is a really nice man." He muttered with a gentle smile.

"He's has been trying my number but it wasn't reachable. They were going to return it back to me anyways and here it is. It's a good thing you can back to tell me about the missing money else? How would I have known?" Mr Felix then paused for a while.

"I'm feeling pressed, Val. Wait for me. I'll be back in a minute." He walked into the toilet.

"Okay sir." Humaira answered and smiled at the money. "Finally! The money is in my hands again. One. Million. Dollars!"

Looking around, Valeria's eyes caught the wall clock. It was just 10:45 p.m. There was still time and she hoped to get home before midnight.

Just then, she walked to the window to get the view of how beautiful the city is. And for a moment, she imagined if only both her parents still alive, how fortunate would she have been? She wouldn't have gone through any of these… Just maybe Mr Felix would treat her better now that they have nonobody. She couldn't help but to think about how nice and concerned her dad's friend was, just now.

Just then, a hand swiped through her face, blocking her nose with an hanky filled with glue. And she unconsciously inhaled it.

***

9:30 a.m.

A view just before sunrise, resembles like a sunset. But the difference was vast, as it is fills with a hope of rays. From blue to yellow, from yellow to black, and from black to blue again. The beautiful sky cleared as it was morning. Silent quivers escaped from her breath as the ray of the early morning sunlight brought her back to life. When Valeria opened her eyes, her mind absolutely went blank.

In a huge surprise, she noticed where we was… On the bed in the hotel room.

Her breath wasn't very clear as her whole body aches. A sharp pain strokes through her whole body as she felt wetness in between her legs... She felt used again! And this time, she was let alone. Humaira knows Mr. Felix had done something again. Slowly and sadly, she managed to walk into the toilet to clean up herself.

As she stepped out, a voice whispered in her head… "The Money."

Her weak eyes widened in fear of loosing it twice. She searched the whole room but the black suitcase was nowhere to be found.

"What happened? How could this be possible?!" Her face once again stared around in confusion, lifelessly.

It was just then she realized, Mr. Felix had raped her again, leaving her with zero penny.

Confuse and broken, Valeria cried for hours before going back home. She had spent all on her. She had tried everything possible but failed. Now, it's no doubt that, she would have to drop out of college.

***

About Valeria

She's actually wider than she seems and looks but sometimes, she acts stupid. Always believe that that luck finds her on every situation e.g , how she easily

gets jobs, free lights from strangers, help from friends and most of all, admission into Mississippi University.

To her, all these ends when Mr. Felix drugged and ravished her… She's been misfortunate ever since then. It's like a curse that would never wash away. She blames herself for everything.

Unable to tell what had happened. Unable to figure of what the 'beast of man' had done to her. Unable to report to anyone, the police or her sister. Even for the second time, she had no proof. Anyone she tells this to would definitely call her one name… STUPID!

Yes! She was stupid indeed. Getting home, scar was already worried. Valeria that left last night just came back 12: 30 p.m in the afternoon.

"What happened sister? Why did you stay so long and.. Where is the Money?" Scarlett questioned her sister, wondering why she looked so lifeless and weak.

Scarlett grabbed her hand and led her to seat on an old, torn mat. It was one of the most valuable things in their house.

"Sis! Is everything alright?"

"I'm so sorry Scar. I'm sorry I couldn't bring the money back with me. I'm sorry for being a useless sister to you… I'm sorry for disappointed you again." Valeria muttered as tears steamed down her swollen eyes, wearily.

Zainab felt so emotional and immediately hold her elder sister in a hug.

"What happened sister… What aren't you telling me?" Scarlett consoled too, with uncontrollable tears gathering in her eyes. "Please stop crying, I'll always be proud of you no matter what."

"It started with mum's death, now this… How can I drop out so early, it's just my first year. Why am I so unlucky? What would I do now?" She cried even harder.

Scarlett held her face and wiped way Valeria's tears with the edge of her faded gown. As she was already crying too.

"Don't worry sister Vallie, everything would be fine, I promise. There's always a solution to everything problem. There would definitely be a solution to ours."

"Really?" She asked sniffing her nose.

"Yes, this isn't the first problem we're facing so how can you give up so easily? How can you be so weak? Don't forget, we're in this together, sis. We would always be together."

"What hopes did you have left, Scar or… Don't you have any advise for me this time?" She stopped weeping for a moment, searching Scar's eye for answers.

"God Almighty praised Himself by saying;

He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth, whenever he decides a thing. He only says to it, "Be" and it is. So why are you worried when everything in this world is predestined by the Creator of all. You must accept in good and bad, no matter when or how long. Where is your faith sister?"

Humaira went silent for a while, digging what her eight years old sister had just said.

"I've never been so humiliated in my life, Scar. Not like today… And I find out that I'm so weak and helpless and alone."

Scarlett held Valeria's hands again.

"Then don't panic because we have each other. With our strength, I believe we can conquer anything. No matter how small or mighty. You'll become weak only if you give breaking down like this." Then, she passed for a while and sighed heavily. "Where ever mum is now, I'm sure that she would be protecting us. Luck would soon be ours very soon.

"This time would surely come to pass. I've always known that that good-for-nothing Mr Felix is just a wolf in sheep's clothing. God would give us justice no matter what."

"Amen!" Valeria muttered, finally feeling better with Scar's soothing words.

They were like water, quenching the fire in her soul.

"We have no one left not except God and each other."

"Yes.. Wait!" Scar jerked. "What about doctor Ashley. "Can't we meet her and discuss these issues stuff hand?"

"Yes, that's true. But I didn't hear from her since mum's death. And she didn't visit us too. How come I never thought about this?"

"Well, I guess you're the beauty and I'm the brains." Scarlett lips curved up in a smile and joked.

Valeria got a smile. It was a precious smile, that she cherished so much. Always seeing Valeria happy is Scar's wish. Making her successful is her dream.

Now that things seem to be more difficult they have to be by each other's side by never before.

It didn't take two seconds before Humaira's smiled faded away. She was going through hell and it us this stage in her life that needed an helper or a Guardian-Angel that would lighten her way. An accidental and a comforter that would support her through.

"I really need to visit Doctor Ashley today and explain things to her. I would meet her this Evening, when she comes for her night shift." Valeria concluded. Her heart and mind, finally being at rest.

Have you ever felt like beating someone to his own game? Have you ever felt wining in double ways, and getting something you've always wanted. Well, this was the kind of excitement playing in Mr Felix's mind right now. He had never felt so satisfied in his entire life.

Driving back home, he branched to an executive shopping complex and bought a lot of stuffs for his lovely wife and family.

No one would ever suspect him. He's been martied twenty years and no one ever suspected, and no one ever would ever suspect him. His very devoted wife, Engineer Sandra Wilson had five girls for him out of which the fifth born alone schools in California. The rest are either working or schooling in England.

Eighteen years old Valeria was just age mates with his third child, but who cares?

"He's a man after all and he's able to do whatever he wanted without being questioned or queried." Of course, this was his mentality.

***

(Flash Back)

Mr. Felix Wilson was having a business meeting the first time they met in Nicon Luxury. It was the main reason he'd booked the hotel before hand. After Vareria left in the state of shock girl her mother's death, he came back to the room to take some files he had forgotten and took the money along with him... He never wanted her to have it anyways.

And the second time she came back to him, it was still the same money he brought to her, going into his car to take the hanky and glue into his pocket and the suitcase at hand. Also, he entered the toilet to fill the hanky with glue and Talaaa! What a clever plan!! He seized her breath with glue and went for a ride to paradise again. Leaving with the money and no single trace of evidence to ever prove him guilty.

"Once beaten, twice shy" they say but this rule isn't appliances to Valeria because she's stupid!

"How smart God created me!" He laughed so hard…

"Now, those two tiny witches wouldn't even dream of tormenting me, ever again. They'll have to think twice before coming to me… THE END!"