Ch 74

Beth was glad that she was not in such a revealing outfit today. Especially since she was not used to wearing sexy things anymore. She knew that she had to dress sexy in order to get the guys to want her at least enough to try and impress her, but with Stan giving her money it was not as crucial as it was before. 

When Beth got downstairs, she saw that there was a man talking to Jim and she was relieved thinking that he would not try and talk to her now. Beth heard they were talking about how 4 beautiful women arrived last evening 3 of them just looked like teens while the woman was smoking hot. She heard them say that the woman was so much better than anything seen around here in years. She was supposed to be going to some kind of trial and was supposed to be some rich man's wife or something. The girls were supposed to be her slaves he heard.

Beth's heart sunk knowing that this was going to interfere with the money that she was going to get from the butcher. That is if she couldn't get the men to buy things to try to impress her.

Both men instantly stopped talking as soon as Beth came into view. Jim greeted her with a smile and a warm welcome, but she could see that he was not seeming as desperate as he had been in the past, but she figured that he was just in a hurry to find out about the other girls.

Beth didn't waste any more time there knowing that the guys were not going to say anything more with her standing there, and if there were prettier girls around and they were going to get the guy's attention then at least she wouldn't feel like she was a piece of bait, and she could go back to dressing normal. Not to mention if there were more women around, she wouldn't have to worry about them coming after her and her girls so much.

As Beth hit the streets, they were barer even more than normal. It was a bit earlier than normal for her to be out there looking around, but it just seemed like it was a really quiet day. Beth was relieved a little when she did see some of the men watching her and as she wandered through town, she picked up a few that followed her into the butchers.

The butcher played the game and did manage to get them to try and outdo one another but with only having a couple in their it didn't take long to empty.

Beth smiled at the butcher as she gave him a little shrug. The butcher gave her the money and said, "Don't worry it is a bit early and you can't expect to break the bank every day."

Beth gave him a nod and asked, "Do you know where the rich people stay when they come to town?"

The butcher thought for a minute then said, "Most stay at the governors place when they are invited by him or the visiting judges. Other than that, there is a hotel that is really pricy that they will go to it's right over there." He pointed the way.

Beth saw it and could have figured that this place would cost a fortune to stay at. It looked like it didn't really belong in this town. She had noticed it before and could tell just by looking at it that it was way out of her reach for a place to stay at.

Now as Beth approached the place she started to wonder if she was dressed well enough to even go in the place.

James sees her and in an indignant tone he asks, "Can I help you?"

Beth immediately felt even more out of place than she was feeling before. Beth took a few steps through the doors and the smells of food hit her. She could tell without a doubt that a professional chef was working there, and this place was catering to every need that the guests had. She could see based on the way that he was looking at her that he didn't think that she had enough money to stay there.

Beth looked up at him and said, "I believe that you have Stan Boulder's attorney staying here, and I need to talk to him."

Beth could tell he was thinking what do you want with him? James nodded that they were there but asked, "Which attorney are you looking for? We have 6 rooms rented out for that."

That through Beth off she was not expecting for him to have so many representing him. Beth knew that Stan had told her his name. But right now, her mind went blank looking for the answer.

James said, "I am sorry but if you don't even have the name of the person that you want to see. I am sorry you will just have to leave."

Beth knew that she knew the name she just couldn't think of it and there was no way that she was going back to the prison to talk to him again. The she realized that Deen had told her his name was Bill.

Beth said, "His name is Bill. I need to talk to an attorney named Bill."

James had already been told that Bill was his lead attorney and in fact, he had been looking for information on a lady by the name of Beth. James asked, "What is your name?"

Beth replied, "My name is Beth Smith."

James pointed to the elevator and said, "Take that to the top floor room 503"

He would have taken her up to his door but there was no one around to watch the counter. Beth saw the elevator and stepped in. She was surprised even the elevator was plush and designed with a bench in it so that you didn't even have to stand. Beth thought that they had to do all the moving of the bags for the guests because there was no way to fit a cart into the elevator.

Beth noticed that it was a slow elevator, but you felt very little of the movement she figured that it was set intentionally slow so that your bags would be at your door at the same time.

Beth stepped off the elevator and all she could think was that everything in the hotel was better than anything that she had in her house. It even had real paintings that she suspected were worth a lot hanging in the halls. Beth looked down the hall and only saw 4 doors to the whole floor making each room have more square feet than the house that she had.

The door that was straight across from the elevator was labeled Presidential Sweet and took up half of the floor. Beth wondered just what you needed half a floor for your room for. Especially since it was usually someone that was staying alone or with just one other person. Beth just shook her head thinking that she and her kids were crammed into that little room before and made it work when places like this usually only had a couple of people in them.

Beth made her way down the hall just shaking her head at the beauty of the place. Knowing that she would have never known it except for the fact that she needed to talk to Bill and get the money that Stan was giving her.

Beth looked at the numbers on the doors and of course, 503 was at the end of the hall. She walked down the hall and knocked and didn't get an answer right away. At first, Beth thought that he must be out because there was no answer but then she thought that James would not have sent her up here if he was out already and since he was always at the front desk, she doubted that Bill would have gotten past him without him noticing. 

Beth knocked louder this time she wanted to be sure that she was heard. Beth thought that she heard a girl's voice say that she was coming from behind her as the door opened in front of her. 

Beth didn't know what to think of Bill she did think he looked like an attorney in every sense of the word. Beth could tell by the way that Bill's suit hung that it was expensive and that it had been custom made for him.

Bill asked, "Who are you, and what can I help you with?"

Beth stepped closer and said, "Hi I am Beth Smith. Stan said that you would have some money for me."

Bill took a good look at her and said, "Beth Smith. I see. Yes, I have the money for you no problem. So where are you staying?"

Beth gladly gave him the place and other room that she was staying in. Bill invited her in and told her just to wait there.

As the door closed the door to the presidential sweet opened and there stood the three girls talking Gina said, "I thought for sure that I heard a knocking."

Katie said, "I didn't hear anything and there is no one out here you must have just been hearing things."

Gina looked up and down the hall she was sure that she heard something, but she guessed not since there was no one there.

Bill gave Beth the money that Rodger would have earned during the month of his working for Stan.

Beth knew that Stan was going to be giving her money to get by but she had never expected to have him give her that kind of cash.

At that point, she wished that Rodger had been locked away years ago. She thought that even if Stan wasn't paying her to help out that she would have been better off if it had happened.

Bill told her that she had to sign the papers, and he explained the conditions that she had to adhere to. This broke down to the fact that she had to not go back to the prison and not help out Rodger in any way, but she had to go along with any contract that was signed in the past.

Bill rattled a lot of things that were all legalese designed just to berry Stans motives.

Beth thought that if she wanted the money, she was going to just have to follow what they wanted and sign.

Bill nodded and gave her the cash then said, "You will have to come to my office once a month to get the money or I can mail it to you. You are still living at the address that we have aren't you?"

Beth nodded still overwhelmed by what Stan was giving her. She took the money with a huge smile on her face thinking that this was going to solve all her problems and she would never have to worry about her kids going hungry again. At least as long as she did what Stan wanted.

Beth thought that it was not going to be that bad since she never had to do anything with him and at this point, she didn't want to see Rodger except at his trial. Beth signed the papers wherever Bill told her to and then walked away with the money.

As she walked out the door, she felt freer than she had ever felt before in her life. It was like the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. As she walked away, she had to wonder what contracts had been signed before. The only one that she could think of was Rodger's work contracts which she had nothing to do with. But the more she thought about it. It didn't really matter even if he had a contract to buy the house that they were living in it wasn't like they could stay there without the money that he was giving them.

Bill took her by the hand and showed her out the door so that he could get back to rapping up the last details of the case he was setting up for Stan.

Beth walked over to the elevator and pushed the button for the lobby she was feeling so light-hearted it was like nothing could get her down now. As the doors to the elevator started to close the door to the presidential sweet swung open. Snow saw that the door was closing and started to tell them to hold the elevator but knew that it was way too late for that, so she didn't even bother.

Beth knew that she needed to get the dress for her dinner tonight with the governor. Beth took one last look around the lobby as she made her way outside. Beth noticed where all the wonderful smell was coming from. There was a huge buffet being served, but she noticed it was different than the ones that she had seen before. It was like it was all catered to the guests and made fresh as they said what they wanted. 

Beth had never even thought about going to anything like that, but she knew that she would love to take all her kids there at least once before they leave for home. 

Beth made her way to the tailor's shop and she had not even paid attention if anyone was looking at her now or not. 

The tailor saw Beth coming in and couldn't help but notice how different she looked. It was not just the dress that she was in. It was everything about her that looked so much different. Sure, she no longer looked like a slut standing on the corner, but there was so much more to her now. He was so glad that he had put so much effort into doing the dress like he did.

Beth smiled at him as she saw the beautiful dress that was still on the mannequin as he was still in the process of putting on the last touches. He waved her over and said, "I am glad you are here I want you to try it on so I can check the way that it hangs on you."

Beth smiled even brighter the only dress that she ever had fitted for her was her wedding dress and at this point, she didn't even want to think about that.

He was glad to see that she had the undergarments on but he figured that she would have them on after last time. He helped her to the back and into the dress.

All Beth could do was think how elegant the dress was. She loved it already and couldn't think of a way that would make her look prettier. Once the tailor was finished looking things over he made notes of things that he wanted to fix he told Beth that she could take it off. 

Beth was let down she didn't want to take it off but she knew that he had to finish it and she knew that it was for her dinner at the governor's.

The tailor had to smile at her reaction of not wanting to take it back off. It was enough to make him want to make it even more special for her. The tailor said, "It is going to take some time for me to finish and make the few alterations that I want to make it look even better. If you tell me where to drop it off I will bring it to you there when it is finished."

For a moment Beth was a little unsure about telling him where she was staying then thought that there was no way that this guy would sell her out after everything that he was doing for her.

Beth told him where she was staying and the room number but she noticed the look on his face when she mentioned the hotel that she was in. She thought that it must be because it was the cheapest place in town.

The tailor tried to hide the disgusted look at the thought of the place knowing that was probably all she could afford, and at least she was not on the street. He said, "I will bring it over to you personally as soon as it is finished."

Beth said, "I can't thank you enough for all your hard work."

The tailor said, "It's enough to have my creation going to someone who truly appreciates it."

Beth couldn't help herself but give him a huge hug.

Feeling even better Beth headed back to her kids but she wasn't paying any attention to anything going on when someone grabbed her arm.