CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The next day, Marge accompanied me to the club. It was early in the morning when there was no one there but Ramona.

The bar still worked during this time but there weren't any people, not even the other club girls were there.

"I'm so scared." I said.

I really was scared of what Ramona would do. I was ready to beg her with my life, so I could keep my job, but what if she said no.

If she said no, I would be devastated. This job was my only hope.

"It's going to be okay." Marge said.

She grabbed my arm and we went inside. We went straight for the office and saw that Ramona was already there.

She was sitting behind her desk. Her office was dark and dingy as always. Smoke filled the air. She had a cigarette in her mouth and was smoking.

Marge and I sat down opposite her.

Ramona looked at us. Her expression was neutral.

"Why aren't you both working?" She asked.

I glanced at Marge and back at Ramona.

Did I hear her correctly? Did she ask why we weren't working?

Maybe she wasn't so angry after all. But at the same time, I didn't want to take any chances.

I stood up and bowed deeply. Then I knelt down on the floor.

I brought my head close to her feet.

I closed my eyes. I started to cry.

"Miss Ramona. Please. I didn't mean to walk out on the client. Please don't fire me. I need the money. My mum had a heart attack. If you fire me, I won't be able to pay the hospital bills. I am so sorry. Please forgive me. I am begging you. Please don't fire me. I am so sorry. Please forgive me...Please, forgive me...Forgive me...Forgive me... Please..."

I kept saying the same thing over and over again.

I felt ashamed for bowing down like this. But I had no choice. It was either this or go hungry.

Ramona just sat there and smoked. She didn't say anything.

After what felt like forever, she finally spoke.

"Why are you begging?" She asked.

She glanced at Marge and raised an eyebrow.

"What's happening Marge? Why's your friend acting all crazy?" She asked.

My hands were on the floor and my head was bowed.

I stopped crying.

"Uhmmm…. Zoey left the private bachelor's party early, and she thought that you were going to fire her, Miss Ramona. She was so worried about it. So, I brought her here to see you. I wanted her to speak to you, and apologize. She needs the money, and we thought that you were going to kick her out for leaving the party early. So, she came here to see you, and beg for forgiveness." Marge explained.

Ramona leaned back and let out a laugh.

"What the fuck?" She laughed again.

"I did not know that. The client didn't complain or anything. He said he was happy with your service, Zoey." She said.

"I sent the money to your account, this morning. After taking my cut ofcourse. Haven't you checked it yet?" She asked.

I stared at her and blinked. I was dumbfounded.

My mouth was open. What the hell was happening?

The money was already sent to my account. Master didn't file a complaint. He said he was happy with my service.

I didn't have to come and beg for forgiveness.

I looked at Marge. She looked just as surprised.

We didn't know what to say.

I got up immediately and sat back on the chair.

"Thank you Miss Ramona. I forgot my phone at the hotel, so I didn't get the notification. I will check my account as soon as possible. Thank you very much for giving me a second chance. I will not make the same mistake again. Thank you so much, Miss Ramona. You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you...Thank you...Thank you...I will not let you down. I will do a better job." I kept on saying.

I couldn't stop saying thank you.

I was overwhelmed.

Ramona waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh please. I don't give a fuck about any of that. But you can't leave the parties early, no matter what. We have a strict policy here. No exceptions. You are supposed to be there till the end. Repeat that nonsense again and you are fired. Do you understand me? " She asked me in a rather cold voice.

I was still in shock, so I just nodded.

I turned to look at Marge.

Marge was smiling, she couldn't believe it either. This was a miracle.

Maybe Master wasn't so bad after all.

"You can both get out of my office now." Ramona shooed us away.

We were both too happy, to care about her rude behavior.

As soon as we were outside the club, Marge and I hugged each other.

I was laughing and crying at the same time.

Marge was laughing as well. She was jumping up and down.

People were staring, but I didn't care.

I was too happy to worry about what other people were thinking.

"Oh my God, Zoey. You have the money." She yelled.

"I HAVE THE MONEY!!!!!" I screamed. I was so happy.

I jumped up and down with her.

"I'm so happy. I guess Master isn't so bad after all." I smiled.

My mind drifted to Master and I could feel my body tingle.

If I wasn't still mad at the fact that he was getting married to another woman, I would have been grateful.

I was grateful, but at the same time, I wasn't.

He was the reason why I thought I was going to loose my job in the first place.

"What are you going to do now?" Marge asked me.

"Go to the bank. Check how much Ramona paid me. Pay off my mother's hospital bills. With the surgery they did, I'm sure it will be a lot. Then I might go out to find a new apartment or something." I said breathlessly.

I wanted to scream or yell. This was the happiest day of my life.

My mum was going to be okay. We would finally be free from poverty.

It was such a great feeling. A feeling of joy and relief.

I was so glad.

"Are you still going to work here? I mean with all that money, why not just quit. Find another job. A normal one. Get yourself a proper boyfriend. Not Master and be happy." Marge said with the biggest smile.

I almost cried at her words. I knew she loved me and she wanted me to be happy. She was the best friend in the world.

"Oh Marge." I smiled at her. "I guess, I might stop. But I'm so grateful to you for everything."

I hugged her tightly and I couldn't help but cry.

The relief was overwhelming. This was the start of a new life.