Chapter 1 A One-night stand with my Boss

"What!! Five hundred thousand dollars for just a surgery a day? Is she going to live forever?" Bessie's voice ranged over the phone, alarmed.

"I don't know Bessie; I don't know what to do now. How would I get such an outrageous amount?" I asked, crying.

"Be calm. Don't worsen the situation with your fears." She said; I figured out she was pacing where she was because I could hear her heavy sighs and the rustling sounds of her feet.

"Can't your boss help?" You have been a loyal secretary to him for four years; can't he come through for you now?"

"Can you hear yourself?" I said, almost shouting at her over the phone because of how agitated I was. "I should tell Michael about my current situation so that I get fired, right? Don't you know who Michael is? Am I just telling you that he hates having anything to do with any female? Am I a male?" I screamed out at her eventually.

Yes, I had to yell out at her so that she could know the gravity of the nonsense she sprouted out of her ever-daring mouth.

She didn't think of anyone else except the almighty Michael Lucas, the heartless, famous billionaire businessman.

"Heeeeeey!! Don't pour out your frustrations at me. I was only trying to help. What are we going to do now?" She said, not reacting to my attitude.

Bessie Jordan is my best friend. She and my mother were the only family I had. She is a fashion designer who works for wealthy people. I called her when the doctor told me the cost of my mom's surgery. I needed someone to talk to at that moment.

My mom is sick; she had been diagnosed with a heart disease, and an urgent operation was required within a week; otherwise, she might lose her life.

I can't lose my mother; I had to find a way to get the money.

"Hello, are you still there?" Bessie's voice brought me out of my deep thoughts.

"Give me some minutes. My boss is calling me; I'll pick this up and call you later." I ended the call and switched to Michael's call.

"You know what you are supposed to do this weekend, right?" His cold baritone voice asked me.

"Yes sir." I replied hastily.

"I have forwarded her contact information to you. Ask her to get there before 7 p.m. Am I understood?"

"Very well, sir, right to it." I responded, and he ended the call.

I called Bessie again.

"What's up? Why did he call?"

"To order me to make a reservation in the hotel so he can do his nightly weekend routine," I said with no interest. My mind was still troubled about my mom's situation.

"Hmm," Bessie said as she paused for a while.

"What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?" I asked.

"Do you love your mom so much that you can take any risk for her?" Bessie asked tactically.

I frowned, wondering why she asked that question: "What are you up to, Bessie? Why this sudden, strange question? Of course, I can take any risk for my mother. Any fucking risk that doesn't require killing, I'll fucking do it." I said, hanging on to her words, waiting to hear the risk she plans on asking me to take.

She took a deep breath before rushing her words: "Ava, be Michael's lady for tonight."

We both became silent. I paused to let her statement sink in, and she also kept quiet to hear what I had to say.

"What do you mean, Bessie? Do you want me dead?" I finally found my lost tongue and questioned her.

"What if he finds out? I continued, "What excuse would I make?"

"Trust me, Ava; you just have to play smart. He wouldn't find out. Get to the hotel before him; I trust you know his favorite wine. Get that, mix it with different strong alcoholic wines, and give it to him. Before you go, add a lot of makeup to your face so that he won't be able to recognize you in the dark." Bessie spoke without stopping. She had already strategized all that I was going to do within a few minutes.

"Don't wear the same perfume you wear to work. Don't let your hair fall this time; make a bun. Don't stupidly wear a corporate dress; I'll bring my skimpy gowns for you. Just be different tonight, Ava; you have to do it for your mom." She added the last part of her statement on purpose, knowing fully well that she needed to say something that would pique my interest and make me want to commit a big crime without thinking about the consequences.

I was still hesitant. "Okay, listen, Bessie. What if I succeed in doing everything you just mentioned and it works as planned? How do I get paid?" I can't give Michael my banking details. He will find out I am the one!"

"I got that settled as well. Give him mine. He doesn't have the bank details of that lady. He wouldn't find out you were the one when he sees the bank name. Ava, enough of your what-ifs you are replacing that lady tonight and getting the money for your mom's surgery." She said it with finality.

I couldn't argue again. I sighed; I was really exhausted. All the strength in me was drained; I couldn't think of anything else other than to just agree with Bessie's plan.

I deleted the lady's contact information and left for my apartment to change from being Ava to being a sex worker for a night.

The thought of Michael finding out sent shivers down my spine. If he should come to know the truth, it would be the end of my life on earth. Michael Lucas was brutal and dangerous, but I was more dangerous because I was about to step on the tiger's tail.