Chapter 3 Unfair Consequences.

Annabel's POV

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"You are fired, Annabel!" Mrs. Clarke yelled, her face red with rage, her finger pointing at the door like a dagger.

"Get out of my office this instant!" She slammed her fist on the desk, making me jump.

I stood in front of Mrs. Clarke's desk, my shoulders slumped under the weight of the past 24 hours. I tried to explain what had happened at the hotel, but Mrs. Clarke wouldn't listen. She cut me off with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"You assaulted a client and damaged company property!" Mrs. Clarke shouted, her voice echoing off the walls. "You are lucky I'm not pressing charges." She leaned forward, her eyes blazing with anger.

I hung my head, tears stinging my eyes. "But...but I had no choice," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Mrs. Clarke laughed cruelly, her eyes glinting with mockery. "No choice? You always have a choice, Miss Green," she sneered, her face contorted with disgust. "You could have just accepted his advances and gotten paid, but you chose to act like an animal." She spat out the words like venom. "You are fired. Now, get out before I call security."

I felt a surge of anger at her words, my hands shaking with rage. "I...should stay and allow him to violate me? For what, because he is a client?" I asked, my voice trembling with emotion.

Mrs. Clarke scoffed, her eyes narrowed with contempt. "Violate you?" She repeated the words like they were distasteful. "You make it sound like he was a monster. He's a good man, one of our best clients. And you were more than willing to take his money for your services." She raised an eyebrow, her expression dripping with sarcasm. "But when it came time to deliver the goods, you decided to play the victim."

I clenched my teeth, anger seething inside of me like a volcano. "He wasn't 'delivering goods,'" I spat, my voice shaking with rage. "He was assaulting me." I took a step forward, my fists clenched at my sides.

Mrs. Clarke's expression hardened into a mask of indifference. "Assaulting you?" She repeated the words like they were a joke. "He was trying to give you a little pleasure, and you overreacted." She shrugged, her shoulders barely moving. "You've ruined your career over a little fun."

I felt my anger boil over, my nails digging into my palms. "That wasn't fun," I hissed, my voice low and deadly. "That was...that was-" I faltered, unable to find the right words.

Mrs. Clarke sighed, leaning back in her chair and folding her hands like a queen dismissing a servant. "You're young, Miss Green. You'll learn one day that life isn't fair." Her gaze hardened, her eyes like two chips of ice. "I think it's time for you to leave. Don't bother coming back." She waved her hand, dismissing me like a piece of trash.

My hands clenched into fists, feeling angry inside. But I knew I couldn't win. Mrs. Clarke had all the power, and I had nothing left.

I turned around quickly, feeling upset and mad. As I walked through the lobby, I promised myself I wouldn't let anyone treat me badly again. I'd stand up for Audrey and fix things somehow.

Outside, the bright sun made it hard to see as I walked on the busy sidewalk. I took deep breaths to calm down.

I couldn't understand why the world was so wicked. I only stood up for what was right and it cost me my job and that month's pay.

My eyes burned with unshed tears as I thought about the injustice of it all. The world was cruel and unfair, and I was paying the price for standing up for what was right.

But I wouldn't back down. Not now, not ever.

I didn't know how I got home, but I found myself standing in front of my apartment door, my mind still spinning from the day's events.

My hand trembled as I struggled with the keys, my fingers feeling numb from fear and exhaustion.

I stumbled inside, closing the door with a dull thud. The silence of the empty apartment felt suffocating, pressing down on me like a heavy burden. I sank to the floor, covering my face with my hands as tears streamed down my cheeks.

How was I going to do this? How could I pay off our debt and pay for my sister's medication? I was just one person, alone in the world, with no money and no support.

Suddenly, I stopped thinking sadly and noticed that my sister, Audrey, was missing. I felt scared as I searched the apartment.

"Audrey!" I called, my voice shaking.

I looked in every room, but I couldn't find her. It felt like everything was closing in on me, making me feel trapped.

"Audrey!" I yelled again, looking around the empty apartment.

"Please, Audrey, answer me," I pleaded, my voice breaking. "I can't lose you."

I sank to the floor, my hand covering my mouth as a sob escaped my lips. My mind raced, imagining the worst-case scenarios.

Then it came to my mind to check the kitchen and so I rushed towards the kitchen.

There, on the floor I saw my sister Audrey on the floor unconscious.

I felt scared when I saw Audrey lying unconscious on the floor. I dropped to my knees, holding her in my arms.

"Audrey, wake up," I whispered, tears running down my face.

But Audrey didn't respond. I wondered how long she'd been like this.

My heart was pounding like crazy, fear and desperation clouding my thoughts. "I need to get her to the hospital," I muttered to myself, my hands shaking as I tried to lift Audrey's small body gently.

"Please, Audrey, don't leave me," I begged, my voice cracking. "I need you. I can't lose you too."

With a lot of effort, I managed to carry Audrey out of the apartment and down the stairs, my legs threatening to give out beneath me.

Sweat trickled down my forehead as I struggled to carry Audrey's limp body. My arms ached, and I gasped for breath as I rushed down the stairs.

With every step, my heart pounded faster, fear and adrenaline coursing through me.

When I finally reached the street, I looked around desperately for help. Spotting a passing car, I flagged it down.

"Please," I gasped, my voice desperate. "My sister, she's...she's unconscious. I need to get her to the hospital."

The driver looked surprised, but he didn't waste any time. "Get in," he said quickly.

"I'll take you to the nearest hospital."

I got into the backseat, holding Audrey carefully as the car rushed off into the night. The streetlights passed by quickly as I held my sister close, thinking about the past few hours.

"Please, hang on," I whispered, my tears falling onto Audrey's face.

"You're going to be okay. I promise."