Chapter 3 3

6 years ago...

"It takes a lot of money!"

These words had kept Daisy's head occupied the entire night. An idling haze of sleep was stiffened somewhere at the back of her mind but was too far away to reach.

The night wore on, thoughts tumbled through her mind in rapid succession. She pulled the blanket up and rolled to the opposite side of the small divan.

The blackness had wrapped the room with suffocating silence, but still, there was the least partially light that was propelled from the windows of the hospital room.

The only thing she needed now was money. How to earn it overnight? How to arrange everything and save the one last person she had? Countless questions, but no answer.

'There is always hope, even in the bleakest moments' - She didn't believe this quote at this moment. There was no hope left, but she was still trying her best. And if there was any possibility to fetch the least hope, she won't let it go no matter what.

After a tortured eternity the room began to get brighter and the birds chirped, Daisy threw back the blanket and stumbled out of it.

She needed to arrive at her workplace on time. Her job was the last wealth she had.

Inhaling a deep breath, Daisy fumbled in the dark of the washroom to put on her grid-patterned blue-and-white cotton blouse with jeans. She was quiet the entire time, tried not to clang around with her toothbrush and all the other morning ablutions.

After getting freshen up, She hastily made her way out of the room and rushed to the exit of the hospital.

Daisy was panting so hard and trying to catch her breath when she reached the hotel she was a hostess at. She quickly opened her locker and changed into her uniform, a black button-up robe, wrinkle-free, black slacks, and a black shoe.

"Hey, Daisy."

Daisy heard her friend's voice when she was standing near the reception. She turned around and a smile curled her lips. "Shua."

"Overtime?" She asked with a sympathetic look.

Daisy nodded. "Yeah. From now on, I will be assigned to VIP room no 9 as well. I need the money, you know."

The playful smile Shua always carried had vanished now. Every timee she saw Daisy, her heart pained for her. "How is everything going on in the hospital? How is your grandmother?" She managed to withstand the sadness.

A long sigh escaped Daisy's lips. "The Doctor said he can't do anything except for doing surgery and start with the chemotherapy as soon as possible. But the fees are very expensive. I can barely pay the hospital bills now." She closed her eyes and dared not to even think about the line-up bills at home that were waiting for her to settle. "Anyways... You..." Before she could finish her sentence, the sensor box in her pocket vibrated and almost made her jump.

Shua let out a soft chuckle. "You better get back to work. I will see you later."

Daisy pressed her lips together and nodded before she made her way to VIP room no 9 and knocked on the door.

"Come in." As a manly voice faded across her, she faked a smile on her face and entered the room. The walls of the room were white but seemed red by the scarlet dim light and the jazz he played was as audible as background noise.

She inhaled a deep breath and looked at the guy who was sitting on the couch with a mini table in front of him and on it, there were three empty bottles of wine, cold in its tranquillity.

His face was not visible but by the hazy features, she guessed that he is in his mid-twenties. She trudged forward and bowed politely. "Hello, sir. How can I help you?"

"Can you heal wounds?" Alex asked, without looking at the woman in front of him.

Daisy's face went blank. "Sorry, sir? I didn't get it." His voice was husky and she was conscious enough to understand that he was drunk.

"You asked... how can you help me." Alex mumbled whilst he pressed the button on the remote, turned all the lights on just to take in the surface of the beauty in front of him. His eyes immediately widened in awe. "Rhia?" The name slipped out of his mouth. He didn't know if it's because of alcohol or not but she reminded him of her.

They were totally different persons and didn't look alike a small bit but still, something about her made him feel like he was near the person he wanted to be with.

"I think you are drunk. I am not Rhia. I am Daisy." She said, this time irritated by the drunk man.

Alex exhaled a sharp breath and nodded. "Right, you are not her, you just feel like her." He replied a sadness crossed over his face.

The pain in his voice was what made Daisy curious. "But... sir... Who is she?" She braced herself to ask.

Alex's face darkened, he swallowed a gulp. "I need wine."

Presuming he wasn't interested to answer, she let out a soft sigh. "Alright, I will bring some." With that, she left the room and after a while, came back with two bottles of wine and placed them on the table.

"Can I help you with anything else, sir?" She asked.

Alex nodded. "Sit down."

Daisy tilted her head. "Pardon, sir?"

"You wanted to help me, right? So I said sit down." He repeated but as he noticed the hesitation on her face, he chuckled. "Just for ten minutes. I won't do anything. I promise. And I will pay for your minutes. So don't worry."

Money. That she needed the most.

Daisy sighed and found herself unable to resist his offer. So without protesting, she walked over and sat beside him on the couch.

By such close distance, she could now see his features clearly.

Her heart skipped a beat when he settled beside her and their eyes locked. He was so good looking that defining him as handsome would be less, an understatement and almost insulting. His grey eyes had a dazzling effect, the glossy pink colour of his lips was alluring in its way. His silky dark hair was combed behind by his nice fingers, the few strands of hair that were stroking across his forehead made him look cooler. He had fine jawlines and a highly defined face.

"Do you know who I am?" Alex asked with his softest voice and Daisy was forced to jerk her thoughts away.

Swallowing her own breath, she shook her head. She didn't lie. She really didn't have any idea about him. To be exact, she never had any idea about the customers who come to this hotel. No matter who was he/she, she never recognized them.

Alex chuckled. "Even about a week ago, my news was almost in all the newspapers. How is it possible that you don't know me?"

"I don't get the time to read the newspaper," Daisy replied.

Alex tilted his head, wondering about her age. She looked so young. "How old are you? 19? 20?"

"19. I turned 19 this year."

"Do you study? Are you in college?" He asked.

She looked away as warm waters started pooling in her eyes. "I quit."

"Why?"

"Because I need money." She replied, this time her voice sounded shaky, yet stern.

"How much?"

"A lot." Daisy let out and chuckled sadly at herself. On this earth, she had no one who can help her. Guys like him would show sympathy for a while and then forget about her. She didn't even understand why she was answering his questions. Letting out an exaggerated sigh, she stood up. "I guess. Ten minutes are over. I need to finish my other duties. You can call me when you need me. For now, may I leave, sir?"

Alex nodded and she took her leave through the door. Her absence made the emptiness flock around him. A similar pain ate at him but felt heavier.