Shadow Of Reality

Chapter 3

"Open it."

Despite her better judgment, she took the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper. Her eyes widened as she saw a check for more money than she had ever seen. Her heart raced as she realized of what purpose it was.

"It's enough to cover your mother's medical bills," Damien said softly, watching her. "And then some other things you can do for yourself, Hailey."

Her hands shook as she set the check back into the envelope and put it down on the table before them, her mind spinning. It was too much to be too generous. There had to be a catch. "Why would you do this?" she whispered.

Damien leaned forward, his eyes unreadable. "Because I want something in return."

"I knew there must be something behind this your kind act and there it was the catch. Hailey's stomach churned. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice unsteady.

His gaze was steady. "I want you to spend more time with me. Just a few nights. No strings attached."

Hailey's thoughts swirled. It seemed so simple that it's just a few nights, and her problems would be solved. Asking herself if there could be anything this simple to ease the struggle of her life. But she knew better. Nothing was ever that easy. Men like Damien didn't make offers without expecting something in return, something more than what they initially proposed.

"I'm sorry... I can't," she said, shaking her head, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm not that kind of person."

Damien's expression softened slightly, aiming to keep her calm . "I'm not asking for anything you don't want to give. Just your company, Hailey. That's all."

She wanted to believe him. There had been moments of kindness beneath his arrogance, thinking if truly Damien could be this kind and honest. But the check sitting in front of her felt like a heavy weight, bigger than what she could pull off at that moment, and she knew she had to keep things real. It was too much to turn down. She had to think about her mother and the medical bills that had consumed their lives, not to talk about her personal needs and some kind of lifestyle she could give herself. This check could change everything. But at what cost? The answers running through her mind at the moment were in thousands. She can really figure out if Damien could be so kind about the offer he just proposed to her.

Hailey was there sitting with great confusion, that was very readable in her eyes. Sensing her hesitation, Damien spoke gently, his tone disarming. "I'm not a monster, Hailey. I'm offering to help. You don't have to do anything you're uncomfortable with." Damien, being so calm and compelling, doesn't want to rush and ruin what he has started.

The sincerity in his voice startled her. For a moment, she wondered if maybe he was genuine. Maybe he wasn't as heartless as he appeared.The kind of man Damien has always been could surely make everyone to question this kind act of his at the recent moment. But it still felt like she was walking into a trap.

"I don't know," she murmured, torn between her desperation and the warning signs in her mind. Hailey couldn't figure out what she needed or wanted at the moment in relation to the great confusion on her mind.

"Just think about it," Damien said softly as he rose from his seat. "You don't have to decide tonight."

He left the envelope on the table and walked out of the restaurant, leaving Hailey standing there, her thoughts in turmoil. A moment she couldn't even figure out if she has any options, not after she had been left alone with the check. The check remained, a symbol of everything she had tried to avoid is depending on someone else, and someone like him. She can't afford to take a decision that would haunt her life.

As she finished her shift and headed home, Hailey's heart was heavy with a lot of thoughts running through her mind. She didn't want to owe anyone, especially not a man like Damien Williams. But the reality was, she had no options left.

When she reached her apartment, she found her mother asleep on the couch, her frail form illuminated by the soft glow of the TV. Hailey stood in the doorway, watching her for a long time. The sight of her mother's condition pushed the last bit of resistance out of Hailey's mind.

She knew what she had to do.

The next morning, looking very reluctant, she took out Damien's business card, hesitated, and dialed the number. The phone rang once before he picked up.

"Damien Williams."

Her voice trembled. "It's Hailey. Good morning......

"Morning, hope you had a better night's rest. Hearing your voice early in the morning is too calm."

"What are you up to this morning?"..... Damien asked.

"I'm good... And I've decided, just a night and nothing more?" Hailey said, in quest for proper assurance.

Damien assured her to have no issue about trusting him, and they ended the call. "I know, I'm always a winner and I never give up on anything." A smile ran through his cold face as he dropped his phone on a small table beside him. He rushed into his inner room for preparation of the day routine.

Obviously, Hailey is already into the plan of the day. She prepared a quick meal and arranged some needs for her sick mother before leaving for work. She knew she'd be back very late or might not come back home tonight as she already had a plan for the night with Damien.

Hailey has spent a long time at work for the day, ending her shift in a few minutes. She's well arranged to meet Damien tonight despite her

long hours at work. Hailey was done, and set out the Silver Spoon, where she worked and headed to the street.