Only Office Hours

Chapter 1: The Unexpected Miracle Sofia

I sat, hunched over my phone, scrolling frantically at my screen, hoping for what I knew would never happen. A freaking miracle. My eyes hurt, way worse than the other days. They were teary and red, like they had been covered by pepper spray.

It was a normal routine for me, one that stabbed at the core of my heart. I didn't have much of a choice, life shoved this at me and it is as bitter as a gourd.

"Miss Reyes," a voice called. I jerked and raised my head to find a man beaming a smile at me. His smile was modest, well trained, of course, but his presence only brought worry and heavy sadness to my heart.

"Doctor, how's she?" I jumped up immediately, not letting him speak first.

"Um, she is stable. But..."

A fresh line of tears rolled down my cheeks. I knew that phrase. It would be the same he had said a month ago, when my mother was admitted. It was the same clause he had repeated each time I was here asking how my mother was.

I wiped my eyes and cheeks with the back of my palms.

"We need to begin the procedures before her cancer goes past the stage of being cured. We can keep her stable for now, but that's not a guarantee that she will be completely healed."

I nodded and sniffed.

"Yeah. Um, I... I will see what I can do," I repeated my usual answer with a shaky voice. What I could do was very little, an insignificant effort when it was laid side by side with the money I was required to pay to begin the surgical procedures.

Where the hell was a waitress and caretaker at an elderly care home supposed to get two hundred and fifty grand? It would be as unrealistic as a clown's dream.

"Okay Miss Reyes," the doctor patted my shoulder.

“You need to go home and rest,” the doctor said gently, “Visiting hours ended an hour ago.”

I stared back. Behind the ICU glass, my mother lay unconscious beneath the hospital sheets, pale and still as marble. She didn't look like the same woman that raised me up years back. She was losing every essence of life as the days crawled by.

“I’m fine,” I murmured, looking down and brushing a stray curl of hair behind my ear.

The doctor offered a sympathetic smile. “There’s nothing more you can do tonight. You should try to rest.”

Nothing more I could do. That phrase felt like a punch to the gut and my lips vibrated, trying hard to hold back a million cries. I stood up, gave one last sad look at my mother, and forced myself out into the cold air of the hospital parking lot.

I looked ahead of me. Somewhere in the distance, the city of New York blinked and buzzed like it had forgotten people were suffering in its shadows. People like me. While some had it easier, enjoying the best of life.

As I stepped off the curb, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out. It was a call from Kayla, a contact I could never reject, even on a bad day. Everyday was a bad day for me.

"Sofie, where are you?" The voice was loud and vibrant enough to blast the speaker.

I sniffed, wiping the side of my eyes, "I'm fine, Kayla."

"I asked where you were. You seriously need a break at this point."

I sighed, but remained silent as I walked down the curb.

"You’re suffocating. You work everyday from seven to ten and then spend a night at the hospital. Don't you think you're being too hard on yourself?"

"Too hard on myself? That's my mother lying in there!" I lashed into the phone with furrowed brows like she was the one I held in between my palms. My eyes were tearing again.

"I know. She has been there for you since your father died. But you shouldn't kill yourself, girl..."

"Why did you call?" I cut Kayla halfway through her speech.

"Come have one drink. Just one. I’m sending the address. Wear something scandalous."

"Kayla–"

"Oh please, don't give me that. Who knows, you might meet a miracle here."

I almost laughed. "A miracle?" I scoffed, "Where has it been all these years?"

"You coming or not? I know someone you could meet."

The music was too loud for me as I walked into the Essence Club. The colored lights were too dim like the devils danced in there. Mom always said so. The crowded hall stank of alcohol, smoke and humans. Part of me was already regretting my choice.

I tugged at the hem of my borrowed black dress — a last minute decision that added to my list of regrets — and scanned the VIP section for Kayla.

“There you are!” Kayla’s familiar curls bounced as she threw her arms around me. She smelled like gin and confidence. “Girl, you clean up hot. Look at you.”

I forced a small smile. “I feel ridiculous.”

“You look like trouble. That’s good. Now drink.” Kayla handed me a glass.

I sipped. The wild taste of tequila filtered into my taste buds and slid down my throat with a slight burn.

“Kayla, I can’t stay long—”

“Stop. Tonight is not about hospitals or bills or the fact that you’ve aged six years in six months.” Kayla waved at the crowd. “Tonight is about forgetting. Just for a little while, Sofia.”

I took another sip of the tequila. “Who did you want me to meet?”

Kayla pursed her lips and looked away, to her right. I followed, and there at the far corner sat a man bent over his phone.

I instantly felt an aura that I didn't like. Pride.

I frowned at her. She was mischievous, and I hated that about her.

"You set me up on a meet up? At a club?"

Kayla placed her hand on my shoulder, "Sofie, you need it."

I slapped her hand off my shoulder and then threw the last portion of the tequila down my throat.

"I'm leaving."

"Why so early?" A smooth masculine voice cut through the music.

How was he so fast?

Up close, his presence was suffocating. His voice was like velvet wrapped in steel.

He smirked. “I didn't quite expect someone this well packaged when I got that text that you were open for me. Essence sometimes lacks quality.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

Kayla’s eyes were huge. “I’m going to grab another drink,” she mumbled, backing away fast.

I glared at her. She knew I wouldn't agree to it. We have done this in the past and I turned it down. This is what my desperation has caused. f**k life.

“I don’t do random flings. If that’s what you’re fishing for, I’m not the one," I blurted out and then pushed past him.

He caught my arms in a firm grip just as I was about to walk past his side.

"Why are you here then?"

I struggled with his hand wrapped tightly around me like a boa constrictor.

He leaned to my ears, “Two thousand dollars.”

I froze with my mouth half open. I lost myself at the mention of the amount.

He pulled me back and I couldn't fight back. He stepped closer, the scent of expensive cologne wrapping around me like a noose. “Just one night, you entertain me well. Five grand. No questions.”

My breath hitched. It wasn't the money, it was him.

“No,” I forced the words out like I was spitting out a rock stuck in my throat.

He chuckled. “Everyone has their price. One that fits their problems. And besides I can see that this isn't your first.”

I paused. My head riled up, with my thoughts clashing. Did I really have a choice? He was just too hard to refuse.

"I don't have all night. What's it going to be?"