One hundred dollars for her heart

Chapter 1 AT THE GENESIS Sharon was lying on her bed comfortably. There were piles of clothing scattered all over. The air conditioner wasn’t working and the windows were all closed. The room was intensely heated up. Sharon was sweating profusely. Then she began to hear her phone ring. The ringtone sounded like a sweet melody to her. Sharon was half-awake already, she was only too lazy to stand up and pick up the call. But as the phone continually rang nonstop, Sharon opened her eyes worriedly, picked up her phone and gazed at the phone screen to check the caller. Lo and behold, it was her father, Sam Hernandez. No one needed to advise Sharon to pick up the call again. She sat up, picked up the call, and listened to what her father had to say. “Hello, Good evening, dad…” Sharon told him over the phone. She was only realizing that her father was supposed to be home already. “There is trouble, Sharon!” Sam said over the phone. His voice resounded in Sharon’s ears. It carried urgency and emergency. “What!" Sharon exclaimed. “I need your help, Sharon. I have been arrested by the police. I am currently with your elder brother in the cell…” Sam said carefully. He was trying to put those words carefully. "Ahhh! What could have happened?" Sharon asked. Her heart was beating louder, her hands shaking in fear, and her voice trembling. “Just get over here! We are at the police headquarters at Lower Manhattan!” Sam told his daughter in a very loud voice. Instantly, he cut the call. Sam was sure Sharon would be there in no time. “Hello, Dad!” Sharon tried but it was in vain. Her father had cut the call already. Sharon needed no one to tell her that her father and her elder brother were arrested together. She got off the bed and picked some clothes to wear. Her body was sweaty and she needed to shower before anything. Sharon ran into the bathroom and took a quick shower. She dressed up and went outside the house. It took her no time to find a taxi and she was headed to Lower Manhattan to find out what was happening to her father and elder brother. The taxi driver was fast enough and there was no traffic congestion. This facilitated their quick transit. Before Sharon entered the police station, she felt some goosebumps running through her skin. It was a special feeling. Nevertheless, Sharon entered the police station. She could see different scenarios around. However, Sharon was focused. She moved to the desk of one of the cops around and engaged him in a conversation. “Good evening, Sir. I am here for my father and elder brother who has been arrested,” Sharon said gingerly. She gazed around and saw different police officers walking around to do their duty. “Their names?” the cop asked carelessly. He sounded quite mean. “Sam and Charlie Hernandez,” Sharon answered plainly. The desk sergeant peered into the document before him. He found the names he had been looking for and gazed back at Sharon. “They were arrested for destroying the greenhouse of one Mrs. Stone. Are you here to facilitate their bail?” the desk sergeant asked carefully. “Sure, Sir…” Sharon noted. “Did they really destroy someone’s garden?” "I don't think you should be asking me that irrelevant question!" The cop shouted at her. "The police understands their job and it's not in your place to teach us our job!" "But Sir…" Sharon tried. She didn't know what brought about such attitude from the cop. "Shut it!" The cop shouted at her. "Will you let me do my job or your family rots in jail?" Sharon sighed. "I am sorry. You can do your job…" Sharon replied. She knew she had to be careful now. "The victim wants to settle out of court which is a good thing for your wretched family…" the cop told her. "All you have to do is pay one hundred dollars for bail." Upon hearing this, Sharon was lost in thought. She was so poor that she didn’t have one hundred dollars. She didn’t know where to borrow such an amount of money from. The cop noticed this and called back her attention by tapping her slightly. “Hey, miss!” the cop called. “Oh, sorry Sir!” Sharon apologized. "I guess you were lost in thought…" the cop said with a smile. "Actually, I can let them off if you will spend a night with me." Sharon couldn't believe her ears. "I am not interested, Sir!" She told him plainly. "Then get the hell off!" He shouted at her. "I will…" Sharon replied. She was also angry but she wouldn't like to offend an officer of the law. “No qualms! However, there is a time frame here. You only have twelve hours to settle out of court with the victim. If it surpasses this time, your father and brother would be charged to court without fail…” the cop told her. This shocked Sharon more. “Okay, Sir…” Sharon noted. She began to walk out of the police station now. She was headed nowhere in particular but she had an aim. To find one hundred dollars! **************************** Sharon went home at first. She searched every nook and cranny but she could only find a ten dollar bill. She still needed ninety dollars. This wasn’t enough and she went out into the streets with the aim to find more money. Sharon felt hopeless. She had never felt so wretched in her life. As time passed, Sharon felt more anguished. She felt quite pressurized. In the midst of all these, she got a suggestion which would possibly solve the situation. It was to find someone who would borrow her one hundred dollars. Sharon went off to sit on the public bench. As she sat, a familiar passed by. The car stopped by and the driver also went out with the aim of getting some snacks in the store nearby. Sharon peeped to see the person inside the car. The windows were open and she could see a man in the car. The car seemed quite expensive and Sharon agreed that the man probably had enough money to borrow her. Sharon walked up to the man in question. He was quite young and handsome. "Good morning Sir…" Sharon greeted. She looked towards the innards of the car. "What's it?" The man asked pridefully. "Well…" Sharon stammered. "I am in dire need of financial assistance. My brother and father have been arrested and I have no money to bail them out. I will truly appreciate if you can help me out." The man gazed at Sharon slowly. He was inspecting her. "How much is the amount for the bail?" The man asked simply. "One hundred dollars!" Sharon answered simply. The man opened his eyes widely on hearing this. "What!" The man shouted surprisingly. "Yeah!" Sharon told him now. "I only need a hundred dollars. I can show you proof that my father and brother are really in jail. I am not a liar." "I don't see a reason to accuse you of lying…" the man said now. "Also, I see no reason to trust you with one hundred dollars. I can give you but you have to work for it." Sharon sighed. "How would I work for it, Sir?" Sharon asked pleadingly. She was anxious as she was actually running out of time. "I will propose that you get married to me…" the man began. "I am talking about a contract marriage. If you will agree to act like my lover for a year, I will give you one hundred dollars." Sharon was shocked. She wasn't expecting the man to bring up a contract marriage deal. "So, will you?" The man asked. Sharon checked her wristwatch. She was running out of time. The young man was waiting for her reply.