Chapter 17

New Hopes

"Stella.. Stella where are you?"

There wass darkness every where and Edwin was in despair completely clueless where to find Stella.

The place looked like a hollow vacuum tunnel.

It was ever widening with every step he took.

It was a never ending dark alley and Stella was lost somewhere in there.

Sweat droplets shone on his forehead and he was scared, very scared.

Whenever he thought he was getting closer to Stella why does fate do this to him?

'I cannot loose her. I want her safe. I want her with me.' He chanted in his head

'Stella Stella" he shouted and the voice echoed back ten times louder.

~'''''''''''''''

"Edwin wake up I am here." Some one pushed Edwin and he sat straight all of a sudden sweat droplets on his forehead and a smiling Stella standing in front of his eyes with a tray of tea in her hands.

She kept the tray aside and wiped his forehead with the tissue that she had brought along with tea and cookies.

"Dreaming about me?" She asked fluttering her eyelashes.

'Yeah' he said scratching the back of his neck thinking about the nightmare.

Thank god it was just a dream.

"So I was giving you a tough time there too?" she asked biting her lower lip looking sexy as hell in her sexy pink strapless nightgown that she was wearing.

"Not as much as you are giving me now, making it harder." He said teasing her.

"Can I see how hard am I making you?" she cock teased further.

"Yeah you want to... I'll show you" he pulled her on his laps kissing her full on and she quickly kissed him back.

The kiss was getting wilder and wackier every second and his hands found their path from her pink satin cloth that was clung to her body as he caressed her legs with his fingers moving up to the line of her pan!ies where he slid his hands teasing her and was about to remove them.

He had no control over his hands, lust had taken over both of them.

"Tea....ea ... hmm. Tea" Stella stuttered between her shallow breathing, desire burning in her blues.

"Yes what?" he asked as his tongue moved around her luscious lips making her moan and letting her speak. Then his tongue traveled down to her chin, neck and then to the se*iest of her boobs.

He was licking them trying to gain the access through her tight satin fabric that was hugging her boobs tightly.

She took a deep breath and pushed him, "Tea is getting cold. Have it." And started giggling added with blush multiplied with smiles and equaled with happiness.

"You up this early?" he asked checking his mobile that showed only 10 minutes passed seven.

"Yeah slept well last night and I have to go somewhere." Stella said pouring burning hot tea in floral teacups and stirring them with silver spoon.

He felt proud of his special date last night that she was relaxed and slept well.

"Where?" he asked as he picked the cup of tea from her.

"Do you wanna stalk on me?" Stella asked mockingly.

"Yopes don't you know I am your possessive stalker." he said adding more fun to her mocking.

"I am scared" she faked, "I am going to some charity function." She said sipping a sip of tea with her pink subtle lips that he was jealous of that stupid floral cup.

"Charity function?" he was surprised. This was something new he was hearing from Stella.

"My friend Mary remember?" She continued after Edwin nodded "She runs a charity organization for cancer patients. They give grants to families who cannot afford the expensive medical treatments.

"Sounds good. You are doing a great job Stella supporting her. I am proud of you" he said honestly.

In fact he liked the idea a bit too much. It would give Stella something else to bother about other than her discrepancies in life. This would really help her distract and socialize positively.

It also helped to sort his problem that he'd been trying to figure out since days.

"Stella can I have Mary's number? I can help her with funds. Our company gives every year to some random organizations. Let it be Cancer patients this time and I have something else too in mind." he told her.

"I will message you her business card" Stella said untying her hair and tying them again into a bun as she went to the washroom for a bath.

In the mean while when Stella is in the wash room he discussed with the highest authority of the hospital where Iris's father was admitted and worked up with the plan he had in mind.

The doctor supported it willingly.

''''''''''

Iris had developed some allergic reactions due to ice. She had got fever.

I had already missed whole week of her classes and wondered how long the month will take to pass.

The worst part being her father couldn't be operated either.

She had asked Edwin for help but had kept so many terms and conditions that he might have preferred backing up.

She also called up at the hospital to check if they could lend her some time but considering the past records of delayed payments they completely denied.

She was in distress.

With high fever and low health managing the client seemed a terrifying task.

Also she couldn't leave him displeased as it was not good for her profession.

My family is dependant on this profession.

She wished she could finish her degree soon and then hop into some decent job.

Only grudge that would stay would be missing her only chance to revive her father from his state of comma.

She sighed as she wished she was a bit selfish and took help from Edwin in form of cash but he already was screwed up with his wife and lost child, adding another heck of Brent to him was not fair.

Sadly she chose him over her father.

'Right or wrong I did it and I am not feeling guilty for it. I think I did the right thing.

She stared at the fan on the ceiling trying to sleep but the miseries of her life had taken over her sleep also she was thirsty but did not have strength in her to walk to the table few feet away to pick the bottle of water and quench her thirst.

She prayed that the medicines she brought from the local chemist after deep convincing him, helps.

"Beep Beeeep Beeeeeeep" her phone rang louder than usual hitting on my head which was already hurting with severe headache.

"Hello'

"Miss Iris"

"Yes"

"Ma'am I am Dr Katniss from the hospital."

"Dr Katniss! Good morning." she said actively sitting now holding her head which was now throbbing with pain.

Hopes built inside her that Edwin had worked a way out.

But how was it possible?

She had called them an hour ago but there was no sign of compromise from their part.

"Good morning Miss Iris. We have good news for you." The voice at the other end said building new hopes.

"I am all ears please speak sir." she said excitedly expecting a miracle in whatever form possible.

Ages after had she heard the word 'good news' and it was addressed to her.

"There is some charity organization that helps cancer patients and this time for a change they have opted for our hospital and are granting funds to the most needy patients of the hospital." The doctor said "We have recommended your dad's name on the grounds that you are the only bread earner of the family and still a student. Also your 4000$ are redeemed into the account which is not refundable and you were not able to manage the rest. So I think this organization can help you."

The doctor paused expecting a reaction from Iris but when she was speechless he continued

"All you have to do is drop into the hospital at the earliest and fill in the detailed form mentioning the illness, your name, patient's name, your income and other details. It's just a formality but arrears to this won't let us move ahead with further procedures."

Finally it was like Iris had got her voice back. She couldn't believe miracles have finally found her address "I'll do it right now. I'll immediately do the necessary sir." she said cheerfully ignoring the throbbing pain. This indeed was a miracle but again she was scared that Edwin was behind this.

If he was and Brent found out, it would be bad.

"One last favor sir" she asked Dr Katniss. "Who is the head person running this organization? I mean if I know I can thank him personally. If you do not mind?"

"No ma'am it's not a problem. She's a female. Mrs. Mary Thomas, wife of owner of Thomas group of the companies runs this organization. It is indeed a genuine one and according to what I have read in magazines because I haven't met her personally, she is a very nice lady."

"Thanks sir" she said as she hooked up the phone thanking mentally that Edwin was not behind this and was not involved in it.

She did fill in the details and finished all the formalities at the hospital coming back home to rest so that she was fresh in the night.

Jason was waiting in one of the pubs for her enjoying the strippers and drinking uncontrollably today.

He was already high.

She crossed her fingers hoping that he finishes soon so that I don't have to stay for long.

She wondered if she would be able to satisfy him at least once.

Though she had managed to come but was very tired.

The medicines did help lower the temperature for a while but now she felt like her body was burning.

She did not check with the thermometer because it wouldn't help for she was committed to come; fever or not.

So dressed in her sexiest read short middy which was a stretchable net fabric so easy to remove.

She avoided teh stockings as wearing and removing it was additional and made sure that the cleavage was very low.

She did look like a certified slut but who cares?

She left my hair open, not even brushing them so the curls were naturally formed and were helping to cover her back as she was cold due to fever.

She had also forgotten the scarf.

All she wanted was him to clima* and let her free.

He was playing with one of the dancers undressing her with his eyes as there was a no touching rule at the pub. He probably was quite aroused by now.

He sent her a note mentioning the room no so that she can precede and he would join in later after couple more drinks.

She wondered if he still would be able to walk to the room in his own feet with the amount of alcohol, he already had in his system.

She reached the room and opened it. Though it needed keys but it was left open, some preplanned thing by Jason.

The room was dimly lit with flashy colors on the wall and cheap curtains, typical room meant for whore business. It was a single room with bed on the centre. There was a non-branded television kept on one of the tables. The room was also sprayed with some cheap floral room fresheners which was a common thing in cheap hotels like this and Iris was used to it and so it did not affect her much.

What was bothering her was Jason was not the kind of person who would take such a kind of room. Something dirty and bad was following for sure and when she went forward to throw my black clutch she was holding on the bed, she knew she was gone

The bed was filled with chains and ropes.

So today she was going to be chained for sex and it was going to be equally whacky, dirty and painful.

She waited for long for Jason to come but he didn't.

She might have slept because next she could hear was a long list of audible bad words including Bitch, whore, Slut,f##k. and on and on.

"Sorry.. Sorry" she mumbled as she stood on her feet and straightened her red middy.

She might have had a sound sleep for a short while as her mouth was wet and Jason highly raged.

"Why the f##king hell did you come here if you were unwell with high fever, simply spoiling the mood. Go away F##king bitch." He shouted.

'I am fine. I'll be okay. I won't disappoint you" she said but he did not listen

"Before I kick you out with a blow leave" and he threw a 500$ bill to her and said "Go to a doctor and get treated. I am leaving out of the town, see you on Monday at 7 and I want you to be healthy by then"

She left the hotel room untouched for the second time.

Last time it was with Edwin.

Every single step she took felt like miles walked.

She looked for lift or cab but with the clothing she had on she doubted that she'll get any transportation. Added on was a task to escape from flesh hungry men who were out at these late hours hunting for preys.

Suddenly she felt that she was followed 'oh god someone was stalking at me'

Though she had nothing to loose but what if it was some psycho killer or a thief. I

She feared; she had just got a $500 thing in her clutch and she could not afford to loose it.

So she hastened her steps.

It was difficult but she used all her inner strength and the fast steps turned into a run.

The stalker was still following her.

Tired of running and high fever I couldn't think straight. I turned around to face him and used her clutch as a weapon to hit him.

Another guy from the right jumped and snatched her purse.

Her vision had turned blurry by now as the street was lonely and dark with only two streetlights which were very strong. They were blinding her.

Then two figures appeared before me. They were shaking randomly.

Iris was trying to figure out what was happening but she could only hear noises.

She realized two people were having a hand-to-hand fight.

She thought she was imagining things.

Then the tall figure who was dressed in a combat style as if he was a pro hit the other figure that was holding a shining thing.

Holy shit it was her clutch and the shining thing was a diamond studded bow attached to it.

The guy with her clutch fell on the ground after getting few blows from the pro fighter and ran away throwing the clutch in the ground.

He was coming towards her.

Iris was shaking by now.

She was scared that he was a psycho killer and she was his next target.

So she started running but her legs were jelly by now and she fell on the ..., no not on the ground.

"I am not on the ground?" she furrowed her brows."I think I am hyperventilating" she chuckled "I am floating in the air."

"Are you alright ma'am?" the man dressed like a commando asked.

Iris blinked her eyes once and twice. She did not realize if she was conscious, unconscious or dead. She slurred her words "The psycho killer saved me from falling and hurting myself."

"You have high fever" he commented as he touched her forehead with his cold hands.

Iris still could not see his face as he was standing below the streetlight and all she could see was out sketch of his masculine oval face.

"Iris Iris" she heard him shout.

But who is he?

And she blacked out.............