Chapter 3 - THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR ONE LIE|
By midnight, the Hawthorne Grand had become the center of a nightmare.
Guests were leaving through side doors.
The wedding band had packed its instruments.
And Madison Crane was sitting in the bridal suite, crying over the ruined photographs of what was supposed to be the most perfect night of her life.
Downstairs, Amara sat in a small employee office holding an ice pack against her cheek.
Jade stood beside her.
“Please tell me you're pressing charges.”
Amara sighed.
“I haven't decided.”
“Amara, she hit you in front of two hundred people!”
“I know.”
“You could've been seriously hurt.”
Amara stared at the floor.
“I know that too.”
But her thoughts were somewhere else.
Monday.
Her nursing-school deposit was due Monday.
If she missed the deadline, her place in the program could be given to another student.
And her mother's rent still needed to be paid.
Jade crouched in front of her.
“Don't tell me you're worried about your job.”
“I'm worried about everything.”
Before Jade could answer, someone knocked.
Patricia Crane entered carrying a cream-colored envelope.
“I'd like a private word with Miss Lewis.”
Jade folded her arms.
“Then say it in front of me.”
Patricia's smile tightened.
“This is a personal matter.”
Amara looked at Jade.
“It's okay.”
Jade reluctantly stepped outside.
Patricia closed the door.
Then she placed the envelope on the desk.
“Thirty thousand dollars.”
Amara blinked.
“What?”
“Cashier's check. Completely legitimate.”
Patricia sat across from her.
“My daughter had an emotional reaction to a very stressful situation. Nobody wants this unpleasantness to destroy two families.”
Amara stared at the envelope.
“Your daughter slapped me because I saved someone's life.”
“Let's not exaggerate.”
“Her wheelchair was going down forty marble steps.”
Patricia leaned forward.
“Miss Lewis, I know about your financial situation.”
Amara's stomach tightened.
“Excuse me?”
“Your nursing program. Your mother's apartment. Your missing gratuities.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
“How do you know those things?”
Patricia ignored the question.
“Thirty thousand dollars would solve quite a few problems.”
Amara looked at the envelope again.
For a terrible second, she imagined paying her tuition.
Her mother's rent.
Every overdue bill.
Patricia noticed.
“All you need to do is sign a statement confirming that the incident was accidental and that Madison never struck you.”
Amara slowly raised her eyes.
“But she did.”
Patricia's voice hardened.
“Truth can be a complicated thing.”
“No,” Amara replied. “Sometimes it's very simple.”
She pushed the envelope back.
“I won't lie.”
Patricia stood.
“Then you're making a very expensive mistake.”
Amara rose too.
“Is that a threat?”
Patricia smiled.
“Consider it advice.”
She left without another word.
Seconds later, Jade hurried back inside.
“What happened?”
Amara told her everything.
Jade's expression changed from anger to alarm.
“Amara, listen carefully.”
“What?”
“I was outside the door. I heard part of that conversation.”
Amara looked at her.
May you like
Jade slowly raised her phone.
“And this time, I made sure somebody recorded it.”
