Chapter 10 - Chapter 10

"Tonight is my first shift."Cherry held the tray against her waist while Gilbert studied her."What about your other jobs?""I still have them."His brow tightened."I need the extra money," she added.Mister Evans lifted his empty glass before Gilbert could ask anything else."Could you refill this?""Yes, sir."Cherry turned toward him, grateful for a task she knew how to do.The gathering was a late welcome reception for Gilbert after his return from California. Several business leaders had also come to speak with him after the university's groundbreaking ceremony.Knox and Eros had arranged it, though Eros had already left for the hospital.Gilbert's laptop remained open on the table. He seemed more interested in Cherry than in the guests around him.Knox noticed."Give Gilbert a glass," he said with a grin. "He's the guest of honor. Serve him with a smile."Cherry's face warmed.She placed a filled glass on the tray and walked toward the sofa. Whatever had happened at the university, she was here to work.As she approached, Knox shifted his foot into her path.Her ankle struck his shoe.Cherry gasped. The tray tilted, and red wine splashed across Gilbert's trousers. The bottle and a glass fell to the floor.She stumbled against his knees, then caught herself on the edge of the sofa.For a moment, no one spoke.Then Knox laughed."Everyone seems to lose their balance around you, Gilbert."Several guests joined him.Cherry stepped back, her cheeks burning. Wine had splashed onto her uniform, and broken glass lay near her feet."I'm sorry."Gilbert closed his laptop.His gaze moved from his trousers to Knox's foot."Enough."The laughter stopped."It was a joke," Knox said."She could have been hurt."Cherry looked at Gilbert."Step away from the glass," he told her.She moved back."I'll clean it. I'm sorry, Mister Carter.""Leave it."Her throat tightened.She could not lose this job. Not tonight."Please don't report me. I'll pay for the wine and the cleaning."Gilbert looked at her."With what money?"Cherry lowered her eyes. Everyone was still watching."I'll work for it."She turned to look for another member of staff."Stop."She faced him again.Gilbert reached toward her wrist, then paused. The faint mark from Benjamin's grip was still visible.He lowered his hand."I didn't tell you to leave."Knox sat forward."My fault," he said. "I tripped her. I'll cover the damage."Cherry stared at him.He no longer looked amused.Gilbert kept his attention on her."Why didn't you tell me what happened at the university?""You walked away before I could explain."He went quiet.Cherry bent carefully to retrieve the tray from a clear patch of floor."They suspended my scholarship," she said. "I found out the next morning."Gilbert's gaze sharpened."Because of Martinez?""Because they believed him."She held the tray close."I need to return to work.""Is that why you took this job?""It's one reason.""You need money that badly?"Cherry stiffened."I'm trying to take care of myself.""That isn't what I asked."She looked at him."Yes. I need money.""How much?"She thought of Luke's medicine, the hospital charges, and the tuition she now had to find."I don't know anymore."Her voice cracked."The bills keep coming."Gilbert looked toward an unopened bottle on the table."Ten thousand pesos for one glass."Cherry stared at him.The conversation around them stopped."Ten thousand?""If you want it."She followed his gaze to the wine.Ten thousand pesos could help pay for Luke's medicine. It could cover expenses she had been putting off while she tried to keep up with the hospital.But she had barely eaten, and she did not drink."I don't drink," she said."Then refuse."His voice was calm."The choice is yours."Cherry looked at the people around the table. She had already fallen in front of them. Now Gilbert was offering money to watch her drink.He knew why she needed it.She tightened her fingers around the tray.Luke was still unconscious. Her scholarship was gone. She could work every spare hour she had and still fall behind.One glass would earn more than many nights of work.But alcohol had never meant an easy evening to her. It meant her mother's shouting, broken promises, and nights spent keeping Luke close until the house became quiet.Cherry swallowed."I'll do it."Knox's smile had disappeared."You don't have to prove anything.""I'm not."She looked at Gilbert."I need the money."His jaw tightened. For a moment, she thought he might take back the offer.Instead, he moved an empty glass toward her."One glass. Nothing more."Cherry set down the tray and poured from the unopened bottle."You can still refuse," Gilbert said.She lifted the glass.The first sip made her cough. Her eyes watered, and she had to stop to catch her breath.Knox leaned forward."Forget it. I'll give you the money."Cherry shook her head.Gilbert's offer had been clear. She did not want to leave the table wondering whether he would say she had taken something without keeping her part.She drank more slowly.The wine settled badly in her empty stomach. Her face grew warm, and she steadied herself against the table until the glass was empty.Then she put it down."Finished."Gilbert looked at the glass, then at her.He said nothing.Cherry glanced at the bottle. Another ten thousand pesos would help too.She reached for it.Gilbert stopped it with his hand."One glass was the agreement.""I can drink another.""No.""That would be another ten thousand.""I said no."Cherry looked at him."You offered.""One glass."She blinked against the tears gathering in her eyes."Do you think I can't do it?""You're exhausted, you haven't eaten, and you're unsteady."Cherry went still.He could see all that.He had offered anyway.She picked up the tray."I'm fine."But when she turned, dizziness swept over her. The tray slipped, and her knees gave way.Gilbert caught her by the shoulders before she struck the table. He lowered her to the floor beside the sofa and helped her lean against it.Cherry tried to focus on his face.The lounge manager hurried over."Mister Carter, I'm sorry. She's new. This won't happen again.""She isn't being punished."The manager stopped."Of course, sir.""Bring water and something to eat."Cherry closed her eyes for a moment. She could hear people moving around her, but she was too tired to look.When she opened her eyes again, Gilbert was still there."Bad man," she whispered.He went still.The words had slipped out before she could stop them. She did not have the strength to make them polite.He had helped Luke. He had stopped Benjamin.He had also left her in that office and made her drink for money while people watched.Knox looked at him."You deserved that."Gilbert did not answer.Two security guards approached. Cherry stiffened when they moved toward her.She caught Gilbert's sleeve."Please."He looked down at her hand."Don't leave."She could not get up and return to work yet. She could not follow him if he walked away.Her fingers tightened."You haven't paid me."Gilbert stared at her.Cherry waited, afraid he would tell her the offer no longer mattered now that she had made a scene.Instead, he turned."Liam."His secretary stepped closer."Give Cherry the ten thousand pesos."Relief loosened her grip on Gilbert's sleeve.He had kept that promise."And call the hospital," Gilbert continued.Cherry looked up."Luke's already there.""I know."His voice was quieter now."I need to know his current condition and what treatment is still needed."He turned to Liam."Ask Cherry what information she can authorize them to share. Get the current bills too. And follow up on the investigation into the hit-and-run. Find out what the police have established.""Yes, sir."Cherry watched him.She had expected the evening to end with one payment and another debt. Now he was asking about the bills she could no longer count and the accident she still did not understand.His attention returned to her.Cherry slowly released his sleeve.She wanted to believe he was finally willing to help without making her earn it like this.But after what had happened at that table, she did not know whether his decision meant she could trust him or only that she needed him more.