Lucy was in the living room, wondering if Elsa was hungry, Elsa looked upset for some reason when she heared about the rent news she'd just dropped on her as she sat her legs were pulled up to her chest.
It was normal to talk about rent issues they both had their own ways of spending money. Still, she hoped Elsa wasn't worrying too much about the rent and her savings, she knew Elsa took more jobs to save for college.
"Elsa," Lucy called.
"Yes?" Elsa answered from her room.
"Are you hungry?"
"Not really."
"If you're worried about the rent, don't be. We have each other, okay?"
Elsa who laid on the bed smiled at Lucy's words. "I know."
"I made spaghetti with some meat sauce."
"Not hungry." Elsa said looking at the ceiling.
"Okay," Lucy said, and went back to the TV.
Elsa lay in bed, thinking about how to save for college. Why was life this
hard? It felt like the rich got whatever they wanted while everyone else withered away, and no one cared.
She felt hopeless—hopeless about being poor, hopeless she was an orphan and about her situation.
The next day, Elsa sat behind the counter at the bookstore and thought of Jordin. If he gave her a cheque again, she might actually take it. She didn't feel like she had a choice anymore even though she knew it was kind of wrong.
A customer in expensive clothes walked past the counter, browsing books to keep himself company. Elsa could tell he was rich. She always saw rich people. It annoyed her—they lived in their own world, all lavish luxury and beautiful bliss.
Why wasn't she part of that? She was pretty. She was special, wasn't she? If Jordin came back, maybe he was her ticket out. Even if it was just a dirty, wrong fling, she might not care anymore. She felt betrayed by the life she was living.
She had no family. She was an orphan who'd lost her parents at birth and grew up with nothing, no one to care for her. She should have been lucky. But luck seems to be taking its time to come to her.
Taking the money would hurt her pride. But it wasn't her fault if she agreed, was it?
A customer stepped up to the counter and set a book down. She rang him up, went through the motions. He paid and left.
Elsa propped her chin on her hand, resting against the counter. Her gaze drifted to the door. Outside, the corridor was bright with sunny glow, the street looking warm and beautiful. She wished luck could just… happen. Suddenly.
She sighed. How long could she cope? She'd tried to stay hopeful—believing her world would change when she met a good guy who truly saw her. But that hope was fading. It felt like a wishful thinking now.
Elsa Cooper was an orphan and who had lost her parents before she was even born growing up in the orphange she and Lucy had been best friends since the orphanage. They grew up side by side, became sisters in everything but blood, and shared a lot of fun memories there.
They finished high school together but couldn't go to college. The orphanage couldn't cover tuition, and once they turned eighteen, they were on their own.
They'd planned it move out together, make room for the younger kids to get more attention. So they did. They rented a two-bedroom apartment and took responsibility for their lives.
Elsa was grateful they were so alike. They had each other. Both orphans. Both with no family. Their journeys weren't identical, but they were close enough to understand.
Maybe Jordin was her luck, she thought, then immediately dismissed it. Elsa got up and checked the stock. The store had tall racks of books. It was a decent place.
Weeks later at Rosas Club
Elsa set the drinks on the table. Her health came first which she'd just realize in doing her job. She had to stay sharp to do her job — something she was only now fully realizing.
From the veranda, a guy wearing a gold wristwatch watched her. His dark eyes held mischief as Elsa walked away with an empty tray.
Later, after changing in the dressing room, Elsa was about to leave when a bodyguard approached her.
"Excuse me, miss. Our boss wants a word with you," the short-statured bodyguard said.
Elsa hoped it wasn't another random guy, but the same one from the other day who wanted to meet her. She wasn't in the mood to entertain anyone. Still, she nodded. "Okay."
The guard led her to a VIP room. Her palms went sweaty for she was going to be doing this offering herself to him she knew this was going to be cheap of her and wrong but she just went ahead she was already heading to meet him, her nerves were feeling nervous. The bodyguard announced his presence to the other guard at the door, then stepped inside to inform his boss. Not long after, the door opened.
"You can come in," the bodyguard said, gesturing.
Elsa stepped in. He led her to where his boss was seated.
It was Jordin — the same guy from a week ago. His gaze was brooding, fixed intently on her. Anxiety spiked in her chest. What if he tells me to leave? She didn't want that. Not when she was already standing in front of him and could smell luxury coming from him.
"What's your name?" Jordin asked. The gold wristwatch glinted on his wrist.
"Elsa," she answered.
"Elsa," he repeated, her name rolling off his lips like he was committing it to memory.
"Pour me a glass of wine, Elsa."
She picked up the bottle and filled his cup. When she finished, he took a bank note and pen from the table and wrote out a cheque.
"Sit, Elsa," Jordin said.
She obeyed, perching lightly on the couch where he sat. He turned to the bodyguard by the door.
"Leave," he commanded.
The bodyguard nodded and left. Elsa wondered if Jordin was going to send the cheque out with him for something.
Instead, he handed it to her. "Here," Jordin said to the woman with long brown hair — rich in color — seated a short distance from him on the couch.
Elsa didn't want to argue. She needed the money. She took the cheque and glanced at the amount.