Peaches and Hart went back with Maria. I chose to stay out in the waiting room. Fingers trembling and tears flowing. I’m not sure what has me more rattled up, Maria in her seizure or the fear on Hart’s face.

I rock back and forth out of fear, wracking my mind over and over to find an answer to this problem that’s landed in my lap. I have to be here for Hart when his mom passes. He’ll need me ,and let’s be honest, I need the man on a daily basis to survive.

“This is Mrs. Hunnington, she’s in charge of your sister’s case.”

I look up to see Peaches wipe tears from under her eyes with no sight of Hart behind her. I jump up from my chair wanting to go to her. They walk into a small office, but don’t close the door. The conversation makes my decision easy.

“With the treatment to keep Maria comfortable and to have home health come into her house, we’ll need a payment of eight thousand dollars.”

“Excuse me?” Anger flairs up in Peaches’ voice

The other woman fidgets with a file folder flipping through papers. “Maria’s insurance is maxed out and the payments we had been receiving stopped a few days ago.”

“What payments?” Peaches is downright pissed off at this point.

“We’d been receiving money to cover all of the bills that insurance hasn’t been covering.”

“From who?”

“I’m not allowed to tell you that, however, what’s more relevant at this time is that we figure out a way to make this payment happen.”

I run down the hall finding a bathroom. The door slams behind me, and I lock it. Reaching down in my pocket, I locate the business card I’ve been carrying around. It’s like stabbing Hart in the back using the cell phone he bought me to call Blake.

“Blake.”

“This is…” My throat clogs with fear and nerves. “Savannah Ray. I’m ready to make a deal.”

“Ahhh, thought you’d use the full seven days to decide.”

“Blake, please send money over to the hospital.”

“Once you’ve signed.”

“What’s the address?” I ask without any hesitation.

He tells me the address, and then I hang up. I walk out with my head held high knowing this is the only thing left to do. With each step, even though I seem tough and confident in my decision, my heart cracks with each click of my boot on the tile floor.

“Ma’am, do you have a piece of paper and pen I could use?”

“Sure thing, sweetie.” The nurse behind the counter digs around on her desk. “Are you okay?”

I nod, biting my trembling bottom lip. “An envelope?”

She passes me all three items, and I want to sit in a quiet corner to pour out my soul to Hart, but know I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I make it simple and quick.

Hart,

Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. This is killing me, but I’ve decided to sign with Blake. You need to spend this time focusing on your mom. Please tell her that I love her.

I’ll never love another man as I do you. There are no words to express how I feel.

Love,

Shug.

I want to tell him everything, but know how Hart will react. He will kill Blake. Being selfless after experiencing a love so deep hurts. I seal the envelope, turn off my phone, and then ask the kind nurse to deliver it to Hart before he leaves tonight.

By the look on her face, I know she’s dying to ask more questions, but she doesn’t. I’m thankful for that. I don’t cry during the twelve-block walk to Arena 55 Studios. Everything inside of me has wilted, crumbling away. I’m back to the little girl with no hope. It’s a familiar place, not my destination of choice, but a place I know all too well.

When I enter, a woman greets me right away like she’s expecting my arrival. I catch a glimpse of Hart’s dad mopping the black marble floor. He recognizes me, forcing me to drop my head while I enter the elevator.

The elevator dings loudly at the twentieth floor. The doors slowly glide open straight into an enormous office. The entire floor is surrounded by glass from ceiling to floor. Blake’s seated behind an elaborate desk with cowboy boots kicked up on the desk. His smile firmly in place.

“That was fast.” He smiles even wider, the evil floating off of him.

I peer back down, walking slowly to him while intertwining my fingers together. Nerves don’t even begin to cover how I feel right now.

“Have a seat.” He gestures to the empty seats on my side of the desk.

“No, thanks.” I still don’t make eye contact with him.

He slides over a stack of papers my way.

“Take a look at it and let me know if you’re still willing to sign.”

My vision blurs with the threat of everything beginning to fade dark. The letters jump all over the page. I fight to sound out the first word on the contract and can’t. I know the word, but I can’t read it.

The vision of Maria this morning floods right back in. I pick up the pen with a shaky hand and sign my name on all the highlighted lines.

“Send the money,” I demand, finally looking up at Satan.

His eyebrows rise high into his hairline.

“Call now, Blake.”

In a controlled, slow movement he leans forward, putting his boots on the ground, and then picks up his office phone. There’s several seconds of dead silence before he begins barking out orders.

“Sheena, call the hospital and reinstate payments for Maria Richards. Also, get Lenny up here.” He slams down the phone making me jump back.

“Who is Lenny?” I ask.

“She is your assistant. Work starts right now. I have a tour leaving in the morning. I’m throwing you in as the opening act. You can sing two original songs and then the rest will be cover songs all chosen by Lenny. She tells you to jump, you jump without asking how high.”

“What about my apartment?”

“We’ll take care of it. You won’t be needing any of your clothes. The rest of your personal belongings will be shipped to you on tour.”

I shrug. “Doesn’t matter. You’ve already taken away everything that matters to me.”

Harsh clicking on the marble floor is the only sound I hear, then I turn and look at what’s causing the sound. A blonde bombshell dressed in a black pencil skirt and business jacket with huge boobs stomps our way. Layers and layers of make-up cover her face, and bright red painted fingernails tap on the file folder in her arms.

“This is her?” she asks Blake.

You’d think I wasn’t even standing here.

“Yes, best voice I’ve heard in a damn long time. She’s our next star, and I’ll hold no expense back to make it happen.”

“She doesn’t look like much.”

“I uh…just came from the hospital.” I bite my bottom lip and decide to shut up.

It’s none of their business what I was doing.

“You do know that I’ll be expecting overtime for this, right, Blake?. It’s going to take me all night to even get her decent, and that’s a big if.”

“Lenny, do your job, and I’ll pay you.”

She peers over at me, curling her upper lip with disgust. “Let’s go.”

She marches away in her five-inch heels, and I follow. I step into the elevator with her and when the doors close Lenny lays it all out for me.

“I am going to change everything about you. Your image, the way you speak, carry yourself, and your name. Say goodbye to Savannah Ray.”

I stare at the ground feeling my insides being torn out. This is more painful than anything I’ve ever experienced.