With that said, the two men turned and left.
I watched them leave before looking back at Kristina. It was then that I realized she had a name card in her hand.
I wondered what that was, but the question was not pressing enough for me to ask her about it. Instead, I thanked her in all seriousness.
She did not reciprocate my affection. “This is not a safe place, so just stay away.”
I wanted to ask her why she was here.
Yet before I could say a word, she held out her name card to a man who just came out of the bar with a lascivious smile on her face. I was stunned by her sudden change of expression. The man threw the name card on the floor and I caught a glimpse of it. There was a picture of an attractive woman printed on it. Beside the picture were her phone number, address, and a price tag.
It did not take much effort to recognize the person in the photo. It was Kristina herself. I was at a loss for words. I wanted to say something, but I had to try so hard to swallow my emotions back in. “Do you need money?” I asked without much discretion.
My brutal question elicited a painful expression on her face as she pursed her lips. “Of course I do. Who doesn’t need money? No one can live without money.”
“You know I don’t mean it that way.” I tried explaining myself.
She clenched her name cards tighter and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Just leave before you meet another drunkard.”
I stood where I was, refusing to leave. “Is it because you have to do chemo?” That was the only reasonable explanation I could think of. She had lost her hair and she looked battered. Even her face looked pale.
She covered her face with thick makeup and even had a wig on. I knew she was a prideful person. There was no way she would stoop so low just to earn money. It must be because of the expenses for chemotherapy.
“You mind your own business. Stop getting in my way. I need to get customers,” she said coldly.
What I heard about her illness must be true. She must have lung cancer.
I knew she had her ego. There was no way she would accept my help. “Since you want to do business, you’ll have to do as your client wants you to. You’re coming with me tonight,” I said with a commanding tone.
She fixed her gaze on me. “What do you want, Scarlett?”
“I’m your client now, so just do as I say,” I repeated.
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