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Chapter 7 - Compensation Fee

Moments before Maddie is dragged to the nearest police station. Maddie thought she was running well but luck and bad luck didn't reek. The girl bumped into a cop who just happened to come out of the café and here she was.

"I need a phone! Just one call! Is it wrong? How can I give him what he wants if I can't call anyone?" The woman struggles, rioting in the cell until she gets the call she wants.

The bastard who had taken the drug Maddie had put already regained consciousness, and he was standing by the cell with his friends. When he gave a slight nod, one of the cops was about to move to get Maddie out. Maddie glared at him, purposely bumping into his shoulder before passing him.

"You what?" As expected, Castelia must have reacted in shock, not predicting herself to be caught. Unlike Castelia, Maddie was a little careless which caused her to get caught again. It happened and Castelia was Maddie's only hope of getting out of the place she hated so much.

"Joshua's friend sued me, and I need peace money," she repeated.

"How many?" asked Castelia from the other side.

"Four hundred thousand dollars."

"Four. Fo-fo-four what?!" Castelia was stunned, unable to believe what she had just heard. Should it be explained that they don't have that much money in their account? They always spend all the money coming in that day. Maybe their house is big and filled with many branded goods, but they still struggle when it comes to cash!

"Joshua's friend who took the drug is a CEO of a big company and he is very, very angry right now. Please, Castelia! Do you know how badly I begged him not to sue? I got down on my knees in front of him and he said he would drop the charges if I paid him with that money."

Castelia didn't think so. It was clear that the man was reluctant to forgive Maddie, so he had set a high price he knew that Maddie would be able to afford. No, Maddie wouldn't be able to pay because they didn't have that kind of money.

"We don't have that kind of money, Maddie!" Castelia said. She would have run straight to the police station with the money the guy wanted and saved her friend but the problem was, they didn't have any. This was a misfortune because why should another man take the drug? What's worse is that he seems to be a vindictive person. He was so angry that he criticized and insulted Maddie through his eyes.

Maddie knew they had no more than ten thousand dollars but there was nothing she could do but call Castelia and ask for help. She almost cried because of stress and didn't know what to do.

"Your time is up!" A policeman's voice appeared behind Maddie, grabbing her attention and making her stare.

"You can't wait?!" Castelia screamed angrily. Her head looked like it was going to explode, she didn't have time to be bothered. The woman took a deep breath before turning back to Castelia, saying, "Cas, go to Melody."

"Melody?!" Remembering Melody's name, Castelia also remembered Joshua. She didn't have time to remember, but earlier, Melody called their target a 'husband' which meant they were a couple. Castelia wasn't sure she wanted to go to that woman's house and meet Joshua, especially now that it was late.

"Melody, ask her to pay upfront. I'm sure she'll give it to you!" forced Maddie. "Please, Cas, don't let me sleep on the floor tonight. You know I hate prisons so much. Cockroaches everywhere and my back will hurt."

"Enough, your time is up!" The cop took the phone from Maddie's hand and put it back down.

"Hey!" Maddie called out, staring at him furiously at being disturbed but the cop didn't even care or even fear. "It hurt!" she moaned as the policeman handcuffed her hands and dragged her back into the cell.

"Oh, Maddie ..." Castelia sighed and touched her heavy head. "Why is it so messed up?" Castelia closed her eyes, thinking, 'This isn't just about Maddie sleeping on the floor. If she continues to linger in prison, what about Melody's assignment? We don't even have the money to get Maddie out. How can I return the advance that Melody gave?'

"Melody ..." That name, the woman's face appeared in Castelia's mind and made her reflexively open her eyes. "She is…" Castelia fell silent, looked straight ahead and remembered that "She is Joshua's wife."

Why does it hurt? Castelia could feel her heart being pinched by that fact. Four years of missing and Joshua married? "If he's already married, why would he want to see me again?" She muttered, curious. "What does he want to talk to me about …?"

"No!" Castelia shook her head roughly, trying to bring herself back to her senses and remember Maddie in prison. For the sake of her best friend, Castelia forced herself to go to Melody's house, disturbing her who had been asleep.

Melody came down from the second floor wearing a nightgown and blue kimono, she looked irritated as she sat on the sofa in front of Castelia. A knee-high glass table separated them. Melody rebuked, "I would be glad if you didn't suddenly come to see me."

Melody let Castelia pass through security and enter the house because her husband hasn't come home yet. So, call Castelia lucky she had the chance to meet Melody tonight. Castelia didn't want to waste time, she was scared Joshua might suddenly come home. "I want you to pay us up front," she said bluntly.

Melody should have guessed what Castelia was up to when she arrived late at night, the woman smirked at her. "I thought we had a deal? I'll give you the down payment and the rest after you guys make it." Melody added, "You guys weren't trying to trick me, were you?"

"Of course not!" Castelia said. Castelia wasn't going to tell it, but she planned to cancel their agreement and return the money Melody had given, but things went wrong. Castelia had to put other things aside and first do the most important thing to get her friend out of prison. "I promise you will get what you want. I need the money. Therefore, I want you to pay in full."

That was all Castelia could say but Melody gave a small chuckle instead, her face full of contempt before she revealed, "This afternoon, your friend asked me to pay for her first. Half the price I offered."

"Wait! What?" Shocked, Castelia was taken aback because Maddie didn't even say anything and Castelia didn't know anything.

"But whatever it is, fine," added Melody. "I don't want to waste time on that money. So I'll send you the rest, five hundred thousand dollars and you can get out of here." Melody thought, 'After all, the money is theirs if they succeed with the mission.' Therefore, she didn't want to bother.

"Maddie …" Castelia muttered in annoyance. Five hundred thousand dollars was enough to pay the man who threatened to sue Maddie but how could her best friend not say anything after taking that much money? She didn't touch Castelia's part but it still felt annoying because the money wasn't legally theirs yet.

"Thank you," Castelia said and she got up after that. Then, without wasting any time, Castelia left but Melody stopped her.

Melody said, "I'll remind you that your friend has signed an agreement for ten times the compensation fee if you fail and I guarantee you will rot in jail if you try to take my money and don't do your job properly."

There was seriousness and threat in every sentence, Castelia caught it all well. Castelia clenched her fists tightly. She didn't say anything or turn to look at Melody. She took another step and just walked away through the entrance.