Lexi nodded, stepping aside as the doctor began to examine Suzy's wounds. She watched as he gently lifted the edge of the bandage, peering underneath to check on the wound's progress.
"Looks like everything is healing well," he said, smiling. "But we do need to keep an eye on that deep gash. It's going to take some time to fully heal, and we don't want any complications."Lexi nodded.
Lexi pushed through the swinging doors of the hospital's drug center, the fluorescent lights overhead casting a harsh glare on the rows of shelves stocked with medication. The air was thick with the scent of chemicals and the faint tang of latex, a constant reminder of the medical world that surrounded her.
She made her way to the counter, her eyes scanning the rows of shelves as she searched for the medication Suzy needed, As she waited in line, Lexi's phone buzzed in her pocket, shrill and insistent. She hesitated for a moment before answering, her heart sinking as she saw Madam Isabelle's name on the screen.
"Lexi, darling," Madam Isabelle's voice purred on the other end of the line. "I hear you didn't quite... satisfy my client the other night."
Lexi's face burned with shame as she glanced around the crowded drug center, hoping no one was listening in on her conversation. "I'm sorry, Madam Isabelle," she muttered, trying to keep her voice low. "It was a mistake. It won't happen again."
Madam Isabelle's laughter was like a cold wind on the other end of the line. "Oh, I'm sure it won't, darling. But tell me, why did you run out on him like that? He was quite... disappointed."
Lexi's mind was racing as she tried to think of a suitable excuse, but before she could respond, Madam Isabelle's tone changed, her voice taking on a note of curiosity.
"What's going on with you, Lexi? You've been acting strange lately. First, you don't show up for work, and then you run out on one of my most important clients. What's wrong?"
Lexi hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I'm just going through a tough time, Madam Isabelle. That's all."
Madam Isabelle's response was skeptical. "A tough time? What kind of tough time? You're not in some kind of trouble, are you?"
Lexi's grip on the phone tightened as she tried to think of a way to. Deflect Madam Isabelle's questions. "No, nothing like that. I just... I need some time to sort some things out, that's all."
Madam Isabelle's silence was oppressive, and Lexi could almost feel her eyes narrowing on the other end of the line. "I hope you're not thinking of leaving me, Lexi. You're one of my best girls, and I need you to keep my clients happy."
Lexi's heart sank as she realized that Madam Isabelle had no idea about Suzy's hospitalization. If she had been involved, surely she would have mentioned it by now. But Madam Isabelle's conversation was focused solely on Lexi's actions and her value as an escort.
"I'm not leaving, Madam Isabelle," Lexi said finally, trying to sound convincing. "I just need some time to get my head together, that's all."
Madam Isabelle's response was a cold, calculated laugh. "Very well, Lexi. Take all the time you need. But don't think you can just disappear on me. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Lexi's grip on the phone tightened as she tried to think of a way to deflect Madam Isabelle's probing "That won't happen, I just... I've been worried about a friend, that's all."
Madam Isabelle's tone was dismissive. "A friend? Who's that?"
Lexi dropped her voice to a whisper. "Someone who's been hurt. Someone who's in the hospital."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Lexi wondered if Madam Isabelle had hung up on her. But then, Madam Isabelle's voice came back on the line, her tone puzzled.
"What are you talking about, Lexi? Who's in the hospital?"
Lexi's heart skipped a beat as she realized that Madam Isabelle had no idea what she was talking about. She seemed genuinely confused, and Lexi's suspicions began to shift.
"I... I must have misspoken," Lexi said finally, trying to cover. "Never mind, Madam Isabelle. It's nothing."
Madam Isabelle's response was a cold, calculated laugh. "Very well, Lexi. But don't think you can just disappear on me. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Lexi stood lost in thought and still reeling from the conversation with Madam Isabelle. The confusion in Madam Isabelle's voice, the genuine puzzlement in her tone, had thrown her off guard. Who was she supposed to suspect now? The question swirled in her mind like a vortex, pulling her down into a sea of uncertainty.
As she turned a corner, Lexi collided with a tall, imposing figure standing by the counter. Apologies were exchanged in a flurry of words, and Lexi looked up to see a familiar face staring back at her. It was Jackson, the man she had run out on, the man who had paid her to spend the night with him at the hotel.
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. The tension between them was palpable, a living, breathing thing that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. Lexi's face flushed with embarrassment as she took in the sight of him, her mind racing with memories of their previous encounter.
She had accepted the offer and he'd paid madam Isabelle the money for the job which was simply her, the night with him but what did she do? Fled and disappeared into the night, leaving him with nothing but a handful of ashes. The guilt and shame she felt were written all over her face, and she knew that she couldn't avoid him forever. Jackson's expression changed, his eyes narrowing, his jaw clenching in a tight line, suddenly she frowned recalling the fact that he didn't see her, she was using the mask but...he did see her on the
"Lexi," he said, his voice low and even. "How have you been?."
The words hung in the air like a challenge, and Lexi felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew that she couldn't avoid him, not now. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Good, please can I leave?." she asked in a rush and began to walk away, she felt a grip on her arm and a pull.
"Let's talk"He mumbled,
Jackson's eyes never left hers as he gestured to a quiet corner of the pharmacy. Lexi followed him, her heart pounding in her chest. She had no idea what he wanted to talk about, but she knew that it couldn't be good.
As they reached the corner, Jackson turned to face her, his eyes burning with an intensity that made her feel like she was the only person in the room. "What happened that night?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
Lexi swallowed hard, her mind racing with excuses. But something about Jackson's expression made her hesitate. He didn't seem angry, just... curious. And so she told him the truth, or at least, a version of it.
"I was upset, was mad and I shunned you off and...I'm sorry" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just panicked, I guess. I didn't mean to say those words."
Jackson's expression changed, his furrows deepened in confusion, but Lexi saw a flicker of something in his eyes.
. And even if he did, there was still the question of Suzy's attack and the mysterious figure who had hurt her.