"What!" Sophia exclaims with widened eyes as she stares at the Doctor. "That's not possible." She says, her hands quivering.
"I am afraid Miss, but it is. And if he is not taken into surgery in five days', am afraid yet again that we might lose him." The Doctor says.
"But … how am I supposed to get that kind of money?" Sophia asks her eyes already glazing with tears. "I had just spent the last money I had on me here a week ago when I paid for the other treatment."
The Doctor sighs. "I understand your predicament, Miss, but, there is really nothing I can do for you. Once you make the deposit, surgery on him will commence. And even though I have given you five days, I wouldn't take that five days or wait till then to make a payment. Every day we delay, we risk him dying."
Sophia rushes out of the hospital, dialing Martin's number on her phone, and he picks up the call the moment the call goes through.
"Sophia!" He exclaims excitedly. "I was just speaking with Mira about how -
"I need your help, Martin." She says into the phone, her voice breaking. She could hear the sound of a chair against the floor from the other end, as though Martin was getting up.
"What is wrong, Sophia?" Martin asks with worry in his voice.
She sniffs, trying her best to hold back the tears that were already filling her eyes. "My father is dying, Martin." She says beginning to cry. She couldn't hold it back any longer. Shaking her head, "I need money Martin, lots of it."
"And how much are we talking about here?" Martin asks.
"Ten Million."
"What!" Martin exclaims.
"I'll pay you back, Martin." Sophia cuts in. "I got a job two weeks ago, I'll get another, and … maybe three jobs, but I'll make sure I pay you back. I promise."
She could him Martin sigh. "Sophia you know am not worried that you will not pay me back, I know you would." He sighs again. "The only problem right now is that … Sophia things have not been so good around here since you left. In fact, we are on the verge of closing down the agency. You know I would give you that money if I had it, even more, but right now, I don't. A million is what I can squeeze out, and you don't have to pay back."
Sophia begins to cry, not minding who was watching or not as she stood just outside the hospital. "Thank you, Martin." She says amidst her tears.
"How are you going to get the rest?" Martin asks.
Shaking her head and sniffing, "I don't know. Maybe I have to sell off some things." She drives her hand through her hair. "Do you have connections here for someone who can buy things? Shoes, bags, anything that is worth selling? I need this money Martin, and I have just five days to get it. You know I cannot lose my -" Tears overtake her.
"Easy Sophia, easy." Martin tries to calm her down. "I should be able to pull off some number when I put a few calls around. I'll let you know as soon as I find someone."
She nods. "Thank you. Thank you, Martin."
*
"They are first grade." Sophia tried to explain to the lady in front of her who was going through the bags. "Some of them have only been used once by me."
She had everything outside. All her designer bags, shoes, clothes, pieces of jewelry, anything that was worth selling. She didn't need them, as long as it was sellable, it was out here in the living room. She still had six million to raise even after making all the calls she could and renting out a part of this building to someone. And now, from what this lady was saying, all her things that she was willing to sell were going to fetch her only a million and a half. Things she had spent fortunes on. A million and a half? Just one of her bags could have cost that much. But she had no choice right now, it was either this or not having the money. Plus, she had just two days left to raise the remaining four and a half million.
Sophia sighs, putting her head on her hand as she watches the lady go about confirming their quality.
"It doesn't matter Chica." The lady says chewing on her gum loudly. "As long as their labels are off, they are third grade even if you've used them just once or not at all."
Sophia sighs. "And you can't pay more? I really need this money to sort out my father's medical bills."
The lady looks up at her. "Look Chica, I am only paying you this much because you still have their receipt, and because your friend told me about your predicament. I have been in that shoe once, spent a hell lot of money on my father's medical bills, and at the end of the day, he died."
Shaking her head. "I cannot lose my father." She says her eyes glazing with tears.
Nodding, "I know Chica, nobody wants to go through the pain of losing a family member."
"So you really cannot pay more? I can -
"Look, if you don't want the money, you can transfer it back, and have back all your luxuries -
"No, no, no. I want the money. I just thought maybe you could -
"I don't even pay when I get the products. I pay only after selling them. But am paying you everything at once, because your friend explained how badly you needed the money to me."
"I appreciate it." Sophia says batting her eyes.
"Better! Besides, this is Barcelona, Chica, and you are a beautiful one. Men would go crazy to pay you any amount you call for a one-night stand."
Sophia looks away. "No, thank you."
The lady chuckles. "Then how about the party everyone is going crazy about that is happening tonight? The Mando's Mask party." Sophia furrows her brows at the lady. Shrugging, "The Mando's are not rich, but they have rich friends. Very very rich friends, and they all attend this party. Every Chica in town is crazy about the party, and I know with your looks, you can get a man promising you his fortune just to have you as his date tonight. At the end of the night, all you have to do is just stand next to him and give out your pretty smile."
Sophia sighs.
Shrugging, "But if you're not willing to do that too, then I wonder how a Chica like you will be able to raise that much money in two days." She says, turning to leave with the big bag containing everything she was taking.
"Wait!" Sophia calls j
ust as the lady gets to the door. "This ball… how do I get to it?" She asks.