Not My Brother's Keeper

In the darkness, the manager, Jessica, didn't say a word. She simply lifted her foot that was clad in a high heel and kicked me hard in the stomach.

The pain was so intense that I curled up on the floor, my stomach churning.

"Spending my man's money, huh? Trying to seduce him?!" She screamed, her voice tinted by jealousy and rage.

Standing over me, she ordered the two guards and said, "Beat her up and don't hold back!"

The two security guards were clearly on her side. Without the slightest hesitation, they started to punch and kick me. I clenched my teeth, keeping inside every cry and groan. It felt like my bones were breaking and my innards were scrambling.

Jessica kept screaming, "Who do you think you are?! You're nothing but a leech!"

"I told you, I'm his sister! If you don't believe me, ask Dennis yourself! Call him right now, and I'll speak to him!" I tried to explain, but she didn't care at all. She only raised her hand and stopped the assault when I grew dizzy and everything started spinning.

She pressed the heel of her high heel onto my shoulder, smiling down at me. "You'd better pay for your meal today and cough up another 50 thousand dollars. This is what you get for going after my man and spending his money. I'm not afraid of anything worse happening. Dennis will handle it for me."

I managed to protest weakly even as I was curled up and barely able to breathe from the pain, "That's my own money. I told you. If you don't believe me, ask him."

Her face darkened, and she kicked me again. The two guards immediately understood and started beating me up once more. By then, I knew it didn't matter what I said. If this kept up, I really might die here.

After I spat out a mouthful of blood, I used the last of my strength to feel around for my phone.

"Stop... I... I'll pay."

She seemed satisfied with my submission, motioning for the guards to stop. She crouched down and patted my swollen cheek. "See? Isn't that easier? You made things so hard for yourself when you could have just done it my way. One hundred thousand dollars, and not one cent less."

Lying on the cold floor, I felt my lungs burning as I gasped for air.

I ignored her and called my best friend, Mary Langton. She picked up immediately. "Mary, bring two hundred thousand dollars to Dennis's restaurant. I need it right now."

Mary went quiet for a second, immediately sensing something was wrong. "Theresa? What happened? Why is your voice…"

"Don't ask, just hurry," I cut her off and hung up.

When Jessica Thompson heard " two hundred thousand", her eyes lit up. There was a glint of greed in her expression.

She probably thought I had been beaten into submission and was offering even more just for mercy.

She couldn't hide her smugness anymore.

"Smart choice."