1 Left without a choice.

Cara's heart raced as she hastily bathed and changed into a fresh pair of clothes, hoping to put the night behind her. A lump formed in her throat as she gazed at the man before her, memories of their intimate deeds rushing back and sending shivers down her spine.

She felt frustrated with herself for making such impulsive decisions, but she had no choice. Her mother was gravely ill and on the brink of death, and she was compelled to use any means necessary to save the only person she had left in the world.

Some days earlier...

After finishing her day shift, Cara returned home completely drained from working through the night at the studio. Studio One, the company she worked for, had a thrilling new film idea in the works and was determined not to let this golden opportunity slip away.

As a lowly stagehand, Cara's role was to ensure that the stage was set and cleaned between scenes—in other words, a glorified janitor. Although she had the opportunity to interact with well-known actors and celebrities while working there, the pay was pitiful, and the film company paid little attention to those in her position. Nonetheless, it was a decent gig considering the perks.

Exhausted from staying up all night at the studio, Cara slumped on her sofa and stared at the stack of bills on her study table. Her mother's medical bills were piling up due to her chronic heart disease. Recently, her condition worsened, and she had a series of heart attacks.

Cara was afraid of losing her, but the treatment costs were alarming. She had been paying with the little money she salvaged from her savings account, but the bills were quickly approaching an amount she couldn't handle alone.

Despite exhausting all options, she still couldn't obtain the required amount of money. She tried loans, selling her possessions, and working extra shifts, but nothing worked.

At her wits' end, Cara's last resort was to turn to Scarlett, a renowned actress and supermodel who had collaborated with Studio One. Although they weren't particularly close, Cara's approachable and genuine demeanor set her apart from the other sycophants who sought Scarlett's attention solely for personal gain.

As a vital character in the project with a challenging role, Scarlett's performance was expected to rake in millions of dollars. After a long day on set, she suggested they meet up at a cozy cafe to hash out the predicament, and Cara eagerly accepted.

"Hey, Cara! Looking lovely today as always," she beamed, and she momentarily stood up to hug her warmly.

"Don't lie to me, Scarlett. I should say that about you and not the other way around." She feigned a smile as both young ladies sat down, facing each other.

"Oh no, I'm serious! You're beautiful, darling." Her grin widened.

Scarlet exuded diva energy with her edgy yet glamorous sass, effortlessly commanding attention wherever she went. Her makeup was flawlessly applied, featuring bold red lips, thick lashes, and sparkling bottle-green eyes that radiated beauty.

Her skin had a subtle, red carpet-worthy glow, and her sculpted cheekbones added a touch of drama to her stunning features. Scarlet insisted that her large bust was all natural, despite the rumors that were circulating about it. Her flawless nose served as proof that she was not opposed to cosmetic procedures.

"Scarlett, there's something important I brought us here to discuss. It's about... my mother." Cara uttered, lowering her head sadly.

"Tell me, Cara. What is the problem? Whatever it is, I can be of help." She reached out to hold her hands on the table.

"My mother has been bedridden for nearly a month now... She's dying, Scarlett, and there's nothing I can do to help her. I just… I don't want to lose my mother; she's all I have, but I cannot afford her medical bills. I'm terrified, Scarlett." She spoke rather hurriedly, sobbing uncontrollably, and Scarlett stared at her with concern in her eyes.

"Hold on… calm down. Your mother is sick. What's wrong with her?"

"She was diagnosed with coronary heart disease, and the medical bills are just too much of a burden for me to carry alone, so I need your help, please. Whatever help you can give, I would truly appreciate it." She sniffled and momentarily wiped the tears trailing down her cheeks.

"This is serious. "But don't worry, I will help you," she assured with a smile, and Cara grasped her hands in excitement.

"Really?! Oh, dear God, thank you! I don't know what to say."

"I'm not finished, Cara. You have to listen carefully. I know you love your mother very much, and you would never let this obstacle come in your path of happiness. If you're willing to do what I ask you to, you'll get all the money you'll need to help your mother and even take care of yourself as well." Her tone lowered, and her tone seemed more serious now.

"I will do anything, Scarlett. I'm willing to do whatever I can to save my mother." She blurted desperately, and Scarlett grinned.

"Now listen," she leaned closer to her and whispered, "there's someone I would introduce you to; he's super rich, and he can help you clear your mother's bills."

Cara stared at her in confusion. She hadn't the slightest idea where she was driving.

"...Who?" 

"His name is Dominic. He's a hotcake around town, plus he's got the green bags, and I mean loads of them. He has helped a lot of young women like yourself, and trust me, he will be of help to you as well."

"Okay, but I thought you were going to help me," Cara muttered in confusion.

"Oh, but I am helping you, sweetheart. I'm helping you find someone more than capable of solving your problems."

Cara stared at her with a look of uncertainty. However, she was eager to know more.

"Why would this guy want to help me? He doesn't know me, and... I can't help but feel that there's a catch in this."

"There's a teensy tiny thing you're going to offer, but don't worry, it's something you'll be able to do." Scarlett winked at her, but Cara couldn't help but feel the sense of discomfort becloud her.

"Well, what is that?"

Scarlett leaned close to her ear.

"All you have to do is sleep with him. You'll get a generous reward right after. It's a one-time thing; don't worry. Easy peasy." 

Cara withdrew in shock.

"What?! Scarlett, please tell me you're joking," she chuckled.

"I'm not; I'm serious." She frowned, taking a sip of her iced cappuccino.

"Scarlett, that's insane... I can't do that. It's degrading."

"Well, are you just going to let your poor mother die like that? If you do, then you're a greedy person who cares nothing about her mother and is only concerned about keeping her dignity." She hissed, feigning a little bit of annoyance.

"Look, it's not like that. I just… I just can't imagine doing something like that for money. It doesn't sit well with me, that's all."

"Sweetheart," Scarlett paused and clasped Cara's hands in hers again. "Don't be like this. It's only a one-time thing. After getting paid, you'll never cross paths with him again. I promise that you'll never regret this."

Cara remained silent as she mused on the idea. It was just so uncomfortable for her that she could not bring herself to accept such a thing.

"I… I…" she sighed heavily. "I'll think about it."

"Good girl." She grinned widely. "The clock is ticking, my friend. You better think about it and make a decision fast, a positive one."

"Okay, I… I'll give you feedback tomorrow."

Smiling broadly, Scarlett hugged her warmly, and they resumed enjoying their drinks.

Cara returned home, feeling emotionally drained and unsure of what to do. She was barely holding it together as she sat on her couch, staring blankly at the wall, trying to process Scarlett's proposal. Her mind was racing with thoughts of desperation and fear as she tried to weigh the pros and cons of taking such a risky action.

She knew that sleeping with a stranger for money was not something to be taken lightly. It went against everything that she had been taught growing up, and she couldn't believe that she was even considering it. But as she thought about her mother lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life, Cara knew that she had to do something.

After a long while of ruminating over it, she decided to get some sleep so she would get to work early. But sleep eluded her as she tossed and turned endlessly on her bed, worried and afraid about the current situation in her life.

"Do I have to do this...? Is it worth it?" she thought as the unsettling feeling washed over her. Her mother was sick and dying, and Cara knew that time was running out. She felt helpless and alone, and the weight of responsibility on her shoulders was almost too much to bear.

Cara lay in bed for hours, trying to find a solution to her problem. She thought about all the people she could turn to for help, but she knew that none of them had the kind of money that she needed. She felt trapped and alone, with no way out.

As the night wore on, Cara's mind became increasingly foggy, and she found it harder and harder to sleep. She knew that she had to make a decision soon, but she didn't know if she could go through with it. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her racing thoughts, but her restlessness had gotten the best of her...