Chapter 52

Sienna raised an eyebrow. “Who else's would it be? Is there someone else in this apartment?”

Josiah chuckled, a rare sound. “You’re so stingy,” he teased. “I helped you lug all that stuff up here, and you’re mad about me taking one sip of your water!”

Sienna opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Josiah’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the caller ID, his expression instantly serious. “Hello, it’s me… Go ahead…”

It seemed to be a work call.

“Alright, I’ll head over immediately.” Josiah hung up and looked at Sienna. “Something’s come up. I need to leave.”

“Okay,” Sienna said, nodding as she walked him to the door. “Take care. Drive safely.”

“Mm. I will,” Josiah replied, nodding slightly before heading downstairs. For a moment, as he descended the steps, he felt a strange illusion—as if she were his wife, sending him off to work.

Once he reached the street, Josiah glanced up at her building. His expression darkened. How can I convince her to move out of this terrible place? he wondered.

For Sienna, Josiah’s visit was nothing more than a fleeting moment, like a pebble tossed into a lake—too small to create any ripples. What mattered most to her now was raising money.

After much thought, she finally settled on someone she had vowed never to contact again. Even if I die, I won’t go to him, she had once sworn. But she wasn’t ready to die just yet. For her child, she would sacrifice her pride.

With trembling hands, Sienna dug out an old, long-forgotten number. She hesitated before pressing the call button. After so many years, has he changed his number? she wondered.

Pressing the button, Sienna held her breath. The line connected.

A man’s voice, both unfamiliar yet achingly familiar, came through: “Hello? Who’s this?”

Sienna gripped the phone tightly, her other hand clenching into a fist on her knee. Her heart raced as she stammered, “It’s me.”

The other end fell silent for several seconds. Then, the man’s voice returned, tinged with disbelief and excitement. “Sienna? Is that you? Sienna?” Sienna’s breathing quickened. “Yeah, it’s me.”

The man’s voice grew emotional. “You’re calling me, Sienna… Is something wrong? Do you need help?”

Before he could continue, he seemed to regret his words and hastily corrected himself. “Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t call me for no reason… I mean… you can call me anytime. I’m always here for you!”

Hearing his flustered response, Sienna felt a pang of sadness. Her clenched fist trembled slightly. She didn’t beat around the bush. “I need to borrow some money. Can you help me? I’ll pay it back—it might just take a while.”

“Money?” The man sounded surprised but didn’t refuse. “Sure. How much do you need?”

“160 thousand dollars,” Sienna replied firmly.

“What?” The man exclaimed in shock. “Sienna, what do you need that much money for? Did something happen?”

Sienna frowned, unwilling to explain. “Are you lending it or not? If not, I’ll hang up.”

“Wait!” The man panicked. “Don’t hang up! Let’s meet in person.”

“Meet?” Sienna frowned, hesitating.

“Sienna,” the man said gently, sensing her reluctance. “I’ll give you the money, but it’s been so many years. I just want to see you. After we meet, I’ll give you the cash. Deal!”

A few days later, Sienna went to a private club downtown. The man had chosen this location for its exclusivity and privacy. She thought, He’s the one who wanted to meet me here. Sneaky and paranoid about being discovered—how ironic!

Sienna arrived ten minutes early. The club operated on a strict membership system, and only after she mentioned the man’s name did the waiter let her in.

“This way, please,” the waiter said politely.

“Thank you,” Sienna replied, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she followed him inside. The interior was dimly lit, and the unfamiliar environment made her feel uneasy, even with the waiter leading the way.

As they walked down the hallway, a door suddenly swung open. A man stepped out and bumped into her.

“Sorry!” Sienna instinctively apologized.

“No prob—” The man froze mid-sentence, his gaze locking onto her. Josiah, holding a phone in his hand, immediately stiffened, his pupils narrowing sharply.

“Sienna?” he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

Sienna was stunned. How could it be him?! she thought, her heart skipping a beat.

“What are you doing here?” Josiah demanded. Even in the dim light, his face visibly darkened.

Sienna found his reaction laughable. “Why? If you can come here, why can’t I? Is it illegal for me to be here?”

“Sienna!” Josiah barked, his voice low and threatening.

“My life is none of your business,” Sienna retorted coldly, unwilling to waste time arguing with him. “I have an appointment. I need to go.” The waiter was still waiting patiently. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” Sienna said as she jogged a few steps to catch up.

“No worries, take your time,” the waiter replied with a polite smile.

Josiah stood there, watching her disappear around the corner. He clenched his phone tightly in his hand, frustration boiling beneath his calm exterior. She doesn’t want me interfering? Fine! I won’t care anymore, he thought furiously. Why should I bother?

Back in the private room, Josiah couldn’t sit still. His restlessness didn’t go unnoticed by his companions, Yosef and Thomas.

“What’s wrong with you?” Yosef teased.

“Something happen with Yvette again?” Thomas teased.

They had poked fun at Josiah’s history with Yvette countless times, but he never paid attention to their banter. Instead, he asked, “What kind of business would a girl have coming to a place like this?”

“Huh?” Yosef and Thomas exchanged glances. “What kind of girl are we talking about?”

This club was known for hosting both business meetings and secret rendezvous. Some came to discuss deals, but others… Josiah’s brows furrowed. He muttered under his breath, “A dancer?”

Thomas burst out laughing. “What else would she be doing? Don’t tell me, Josiah, you don’t know how this works?!”

Yosef gave Thomas a warning look, and Thomas immediately got the hint. Ah, Josiah was backing that dancer recently, but it seems like that’s over now, he thought.

“Wait,” Thomas asked with a mischievous grin, “the girl you were promoting—is she here?”

“What else could she be here for! Even if you’re not backing her anymore, someone else will. Girls from places like the Maze all end up the same way…” Thomas said with a shrug.

Josiah’s face darkened further. He remembered Sienna’s words and thought, She had an appointment… Could she really be here for business?

Suddenly, he stood up.

“Where are you going?” Thomas asked, surprised.

“To get her out of here,” Josiah said firmly, his tone brooking no argument. Does she think she can just do whatever she wants? Working at the Maze wasn’t enough for her! We haven’t even finalized the divorce, and she’s already selling herself here, he thought, anger bubbling to the surface.

Yosef and Thomas exchanged glances, then stood up to follow him.

At the front desk, Josiah confronted the receptionist. “Mr. Flynn,” the receptionist said hesitantly, “please don’t make things difficult for us. You know we can’t disclose guest information. If I do, I’ll lose my job.” It’s more than just that. The club itself might not be able to keep running. The secrets kept here are more than a few. If any secrets leak, the club itself might not survive.