Jai points to the door. "You can leave now."

Moving toward the door, I turn to him and say. "What's your name?"

"Jai Marshall."

"Shit!" I whisper.

Why did I choose this place to beg for a job?

My heart starts to race, and I feel the colour drain from my face. "I'm sorry for charging in here like a firecracker."

He rises and moves toward me. "I hope you don't believe everything you've heard about me," he towers over me, and I choose that moment to rise to my full height.

I'm not going to allow him to intimidate me.

"I don't like to be judged by what's written in magazines. You seem to be the type of woman that would buy into gossip."

I don't buy into gossip.

Shaking my head, I tell him, "I don't like reading magazines. Most of the time, they're lies or made-up stuff some idiot reporter did to make money. It's pathetic if you ask me."

He pulls his tie off and looks at me. "You can't tell anyone that you work for me. While you work here, you can't date any of my workers. I'll let you flirt with my customers. Tomorrow I want you to wear a skirt and a singlet top. Also, put your hair up and some make-up would be nice. Don't go over the top with the make-up. I'd tell you to wear heels, but my ex told me how uncomfortable they are for hours. So, wear something comfortable. What's your name?"

"Chloe Knight." I open the door.

As I leave the room, I hear him whisper. "It's a beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

My face starts to heat up.

I can't wait to start work here tomorrow.

Waving at him before I close the door. I walk down the stairs and head over to the bar.

At the bar, I order a Jim Beam. I turn towards the camera behind me and raise the glass. I mouth 'Thanks.' I tip the drink back. Putting the glass on the bar, I leave the club like I did. I feel eyes on me as I climb into my car. Looking up at the window, I see Jai.

His eyes bore into mine. Taking my eyes off him, I started the car and pulled away.

When I turn onto the main street, I see a black car following me. I turn through different streets, trying to lose it.

Eventually, I do, and then I drive to the hospital. I look in the rearview mirror and double-check that no one is following me.

Pulling into the hospital's parking lot, I look for a parking spot. I find one at the other end of the lot. I grab my handbag and head toward the main entrance.

When I get to Aleysa's room, I see she's sharing with a girl around her age. I move over to the bed, and she sits up.

Aleysa smiles. "Hey, Chloe. Did you get a job?"

I nod. "I did. I won't be here until after 10.30 pm during the week and on the weekends at 2.30 am."

Aleysa takes my hand. "That's alright." She looks at the door. "You don't have to stay at the hospital with me. You could go home."

I touch her face. "I'm not going to leave you here on your own. Until you come home, I won't be going there."

"I love you, Chloe. Tomorrow, you need to go home and shower before you go to work. Give Nate money to catch the bus, or his friends can pick him up."

Nate enters the room. "Josh is picking me up. I'm spending the night at his. His Mom is alright with me staying with them until Aleysa comes home."

"Can I have Josh's mom's phone number?"

Josh and his mother enter the room at that moment.

She walks over to me. "I'm Gillian Jarrett. I've heard a lot about you from Nate. It's nice to see you that you've stepped up to take care of them."

Looking at my brother and sister, I say. "I'd do anything for my siblings. So, moving here wasn't a big deal. I didn't want to take them away from their friends after everything. I feared they wouldn't cope with a change like that."

Gillian sits next to me. "If you need anything, you can call me."

I smile. "Thank you for showing me kindness. If I ever need help, I'll give you a call, Gillian."

Josh looks at his Mom. "Can we go home now? I have homework that I still need to do."

"Nate, did you complete your homework?" I ask.

He nods. "I did it after you left."

"I'll see you tomorrow at 4, Nate."

Nate hugs Aleysa and me. "Bye," he says as he walks out the door with his friend and Gillian.

Opening the backpack on the floor, I pull out Aleysa's favourite stuffed teddy bear. "Look at what I packed earlier?"

She takes it from her. "Ted. Thank you, Chloe." She kisses the bear. Aleysa yawns and lies back on the bed. "I'm tired."

Kissing her cheek, I say. "Good night, Aleysa." I pull the covers over her, and she closes her eyes.

A nurse enters the room and checks the machines for fluids and other things for my sister. She looks at me. "Are you staying the night?"

"Yes, I am."

"I'll get someone to bring in a bed for you." She takes Aleysa's temperature and writes it in the chart. She puts the chart back on the bed and then moves to the other patient.

Moving my chair close to the bed, I pulled out my laptop and put a DVD into the computer. I lean back in the chair and watch the movie.

Halfway through the movie, a nurse enters the room with the bed. She looks at me. "Is this for you?"

I nod.

She sets up the bed for me. Before she leaves the room, she asks. "Do you need anything before I leave?"

"No, thank you." I climbed onto the bed with my laptop and finished watching the movie. When the movie is over, I charge my computer.

Aleysa opens her eyes and looks at me. "Can I have some water?"

Climbing out of bed, I pour her a cup of water and give it to her. She drinks. "Thanks." She holds on tight to Mr Ted and falls back to sleep.

I climbed into bed with my phone, checked it, and there was a message from Nate.

Nate: Don't forget to call Coach tomorrow.

Me: I won't. I have a reminder set on my phone.

Nate: Thank you: goodnight, Sis.

Me: Goodnight, bro. I love you. x.

Nate: Me, too. x.

Turning my phone on vibrate, I pull the blankets around my body

I see a guy leaning against the door as I close my eyes. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and starts writing something. He moves away from the door and puts the phone to his ear.

Climbing out of bed, I move over to the door. I see the guy around the corner from the nurse's station and follow him.

He's too busy on his phone to notice that I'm not too far from him.

I overhear the conversation.

Guy: She's in the hospital.

There is a pause as someone on the other end says something.

Guy: I know.

He takes a deep breath.

Guy: They need to know they still have family around. It's not fair that we're watching from a distance. We should be helping them. She needs us.

The guy throws his phone on the ground.

As I look closer at him, I see that he looks similar to Dad, with his light brown hair tinged with blonde.

He looks up like he can feel my eyes on him.

Lowering myself to the ground, I return to the room. I close the door and climb into bed.

As soon as my head hits the pillow, I fall asleep.