CHAPTER 25

-Would he give it to me? 'Jasmine, are you alright?" Zenia asked me, noticing I was silent and lost in thoughts. 'Yeah.... I'm alright," I answered her and gave a small smile. Mom wasn't speaking much. She looked paled and sad and she sounded out of breath whenever she made an attempt to say something to us. She knew she was dying. When Zenia was through combing her hair, we left. It was better to leave her to rest than to have her in a state where she was getting emotional. 'Jasmine, you have to get that money!" Zenia said again when we took the elevator down. 'You don't think I know that? I know I have to get the money but I just cannot ask Bradley for the money so soon. He might think that's all I want from him." 'Well that is all you want from him." 'I know that Zenia. But I don't want him to know that. I wouldn't get the money if he knows that I don't have any interest in getting back with him." 'Argghhh!" 'Would you relax! I'll ask him for the money." 'When?" 'Tomorrow. When he comes and take me out for lunch, I'll ask him." 'Great. Let's keep our fingers crossed that he gives you that money." He would be my only option since I chose him over Mr. Hollen. Well, I didn't quite choose him over Mr. Hollen. I just allowed him to take me to the hospital instead. We walked towards the parking lot and Zenia was still talking about the money and how mom's life was depending on it and mom's life was hanging in the balance. We didn't even noticed Bradley was right behind us, listening to the conversation between my sister and myself. 'Where is he?" Zenia asked, scanning the parking lot for his car. 'Behind you," a voice answered. We turned around in union and saw him standing right behind us with three cups in his hands. 'Were you listening to everything we were saying?" Zenia asked. 'Every word," he answered. My heart froze. 'Bradley, there's something I've been meaning to ask you," I started, acknowledging that it made absolutely no sense asking him tomorrow when he had already heard us talking about our mother's condition. Zenia looked on with a ′go ahead and ask him already′ expression on her face. 'Bradley, I really need a very huge favour from you. Our mother has came down with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and it has gotten to the stage where there's no alternatives but to have lungs transplant in order to save her life. I can't afford it Bradley. I was hoping that you could loan me the money and I'll pay you back. I promise. It's a total of one hundred thousand dollars." I looked into his eyes. He had taken aback and seemed stunned by the news I had just told him. His expression unreadable. 'Will you lend me the money?" I asked him again. He moved over to Zenia and I and handed us each a drink he had brought. With his hand freed, he raked it through his hair much like Mr. Hollen. 'Yeah, I'll lend you the money," he said at last. A breath of relief flew from my lungs and I found myself hugging him. 'Thank you, thank you so much. This means so much to me," I said, appreciating the kind gesture he was about to do for my mother, and Zenia and I. She looked happy as well. But our happiness was short lived... Like always. Jasmine's POV I felt like my brain was doing somersaults off the walls in my head and I couldn't comprehend as to why Bradley disappeared right after I asked him for the money to help save my mom whose condition was being critical. He said he would have given me the money. He looked sincere enough when I told him about my mother's health. But he was gone. No phone calls, no texts, no emails. He just upped and left. It was the beginning of yet another week. I was at my desk, arranging the files Mr. Hollen had asked for since three hours ago. Putting my emotions aside, I focused on the task at hand. 'Here are the files you asked for," I said as I entered my boss' office and walked up to his desk. His eyes were locked onto the computer screen in front of him, avoiding eye contact with me. 'Mr. Hollen....." 'Then leave it on the desk and get out!" he plastered, cutting me off and catching me by surprise. I made two steps back. His eyes never left the screen. I couldn't believe the way he was talking to me now. I knew I must had triggered off his anger when I got into the car with Bradley but the way he was acting now was totally unprofessional and unnecessary. 'Why are you talking to me like this?" I found myself asking him. No response. 'I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry if I hurt your pride last week by choosing to leave with Bradley." No response. 'Mr. Hollen." 'Evan, would you at least look at me?" I used his first name this time. His eyes moved off the screen and landed on me which made me regret asking him to look. His eyes were dark and cold.