Chapter 4 - Chaos in South Beach
In a penthouse suite overlooking the ocean,
Eleanor was laughing.
She was wearing a new silk dress,
sipping a cocktail that cost more than Maya’s weekly groceries.
Chloe was showing off a new diamond bracelet,
taking selfies for her followers.
"David is so gullible,"
Chloe said,
adjusting her hair.
"He thinks we're actually taking care of that girl."
"He owes us,"
Eleanor added,
leaning back on the plush sofa.
"I raised him,
didn't I?
He should be happy we're enjoying ourselves."
Mark walked in from the balcony,
his brow furrowed.
"Hey,
is your phone working?"
he asked Chloe.
"I've got 'No Service' all of a sudden."
Chloe checked her phone,
her smile fading.
"That’s weird,
mine too.
Maybe it's the fireworks interfering?"
Just then,
there was a knock at the door.
It was the hotel manager,
accompanied by two security guards.
"Good evening,
Mrs. Miller,"
the manager said,
his voice formal and cold.
"There seems to be an issue with your payment method."
"The card was declined during our nightly authorization."
Eleanor scoffed,
standing up with practiced indignity.
"That's impossible.
Try it again.
My son is a very wealthy man."
"We have tried,
ma'am.
Four times.
The bank has flagged it as a stolen card."
"Furthermore,"
the manager continued,
"your phone lines have been cut,
and we received a notification that your reservation is no longer guaranteed."
"We need a new form of payment for the sixteen thousand dollars currently owed,"
"or you will have to vacate the premises immediately."
Panic began to set in.
Eleanor reached for her purse,
trying her other cards.
Declined.
Declined.
Declined.
Chloe tried her husband’s card.
Declined.
They looked at each other,
the luxury of the room suddenly feeling like a cage.
They were hundreds of miles from home,
with no money,
no phones,
and a growing debt.
May you like
And then,
they heard the sirens.
