Chapter 4. Hidden Feeling

“Come on in quickly!” said Matthew, helping Sarah get Granny into the taxi.

“Thanks,” said Sarah as she sat down next to Granny while Matt sat in the front seat. “I don’t remember giving you the address of this motel,” she mumbled, confused.

“Oh really? Take a look at our conversation history. You sent your location last night, so what’s wrong with Mrs. Harper? Has her liver relapsed?” Matthew asked, looking back at her.

“I think it’s food poisoning, I don’t know. So if there’s a slightly unpleasant smell, please forgive us,” she said, wincing at the smell coming from Granny’s diaper. 

“Doesn’t matter!” Matthew exclaimed as he glanced at the taxi driver, who was covering his nose with his hand.

They arrived at the nearest hospital a few minutes later, where Granny was immediately brought to the emergency room. After talking to the doctor, Sarah walked limply into the waiting room, where Matthew clutched his suitcase.

“Hey, how’s it going? Did she have food poisoning?” he asked, shifting so she could sit next to him.

“Yeah, I shouldn’t have bought her food from that restaurant yesterday,” Sarah muttered; she felt it was her fault. She bought that food because they gave it to her for free.

Matthew let out a long sigh. “Are you always like this? Blaming yourself for everything. So your grandmother has to stay here or what?” he asked, looking concerned.

She shook her head. “She only needs to finish a bag of IV fluids before returning home. Anyway, you must be tired. Have you got the hotel?” She deliberately changed the topic because the truth was that her grandmother couldn’t stay at the hospital due to a lack of funds.

“Don’t mind me! Want to chat over coffee?” asked Matthew, who was immediately answered by a nod.

A few minutes later, they sat across from each other in a coffee shop, holding cups of coffee. “Thanks for coming. I know you must be very busy,” Sarah said earnestly.

“Well, I did have to cancel some appointments, but for you, I would do anything!” he said half-jokingly. Sarah chuckled. 

“That’s sweet,” she replied, trying not to sound too flattered.

“Okay, so what kind of legal assistance do you need?” Matthew asked after sipping his coffee.

Sarah cleared her throat. She knew what she was about to say would sound silly, but she had to tell Matthew everything in detail so that she wouldn’t face problems in the future. “So I met this woman...” she started her story carefully.

***

"Victoria Jane Abbot? Are you sure she really is that Victoria?” Matthew muttered in disbelief.

Sarah nodded her head confidently, “It’s really her! Even though her face is half-burned, I can still tell that she’s the real one!”

Matthew took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s say it’s her, but what you’re about to do is risky! If one of Abbot’s family members is really the culprit, that means she is a cold and cruel person! She will not hesitate to get rid of you because she thinks you are Victoria!” he warned, his tone serious.

Sarah fell silent. She just realized that Matthew’s words were very accurate. What if her life ends like Victoria’s, or even worse? How could she let her grandmother live alone?

“Sarah, you have to think carefully about everything. I know it’s a significant amount of money, but it also comes with a heavy risk,” Matthew advised, his concern evident in his eyes.

The next day, at the new apartment.

“Hey, are you awake? Sorry, I haven’t had time for shopping, so we only have water,” Sarah said as she saw Matthew walking towards her.

“No problem. How is your grandmother doing? Is she feeling better?” He asked, reaching for a cup that looked like it belonged to the previous occupant and placing it under the tap.

“She’s getting better, but I still advise her to stay in bed. I’m going out to buy something across the street. Don’t forget we have a meeting with Victoria this afternoon,” Sarah said carefully.

Matthew sighed. “You are stubborn!”

Sarah grimaced, hurried to get her purse, and disappeared through the door. After ensuring that her grandmother had eaten and taken her medicine, Sarah immediately got ready to meet Victoria.

“Let’s go!” She patted Matthew’s shoulder, who was looking down at his phone. He looked up, and he was surprised to see her appearance. She looked gorgeous in her flower dress, which she had never worn before.

“What’s wrong? Do I look weird?” asked Sarah, who deliberately wore a lovely dress because Matthew was there that day.

“No, you look perfect!” said Matthew. He couldn’t hide his feelings.

Sarah hurriedly turned her face around so Matthew wouldn’t catch her blushing. They walked side by side on the pavement. Matthew couldn’t take his eyes off Sarah, who was singing a random song beside him. “I never saw you this happy,” muttered Matthew, half-smiling.

“Really?” Sarah said. Should she admit that her mood had changed because of his presence there? But who was she compared to him? A qualified lawyer whose clients included many of the most prominent American companies. She was just nobody...

“Yeah, may I know why you were so persistent about working with Victoria?” Matthew asked casually.

Sarah took a deep breath. “Of course, because of the money. I know maybe for you and some other rich people, money is not everything, but with money, at least my life could change, and...”

“And?” demanded Matthew curiously.

“Nothing...” she cursed herself. She didn’t want Matthew to know about her parents’ debt to Russo, the loan shark, and how miserable her life had been in the past few years.

After walking for almost twenty minutes, they finally arrived at the apartment building where Victoria lived. She called her and said that they were already in the lobby.

“She told us to go straight to the tenth floor,” she said, turning to look at Matthew, who was busy replying to messages on his cell phone.

After getting into the elevator, they finally made it to the door to room number 405. She pressed the bell once and waited. Soon, the door opened, and Victoria appeared with her trademark cold face. “Matt, this is Victoria Abbot. Victoria, this is Matthew Sullivan, my attorney,” Sarah introduced them before stepping inside.

They shook hands briefly. “Come in!” said Victoria curtly.

Sarah stepped into the apartment, which was quite comfortable even though it was not that big. “How could you pay for this apartment and the one I occupied? I thought you didn’t have money?” chirped Sarah, who was no longer reluctant to ask Victoria everything because soon she would become her.

“I do online work! I’m smart! Did you forget that?” she said, walking towards a bar. “What do you guys want to drink? Wine?”

Sarah shrugged her shoulders. “Anything,” she said quickly.

“Her liver is not perfect yet! She donated her liver to her grandmother years ago, so don’t tell her to drink alcohol!” Matthew snapped.

Sarah gulped. She felt flattered by Matthew’s reaction, even though it was pretty average, considering they were best friends.

Victoria snorted, “You guys like each other, huh? Or are you guys dating?” She teased them with a disgusted look.

Sarah’s cheeks immediately blushed. “Could you just bring us two San Pellegrino and sit here with us without talking too much?” said Sarah, impersonating Victoria’s intonation.

Victoria looked at her in surprise, then clapped her hands loudly. “You sound like me! You just need a little practice to get rid of your smug style and make you look expensive and smart!” she said arrogantly.

Sarah didn’t answer and just rolled her eyes.

Again, Victoria clapped her hands. “That’s very me!” she shouted happily. Sarah could see Viсtoria laughing with her eyes, not just her mouth. That meant she had high hopes for her.

With a wholly changed mood, Victoria walked over to Sarah and Matthew. She carried two bottles of cold San Pellegrino in her hands and a bag of Almonds. “Make yourselves at home!” she said, plopping down on the sofa, facing them sitting next to each other.

“Before we talk about anything further, there’s one thing I want to know,” Matthew said, his hands busy unscrewing a bottle of San Pellegrino for Sarah and himself.

“What’s that?” asked Victoria, one eyebrow raised high. “Can you guarantee Sarah’s safety? What if the person who planned to kill you is after her too?” asked him seriously.

Victoria tilted her head. “I can’t guarantee that,” she answered honestly.

“Did you hear that? Cancel your silly intentions! Let’s go home!” said Matthew as he pulled Sarah’s hand, but Sarah remained seated.

“Sorry, Matt, but I can’t back down. I want to do it,” she said confidently.

Victoria spread her arms, “I like your determination,” she said, blinking one eye at her.

Matthew closed her eyes in disbelief. “You really are stubborn!” he snapped and sat back down. “If you’re really worried about her safety, you can do something for her!” Victoria muttered as she stared at her shiny fingernails.

“What do you mean?” asked Matthew curiously.

“You can join her!” said Victoria lightly.

“What?” exclaimed both Sarah and Matthew in surprise.