Page 12 of Chasing Hope

‘Is there even a point to this video?’ Ethan jammed his hands in his pockets. The tightening in his pants fuelled his aggravation. Heated silence was the reply to his question.

‘Hope, that looks so dope.’ Mahika exclaimed.

‘Speaking of dope…’ Hope hesitated, her eyes a perfect mask of innocent deception, ‘Derrick, do you have something that will help dull the pain? A little birdy told me you have a remedy for that too.’ She sat up and cupped his stubbled cheek. Ethan's heart raced.

Clearly smitten, Derrick nodded. ‘I’ll be right back.’ He placed his tools on the tray beside the chair and strolled to the back.

‘Oh my God, Hope. I think we will nail him,’ Mahika raced forward and hissed in excitement.

‘I’m starting to enjoy these sting operations.’ Anjana bounced on the balls of her feet. ‘Fuck Netflix. We are going to tread on all the news channels tonight.’ They huddled close together.

‘The news will first break on First Up News.’ Hope couldn’t contain the thrill in her voice.

‘Shhh, he’s coming…Oh Hope, I love it so so much,’ Mahika swiftly changed topics. They turned around to face Derrick. The handsome bastard had a smug smile plastered on his face. Anger flashed in Hope’s beautiful brown eyes. She ducked her head to hide it.

‘Just for you lovely ladies.’ Derrick handed them each a small packet of white powder. ‘Shhh…’ He placed a finger on his lips. ‘This is our little secret.’ He winked at Hope. ‘I have the premium stuff. There is no drug in the market that Derrick does not have. Cocaine, Heroin, Ecstasy, you name it and I have it. Many celebrities connect with me to supply them for their crazy-ass parties. The fucking shit that goes down in those parties is insane. How do you think I became rich overnight?’ He threw his head back and barked an arrogant laugh. ‘Here come on, try some.’ Derrick wrapped his arm around Hope’s waist and hauled her to his chest. Mahika launched forward, Anjana reached out and grabbed her wrist. With a shake of her head, Hope indicated that she got this.

‘Oh Derrick. You’re too kind. I can't thank you enough.’ Hope rose on the balls of her feet and kissed Derrick’s cheek. ‘Trust me, I will. I have a date with my vibrator in an hour. I plan to get high as a kite and give myself a fucking rocking orgasm.’ Hope flung her head back and laughed. Her happy expression immediately fell and she bit down on her bottom lip. Ethan's breath quickened.

Fuck, she was a goddess.

‘You mentioned you’re travelling for the next three months. How will I meet my needs when you’re away?’

‘Join me, babe.’ Derrick nuzzled her neck. ‘It will be one fucking insane trip.’ Hope’s hands curled into fists and she stepped out of his grasp. She whirled around, grabbed her top and slipped it on.

‘I wish I could. But my boss is a pain in the ass. He’s always got his undies in a twist. The nudnik, if only he’d learn to live and let live.’

‘Ah. Always the sweet talker,’ Ethan said.

‘Ha. Those were the nice things I had to say about you.’ Ethan grinned, while Hope snarled as his dimples winked at her.

Derrick’s evil laugh pulled their attention back to the screen. ‘Oh you poor thing.’ He reached out to grab her arm but Hope crouched under the pretence of tying her shoelace. ‘Alright babes, just cause I like you so much, I will share with you the number and address of my supplier, reach out to him and tell him you’re Derrick’sspecial friends.He will give you a good deal on the genuine stuff.’ Derrick scribbled on a yellow post-it note and clipped the scrap of paper between his fingers. His mouth curled up in a venomous smirk. ‘How do you plan to pay me: in cash, or something more fun?’

Hope’s voice, strong and stiff, resounded in the room. ‘Oh Derrick. I will repay you in ways you never dreamed of. Thanks to me you will move to a new home where you will remember me all your life.’ With that, the screen went blank.

‘And that, my dear friends, is how you nab a drug peddler and his kingpin.’ Hope said and took a bow amidst an uproarious round of applause.

Chapter Eight

Hope clutched her shoes to her chest, snuck out of her room and tiptoed across her darkened living room. On her way out she passed a row of floor-to-ceiling glass walls. A starless night spanned outside the window. She blew at her hair and paused at the main door. Switching on the flashlight of her phone, she keyed in the security digits on the digital lock. Her eyebrows drew together and she tried again as her first attempt failed to open the lock.

‘Strange.’ Hope pussyfooted towards the wooden chest at the far corner of the living space and slowly tugged open the top drawer. ‘This is weird.’ Aggravated, she shifted the contents in the drawer and searched for the emergency key. Frustrated, she stepped lightly to the next drawer. ‘I don’t like this one bit.’

‘Neither do I.’ Hope yelped in surprise as the room suddenly flooded with light. Her palm flew to her racing heart. ‘You won’t find the key there.’

‘What is the meaning of this?’ Hope’s eyes narrowed as she stomped towards her father. ‘Do you intend to keep me locked in? I am not a child, Dad, I’m a fully grown woman.’ Seething, Hope flung her shoes on the ground and balled her hands in fists.

‘Then act like one,’ Brian scolded, his bushy brows beetled with annoyance. ‘You have been sneaking out every night since last week. Did you think I would not come to know of this? I have allowed it thus far, waiting to see if you come to your senses. But no such luck. Tonight this stops.’ Brain paced the hall as he fired out the words.

‘This is ridiculous,’ Hope said through clenched teeth. ‘For the love of God Dad, stop being so overprotective. I have my own life to lead. I need not run everything by you. Not outside the office at least.’ Brian rubbed a hand over his tired face.

‘Look Hope, we can do this the hard way or you can just obey me and we can get on with our lives.’

‘Dad, I can walk out of this house any damn time of the day, or night if I choose to. Do you think by changing the code and hiding the keys you can keep me safely locked in? Newsflash, Dad, this has only made me more determined.’ Hope’s voice shook and it took all her might to control her anger.

Brian sighed and dropped in the rocking chair. He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his thinning hair. ‘Hope, sweetheart—’

‘Don’t you daresweetheartme, Dad. I—’

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