"Thanks Dane, I really appreciate it. Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Ya" Dana said, smiling.

"Bye" Alice waved and walked into the lobby.

"Bye" Dana waved. "Hopefully you would want to see me again Alice" Dana sighed and walked towards her car.

In Alice’s Apartment

Alice danced her little dance upon closing her apartment door. She looked at the watch and giggled. She planned to tell the group about this tomorrow at the Planet. As she was swaying in the living room, she heard her cell phone rang. Must be Dane, she smiled, searching in her handbag, but it was not her cell phone that made the noise. She was puzzled. She traced the sound under her couch and found the cell. Haa, Dane left her cell here, she smiled to herself. She looked at the ID. Her smile subsided. She looked away and looked at the ID again, it was still the same. W.Pieszecki. She swallowed hard. After a while the caller hung up. She sat on her couch, trying to digest on what she had seen. Then the cell rang again, after a few times Alice decided to put her cards on the table and answered the call. She pressed the answer button and put the cell to her ear, while closing her eyes. She waited for the other person to talk first.

"Hi Dane, it’s William here. Alice ok now?" Alice shut her eyes tightly upon hearing the voice of the person on the line.

"Dane? Hello?" Alice exhaled and ended the call. She couldn’t believe what she heard. Just as she was trying to compose herself, she heard Dana’s phone rang again. It was a message left by the caller. She was struggling whether or not to read the message. The curiousity won her and she opened the message.

Hi, thought your phone might be out of battery. Hope my daughter is ok. I called to let you know that what you want is ready tomorrow. You really know how to bargain. Drop by my office anytime.

Tears flowed down her cheeks after reading the message. Bargain? What bargain is that? Is she doing this for money? How could she? Alice couldn’t help but to cry thinking of what Dane had done and said to her these few days. Which was all she wanted in her entire life and it hurt her so much that she had found out it was all lies. Lies she once loved so much. And she couldn’t believe that her father did this to her. Did William hired her to break my heart? Why? Alice asked herself. Then it struck her mind. "So that I would give up and relent into marrying Fairbanks? It that what he wants? Is that what he’s doing to her own daughter? Damn!  Alice throwed the cell phone onto the wall. She sat there crying before her cell phone rang. She looked at the ID and it was private number. She composed herself and answered the phone.

"Hi Alice, it’s Dane" Alice’s ear was burning upon hearing the voice. But then it struck her mind to plan on a plot. She inhaled and exhaled quietly, not letting Dana know she cried.

"Hi, what’s up?"Alice clenched to her cushion.

Dana was scared as she felt the change in Alice’s voice. Ok, Alice knew already, she said to herself. Just be cool and explain nicely tomorrow, calm down, just calm down.

"Haa, I left my cell at your place,so forgetfull of me. Can you please take it with you to the Planet tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I will. Hmm, can we go other place tomorrow? To the Italian cafe two blocks away from your hotel?"

"Sure, see you at 9?"

"Ya, at 9"

"Bye, baby."

"Bye" with that Alice hung up. She looked at her phone and hit one of the speed dial.

"Hi, Dad"