Chapter 3

Milene’s POV

A year ago, I would have considered my family as top middle class. We did not own a lot of flashy cars but my family could boast of owning a few. My father ran his own company and he could have considered himself as one of the top shot business men in the city if he were to still be alive. Going to auctions and tea parties was a lifestyle.

Everyone knew the social standing of each family so I never thought there was a need to show it off but my father made every auction a big deal, bringing back overpriced items that usually ended up in the basement.

He died, leaving us with a chuck of debt to be paid. The company had ran at a lot of losses during the years and my father wanted nothing other than to desperately keep up with the high class society so he kept on going back to get loans to fund the lifestyle and just because he owned one of the fast rising marketing agencies he was given a permeat.

Now here we are dealing with one of the loan sharks,  “please Arnold, just give us a little bit of time” my mum pleaded, her voice trembled “we would pay back before the month runs out”

I watched my mum fall on her knees pleading while the man looked unfazed with the scene my mother was making.

“Oh please! stop with the tears woman, your husband knew better than to come to me for loan but yet he did and I have done my part by giving your family more time than expected so now I need my money.” He growled, he took another puff of the cigarette and then looked away.

He had turned the clear air in the living room into a scent of stale cigarettes. I stood in the hallways watching while Olivia, my younger sister, stood behind me. I should be out there joining my mother to plead with Mr Arnold but she had earlier instructed us to not interfere in matters like this.

“We have a lot of atifacts that could cost a lot if they were to be sold…” my mum said again.

My parents might not know this but those things they purchased during each auction were just overpriced products that turned out to not be authentic. Even if we put them up for sale now, it was just going to cost a few cents.

I turned around to look at Olivia who had been shaking behind me, there was fear written all over her face and I could understand why because even I had seemed scared when I first experienced one of the many loan sharks. “Liv” I called her name gently trying to calm her down.

“Liv, can you please go to your room while I and mum try to send Mr Arnold away” I looked at her searching her eyes for answers, she had selective mutism and it started immediately after my father's death was announced.

She looked a little bit skeptical before turning away, heading straight to her room. I walked into the living room earning a glare from my mother and sneaky smile from Mr Arnold.

“I think we already have a solution to the issue at hand” he said, as a smile spread across his lips.

“Milene! What did I tell you about stepping out from your room?” My mum yelled but it is already too late because my feet were already rooted in the living room.

“He is not going to go away until we pay up, mum” I said softly.

My gaze travelled from Mr Arnold to my mum and then back to Mr Arnold. The only reason why I had defiled my mum is because an idea had struck me while I was listening in the hallways.

“I can run shifts at your casino so my family would be able to clear the debt we owe” I spoke up

“Are you mad?” My mother said,  quickly getting on her feet making her way to me and before I knew it I could feel her palms on my cheeks.

My face burned from the intensity of the slap but that did not make me to change my mind, one way or the other we were still meant to pay up the debts. Mr Arnold was the one quiet now, watching I and my mother while the room fell into silence.

“How old are you?” He asked

“19” I responded ignoring the looks my mother was throwing at me “I will be 20 in a few months time” I said immediately hoping he would not turn me down because of my age but instead his smile grew wider.

“Just the number I am looking for” he replied and then turned to my mum “I think we have a solution to the problem already, your daughter works at my casino to clear off the debt and your family would never have to put up with any form of embarrassment coming from my end.” He said.

My mum was not having it, “I cannot let my daughter work at your casino,” she said defiantly

“Mum..”

She raised her finger in the air cutting me off “oh shut it, I said we were going to look for a way out but just like your father you wanted to act the hero.” She spoke up again leaving me in a mild state of shock.

We have been visited by one loan shark or the other since my father died and the stories my mother kept on telling them was they would be paid in due time and yet nothing has been done.

“I just wanted to help” I said lowly, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I will give you three days to think but on the fourth day, I am coming with my boys to take everything of value in this house including your daughters” Mr Arnold said dragging the attention back to him.

I watched him walk away and the moment he was out of the door my mum pulled my hair messilessly “I told you not to interfere in adult matters but you refused to listen, you want to work at Arnold’s casino so the whole city would know that we are broke and can no longer fend for ourselves.”

She pulled harder “mum please, I am sorry” I pleaded “I just thought working there would help”

“Of course, your dull brain would come up with something like that at the detriment of your family’s name” she said again as she pushed my body to one of the chairs in the living room.

Now the normal routine would have been her, bringing out a belt to whip senses into my body as she normally put it but she stood above me staring deeply “I need your skin to be at its best so I won’t touch you today” she said and then walked away.