Collateral

‎ "Adeline... Table two" Cassie said as she passed me the tray. Quickly,  I took the tray and went to serve it. I tired to smile really nicely as my back was already aching. And my legs felt like burnt wood.

‎"Here's your food enjoy" bowing down nearly killed me as my back cracked. This is exactly why I was coerced into taking this job. Bottom line I hate it.

‎"Looks like your shift is over ma'am" Cassie smiled and I chuckled half-heartedly.

‎"Lucky me" I said and she handed me an envelope. "Thanks" I smiled stuffing it into my bra. The pay is trash but who am I to complain.

‎

‎Going home was peaceful. The road was very quiet just the way I liked it. The smell of fresh rain made it even better.

‎Everything is better with rain.

‎ I checked my wristwatch and it was 9pm I guess the store would still be opened. I didn't want a detour but I needed to. Sighing, I walked to the store which was longer than I expected. I got to the store thirty minutes past nine.

‎ I pushed the door and the bell rang as I approached the counter.

‎"You're lucky you know.,..I was just about to close" John smiled from behind the counter.

‎"Looks like luck has been on my side" I smiled back and he went to get me my usual.

‎"How's she?"

‎"Well she's been better"

‎He packaged the drugs with ease and I bid him good bye.

‎I took my sweet time to get home cause dealing with my family took everything in me.

‎"You're back early"Ashley my sister said as I walked in through the front door. I was genuinely shocked to see her there looking like her usual self.

‎"Yeah I needed to get mum's drugs" I said walking to my mum's room "dad isn't back?"

‎"You know he isn't" Ashley scoffed

‎"Well it's not bad to hope" I sighed as I walked to my mum's side. "Ma ..."I pulled the covers as she stirred awake.

‎"Mhm... Princess" she brought her hands to my face and smiled sweetly.

‎"Here I got your drugs" I said trying to help her up. She groaned as I lifted her up slowly .

‎The bed was in a very horrible state but what else can we do?

‎ After she took the drugs, I tucked her in and I went to the kitchen to prepare dinner which didn't take so long so, I did minor chores and made sure everything was spotless. Ash this lazy fuck would rather sit on her phone all day claiming to have a lot going on in school. Tch.

‎"Ashley!!" I yelled as I saw the state my room was in.

‎"What's wrong?" She asked running in.

‎"What the hell happened in my room?" I asked and she looked at me with the look of 'you know what happened'

‎ My eyes grew wide at the sight before me. My bedsheets we all crumpled up in the ground, my clothes were everywhere and my drawers were all sticking out. Making it obvious that someone was in here and that someone, went through my things.

‎"No no no" I kept chanting as I looked through my drawers .He can't. He didn't oh my God

‎"What .. what?" Ash asked as I slumped on the floor with an empty envelope.

‎"He took it all....all my fucking savings" I said as I looked at Ash. She looked lost of words as she sat on the bed. What the hell was i thinking I knew I should've hidden this cash else where.

‎"Fuck" she said rubbing my back slowy. I was so weak, I couldn't think all I could I do was cry. My shoulders shook as I cursed my dad in my head. All my savings all my hard work. How dare he....

‎"Fuck !!" I heard it before the door opened. My dad's footsteps sounded off and I knew he was drunk. I angrily stood up and walked to the living room.

‎"Dad... Really? You cleared my sav ....." I stopped dead in my tracks as I looked at my dad. His lips was cracked and his face was badly beaten. I sighed as I ran my hands through my hair.

‎There wasn't any use. He won't remember any of it the next morning.

‎"Dad .. dad!" Ashley ran to his side and helped him sit. I really wanted to help but I just couldn't. I just walked back to my room and fixed it.

‎

‎ "Hey...." Someone kicked me. "Hey...." The person kept pushing.

‎"What?" I growled without opening my eyes.

‎"Common girl wake up" I hit my back as I groaned

‎"You didn't really need to push me down the fucking bed" I said as I stood up partly awake

‎"You wouldn't budge" Ashley smiled. "Well...?"I asked obviously annoyed

‎"Well... Some men are looking for dad"

‎"What men?"

‎"I Don't know...I think they have a problem with dad"

‎"Oh please let it not be loan sharks" I sighed. This wasn't the first time a loan shark I ended paying off, has barged in threatening to burn , or kill us all.

‎"Well I asked if it was money they needed they said they just needed to speak with dad. " I sighed and walked to drag my dad out of bed. But as I got to the living room, my dad was already there and .beside him where two men wearing black. .

‎There was a man seated opposite my dad but my sleepy eyes couldn't make out his face. He was wearing a navy blue tux and he looked well.. rich..

‎" Oh well this is Adeline" my dad smiled at me as the man opposite him turned to me. He looked deep into my eyes I felt small under his gaze. I looked away as I looked down. I could still feel his stare. I heard him hum lightly which made me look up.

‎"This will do" the man said as he stood up and his men followed him out. But  my dad stood up and stopped them before they left.

‎"this is my older daughter. The deal was for the youngest" my dad chimed. A what? I was so lost.

‎"and the youngest is the one that ushered us in?" the man asked. Then it hit me. He looks very familiar I just couldn't place where I had seen him.

‎"Yes yes , she's well educated unlike Adeline, she is done with highschool and is now attending college" the man's face changed to disgust.

‎"You mean you want me to marry a child?" the man spat which made me jump. "it's this one or no deal"

‎I could see the colour leave my dad's face as he swallowed hard.

‎"deal" the man then smiled and walked towards me . I was too stunned to move as his face became clearer I have never seen a man so good-looking that it's scary.

‎H stopped and looked at me from head to toe then, without a word , headed for the door. I watched my dad in awe as he tried to compose himself.

‎"Ok dad .. who the hell was that?"

‎"Your future husband" .

‎