Chapter 3 : The Debt Collectors

~ EVANGELINE ~

The next few days were the same nightmare on repeat.

Veronica played lady of the house. She sat at the head of the table with Jason and wore my clothes and gave me orders like I worked for her.

"Emma, I need coffee."

"Emma, my bathroom needs cleaning."

"Emma, these towels aren't soft enough."

I did everything she asked without arguing. Without feeling anything at all. I was numb to all of it. After being called useless and after having my wedding ring stolen, there was nothing left inside me to hurt.

I just went through the motions of cooking, serving and staying invisible like I always have till the afternoon I was in the kitchen washing dishes when someone pounded on the front door.

The knock was loud and aggressive.

I dried my hands and walked to the door. Through the peephole I saw two men in dark suits. They looked expensive but dangerous.

I opened the door.

"Can I help you?"

The taller one looked me up and down. "We're here to see Jason Blackwood."

"He's not home right now. Can I take a message?"

"No." The shorter one stepped forward. "When will he be back?"

"I don't know. Maybe later tonight."

"We'll wait inside."

"I don't think that's..."

"It wasn't a question." The tall one pushed past me into the house.

"Excuse me, you can't just..."

"Emma?" Victoria's voice came from the living room. "Who is it?"

She appeared in the hallway and stopped when she saw the two men. "Who are you?" she demanded.

The tall one pulled out a card and handed it to her. "Your son owes a substantial amount of money. We're here to collect."

"That's impossible," Victoria said but her voice shook. "My son would never..."

"Your son has a gambling problem." The tall one looked around the house like he was calculating what everything was worth. "And he's been using our money to cover his losses. We're here to either collect payment or repossess assets."

Victoria grabbed her phone with trembling hands. "Get out of my house."

"We're not leaving until we speak with Jason."

She dialed Jason's number and pressed the phone to her ear. "Jason. Come home right now. There are men here saying you owe them money."

She hung up and looked at the two men. "He'll be here soon."

"We'll wait."

Victoria paced back and forth in the living room. The two men sat on the couch like they owned the place. I stood in the corner trying not to lose my mind. Since when has he had financial issues? Was that why he needed Veronica? What the hell was happening?

Jason's car pulled into the driveway and he burst through the front door. His face was flushed and his tie was loose.

"What the hell is this?" he said to the two men.

"You know exactly what this is," the tall one replied. "You've been avoiding our calls for weeks."

"I told you I need more time."

"You've had enough time.”

Jason ran his hand through his hair. "Let's talk privately."

The three of them went into the study and closed the door. Victoria tried to follow but Jason stopped her.

"Stay out here, Mother."

"Jason, I have a right to..."

"Stay. Out. Here."

He closed the door in her face.

For a few minutes there was silence. Then shouting started.

"I don't have that kind of money right now!"

"Then you should have thought about that before you bet it all on red!"

"I need another week!"

"You're out of weeks!"

Victoria stood outside the study door listening. I stayed in the hallway close enough to hear but far enough to not be noticed.

"I'll get you the money," Jason said and his voice sounded desperate.

"We don't want your empty promises."

"The house is worth five million. You can have it as collateral. I'll pay you back in two months." I hear him.say suddenly.

"One month. And if you don't pay, the house becomes ours."

There was a long pause.

"Fine," Jason said finally. "One month."

The door opened and the two men walked out with Jason behind them.

"We'll send the paperwork tomorrow," the tall one said. "Have it signed and notarized by Friday."

"I understand."

The men left without another word.

The front door closed and the house went silent.

Victoria turned on Jason immediately. “Gambling? Are you insane?"

"Not now, Mother."

"Yes, now! How could you be so stupid?"

"I said not now!" Jason's voice echoed through the house.

Victoria's eyes went to me standing in the hallway. Her face twisted with rage.

"This is your fault," she said.

I blinked. "What?"

"If you were any kind of wife at all, you would be helping him instead of standing there like a useless decoration." She walked toward me. "A good wife would have a solution. A good wife would support her husband. But all you do is add more burden to this family."

"Mrs. Blackwood, I didn't..."

I saw her hand about to connect with my face and I caught it mid-air before she would have succeeded in slapping me.

Her eyes flew open in surprise because I refused to let her punish me for her son’s mistake.

My hand was in serious pain but I held her firm, defiance strong in my eyes.

“Don’t blame me. Blame him!”

"You…you.. worthless thing," Victoria huffed, sending me a dirty look before turning away.

Jason didn't look at me. He went to his study and slammed the door.

*******

That night I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. My mind was racing with everything I heard. The house was in both our names and I wouldn't let me give it away. I still needed somewhere to stay for the next eight weeks and going back home was not an option neither was losing this one.

Around midnight my door opened.

Jason stumbled in smelling like alcohol and his shirt was untucked and his eyes were red.

"Emma," he slurred. "We need to talk."

I sat up in bed. "You're drunk."

"So what?" He pulled papers out of his jacket and threw them on the bed. "Sign these."

I turned on the lamp and looked at the papers. "What is this?"

"The house. I need you to sign your half over to me."

My heart started pounding. "Why?"

"Because I need it as collateral to pay off my debts. Just sign it."

I looked at the papers and then at him. "No."

He blinked like he didn't hear me right. "What?"

"I said no. I'm not signing."

"Emma, this isn't a request."

"It's my house too. My name is on the deed. It's the only thing I have in my name and I'm not giving it to you."

"You're being ridiculous," Jason said and his voice was getting louder. "This is a family emergency."

"It's your emergency and I haven’t been treated like family for the past two years so why should I care? Besides, you're the one who gambled away your money."

"Sign the papers!"

"No."

He grabbed my arm and yanked me out of bed. I stumbled and almost fell but he caught me. His fingers dug into my skin.

"Listen to me very carefully," he said and his face was inches from mine. "If you don't sign these papers, I will make your life in this house even more of a living hell than it already is. Do you understand me?"

"Let go of me."

"Sign them!"

"No!"

He shook me hard enough that my teeth rattled. "You stupid, selfish..."

"I'm not signing anything," I said and my voice was stronger now. "That house is the only thing I have and you're not taking it from me."

Jason's face twisted with rage. He shoved me backward and I hit the wall.

"You're going to regret this," he said.

"I already regret ever meeting you."

He raised his hand like he was going to hit me but before it could land loud sirens sound wailed outside. Blue and red lights flashed through my bedroom window.

Jason froze with his hand still raised.

Someone pounded on the front door. "Police! Open up!"

Jason stared at me. "What did you do?"