Chapter 4: Desperate call

The sky was dipped in hues of deep orange and dusky purple, the last remnants of daylight stretching across the horizon. Elena glanced at the old clock on the wall—6:30 PM. She usually kept the store open until seven, but tonight, an inexplicable urgency gnawed at her. Her mother and Maya were waiting at home, and something told her she needed to be there sooner rather than later.

She quickly tallied the day’s earnings, locked up the register, and grabbed her bag. The streets were already shifting into the quiet lull of early evening—shopkeepers and stores putting up the close sign up their glasses, Casino light slowly popping up as the city started having its night vibes.She flagged down a cab, sliding into the backseat as the driver pulled into traffic.

As the city blurred past, her fingers absently traced the pages of her small notebook. Nestled among scribbled grocery lists and inventory notes was a single number—Mrs. Kensington’s. Elena had written it down, yet every time she considered dialing, a nervous stir twisted her insides.

She exhaled sharply. Maybe it was hunger making her overthink—after all, she had only eaten two biscuits and some water all day. But deep down, she knew the unease wasn’t about food.

It was about him.

Adrian Blackwood.

Stepping into his world—his company—felt like stepping onto a tightrope over a pit of unknowns.

Her grip tightened around the notebook as the cab pulled up in front of their home. She barely waited for the driver to stop completely before stepping out, fishing out a few bills, and hurrying toward the door. “Thank you!”,she said hurriedly.

The moment she stepped inside, she knew something was wrong.

Her mother sat in the guest chair—the one she never used. Her face was pale, her eyes dim with exhaustion and something worse. Something heavy.

"Mom?" Elena’s voice came out sharper than she intended, . "What happened?"

Her mother looked up slowly, her lips pressing together before she spoke. "The landlord." Her voice was quiet, strained. "He doubled the rent today."

Elena froze.

Doubled.

It wasn’t just bad news. It was catastrophic.

With their current income, they could barely keep up as it was. A hike like that would shove them straight toward eviction.

Her mother inhaled shakily, rubbing her temples. "I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn’t listen. Said it’s non-negotiable." She sighed, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her dress. "I don’t know what we’re going to do, sweetheart."

Something inside Elena snapped.

Fear. Worry. Doubt. All of it burned away in a single flash of determination.

She grabbed her notebook and flipped to the page, her fingers dialing the number before she could second-guess herself.

The line rang twice before a voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Kensington!" Elena blurted, her words tumbling over each other. "I—I'm calling about the job. You mentioned earlier—"

"Wait," the woman’s voice cut through, firm and laced with authority. "Who am I speaking with?"

Elena inhaled sharply, forcing herself to steady her voice. "I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s me, Elena. You bought shoes from me this morning, and I wanted to—"

"Oh, Elena, darling!" Mrs. Kensington’s tone shifted in an instant, going from sharp to amused. "No need to rush, dear. I know why you're calling."

Elena swallowed, gripping the phone tighter.

Mrs. Kensington continued, her voice carrying the smooth ease of someone used to having control. "I’ll send you my address. Be at my house first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll have someone direct you to the hiring personnel."

Elena barely had time to respond before the call ended with a soft click.

Her phone vibrated in her hand. A new message.

Mrs. Kensington’s address.

Elena stared at it for a long moment, her mind whirling.

This was it. No more overthinking. No more fear.

Elena sat beside her mother, gently taking her hand. The frail warmth of her mother’s palm sent a pang through her chest. She hated seeing her this way—worried.

"Mama, listen to me," Elena said, keeping her voice steady even though doubt churned in her gut. "Today, something happened. A woman came to the shop, Mrs. Kensington. She offered me a chance to work at Blackwood Enterprises."

Her mother’s tired eyes flickered with recognition. "Blackwood? As in the Blackwood?"

Elena nodded. "Yes. The same one."

A deep silence stretched between them. Her mother exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around Elena’s.

Her mother’s lips pressed together, a storm brewing behind her gaze. "Are you sure about this, my love?"

Elena forced a smile, though inside, uncertainty clawed at her. "Mum, no worries. I’ll make you proud," she said, her voice thick with determination.

She had sacrificed too much already. Stopping school after high school, watching from the sidelines as her friends went off to college while she stayed behind, taking odd jobs just to keep Maya’s future secure. She had been an embodiment of sacrifice, and she would do it all over again.

Her mother sighed, stroking Elena’s cheek like she had when she was little. "You always carry so much on your shoulders," she whispered.

Elena swallowed back the lump in her throat. "I can handle it, Mama. This job—it’s our way forward. I won’t let anything happen to us."

Her mother didn’t reply right away. Instead, she nodded slowly, her face filled with equal parts pride and sorrow.

Elena squeezed her hand one last time before standing up. "I’ll fix dinner," she said, eager to shake off the weight of the conversation.

She made her way to the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves.

Cooking had always been a quiet escape for her—one of the few moments where she wasn’t worrying about money, rent, or the future. The scent of garlic and spices soon filled the air, wrapping the tiny apartment in warmth.

By the time dinner was ready, her mother and Maya were seated at their small wooden table.

They ate in comfortable silence, the only sounds being the clinking of spoons and Maya’s occasional hum as she flipped through her schoolbooks.

After dinner, Elena cleaned up, wiping down the counters and setting aside leftovers for the next day. Her mother and Maya had already retired to their rooms, leaving Elena alone in the quiet hum of the house.

She walked to her bedroom, closing the door softly behind her.

Taking a deep breath, she knelt beside her bed, pressing her forehead against her folded hands.

"God, I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but please… let me be lucky."

She sat there for a while, the silence wrapping around her like a cocoon.

Then, finally, she climbed into bed, pulling the blankets up to her chin.

Tomorrow, she would walk into Adrian Blackwood’s world.

And nothing would ever be the same again.