Chapter Four: Despair

Ellen stood up as she made a beeline to the living room. She forced a smile as she made contact with her parents. Rose and Wills also gave a reassuring smile as if they had everything under control.

Ellen knew they were pretending so she won’t care, she cleared her throat in an attempt to speak, “Hmm, hmm”

“What is it?” Rose asked with concern etched on her face as she rubbed her back.

She continued, “Mom, dad, I asked for help from Ricardo and he agreed to help us.”

“What!” Rose widened her eyes in anger as she sobbed out loud. “My baby, we’ve put you in so much distress. This trouble was caused by me and your dad but we could not do anything to help! You had to shoulder all these responsibilities. Cries…my baby is now an adult.”

Wills sighed as he shook his head. His baby daughter that he doted on and protected is now the one shielding their family from danger and protecting the company from going bankrupt.

Ellen hugged Rose, “Mum, I can’t just fold my arms and watch our family fall into despair. Besides, the company is dad’s sweat and I won’t allow it to go bankrupt, not under my watch.”

Wills sighed as he patted his daughter’s back.

A few days passed since Ellen heard from Ricardo, she became increasingly worried as the days passed by. As the day drew closer to the date that Wills promised, Ellen couldn’t contain her fear anymore as she picked up her phone to call Ricardo.

After the third ring, a cold mechanic female voice sounded, making her panic. 

Ric betrayed her, no he would never. Something must have happened to cause him to ignore her, Ellen thought.

Meanwhile, in the Jules mansion, Ricardo’s father — Frederick Jules, reprimanded his son.

“No, you can’t go against Ivan. He is ruthless, you can’t go against him!”

“Dad, you don’t understand. Ellen’s family is in debt and I need to help her because she is my girlfriend and I love her. I can’t see her going through so much trouble.” Ricardo’s voice quivered as he looked at his dad.

“No Ric, a wise man submits to circumstances. Your account will be frozen and your phones and other devices will be confiscated till the clouds pass by. We can’t afford to offend that devil and put our family in danger.” Frederick spat out and left Ricardo kneeling on the floor with pain written all over his face.

“Dad, you can’t do that to me and Ellen, what will she think of me?” Ricardo knelt down on the floor as he watched his dad leave with despair. He really could do anything to save the love of his life.

***

A week passed by in a twinkling of an eye. The Adams family left no stone unturned to get help but it didn’t bring any fruition. Most importantly, after being rejected, their hope was placed on Ricardo Jules —  Ellen Adams’ boyfriend.

“He hasn’t called yet?” Rose paced in Ellen’s room.

“No, mom.” Ellen sighed as she got up from her bed and hugged her mom.

She continued, “I don’t think he is going to help us mom.”

“What! Isn’t he your boyfriend? Is he going to watch you go with Ivan?” Rose blushed with anger.

“Mom, isn’t it obvious? Who wants to go against that devil? Ricardo’s father must have forbidden him to help us. I know Frederick Jules well, he places his business over familiar relations at the expense of danger.” Ellen pulled her hair in frustration.

“Do you still trust him then?” Rose said in askance.

“Yes mom, I do trust him. Besides, he was restricted from helping us” She sat back down as she looked at her feet.

Rose sighed as she looked at her daughter. They created this trouble and dragged their daughter into the mess, and this has created a wedge in her love life. Would she trust her boyfriend in the near future? She will leave it to the hand of fate to decide. Besides, Ivan Vladimir is coming to take Ellen as they failed to provide the money as promised.

She slowly walked to her daughter, sat her on her bed and placed her head on her lap, looking at her lovingly while rubbing her head.

The due date finally came, Ivan finally came to the Adams’ mansion. He walked into the mansion as if he owned the place. These adjectives best describe him –- arrogant and ruthless.

Wills fell to his knees as his eyes widened with trepidation, “Mr. Vladimir, I haven’t gathered the money.”

Ivan walked towards him and placed his leg on his back forcing him to kowtow to him with his head touching the floor. “What did you say to me? You will gather the money in a week, right?”

Unknowing to them, Ivan has passed an order to all business owners not to help the Adams’s family lest they go against him. Who would offend the ruthless character? And as such, no one was willing to help.

Ellen looked at her dad’s pitiful state on the floor and raised her head sharply to Ivan, “There is a condition right?”

Rose walked over to Ellen’s side, “No, we would figure this out. Don’t make such rash decisions.” She pushed Ellen behind her as pea sized tears fell from her eyes.

“No mom, I need to do this. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Ellen came from behind Rose while touching her hands as if to calm her down.

She looked at Ivan without trepidation and walked towards him standing in front of him, “Release my dad now and I will go with you.”

Ivan looked at the girl that has clouded his mind since he met her. He raised his eyebrows not expecting her to accept his condition. He closed the distance between them and leaned towards her, his lips almost touching hers, “Are you sure you want to go with me, beautiful?”

Ellen glared at him as she moved a distance from him, “What, you want to change your mind? I don’t think you are that nice.”

Ivan smiled, making him look handsome. It seems that his days will be interesting from now. He turned towards Wills who was still kowtowing to him, “On account of your daughter, I will leave you unscathed.”

Wills stood up with difficulty as Rose came to help him up. He looked at his daughter and blamed himself. He shouldn’t have met this devil for help, he should have let his company go bankrupt and leave with his family to the countryside to enjoy ordinary life.

Ellen knew what her dad was thinking, she walked towards him and held his hand, “Don’t blame yourself dad, you did what you had to do to save the company.” She said her final goodbyes to her parents as she walked out of the mansion with Ivan.