Chapter 2

Kamara's POV

“One hundred and fifty thousand dollars!” I repeated

My heart jumped down to the pit of my stomach as I stiffened. Mum's words rang in my ears like the cathedral bell. I don't think I would ever be able to make that in a year. Not when I am just a newbie in the fashion industry. 

“Say something, Kamara.” Mum whispered, she was crying now. 

I felt my breath hitch as I gasped for air. I think I was having a panic attack, sweat beads formed on my forehead and my palm shook hard. My legs wobbled and it seemed weightless. I sat my butt down before it gives way to the ground. 

“Stay calm, baby. Please.” She kept repeating. 

Burning tears rolled down my face. “This can't be happening, mum. Where are we supposed to go? What's going to happen to me and my siblings? Why do they want to take away our home?” 

Mum sat next to me, sobbing. “It's the only thing that can stand in as payment. In a week time, we would be homeless.” 

I shook my head hard, “that can't be. It's so wrong and unfair. That is the only home we know. We don't have any family.” 

It might sound absurd, but we do not have any extended family that I know of. My parents are orphans, and they met at the orphanage, since they had no family to adopt them, and they are required to leave at age eighteen. They left together after falling in love and started working hard. It took a while, but they started a bakery shop and eventually got their first house after I was born. It's been a hard run, but they never gave up. It's not right that all they work for is going to crumble right in front of them. 

Aside that where exactly would my siblings live, at least I have the small apartment I share with Chantelle. How does it sound that they would all be deprived of a brighter future through college and end up homeless. 

“This can't be happening.” I chanted, feeling my scalp hurt from pulling my hair too hard. Taking a deep breath, I tried to say something calming. “what did the doctor say about dad?” 

“He would be fine soon. What we need to worry about now is finding somewhere to stay. I think we can get a weekly rent paying house. I still have about five thousand dollars in my savings account over the years.” 

I wasn't listening to whatever it was my mum was trying to say. There is no way I am going to let my family end up living around. It's never a good ending for people who indulge in such living condition. They either end up on the streets or get mugged by desperate homeless criminals. We can always ask for more time, if only I can reason a promising way out that would benefit us and the creditor. I have seen people negotiate like that in movies and court cases, it works like magic. 

“You said we have a week, right? How about I get to plead for more time? We can rent the top floor out to someone while we resolve to an installment payment. I know going to the fashion school will enable me notable clients. I would be able to pay the money overtime.

Mum hummed in response, “that sounds good. How do you intend to go about it? The man in question isn't an easy person. I don't think it's okay for you to meet with such a person. “ 

I rolled my eyes, “mum, he is human after all. And what I intend to discuss would be a gain to both sides. Who is he?” 

“Diego Sanchez.” 

For the second time in a span of twenty minutes, my heart froze. “What is it with you giving me shocking responses today? There are other people existing in this city that dad could have gone to. Why that man of all people?” 

When she mentioned the mafia earlier, it didn't reckon in my head that there is only one reigning mafia in the city. Diego Sanchez is nothing close to a human. I have never seen him before, but rumors of how brutal he is gets everywhere. He doesn't take no for an answer, and his means of torturing people is said to be the most gruesome activity any human can ever experience. The thought of him gives me goosebumps. 

“As much as I hate to say this. We don't have a choice now, mum. I need to meet with this man and get our home back. A week isn't that long of a time, I can't have my siblings be anxious over losing their home. With dad in the hospital, it would be hard to think of a possible solution. I would go to him. But I need to discuss with Chantelle first.”

She looked unsure, “ka.......” 

Raising a hand to cut her short, I rubbed at her arms. "Put your mind at rest, mum and trust me. I promise to make this work. Just trust me. You should go back inside now. Please ask Chantelle to see me. Before you go, mum. Do you have any number to which I can reach the mafia?” 

She nodded, bringing out her phone without a word. I typed it into my phone, giving her a go ahead. My legs shook hard as anxiety ate deep into the pores of my skin. Settling into the hallway chair, I gripped the edge tightly, tapping my feet on the hard floor. Chantelle might know of a better way to approach this, being an intending lawyer. 

“What's up? You asked to see me.” Chantelle asked, sitting next to me.

I raised my teary eyes to look at her, sniffing loudly to keep them from falling. I am known to not give in to my emotions whenever I am faced with a challenge. I get at it swiftly before it consumes me. 

“Listen, Chan. I know you haven't started practicing yet. But do you think you can draw up an agreement contract for me as regards loan payment?” 

She tilted her head with questions in her eyes. “I don't think it would be appropriate to ask what you intend to use it for. So I will wait until you are ready. It can be drafted and your means of payment can be put into it. However, whoever is the creditor has to agree to sign.” 

I nodded hurriedly, “definitely, he has to agree. Can you get it done before the day runs out?” 

“Yes, I can ask my mum to do that. She is the certified lawyer. I would get a call through to her.” 

“Thank you so much, Chantelle.”

“Is it going to be okay?” She asked with a worried look on her face. 

I sniffed, staring blankly at the wall, “I am not certain about anything, Chantelle. But I really hope this works out.” 

“Alright.” 

“Can you excuse me, please. I need to make a call.” 

“Sure.” 

Exhaling loudly, I dialed the number. It rang for a while before it went through. “Hello, is this Diego Sanchez?” 

A gruff voice scoffed on the other end. “Do you think he has all the time in the world to pick a call from a random number? What do you want?” 

Biting on my lower lip, I gulped. “I need to meet with him as regards the loan Andrew Hermes took from him. I would like for us to meet tomorrow morning.” 

There was a brief silence. “You sound too confident for a debtor. Is this your contact?” 

“Yes.” 

“I will let you know whether there would be a meeting or not. You had better have his money ready by then.” 

He hung up rudely on me. Cursing wildly under my breath, I inhaled deeply, calming myself. This is it, the future of my family and I would be determined tomorrow. I hope, for the sake of everything good, the said mafia would have an ounce of reasoning in him. It's the only thing I can count on at the moment.