Too Much To Handle

By morning I woke up to an empty warm bed.

The sun entering through the curtains cast long warm shadows across the floor.

Scanning through the room, I noticed I was alone and Micheal was gone.

Sitting up slowly on the bed frame as I try to remind myself why I was in a hotel room.

For a brief minute, I try to tell myself that everything that had happened the night before was all a dream. But the stained bed covers of my own wetness mixed with blood reminded me of the incident that happened between me and Micheal.

My disappointment became evidence that I wished everything could go back to the way it was, and I never came here at first, but who am I to play with nature and time?

A soft knock on the door startled me and before I could answer, the door swung open revealing ma'am Lucy, the very woman who had brought me here.

She stepped into the room, her eyes scanning my body and the covers, evidence of what had happened on it showed to her view. A cruel and satisfied smile appeared on her face.

"Aha! I can see you've fulfilled the chairman's expectations".

I stared at her, unable to understand what she was driving at.

She walked further into the room as her heels clicked with steady rhymes on the hard flood.

"You've done great my dear. Now all you have to do is to secure this opportunity".

I shook with uneasiness. What does she mean by ' I have done well?' Was this some kind of game?

Lucy's smile widened knowing I didn't understand what she was saying, then she continued, "Since he's touched you this once, it's time for you to get pregnant dear. This is the only way for you to secure the money your family needs to pay off their debt".

A cruel smile appeared on her face while my face twisted into a huge big frown.

"What the hell do you mean by that ma'am Lucy?".

I couldn't still pick out the words nor understand what she meant because I was confused.

This isn't what I bargain for and this wasn't what I was told from the beginning.

How can they make me sleep with a man and as if that's not enough, they expect me to get pregnant.

I stared at her in disbelief as the reality sank in.

So I am the scapegoat my family needs to use to clear off the family's debts.

******

As I approached the front door of the mansion, the tension in the air hit me immediately.

I quickly stop on my track.

From where I stood I could see several men in black suits leaning against the entrance door, cigarettes in their hands as they inhaled the smoke from it into their lungs, and blowing it right back into the air.

Their eyes trailed behind me as I walked past them without saying a word.

From their composure and their behavior I sensed something was wrong, and to top it all, they weren't looking calm but cold and intimidating.

The moment my foot stepped into the house, my step mother's voice echoed through the hallway, thick with frustration.

She was shouting at someone.

I made sure to lighten my steps and not make any sound to confirm my suspicion on who she may be dragging words with.

Helen, my stepmom stood with her hands across her chest as she continued to yell at the men in suits.

From where I stood trying to strain my ears to listen more, Grace, my stepsister appeared from the other side but the moment she saw me, a smug smile curled up her lips.

"Wendy, you're back already". I nodded in affirmation without saying a word.

"So tell me, how did everything go?".

She asked sharply.

I could sense mockery in her tone as she tried to keep her distance like I carried some diseases on my body.

I tried as much as possible to keep myself from screaming at her, especially after what I had faced from the previous night with Michael.

So I pretended like I didn't hear her say anything and rather dodge the question with another question.

"What is going on here?" Gesturing to the men in suits.

Grace rolled her eyes trying as hard as she could to act nice.

"Father's company is in some deep shit, that's what I can tell you. But it's nothing to worry about".

She concluded as though it were just some minor problem that can be resolved in an instant.

But I knew better than to believe it was nothing.

The Jerkins family was in serious trouble, deeper than what Grace can imagine.

I felt my throat force out the words that I had been bottling for so long, "It is something to worry about Grace, and not something not to look over. We're in a big debt, Grace, for over 7 billion dollars".

Grace's face twitched into a big frown.

It was evident she was in so much shock on hearing the news.

"What the hell are you talking about, Wendy? You're lying isn't it? It's not true right?".

She asked all questions all at once to be sure she heard right, but all I did was nod in affirmation.

Her expression dropped for a moment and I myself couldn't read what was running through her mind.

Soon she quickly hurried inside with panic in her eyes, calling for my stepmom who happens to be her real mother.

I trailed behind her slowly as I made my way towards the living room, but the scene that greeted me was that of the men in suits.

They were negotiating with my stepmom as they continued discussing the debts my family was buried in.

"Give us a little time! We'll come up with the money" My stepmom was practically begging to these men, who didn't look like they were planning to agree to her terms.

"Atleast, give us five more days and I promise, we will fix this once and for all".

On hearing that, the men exchanged glances among themselves and after what seemed like hours, they finally spoke up.

"Five more days?" They chorus, their tone cold and fierce.

My stepmom nodded in approval.

"But this is the last chance we are giving, no more stories and no more extensions, got it?" I watched my stepmom respond sharply as cold sweat broke out from her forehead.

The moment the men left, Grace stormed out of the room. Her eyes filled with fear and confusion.

"Mother, what is going on?"

She bursted out saying the moment we were all settled inside the house.

"Why didn't you tell me about this from the beginning?".

She continued with a shaky tone that felt like she was about to lose it to tears.

On hearing her, my stepmom's face softened for a brief moment with regret in her eyes.

"I didn't want to tell you sweetie because I didn't want to worry you with it. And I thought we would be able to resolve it before things escalated but I was wrong".

Grace's face fell silent when reality sank into her.

She had lived her entire life in luxury and had never imagined that the family was crumbling in debts.

Now that the bubbles have bursted and the truth out, it felt too much for her to handle.

Hot tears streamed down her cheeks as she wailed uncontrollable.

"You lied to me!".

Her voice trembled as she spoke in tears. And without waiting for any response from her mother, she ran towards her room, wailing.

The room fell into an awkward silence as my stepmom sank into one of the sofas.

She was already exhausted, especially from arguing and dragging with the men in suits, and now this.

She quickly turned to me, her eyes narrowing in their sockets.

"How did it go with Michael?" She finally asked.

I had been waiting anxiously for her to ask and now she did.

I was only able to nod my head in approval because I couldn't find myself with any words. They were just not coming out as my mind flashed toward the night before. Remembering all that had happened.

I was expecting words of encouragement from my stepmom but instead she leaned closer and said, "Did you two do the do?".

Her words hung like fire on my head as I weighed the degrading words that just left her mouth.

Though they sounded degrading, yet it was our last hope.

Micheal Carter had money and power to save us, but everything comes with a price and I alone was the price to be given.

"Yes we did". I finally said after mustering a whole lot of courage for the words to leave my mouth.

Her eyes beamed in a mixture of happiness and relief.

She didn't care how I felt after everything and didn't bother to ask how I was feeling, knowing that it was my first time to sleep on a man's bed.

"Well Done” she mouthed. “This is the only way Wendy. If you can secure the money, we'll be able to save the company and save everything this family ever had".

I swallowed hard on her words. It was too much for me to handle.

I have heard enough for the last few hours and it wasn't up to twenty four hours yet, yet my ears have heard enough on how I could save the family.

Am I the only one to save the family? How about Grace? And why can't my stepmom find other ways to save the family? Why must it be me who can save the family?

As I stood there, the reality of everything sank deep into my head. I knew deep down that it wasn't just about saving the family, but there was more to this, and I'm sure no matter what I do, I would never be free from it all.