CHAPTER ONE

A flurry of morning activities was conveyed by the softly flickering morning sun on Houston, Texas's streets.

"Beep! Beep!” Kelly's alarm reminded him of the adventures ahead. Even though he did not drink coffee, he could not sleep last night because of the problems he was facing.

Kelly recently lost his job as a gatekeeper in an exquisite restaurant after he showed up late at work on many occasions. Living in the slums of America, he found it difficult to show up early at work.

It is my reckoning day. He let out another sigh of exasperation and looked at his wall clock, which showed 8:30 a.m.

A semi-detached bungalow with cracked walls and worn-out blue paint where he resides with his daughter, Ciara, after he lost his beloved wife.

Kelly was already at peace with his fate and prepared for whatever lay ahead. His wife passed away too soon because he was unable to cover her medical expenses with even the pennies he had previously made from the restaurant.

"I am aware that you are currently in a better place. I swear, I will make you proud. Kelly threw off the bed, kissed his late wife's picture, and promised, "I will be strong for Ciara, our daughter."

He hoped to go out and find a job to support his family, but he was not sure where he was going.

Despite graduating with good grades, he found it a bit difficult to get a better job, and now his daughter Ciara is about to suffer the same fate. No company was ready to employ her. While some complained about her good grades, other employees just wanna shift her panties in exchange for an employment letter.

After bathing, Kelly was dressed in his rumpled suit and over-starched pair of trousers. Narrowing his gaze at the dusty and over-patched faded pair of shoes, he nodded his head in self-pity and dashed to the living room to find Ciara awake, setting the dining for breakfast.

"Breakfast is served already? You are so filled with wonders,” Surprised to see Ciara setting the dining, Kelly beamed.

“Good morning, Dad. Where are you off to dressed like this? Going for another job interview? How many more interviews do you have to attend? Let me guess, this Is the 5th one for the month. Gosh! I lost count!” Placing her hands below her jaw, Ciara wailed in anguish. She can't handle the constant pain of seeing her father at his age going for interviews that would never yield positivity.

"It hurts me to see you doing this. I should be the one job hunting, not you. I feel so disappointed in myself. I have failed you and Mom,” Ciara broke down in tears and quietly motioned to the couch to nurse her wounded soul.

"I take the blame for the misfortune. If I were successful, none of this would be happening. Maybe your mom would still be alive. You know how difficult it has been for you to get a job. Remind me what happened to your previous job,”

"My boss dismissed me because I refused to have sex with him,” Ciara replied, wondering why her father reminded her of the past. At 25, she has already experienced the hurdles in life.

"Exactly my point,” Kelly replied, wrapping his hands around her shoulder.

"I stand a better chance of getting a job. Hopefully, I'll get a job today and fix our mess. Remember, we've got less than 4 weeks to renew the rent. Do we fold our arms while we get kicked out? Of course, not. Allow me to do this for us. Just trust me,” Kelly assured his daughter.

“Okay, Dad. Just be careful out there. I don't want you to get hurt,” Ciara gave her father a passionate hug and a forehead kiss. She suppressed her tears as he strode to the exit door.

Shortly after her father's departure, Ciara heard a loud knock on the door. Immediately, she came out of her room to check who it was.

"Dad, you back home so early? I guess you forgot something…" She halted after seeing her boyfriend, Walters, standing at the door entrance, looking so excited.

“What are you doing here? Isn't it too early? I wasn't aware you were coming. What if my father sees you here?” Ciara whispered silently and blocked the entrance.

"Your Dad? I knew he wasn't home. I just saw him get in a cab heading to some destination. So you see, I'm safe,” Walters teased and gestured inside. 28, skinny, caramel skin, tall and dark-haired. He's muscular built and extremely handsome.

"You're such a joke. Wait right here while I go get you something to eat,” Ciara conceded and departed for the kitchen.

“Where are we going? This isn't the route we talked about.” Panicking like a toddler, Kelly questioned the cab driver after he discerned foul play.

“I'm fucking talking to you. Say something. You are not deaf, are you? Where are we going? This isn't the address I showed you. Stop this cab immediately, or I'll be forced to phone the cops to have you arrested. I wanna alight. You can keep the balance. I don't need it anymore,” Kelly screamed his lungs out, yet the cab driver was muted and unmoved.

He kept driving at speed and pretended as though Kelly never existed.

Kelly was frightened. Anxiety has enclosed his mind. Without being told, he already knew his life was in great danger.

"I plead for your mercy. I'm a poor man trying to survive. My daughter is just 25. She can't handle the trauma of losing both parents in a year.” Kelly begged. His voice had weakened, knowing it might just be a case of attempted kidnap or assassination.

"Get the fuck out of my cab and give me everything you have," the cabbie said authoritatively as he pulled over.

"Say what?” Kelly stuttered at the command.

"You heard me right. Just pass the damn phone and cash. I see you wanna get killed. Don't mess with me. I'm gonna blow your fucking brain off if you keep asking silly questions. I just got out of jail. I'm not afraid of going back there. I've got nothing to lose, but you?” Pointing a gun at Kelly, the cab driver threatened.

With immediate effect, Kelly obeyed and handed the cab driver everything he had, including his documents. Opening his wallet, the cab driver smiled. “$400? You are a joke. I should have you killed for wasting my time. But I won't, for your daughter's sake. Now leave while you still can,”

Stepping out of the cab, Kelly was dumbfounded and peed in his panties. He watched helplessly as the cab driver zoomed off with his phones and valuables.

"Where do I go from here?” Bewildered, he asked rhetorically.