CHAPTER 6

Oivia

My hands dropped to my side and I didn’t know when a tear escaped my eye.

The Bank?

Was back?

“What?!” I said in a barely whispering tone.

“I….i got a message this evening Olivia. I had just returned from work. I had thought the message was from you. Probably, you were trying to tell me you were going to come home later than usual tonight and I shouldn’t stand out in the cold. B…..b..but when I checked, it was from the bank Olivia.” My father explained, his shoulders heaving as he cried.

I raked my hair with my hands, breathing erratically.

“But what do they want?...a..and didn’t we already pay up our loan?” 

“We didn’t pay the interest Olivia?” My dad reminded me, a tear sliding down his face.

“But they can’t hold us for that anymore?!” I found myself yelling.

“Olivia…” My father tried to calm me down.

“No! They can’t possibly do this to us! The bank manager had let us go without paying the interest. Dad, I remember everything. That day, I was the one who had gone to deposit the money myself. It was just the interest left to pay before the time we were given was up and the bank manager whose brother was my teacher in highschool, had said there was no need for us to pay interest dad! He had let us off.” 

Why the hell would they send us a message after the bank manager had been so generous to us!

“Olivia, dear. He’s just a manager hunny. He doesn’t own the bank.” My dad said, pulling me into a hug.

“B…b but why did he do it then? Why did he let us off? Moreover, it’s already two years since it happened.” I stuttered, unable to take the burning sensation of anger and pain, in my throat.

I don’t understand.

Why now?

Why would they come back now?

We couldn’t afford a humanly habitable house when I had gone to college. My college fees were to much to even think of getting a house.

Now, I worked two jobs while my dad worked in a dry cleaning shop, we decided to get a proper house.

We had gotten it on a loan three years ago and had paid back every penny we had borrowed from the bank.

The bank manager knew how tough surviving was for us, he had told us to forget about paying any interests, out of generosity!

Why would they send my father such message now?

Why?

We didn’t have any valuable property so we had put the house down for collateral.

And now, they were going to take that?

“They can’t take the house dad, it’s the only thing we’ve got.” I sighed, staring at my father.

He’s getting old already, I can’t let him live in an incomplete building again, with eight squatters!

“You’re wrong baby, we still have each other. And together, we’ll raise the money and pay it to them. I know we will.” My dad said, patting my head.

“How are we going to raise $600 dad? How?” That’s an amount, I’ve never earned as a whole.

“ We were given three , months to pay. We’re gonna raise the money, together.” My dad said, smiling at me.

That smile has kept me going since I was only a little girl.

“ Since I burnt the food…..” My dad finally laughed.

“I brought home some food from the bar.” I said to my dad, pointing to the bag.

Sometimes, I brought home leftovers. We ate them in the morning before leaving for work.

We both went over to the small dining where I had dropped my back.

And for the first time in forever, we ate in silence.

“I quit my job at the coffee shop.” I suddenly said, remembering I had only one job now.

“More time for you to get your beauty sleep.” My dad responded, patting my hand.

“Well I thought about what you said last night, and you were right. The job didn’t even pay enough. I already applied for better jobs online. Hopefully, at least one of them would take me in.” I said to him, now smiling hopefully.

Maybe raising $600 wouldn’t be hard, after all.

My dad smiled back and we continued eating, discussing about how our day went.

I made sure not to mention anything about Asher and Mr Chestnut hair.

While taking out the trash, my mind went back to what happened tonight, at the bar.

Just when I’m running out of options, Asher shows up with his irritating, yet tempting offer.

What did that man have up his sleeve and why would he even be in such desperate need of a girlfriend?

He’s wealthy, he definitely has girls his class, swooping around him.

Why would he come for me?

A black, for a white?

Was he so desperate?

Asher

Sebastian decided to sleepover.

I’m very sure he did that to see if Olivia was going to call back.

Strange that I remember her name though.

Anyway, it’s a good thing he will be staying here. I want him to be here when Olivia calls.

I picked up my phone and stared at it.

Is it strange that I eagerly want her to call me?

Well, I shouldn’t be waiting for her call.

Yes, I’m desperate but I’m sure she’s more desperate than I am.

I mean, who wouldn’t be desperate enough to date Asher Smith?

I was giving her a chance to be with a billionaire, and still earn from it!

Of course, she should be desperate to get out of that wretched life she lived.

My ringing phone snapped me out of my thoughts.

It’s her.

Weirdly excited, I jumped out of my bed and picked up my phone.

Disappointment slapped me in the face when the caller ID flashed on the screen

Mother.

 My shoulders fell.

Seriously?

Did she really have to call me right now?

What does she even want?

To yell at me unnecessarily for not being at the office today?

“Hi.” I said dryly , picking up the phone.

“Asher? How was your day dear? Didn’t see you at the office.” My mom said, with a questioning sweet tone.

I knew it.

But why be sweet about it?

“ Yes, so?” I huffed , rolling my eyes even though she couldn’t see me.

“Does this mean there’s finally someone?” 

I imagined her wiggling her brows as she said those words.

But wait, just because I skipped a day at work, she already thinks there’s a woman in my life?

“What?!” I said, a little too loud.

“I know you’re not going to talk about her, so I’m not going to push it. You’re Asher Smith anyway, like me, you must surely have goo taste.” She said, bragging unnecessarily.

“Mother…..” I was about to tell her, her thoughts were false impressions but I was quick to caution myself.

For once in a long time, we are having a peaceful conversation.

I shouldn’t spoil this.

“I’m so proud of you Asher! My baby boy is finally growing!” She said, happily.

Whatever.

“Well, let me leave you to rest. Have a good night my love.” She said cheerfully before hanging up.

“Well, that was one unexpectedly peaceful conversation.”

What’s gonna happen if she finds out I’m not with anyone?

Olivia has to call me, by all means.

Even if I have to do worse than I’ve already done, I will make her give her consent to dating me.