Chapter Six

Eliana Brown

~•~

“What the fuck?” Catherine exclaimed. “You can’t be serious. All those bad things can’t happen to a person in one day.”

I sighed and collapsed on the couch. “I thought the same.”

After leaving my former apartment last night, I’d come straight to Catherine’s house. While I had other friends, they weren’t close enough for me to show up to their place unannounced, but the problem was that Catherine lived with her boyfriend so I had to crash on the couch.

She allowed me to have a good rest before waking me up this morning to question me.

“What are you going to do now?” She asked, looking concerned.

“I don’t know. I have to find a job and an apartment as soon as possible and I don’t even know where to start.”

Finding a job was hard as hell and finding a cheap apartment was even harder. Even the smallest apartments were very expensive and it was rare to find a landlord that wasn’t greedy.

I inhaled deeply. I fucked up by letting Harry take advantage of me like that. He should have been the one to move out. Then, I’d only have to worry about getting a job and paying back William Caddel.

Speaking of him, I quickly sought out the phone he got for me and typed his name into the search engine. My mouth fell open at the results.

“What is it?” Catherine questioned when she saw my expression. Not having the words to explain it, I handed her the phone. She looked confused. “Who’s this?”

“The man I owe.”

“You’re in debt to a multi billionaire???”

“Apparently.” I nodded. “But if he’s so rich, why doesn’t he just get a new suit?” I thought to myself. “I’m certain my financial condition is obvious on my face. Can’t he just let me go?”

“How do you think he became a billionaire?” Cat snorted. “By taking advantage of people’s labor. I doubt there’s any ethical billionaire that exists.”

I wasn’t trying to be entitled but he could survive without ripping me off. I couldn’t even afford it yet he was willing to wait patiently for it. Should I have suggested dry cleaning? Then again, it depended on the material.

I sighed. “I already promised to pay him so I can’t go back on my word.”

“Why are rich old men so heartless?”

“He isn’t old!” I was quick to respond. He looked young as hell. He looked only a few years older than me.

“Thirty-nine is pretty old, babes.” She said, looking at the phone.

“He’s thirty-nine?” I dragged my phone away from her to look at it for myself. I’d thought he’d be at most, thirty years. He looked good as hell. “Damn. I would have never thought so.”

“Why? What does he look like?” I tapped on images and handed the phone back to her. She whistled. “Did you ask for his number?”

“And what would you do with his number?” Peter, Cat’s boyfriend asked as he walked past the living room and into the kitchen.

“Nothing. I meant it for her. She deserves someone hot as well.” She yelled out before turning back to me, wiggling her eyebrows. “Did you get the number?”

“I have it, yes, but it’s not like that. It’s just so I can pay him back. Besides, look at him and look at me. Nothing could ever come out of that.”

He was a literal billionaire. I was broke as fuck. Our classes were far apart and if I hadn’t fainted in front of him, he would never look at me twice. I was well in touch with reality and I knew not to think about him in that light. I could never have him.

“He looks like he’ll be a good lay.” She mumbled.

“Catherine!” I scolded her with flaming cheeks. I just met the man. How was she already thinking about sex?

“What? I’m not lying. How was he? Was he bossy?”

I tried to recall my interaction with him. It seemed like he had been the one leading the conversation. “Kinda. Also very confident.”

“He will definitely be a good fuck.”

I closed my eyes briefly. Catherine was vulgar as hell and staying with her for a few days was going to affect me greatly. Speaking of that, “I’m sorry for showing up unannounced. I’ll find an apartment as soon as possible.”

“It’s fine. You’re welcome here anytime. Peter doesn’t mind.”

“But–“

“You’re our friend, Eliana. I would never leave you stranded when I could be of help. By the way, send me your resume. I can help you apply at some department stores. I can also recommend you to my manager.”

Tears gathered in my eyes at her kindness and my lips wobbled. I felt like crying again. “What could I ever do without you?”

Catherine grinned. “I hope we don’t have to find out.” I laughed softly and she stood up from the couch. “I have to get ready for work. If you’re going out, you know where to keep the key.”

“Thank you, Cat. I love you.”

“I love you more.” She hugged me.

“I love you guys more.” Peter joined the hug from nowhere, making me laugh.

I was especially thankful to him. Catherine and I had been friends since we were young. We were basically sisters seeing as we were in the same orphanage so I didn’t expect any less from her, but Peter and I met only a year ago through Catherine. They’d been dating for a year before they finally moved in together last year. I didn’t expect him to be so accommodating.

“And as for that scumbag.” Catherine said as she stood up, “I’ll teach him a lesson.”

“He’s not worth your energy.”

“I’m going to make him pay anyway.” She was stubborn as hell and there was no stopping her.

“Let me know whenever you’re visiting him. I’ll come with you.” Peter added.

I shook my head at both of them, but really, I felt like crying again. They were very nice.

I had to pull myself together and get my life together. Just because it felt like the work was against me didn’t mean it was the end of the world. I was going to come back and I was going to come back stronger.