Chapter four: why?

“Jonah, why are the restock boxes not up yet?” I say, walking out of the manager's office. I spend most of my time there doing the books and ordering the inventory. “ Jonah!” I say most loudly, hearing Jonah giggling in the front. He must be with someone; he better be, or I will kick his ass.

“Mr.Kenway, thank you so much for shopping with us.” I hear Jonah say, stopping me dead in my tracks. “Please make sure these get to her.” He said, pushing the boxes toward the opposite side of the counter. “I will, Mr.Kenway. Have a nice day.” Jonah says as Mr.Kenway walks out. “Oh, Avalin!” Jonah yells over his shoulder. “You going to come out of hiding.” He says, turning towards me with boxes in hand. “ What is all this?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.” Mr.Kenway bought these for you and told me to give them to you.” Jonah said, smiling. “Oh, hell no! I don’t take bribes, Jonah. Put those back and refund the money back to his account.” I say well, turning away angrily. “Pompous ass,” I mumbled, returning to the manager's office.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I don’t know why that man keeps trying to bribe me, it makes it worse that I had sex with him, and now he’s trying to pay me off. I wait about ten minutes and go to walk out of the office more calmly. “Finally,” Jonah says, rushing off toward the bathroom. Guess I’m back on the floor then. After a ten-hour shift, I wait for Jonah to leave and start locking up. Most days, I work the whole day we are open and then close.

“So you do exist.” I hear an all too familiar voice call from up the alley. I feel a shiver run down my back as I proceed to lock the shop up. “ I don’t know do I?” I asked sarcastically. I felt a hand wrap around one side of my hip. God it would be so easy to give in and allow him to keep touching me. Then I remembered he tried to bribe me earlier and pay for sex.

“Get your hands off of me,” I roar and pull away sharply. “You weren’t saying that last night.” He says well, trying to get me to look into his eyes. “We’ll some of us were a little past heavily intoxicated.” “What are you trying to say?” He asks, taking a step back from me. I know he thinks I’m insinuating that he raped me, but I need his space. “I don’t mean it that way; I need space, ok? I didn’t mean for that to happen.” I say and turn to walk away. “Don’t leave.” He says in an almost pained tone. “Why shouldn’t I?” I ask, looking him in the eyes. “ Because I want you to stay with me.” He says in a hushed tone. “I’m not a kept woman Mr.Kenway,” I say, pulling away and leaving. Why does he want me? I’m a shop keepers assistant.

I walked to my bank and put this month's paycheck into my almost empty account. “Ms.Avalin, can you please come with me?” The bank manager Mrs.Klein called from the hallway next to where I was standing. “Of course,” I say, following her to her office. "So, Ms.Avalin, we need to inform you that you recently received an inheritance of 5 million dollars. " "Shut the fuck up!" I yell out with shock on my face. "This can't be real," I say, looking at Mrs.Klien and shaking my head no. "Yes, Ms.Avalin, do you have an uncle named James Kent?" she asked. "Yes, I do on my dad's side." "Well, then you, Ms.Avalin, are the sole beneficiary to your uncle's estate." Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Mrs.Klien, the lawyer is here." "Let him in." Mrs.Klien said.

"Hello, is this Ms.Avalin Kent?" The lawyer said, turning towards me to shake my hand. " I am," I say, shaking his hand. "Well then, let's get to business then." He said, opening his briefcase and taking out a pile of papers that looked like a will. " Alright, Ms.Kent," "Avalin, please call me Avalin," I said, interrupting him. "Avalin then, your uncle left you three properties, two vehicles, a safety deposit box at Emerald bank, and 5 million dollars." I looked at him, shocked. "Avalin, you also have a very generous college account. A stipulation of your inheritance is completing school." I sat there for a few minutes in shock. How can this be happening? I am getting everything I want. I get to do school and wouldn't have to work at the lingerie store anymore. "How does this work," I say skeptically. "Well, you sign the documents of a beneficiary. Then we can transfer the money into your account, and you will, of course, have to sign the titles for the properties and vehicles."

"Where do I sign?" I say, not wanting this joke to end. Two hours later, I was exiting a taxi in front of what looked like a mansion. The gate had Kent written on it as I walked through it. I walked up the driveway to the front door, where a group of servants sat waiting. "Good day Ms.Kent." A lady said who looked like she was in charge. " I am Jace, and this is Anna and Grant. Anna is the housemaid, Grant runs the grounds, and I am the house coordinator." "Hello, I am Avalin, please go about your business, and I will look around. Jace, will you please show me the residence?" I asked. "Of course, Ms.Avalin." I follow her shaking my head.

After the house tour I sit down on the bed in the master bedroom. It has been a long day. I guess this means I can quit my job and do school full time now.