Why didn't he tell me anything?!

-Do you remember our meeting with Hayden?, she asked me

-How do you want me to forget that? I replied with a little nostalgic smile on my lips.

Betty, Hayden and I met in the mean streets of Italy. All three of us were young and poor. We were only looking for one thing, to be able to escape from our daily lives.

-We were so poor, I whispered lost in my memories

-Hmm, replied Betty, also lost in her memories

-I don't understand what you're getting at? I asked him perplexed.

-I'm not going to go into details-

I cut it.

-Why don't you want to go into details?, I asked him in a cold tone.

-Because it's not up to me to talk to you about it, it's up to Hayden, she defended herself

-Does he know that you are telling me part of the story?, I asked him with cold eyebrows

-No, he doesn't know anything, Betty said to me in a small voice.

-Ok you can continue telling me the story, I said to him in an indifferent tone

She inhales slowly before continuing.

-Hayden's parents had a colossal debt. His desperate father decided to try everything at the casino, unfortunately life is not always a fairy tale. So when he lost what little they had left, his wife fled, leaving behind a simple note. What I'm getting at is that this debt is now up to Hayden to pay. His father is too old to continue working and his family can't even be counted on.

-How much is the amount?, I asked him with frowning eyebrows

-I don't have the exact amount because it increases every week, Betty admitted to me

-Every week?!, I repeated outraged

-Yes, every week, her father was scammed by a fraudulent clause, Betty simply replied to me

-I suppose that if he did not file a complaint it was for fear of reprisals, am I wrong?, I asked him, tapping my finger on the table

-You're absolutely right, Betty said to me, her hands clenched as a sign of stress, he was scared at the same time, after all he was alone against everyone.

-It's sad but what do you want, it's the fate of the poor, I replied with a sad, slightly dark smile, but how much is the debt?

-It's 115,000 million, Betty finally whispered

-Why didn't he tell me anything?!, I asked him in a skeptical tone with furrowed eyebrows.

-It was me who told him not to tell you, Betty admitted to me with a clenched fist.

-I am also her friend, I replied in a cold tone.

-I know Daisy and-, she said to me

-In any case the damage is already done, has he at least paid his debt?, I cut her off

-Yes, thanks to Caesar, he admitted to me

-Him again, I feel like we're going to see him everywhere, I said to him in a sarcastic tone

-You don't seem to like him, Betty said to me with frowning eyebrows.

-He shows up one day as Hayden's cousin even though we had never heard of him. I find it hard to believe it, you see, I replied in a cold tone.

-Don't forget that Hayden has no reason to lie to us, Betty told me, stunned.

He lied to me that he had no debt so why couldn't he lie about Caesar, I thought

-He has no reason to do it, I agree on that point, I replied, sipping my cocktail.

-I'm not going to ask you to have affection for Caesar but don't forget that he still lent Hayden $115 million, Betty reminded me

But how did he pay the 115 million?, I thought doubtfully

-I know and if I can help him with anything I will, I replied.

-Now that you know everything, let's talk about something a little happier and eat our meals, Betty said to me, smiling at me.

Good humor quickly returns to the table and we eat while discussing funny little anecdotes. Even though it is true that the food had cooled, it was still appreciable.

Once the food and dessert were finished, Betty handed me a card. I find it perplexed.

-You have to wonder what Caesar does for a living to be able to pay off this monstrous debt of 115 million dollars. On this little business card you will know some of Caesar's activities which bring him big profits, Betty informed me

I read the title of the card...

-Car racing?, I said perplexed

-Yes that's it and that's good Caesar was looking for a fast car driver. I offered her your services, she told me proudly

-My services?, I repeated, yawning, not really enthusiastic about the idea.

-I don't know but he will contact you, don't worry, she said to me, Caesar will be very grateful to you

-I don't care if he's grateful. But if he needs the $115 million, I'll pay it back instead of Hayden, I tell her, looking straight into her eyes.

-You'll see that with him, she said to me, looking away.

-Don't forget your interview this evening, she added

I look at her for a few seconds without speaking. Before getting up from the table.

-Let's go, I said to him, already up

-What again?, Betty told me, surprised.

-I'm tired, I replied, running my hand through my curly hair.

Betty understands right away that I need to go home to process everything I've told her. But I also need some rest before tonight's interview.

-I'm going to drop you off at your place, Betty said to me, getting up as well.

We leave the restaurant and the cold air does me a lot of good.

-Why are you only telling me all this now?, I asked him suddenly.

-Whether it's now or later in any case you would have ended up finding out, Betty said to me in a soft voice.

I don't respond and we continue walking towards his car.

-I'll drop you off at your place and your bodyguards will come pick you up to take you to the interview, added Betty