chapter 2

I Woke up with a loud bang at my bedroom

door, followed by a loud yell telling me to get up

and open the door. Ín an instant i knew who was

behind the door. I looked at the clock, it's 5.30 a.m.

What does she want ? I groaned, needed more

sleep. I only had slept for 3 hours, because i was

doing Sonya's assignment until late. I pulled away

the duvet, and walked to open the door.

What is it, Martha ? And what happened to the

art of knock ?" I asked her with sleepy eyes.

I don't want your filthy mouth right now, girl. Get

your ass up and make me a breakfast !" She glared

at me.

"But It's 5.30."

"I have an appointment with Mrs.Brandt at 7." She

said with excitement in her eyes.

Ijust gave her a nod and walked back to my

room to get a shower. Of course she was excited.

Mrs.Brandt was a mother of Nicolas Brandt.

The most eligible bachelor in our surroundings.

Martha tried to match-making him with her

daughter. Obviously to dig Brandt's money, and

to level up our status she said. I wasn't shocked

when she said those things, what shocked me was

she said that in front of my father. How could

she said that in front of him? The way she said it

like she didn't care wether if it hurts my father's

feeling or not. She and her daughter clung to my

father right after my mother died, but they got

married and moved in 4 years ago, when we had

a wealthy living. We were rich, lived in a luxury

of Manhattan. Until that time my mother died,

and everything changed. My father's company

collapsed and we went through bankruptcy. Now

we lived in a small two stories house in Bronx.

And she spit those words right to my father's face.

I can't believe there is a type of people like them in

this world. So hateful, malefic and tricky.

I got out of the shower and get dressed. Walked

down the stairs to the kitchen and start made

a breakfast. I was making a simple breakfast,

because i won't survived with Martha's nagging if

her breakfast took so long. I made pancake, bacon,

and scrambled egg. I prepared the table while i

waited the water for tea boiled. I put the english

muffins and baguette at the center of the table.

I was pouring the water for tea, when Martha and

my father joined the table. He kissed my cheek,

and i smiled to his sweetness.

Good morning, Love"

"Good morning, Dad. No coffee this morning. Tea

is better for your health." As i poured his cup with

tea.

Martha's snorted at my reply, clearly distasted the

affection between my father and i. Ignored her, i

sat next to my father sipped some tea.

"Where is Sonya ? Is she not having a breakfast

with us ?" My father asked Martha.

"She's probably still sleeping. Let her be. She was

doing her assignment all night, she needed more

sleep." Martha replied

I was taken aback by her replied. Because the fact

is i was the one who did her assignment last night,

while she was gossiping with her friend through

the phone. But i chose to keep my mouth shut, and

continued my breakfast.

"Why are you dressed ? Going somewhere ?" My

father asked while looking at her attire.

"Haven't i told you ? Mrs.Brandt invited me to her

house for a tea with her friends. I have to be there

at 7." She replied excitingly.

"Julia Brandt ? How do you know each other ?" My

father confused.

"Does it matter now ? I can't wait to meet her son

and introduce him to Sonya. He must be thrilled

when he met her."

"Don't get your hope high, Martha." My father

Snapped.

"Why not ? Sonya is beautiful and smart. She fits

the successful businessman like Nikolas Brandt. I

couldn't imagine my beautiful girl with an average

poor commoner" She hissed at me.

I cringed to her words. Of course who she meant

was my boyfriend, Ryan. He was not rich, he

worked at his father's garage. But he loved me,

we've been together for two years. And those time

being, he never hurt or disappointed me ever.

"Ryan is a good man, Martha." I replied.

"Good is not enough, girl. What does he have to

offer ? Don't start with the word love, love can't

fulfill your well-being"

I chose to let this one go. And firnished my

breakfast. Somehow i was surprised that i can

survived this lame breakfast. I washed the dishes,

and went to the garden right after Martha left.

Everyday i watered and caressed my flowers, i

love roses. My mother had a garden full of flowers

back then in Manhattan, it was a gift from my

father. She had many kind of roses, that's why

ilove roses. And kept the garden in our new

house in Bronx, because wheni was in a garden

sometimes i felt like she was still here with me.

A familiar voice called my name, disturbed me

from my day dreaming. I smiled to that voice.

Then i felt warm arms around me, and kissed my

head. I turned to him.

"Hello, Sterling"

"Hello, Pearce. I can say that i'm irrevocably

jealous to those flowers. They got your attention

more than i."

"How long have you been watching me ?"

"A couple of minutes. I was just passing by, when i

saw you caressing those flowers. Soi chose to stare

at this beautiful woman for a little while"

"You're a prick!" He laughed andi shoved his chest

away.

He was about to kiss me when i heard someone

coughed. We flinched away from each other, and

saw Sonya still in her lingerie holding a mug of tea

with a disgust look.

"Please, don't stop at my presence. I was just

about to vomit in my own mug feeling this lame

atmosphere." She grumbled.

"Don't listen to her, Ryan. That's just the way she

is. Don't take her bait, it only makes her happy."I

whispered to Ryan.

"I don't understand you, Cassy. Why are you

still with him ? What do you expect from a poor

mechanic? You've been together for two years, yet

still he hasn't given you anything" She snapped

with a malicious smile.

"Not everyone in this world is measured

relationship with money like you, Sonya." This

time i'm the one who snapped.

"Whatever. Good that you know your worth, a

poor mechanic fits you."

"You're just jealous of her, Sonya. She has a

beautiful face and kind heart. While all you have

is just a thick make-up face and hatred." Ryan's

statement made us gasped.

I stole a glance at Sonya. The nmalefic on her face

soon replaced by anger. She slammed the mug to

the ground, before turned around going into the

house and slammed the door loudly. I even jumped

at the sound. I patted Ryan's arm, gained his

attention back to me now.

"Ignore her words, she's not worth it." I said tried

to calm him.

"I know. How can you stand that witch ?" I giggled.

"well, i've lived with her for 4 years. Practice

makes perfect."

"But she was right. I haven't given you anything. I

promise i will work hard and buy you something

nice."

"No, please. You don't have to. You always be there

for me, that's even more precious than any gifts

you'd buy."

"That's why i love you. But still, i want to buy

you something." He looked at his watch. "I need

to go back to the garage, ifi don't want to see my

father's growing two horns."

I laughed out loud, "say hi to your father from

me."

"Will do. He missed you a lot. Especially your

cooking" He kissed me sweetly made me blushed

when he left.

I made a coffee for my father. He didn't take the

coffee this morning, considered it as an afternoon

coffee treat for him. I knew he was in his study, so

i knocked on his door. I opened it, and he smiled

at me from his leather chair. I put the cup on his

desk. And bowed to hug my father's neck from

behind.

"Is it my birthday ? How am i lucky to have this

coffee treat from my beautiful daughter ?" He

asked, kissed my cheek.

"It's only this time. No more coffee treat for you,

Dad." He laughed but it didn't reach his eyes and it

sounded so insincere.

"Dad, is everything okay?" He startled with my

question, but replied.

Yes, darling. Nothing you need to concern. It's just

some things that required my full thoughts."

"No, Dad. The last time you sounded like that

was when your company collapsed and we went

through bankruptcy." I pulled away from him and

faced his face.

"You over analyzed everything, Love. Everything

is fine." He cupped my chin with his index finger,

and caressed my cheek with his thumb. That was

the moment when i saw sorrow in his eyes.

"Father, Im your daughter. I know nothing is fine

right now. So help me god, tell me what's going

on." I stood looking down at him.

He knew when i called him like that, i was

drop-deadly serious. And nothing can made me

believe what he said but the truth. He took a long

breath, before looking down to his cup of coffee

where his fingers lingered there. Then he gathered

all the powers he had to looked up at me.

"I have debt that overdue tomorrow. And i don't

know how to pay because it's a hell of an amount

of money." I shocked

"What ? How ? When ?" I startled with my replied.

"How much, Dad ?"

"2 millions." I gasped. Then he added, "without the

interests."

"I loaned the money to save the empire. I was so

eager that my company will came back to life,

and i can pay them back. I never thought that

the company will collapsed and bankrupt." He

explained.

I tried to calm my head. Tried to convince my self

that solving problem required dear head.

Look. We can ask them for inhibition right? And

an installment if we're lucky" But my father shook

his head, disagreed with the idea.

"He's not a negotiate type. I don't even know what

would he do to me if I can't pay him tomorrow."

"What ? Did you loan from the loan-shark ?"

"Worse. I loaned from the mafia. The cruelest man

alive."I saw fear in my father's eyes and i knew

we were dealing with satan.

I felt my head spinning. Can't believed what i

heard just now. How can we face this? What will

happened to my father?