CRAAASH!
A loud sound rang through the entire house, jolting me up from my seat just as I was about to submit my millionth job application.
I ran into the living room just in time to see three buff men in dark suits, tearing the house apart. One of them carried a baseball bat, knocking over family photos, the other one smashed the coffee table against the wall. The third one had my poor father on the floor, punching him mercilessly, blood spilling from his nose and mouth.
Next thing I knew, one of them took out a gun and cocked it in front of him.
On instinct, I ran and threw myself on my father.
"STOP! PLEASE!" I yelled, begging the man with the gun. "My father hasn't done anything wrong. Please don't kill him."
"Hasn't done anything wrong?" A deep voice said from the doorway. I hadn't seen him at first. He walked to the center of the room, and sat on one of the single couches. I've never seen him before. My father's friend maybe? No, he looked too expensive, in his grey immaculate suit, and dark glistening hair. He was so attractive that I almost lost focus of the dire situation before me.
"Young lady, your father owes me 3 million dollars. Now, I'm not a patient man, but I've given your father more time than I usually would, considering the… circumstances." He looked round our tiny apartment condescendingly.
He then turned to my father. "Mr Bennett, when I invest, I expect returns. You owe me three million dollars, and time is interest. So, either you pay me my money right here, right now. Or…" The mysterious man pointed at the man cocking the gun. "You pay me with your life."
"NO!" I screamed. My eyes were shut tightly, afraid he would pull the trigger at any second. "There has to be another way, please. I beg you. He… he's sick. Please I'll do anything."
"Anything?" He asked, glaring at me like a predator about to pounce on his prey.
I nodded silently, preparing for the worst.
"You will work for me at my estate. House staff, assistant, whatever I choose to call it. You will work until the day I decide his debt is paid. Any screw up and the deal is off, which means your father dies."
I looked at my father, defenseless and lying in his blood. I didn't have a choice, he was the only person I had left in the world.
"Fine, I'll do it."
The man stood up, triumph written all over his face. "Glad to know at least one of you isn't completely useless."
He signaled his henchmen, and just as he got to the door he turned to me. "If you run away, I'll find you, and kill both you and your pathetic father."
I held my breath until I heard them drive away.
"Dad, are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?"
"I'm okay Andrea." My father answered weakly. "I just need to clean up, that's all."
"What did you do, Dad? When did you take a loan of 3 million dollars? Who are those people?" My mind was reeling with questions.
"How did you think I was able to pay for your mother's surgery? I had nowhere else to turn to. A friend of mine introduced me to Ethan Vance. He gave me the money, I was supposed to pay back with interest six months ago. I thought I could get more time. I…" He burst into tears.
Ethan Vance? I had heard of that name. He was the most ruthless crime boss in the city.
I couldn't believe it. My father had borrowed all that money to save my mother's life and she still died. How could I possibly be mad at him?
"I wish you told me about this." I said, hugging his bloodied body. "I would've done something, we would've been able to raise something at least."
He coughed a few times. "Come on Andrea, how long have you been looking for a job? Where would you have gotten the money from?" He cupped my face with his hands. "Look at me. This is my mess, and I will fix it myself. I never intended to drag you into all this. You don't have to do anything for my sake."
"I can't let you die. Don't worry, I'll work for him. I'll be fine." Then I chuckled dryly. "At least now I finally have a job."
I managed to clean and bandage my father's bruises. I was tidying up the living room when my phone rang.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Pack your things, my men are coming to get you. You'll move into my house tonight. I like my debts where I can see them."
"Who is this?" I was shocked by the audacity.
Click… silence.
Before I could react, a loud knock came from the door, and two of the men in suits came in immediately.
"You have one hour to pack your things and come with us, or we'll bundle you out." One of them said aggressively.
"That was not part of the deal." I spat back.
"You belong to Mr. Vance now." The other man said with a wicked grin. "Welcome to hell."