DEBT

VILLA RICA

"Wake up bitch" Amelia pour a bowl of water at Sophia body who was still sleeping on a mat in a shady room

"Amelia?. How could you pour water on my cloth" She said to her sister who is only three months older than her

"How dare you call me by my name, call me Mrs Garcia cause soon I will be getting married into the Garcia family, now you have to follow me am going to the mall to get a dress for tomorrow family dinner with Richard’s parent or do you expect your elder sister to carry stuff all by herself" She said to Sophia

"You are getting married to Richard?" She ask with surprise look

"Ohhh sorry you have no idea, Richard proposed to me yesterday and tomorrow his parent are coming here for a family dinner so we can start preparing for my wedding, you have only three minutes to get dressed and join me outside you this useless thing your mom called a child" she said and left.

Sophia slowly got up, shaking off the sleep and humiliation. She is used to it, Amelia and her mom with dad, who are always been cruel and heartless, and Richard who have always been her first love ever since they are both in high school before she dropped out proposed to Amelia.

As she quickly got dressed in her rag clothes, Sophia couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She had always known that Amelia was ambitious, but she had never thought that she would stoop so low as to marry Richard her first love.

When Sophia arrived at the sitting room, Amelia and her mom are both talking and excited about Richard parent coming tomorrow for family dinner. "How do I look mom"Amelia said and turn around slowly to impress her mom

"You look gorgeous dear, the Garcia family will be happy to have you as their daughter in law"She compliment her daughter and notice Sophia standing at a corner looking at them

"Is this thing following you"Amelia mom ask pointing to Sophia

"Yes mom, I need her to carry my stuff for me"She said to her mom

"Ohhh ok, you should start going so you won't be late for your date"Her mom said and Amelia toss her bag to Sophia to carry it along for her

"Let go, we don't have much time," she said, barely acknowledging Sophia's presence.

As they arrived at the mall,

Sophia couldn't help but notice the way people looked at Amelia with a mixture of respect. It was clear that Amelia was determined to become a part of the Garcia family, no matter the cost.

But Sophia knew that she couldn't let her family's cruel words and actions bring her down, she was determined to find a way out of this toxic situation, no matter what it took.

BACK AT THE VILLA RICA

After Amelia and Sophia left, Mrs Madison who is Amelia mom went to meet her husband in the room with coffee in her right hand, she saw her husband looking at a message on his phone,

"The debt?" She asked and handed the coffee to her husband

"Yes, how do I want to pay this large amount of money, my business is just starting to grow and the loan shark are threatening me to pay off my loans or else I will face the consequences and you know very well what the loan shark are capable of, we have to find solution to it before something worst happened"Mr Madison said to his wife worried

"How about we ask the Garcia family for help, if they can borrow us half part of the payment we will pay them back in buck once your business grows very well" His wife suggested

"No dear we can't do that, the Garcia will want to look down on us thinking we are after their money we need to do this ourselves without the Garcia family knowing"He said

"I will try looking around for someone who can borrow me half part of the money when I arrived at my supermarket tomorrow" She said

"Really, you will do that for me?" The husband said excitedly

"Yes hon, I can't watch you suffer alone when am here to help"

"Thanks my lovely wife" He said to her.

As Mrs. Madison left the room, Mr. Madison couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. He knew that his debt was a ticking time bomb, and he had to find a way to pay it off before it was too late. He thought about his wife's suggestion to ask the Garcia family for help, but he knew that would be a last resort. He didn't want to owe them anything,

AT LE FONTANE SHOPPING CENTER IN COSENZA

After alot of clothes testing Amelia finally sees the one that suits her taste, a short white Burberry designer gown with black dior bag and heels,

“Wow Mrs Garcia you look amazing” one of the sales associates exclaimed, as Amelia admired herself in the mirror. “I know, right?” Amelia replied, smiling smugly. “I’m going to look stunning at the family dinner tomorrow”.

Sophia, who had been quietly observing from sidelines, couldn’t help but feel a pang of Jealousy. She had always dreamed of wearing beautiful clothes like that but she never get the chance due to her family maltreatment towards her, she always wandered if her mom was alive she wouldn’t have dropped out of school, she would have been a better person going around like a princess not like a slave but she knows for sure that everything happened for a reason

Just then, Amelia’s phone rang, breaking Sophia’s train of thought. “Ah, it’s Richard,” Amelia cooed making Sophia feel even more jealous, she answered the call. “Hello, darling”.

AT THE MAFIA EMPIRE

Vincenzo got down from his black pangani spot car and walked into the tall industry with Linda and Macro following him at his back, he takes the elevator up to the last floor of the building which is his office, he got out after the elevator got to his destination.

“Franklin already payed money for his restaurant protection this morning and it is already added to the company account” Macro report to him after letting Vincenzo sit on his office chair

“What about my goods, are they delivered safely to it buyer”He asked Macro

“Yes sir” He replied

“Good you are dismissed”He said to Macro and he leave his office

“You did a great job”He said to Linda who was looking around his fancy luxurious office

“What do you expect from an FBI agent, well since I have done your request don’t you think you should pay me for the good job i did”

“Name anything you want” He removed one cigarette from the pack which is kept on his office desk and light it up

“I want you”She said taking a sit opposite him crossed legged letting her fair laps revealing,

Vincenzo’s eyes narrowed slightly as he took a drag on his cigarette, his gaze fixed on Linda’s crossed legs. He couldn’t help but feel a spark of attraction towards her, but he knew he had to maintain his composure.

“I’m not sure am for sale,” he said, his voice low and smooth.

Linda smiled, her eyes locked on his. “Everyone has a price Vincenzo. And I think I can afford yours.”

Vincenzo raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her boldness. He leaned back in his chair, steeping his fingers together as he regarded her.

“Very well,”he said finally. “Am all yours”

“Meet me at five star hotel in Reggio tonight, Don’t keep me waiting” She said to him standing up about to leave

“You are beginning to have some gut these days” he said to her

“That because I learned it from you sweetie” she answered him and left while Macro entered

“Don we have some dealer who just arrived from Las Vegas” Macro said..

BACK AT THE MALL

Sophia was already on her way back home after seeing Richard pick Amelia up from the mall leaving her to walk home alone with hand full of Amelia’s clothes, she got exhausted and decided to take a break at the bus-stop but then she received a call from her only friend Jennet

“Hey Jennet” she greeted

“Wanna have a drink with me” Her friend said

“Kind of busy right now” She said just then a Peugeot 208 car drive to her front with the glass rolling down to see the driver, it turns out to be jennet with her phone still on her ear

“Hop in, let have a drink together, Won’t take much of your time”Her friend said and Sophia could only nod and get into the car before driving off.

As they drove away from the bus stop,

Sophia couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. She had been feeling so depressed about her family maltreatment and her own feelings of jealousy towards Amelia.

“Thanks for picking me up, Jennet,” Sophia said smiling at her friend. “I really needed this.”

Jennet grinned back at her. “Anytime girl. Now, Let get that drink and catch up. I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“As they drove to the nearest bar, Sophia couldn’t help but notice the luxurious interior of Jennet’s car

“Jennet, your car is amazing,” Sophia said, running her hand over the soft leather seats

Jennet laughed. “My car?, where do I want to get €1,000000 to get a Peugeot 208 car, this belongs to my boyfriend, I was able to drive it cause he is not around” Jennet said to her and pack her car well before coming down from it

“Wow, That a lot of money, your boyfriend must be a millionaire” Sophia said

“Somehow” Jennet answered not wanting to reveal a lot about her boyfriend

They both stepped into the bar and place an order, Jennet order for two glasses of red wine, while Sophia opted for a pineapple juice.

“So how are you coping with your families?” Jennet ask her while sipping her wine

“A bit, Amelia is getting married to the Garcia family I mean Richard”

“Ohhh that bad, I remember Richard used to be your first lover, shame on Amelia always taking whatever you have like daughter like mother” She said to her “So What are you gonna do about it, will you just watch her get married to Richard?”

“I have no choice than to leave them to get married to each other, If Richard sees me in this situation do you think he will like me or get married to a servant like me” She sipped her juice

“Hey girl, who said you are a servant, I know how much that family hates you but you are an amazing person, and you shouldn’t let your family turn you completely to a servant” Jennet said, her voice filled with conviction.

Sophia smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her friend. “Thanks, Jennet. Just talking to you makes me feel better.”

“You are welcomed dear, what are friends for” She smiled

As they chatted, Sophia can’t help but notice the way Jennet seemed to be dodging questions about her boyfriend. She wondered who this mysterious boyfriend was and what did he do to afford such a luxurious car.

Just then, Jennet’s phone buzzed, and she excused herself to take the call.

After some minutes of calling, Jennet came back to meet Sophia

“Sophia I need to leave now, let me drop you at your place” Jennet said and place money on the table for the drinks

“Is Everything alright?” Sophia asked as she watched Jennet expression changed from relaxed to serious, and she wondered who was the caller

“I have a bit of emergency, let’s go” She said and they both drive off.

As they drove, Sophia notice the change in Jennet’s demeanor. She seemed tense and preoccupied, and Sophia wondered what had happened during that phone call.

“Jennet, what’s wrong?” Sophia asked, concern etched on her face.

Jennet hesitated, her eyes fixed on the road. “It’s just...my boyfriend, He needs me to take care of something.”

Sophia nodded, sensing that Jennet was really hiding something but she didn’t push the issue, knowing that Jennet would open up when she was ready.

As they approached Sophia’s house, she dropped Sophia off and sped away, Sophia enters the compound with Amelia clothes in her hand on getting inside she was surprised to see Amelia with her mother discussing

“Amelia you are back so soon?” She asked completely forgotten about the warning she give her”I mean Mrs Garcia” she corrected but then all of a sudden she received a heavy slap from her father.

“You this useless child, where have you been since you left the Mall?” Her father asked her

“Am sorry father, I was with my friend” she said

“Who is your father, am not a father to a bastard child like you, you are only a servant to this family, you staying here keeps annoying me, your sister is the only glorious child, now she is getting married into a rich family” He yelled and walked out of Sophia who is about to cry

“She is just as dump as her mother” Mrs Madison said “Let go discuss about your date with Richard” She said and Amelia asked the other maid to collect her stuff from her while she followed her mom to the room leaving Sophia to cry on her own..

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