Chapter 67

Florence's POV

I stared ahead at the blank wall in front of me, my eyes trained on the pristine white tiles. Just in front of me was a pot with sreaning hot ingredients for a meal boiling in it, but I couldn't particularly be bothered. Apparently ,I had bigger things on my plate than the meal in front of me. A sigh slid past my lips as I pressed my eyes shut, just to recall the events from two days ago.

I was just about to walk out of the mall where I'd just gotten ingredients to make Dominique a bounty banquet filled with his best meals, when I'd bumped into someone. If I had known I would see her while exiting the store, then best believe I never would have walked into the mall that day. I would reschedule my shopping time to the next day, next month or next year even. I didn't mind at all, anything not to see her face.

I hadn't set my eyes on jenny since I left my father's house. I used to think about her a lot after I'd first moved, but after a while, I doubted any of them came to mind anymore. And did I feel guilty about it? No way.

“Well, well, well.” Jenny spoke up, her usual doze of poison coating each and every eurd she spat. “Look who we have here, my beloved stepsister.”

I'd shuddered at the end of her statement. Jenny never liked the fact that we were related, even though it wasn't exactly complete. Whenever we were referred to as family, she was always quick to reject me, so now that she was referring to me as her beloved stepsister, she was definitely up to something.

Something bad.

“What do you want, Jenny?” I croaked. I mentally face palmed myself as my voice didn't come out how I'd wanted it to. “Why are you here?”

“It's a mall sis.” She stressed the word sis. “Anyone can come here, including me. But last time I checked, I didn't know they allowed poor church rats in here to shop too.”

“Excuse you?” I bit back, although it wasn't as ferocious as I'd wanted. “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, I mean what I said.” She smirked. “Tell me how you were able to afford these? Your boss's money? Or are you dipping your hands into the money you're supposed to be paying off for father?”

“Jenny!” I yelled, my voice strained. “Watch your tongue…”

“Or else what?” Jenny cut me off as she stepped closer towards me. “Or else what?”

“I'm not in the mood to fight you today.”

“But I am…” the rest of my flashback was interrupted by a loud noise from outside. I blinked twice, trying to get my eyes to adjust themselves to their surroundings again.

“Shit?” I exclaimed the moment my eyes darted downwards. I was so lost in thought, I literally had no idea when my food burnt. “No, no,no.”

A string of curses slid past my lips as I tossed the pot into the sink, before turning on the faucet. A loud hissing sound reached my ears as the cool water spilled on to the hot surface of the kitchen utensil.

Like I hadn't gone through enough misfortune in the last minute, a loud knock reached my ears.

“Who could that be?” I mumbled under my breath as I walked towards the direction of the knock. It was coming from the front door. The moment I got there, I swung the huge double doors open, just to come face to face with the last person I expected to see. “Father?”

“Florence.” Dad called while I stood rooted to my spot. I watched as his eyes raked over me, before he spoke again. “Florence, is Dominique home?”

“No.” I shook my head. The last time I checked he had gone for a meeting. “He went out, but he should be back soon. In the meantime you can wait for him in the living room. How are you father? It's been a while…”

“Shut it.” My blood ran cold at his icy demeanor. “I didn't come here for Dominique, I came here for you.”

“For me?” I stuttered, still reeling from the effects of Dad's harsh tone. He said he was here to see me, but if I could deduce anything from the frown he wire, I could easily tell that he was far from happy. “Is anything wrong? Did something happen?”

“What happened is the fact that you've been doing whatever you please. “ The accusation in his voice was alarming. “You probably thought we wouldn't find out right?”

“I don't understand….” I muttered, confusion streaking my eyebrows. “What do you….”

“I thought you came here to help me pay off my loan?” Dad interrupted me again. “Or does that now include trips to the mall, with overflowing shopping bags?”

I gaped in shock.

How did he know about that? What was that even supposed to mean? Couldn't I go to the mall to get something and….

The rest of the questions in my heads halted as a thought hit me square in the jaw. I saw Jenny a couple of days back so she was definitely the one who had snitched on me.

“Answer me!” I yelped as rough hands wrapped around my arm, before squeeze it tight. “You know we need money, I need money, and yet, you have the guts to squander it as you feel?!”

“I promise you dad, it's not like that.” Tears stung the back of my eyes as I spoke. “You have to believe me. I would never…”

“I didn't want to believe it,, but there was no way Jenny could lie to me.” His voice held nothing but spite and disdain. “Apparently, you're living the life now…”

“No, dad.” I shook my Head furiously. “I'm not…”

“Be quiet!” Dad yelled and I flinched. “I know what to do, and your stepmother supports it to. I'll speak to Dominique to have Jenny replace you.”

What?

“You heard me.” He nodded. “ Once it's finalized you'll say goodbye to the make-believe luxury lifestyle you've created for yourself.”

“Dad please.” I knew he was wrong, but for some strange reason I hurt couldn't bring myself to talk back at him. He may have maltreated me in the past and basically sold me off, but still those aren't enough reasons to talk back at him. “Just try to understand.”

“I'm done with that.” His voice was curt. “ Now on to important matters. I need some money.”

“I don't understand.” I creased my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

“Did I mince words?” He bit back? “I said I need some money. Now give it to me.”

“I don't have…”

“Lies!” Dad yelled and I flinched. “You're working for Dominique aren't you? So why don't you have any money!?”

“Because he doesn't give me any.” I cried. “I'm trying to pay off….”

“Cut the crap!” He bit back. “ I need money and you're going to give it to me.”

“Where am I supposed to get money from?”

“Dominique of course.” He let out without missing a beat. “Steal from him.”

My blood ran cold immediately. Dad's words hung in the air for a moment before settling into little parts of my brain.

Steal from him. What?

“Don't try to act too surprised.” He dismissed my reaction. “I need money and you'll get it for me.”

As he let out his last words, I took a good look at him. From the way his shirt tucked out of his pants, he looked unkempt, and whenever he was unkempt, it was a strong sign that he'd started gambling again.

“Dad..”

“I'll be back on Tuesday for my money.” He shunned. “You better have it, or else.”

And with the threat hanging in the air, he walked out on me leaving my mind reeling with a million and one emotions and questions.

What the hell was I going to do now?