His Obsession, My contract.

Leaving

Chapter Four

It's morning; I couldn't get any sleep. I was counting the hours until I could drag my and my siblings' bags out the door. I'm supposed to feel sad, but I couldn't feel anything at all. I had this unforeseen eagerness to leave the building, and every single thing that ever brought me agony, pain — the list goes on and on, and I honestly do not have the strength to feel anything now. I might do that later when I have the time, while picking up the last bits, not that we had much; my mind naturally drifts back to the events of yesterday.

...

"How much do you want to disappear?"

"Twenty thousand," I went straight to the point.

She gasped and looked at me like I was insane, and maybe I am.

"Where do you think I could get that amount from?"

"I don't know, maybe from the rent you have always collected from me since I was eighteen."

One would think the mother_fucker is poor. I looked her dead in the eyes and just waited. I really do not have it in me to say anything else. What I am even asking for is the rent she has always collected from me over the years, even though she practically owns THE BUILDING!!

Seeing I wasn't about to say anything else...

"I will write a check."

"A check? You must think I'm stupid. I do not wish to have more to say to you. I sent the details to you; transfer the money there."

...

Looking at the amount sitting in my account, I set off to get Hudson and Bella and then get the hell out of here. On getting to the Ethones' house, I was welcomed with a warm, tight embrace; the two were already waiting for me.

"You came," said Hudson. Bella nudged him. I was stopped in my tracks. Why wouldn't I come?

"Guys, what do you mean?"

"It's nothing, Eva; we were just worried," Bella said, looking kind of nervous. What's going on here?

"I need you guys to explain to me what you meant by that. Why wouldn't I come back? I said I was going to come get you this morning."

"Mom and Dad said the same but never came back to get us!!" Hudson said, crying; now both are crying. I felt this sharp pain in my heart. The day our parents died, I was away, and Mom and Dad, having a business to attend to, left Hudson and Bella at a friend's place with a promise to come get them later in the day, but that never happened. My heart broke into pieces because I didn't know that affected them to this day.

"I'm sorry, guys. I shouldn't have left you guys alone. I'm so sorry. I'm truly sorry." They hugged me so tightly, and I finally let those tears that had been brooding fall. I didn't know how much I needed that hug till now.

It was finally time to go.

"Thank you so much, Isabella."

"I have a feeling you're going away?"

I just smiled and nodded. She hugged me and whispered, "Take care, child."

"Goodbye, Mrs. Ethone," echoed Bella and Hudson.

"Goodbye, kids. Eva, if you ever need my help, I'm just a phone call away."

I nodded. I hope I don't, though; I do not want anything in this place ever again.

A taxi was already waiting for us; they both saw their bags, didn't question it, and entered the cab, and only when we were a mile out of Everaton did Bella say, "We are finally leaving; that's good." Hudson nodded.

Wait, what did I miss? Why did I ever think that I was the only one the house affected mentally?

"Sorry it took too long, guys."

"Where are we going now?"

"Manhattan." Mom had taken us there before; she said it was where she lived most of her adult life.

...

Life in Manhattan hasn't been all rosy, but at least we are no longer in Everaton. It's been three years; Bella is in her first-year student year of high school. It's her first day today, and oh, I'm so excited about sending her to school today. Hudson is in his last year of middle school, and I have been working different jobs to make sure we are good; the trust fund for our education would soon be exhausted.

"BELLA!! You will be late; hurry up!!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming, geez, Eva, one would think it's my graduation day."

"Oh my love, you will definitely hate me on the day of your graduation."

"Yeah, I don't doubt that, but I still love you either way."

I smiled. Yes, life hasn't been easy, but I love them anyway, so I don't mind what gets thrown at me.

"Where's HUDSON?!!"

"I'm here, Eva."

"Alright, let's go."

I had to drop them off at school before going to Grandpa Nonny's house. After graduation, I have been applying for jobs in corporate firms; so far, no luck. I still work part-time jobs, and one of them is taking care of Grandpa Nonny.

"Grandpa Nonny!! I'm here! How are you doing today?"

Grandpa Nonny used to be a very grumpy old man to me, swearing he didn't need help and could take care of himself. The thing is, he's quite strong for his age, but since his family needed extra care for him, and after he had rejected countless others, he's stuck with me. Just kidding, he just naturally warmed up to me, which I'm grateful for because the pay is good.

"Evaaaa, you're here. Look, the plants are growing so well."

Did I mention the only thing he seems to care deeply about is his plants? And well, that's how I got close to him. It just happened that the day I was assigned to him, he was troubled about his dying plant, and since I happened to know quite a lot about plants, from being taught by Mom, to studying them as a hobby, I got to know lots more about them. Long story short, the plant just needed to be out of harsh sunlight, and it was fine. This was a year ago.

'I can see that."

He turned and looked at me. "You're not excited."

I laughed. This old man... "Of course I'm excited; we planted it together, remember?"

"Yeah, you're right. How are you doing?"

"I asked you first, and you haven't replied." I teased him.

"Oh, my bad, I'm very well. How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"How is your job application coming up?"

I sighed heavily. "I know it would be hard, but I never knew it would be this hard."

"I already told you to..."

"I know, I know, and it's not like I'm not interested or being picky. I mean, I'm not even in the position to be, but Hudson and Bella, I can't leave them alone?..."

He just looks at me strongly, and I don't even know where to turn my face to. Honestly, I'm grateful to the man; he offered me a job at what he called a small job firm, but the pay is really good, especially for someone with zero work experience like me. But it's far from here, like miles away, and I can't leave Bella and Hudson and go away. No... I just can't. I will find something else around here. We are all we got, and I can't bear parting from them, at least not yet.

"You're a smart girl, Eva, and really strong too, and that I admire here..." He brings out a small gold card and hands it over to me. "The day you finally feel like you need a change, just go to this location and give this number a call." I don't see myself leaving Manhattan anytime soon, but I collected the card and thanked him.

"So, how are your studies going?"

I'm trying to finish a master's program.

"Well, not bad. I won't be done for two years, but it will be all worth it."

He nodded.

"Well, I have some important calls to make; I will be with you shortly."

"Yes, sir."

Whenever he uses his business voice, I don't see just any ordinary old man; I see a man who commands so much power, and his shoulders, while walking away, give it away. I used to think I was overthinking it, but no, this old man commands power.

Well, let me make myself useful for the remaining hours.