Between Two Billionaires

CHAPTER 3: FAMILY TIES

ELLA'S POV

The cafe was too bright for my mood. The fluorescent lights shone overhead, reflecting off the tabletops, the faces of the tired customers scattered around. I had rushed in about 5 minutes ago, leaving the orphanage in a hurry as soon as I received Jade's call. I sat in the corner anxiously waiting for my brother.



The bell above the door jingled. Jade had walked in briskly, although not so tall, he had distinct walking steps I could notice in any crowd. His shoulder hunched, his hands shoved in the pockets of his black hoodie. At twenty-five, he still depended on me for a lot of things, especially money.



He spotted me and made his way over,scooting into the booth across from me with a low, “hey.”



“Hello Jade.” I said nervously, my tone brittled with anxiety.



He leaned in, “I need your help sis,” he responded. His voice was hoarse and still low.



I leaned in, reaching for his hands across the table. 

“What for? How can I help? What's wrong?” I asked attentively, subconsciously preparing my mind to carry the weight of whatever he would say next.



“I need sixty dollars from you.” He let it out like a bombshell.



“Sixty doll…wait you brought me out here because you need money!” I blurted out, leaning back into my chair. My brows furrowed with anger.



“I'm really sorry sis, that was my only way of bringing you here. I knew you wouldn't give me money if I'd asked over the phone.” He replied. His gaze disconnected from mine, focused on the pedestrians outside the window by our right.



I was dumbfounded. I let my left hand slap my forehead in disappointment. 



“I should have known.” I whispered to myself. I stared at him blankly, speechless. I thought about the jail process if I tried strangling him.



“You had me leave work, take a bus and rush down here only to ask for money?” I let out. My mind spiraled around the possibility of receiving a query at work, the fare I wasted coming down here and having a brother who sees me as a teller machine.



“I'm sorry. But I really need this money. Mum won't give, Dad doesn't have. You're my last option sis.” He replied, his gaze reconnecting with mine.



I took a deep breath, peeped at the time on my phone. It's been fifteen minutes since I got here. I was getting weary of this meeting. 



“What do you need it for?” I asked, crossing my arms, as I leaned backwards into my seat.



“I've got some bills to settle. Can't go into details now.” He mentioned, taking a glance around the room as if watching out for someone.



“I can only help you with forty. Make do with that.” I said conclusively, keeping a neutral visage. I sat up straight, resting my arms on the table, my hands clasped together.



“I need sixty and I know you have it.” He replied, his tone rose. His eyes darted around, taking glances of the immediate environment.



“Are you being serious?” I blurted out. My hands unclasped, my brows furrowed with annoyance.



“You either take it or leave it.” I sighed.



His gaze became sterner, staring me dead in the eye. His fists clenched on the table. He bowed his head for a moment, then raised up his chin. His eyes connected with mine again.



“Fine. Send it now.” He blurted out, leaning into his seat.



I pulled out my phone to access my mobile bank app. I took a glance at my balance. One-fifty dollars, it read. I had sent a hundred to my mum earlier today, and was about to make another forty dollar transfer. I heaved a sigh and made the transfer.



“Sent.” I responded, putting my phone back into my pocket. I had left my handbag at work rushing down here.



He pulled out his phone from his jean pocket, scrolling through it. Then with a sigh, he put it back in.



“Thanks.” He said, getting up immediately. His head bowed and his hands in his hoodie, he took a glance around and walked out of the cafe in a jiffy without waiting for my response.



I sat there just thinking about what had just transpired. I replayed our phone call in my head. “Ella, I need your help!” That desperate, frantic voice. It was all a setup to beg for money directly. 



“Shit.” I muttered to myself in utter disbelief. I always gave him money anytime he asked, believing that he would do something profitable with it. But no! Always running into strange debts and lousy bills from God knows where. And he'd come back everytime asking for money, and everytime, I gave in. Every time I gathered together what I had, convinced that this time would be different.



But no, it was always the same.



My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pulled my phone out, flicking on the screen. It was my manager.



“Mrs Moore, I'm on my way back.” I said, hurriedly getting off my seat and heading for the cafe's exit.



“You didn't even take permission! This is an organization that functions on rules and protocols and not just personal desires.” She lectured. Her voice was firm, spiced with disappointment and anger. I could tell.



The day passed by quickly. I laid on my couch at my apartment, reminiscing about the day's event. Giving money to my mum, my brother setting me up to beg me directly and my manager's unexplained tension. I told myself I needed to go out on a spa date or else I'd go crazy with all these loads.



I took a deep sigh. I made my way to my bedroom to get myself to sleep, Just then my phone buzzed.

“Who could be calling by 10pm?” I muttered to myself, as I unplugged my phone from the socket.



My phone lit up with a name I recognized. I stopped in my tracks, staring blankly at the screen.