REMISSION

BAD FAITH

"Hello dear, I heard that your rich playboy got you a job and a new life going? That sounds nice but I have to cut short your new life. I told you he would have to give more than just a few notes to get you off my hands. Your father owed me so much more than that stupid boy could ever pay me. Here, a client for you, and stop with pretending you are a good girl because we both know you are a naughty play thing," Mr Ugly added to the previous threats. "You know, it will serve us both better if the boy doesn't know what we are doing so I would prefer he didn't, if he finds out, one of you will have to take the exit and you know you are too valuable to dispose off...do I need to explain the rest?" Annie knew that was definitely a threat and having worked for this monster for three years now, she knew he was truly going to kill Richard if he ever found out what was going on. She quickly agreed the terms and had her fingers crossed hoping Mr Ugly would leave the hotel before Richard showed up for their planned lunch.

Mr Ugly however didn't show any interest in leaving. Old bastard had a different plan in mind as he wanted Annie to go see the so called client immediately and he waited to make sure she left the hotel hotel as he watched.He knew all too well that she didn't like the way he treated her. In fact, the very thought of working for him made her want to harm herself but she knew he would just go for her sister, he had made that clear countless times so far. She couldn't let him ruin her sister's life as well and that was the only reason she let him subject her to all that abuse. "Hurry now, Tiny is waiting for you outside," Mr Ugly added when he realized she was hesitant. Annie wanted to curse at him so badly but unfortunately she knew the consequences of her action so she just got up and left. She may have hated Mr Ugly, but she feared Tiny even more. The guy was a beast and crossing his path in a wrong way always ended up with stitches or bruises. Annie even wondered whether he was really human. As she made her way to where Tiny was waiting, all she could think about was how happy she had been a week ago when Richard took her to that hotel for the very first time. The day she found her "freedom". The day she knew someone cared enough to give up money and even take more than just a few blows for her. She remembered hopping like a little child through the hall. She never even noticed her bare feet until Richard asked her where her shoes were. Now, she was shamefully walking through the same halls on her way to betray Richard. The guy had not professed his love for her or even ask her out on a date yet but she was not blind or dumb. She knew all too well that no one would go out of his way to save someone like her unless they either loved her or wanted something in return. She had also noticed how he seemed to stare at her every time she was looking somewhere else. "Hey, we don't have all day b***h, hurry up," Tiny shouted and Annie speeded up. She went into the car without saying a word and sat there quietly as Tiny drove her away. She took one look around to see whether Richard had showed up yet but she didn't see him. A single teardrop filled with pain and regret fell down her left eye.

The ten minutes drive felt like a year of space travel as all her thoughts zoomed into a dark and lonely place. Everything else disappeared leaving only the feeling of hopelessness, anger and hate. She hated the day her father committed suicide and left her to clean his mess. She hated the day Mr Ugly approached and threatened her and her family for the first time but above all else, she hated the day she met Richard. Her life was in a much better place then. It was not good, but at least she had made peace with the fact that she was going to be Mr Ugly's slave for a long long time. She had even built up a wall of cold personality to keep her from feeling immoral. Then Richard showed up and treated her nice. He reminded her of the good girl she once was, he gave her hope and the wall that protected her came crumbling down. Just when she thought she could finally make her life straight and got her hopes up, Mr Ugly showed up and crushed it all. Now she felt guilty, now she knew that what she was about to do was wrong and for the first time in a long long time, she felt bad about her actions. "We are here, don't go in there crying like a little baby okay?" Tiny's voice roared as he opened the door and pulled her out of both the car and her blue thoughts. She looked at him angrily but he smiled in return to show her how less he could care about her "hurt" feelings. "Floor seven room number 146. Don't come out unless he says you could, I will be waiting here to make sure of that and to collect the pay," Tiny said just to offend her and smiled again. Slowly, Annie made her way into the CROWN BIRD hotel with a heavy heart and wet eyes.