It's your last chance
1115 Words
Sophie
I thought all the trouble was over when I finally escaped from Mr. Damien. I had run away as fast as I could while he reached for his glass of wine. I expected Mr. Damien to send his men after me, but he never did.
Soon, I stepped into the coffee shop where I worked, hoping the rest of the day would be quiet.
"You took too long to deliver your first order today. You're not cut out for this job," my fat, round boss shouted at me. He was the very man I had planned to tell about my dad's situation at the hospital.
This wasn't what I expected. There was no time to explain what had happened. Even if I did, I didn't think it would calm him down.
Then his office phone rang. He turned to answer it. That suddenly became more important than yelling at me. Another delivery order had come in. I was relieved because I hoped it would distract him from being angry with me.
"What?" he exclaimed as he held the phone to his ear and turned to look at me. "Please, I am very sorry, Mr Aaron. It won't happen again. Can I deliver the order myself?"
Which Aaron was he talking about? I was still trying to figure that out when his shout snapped me out of my thoughts.
"See what you caused?" He pointed at me.
"What did I do this time?"
"Which address did you deliver the coffee to? Our customer just said he never saw you."
"Sir, that man wanted something else..." I didn't get to finish before he interrupted.
"What address did you deliver the coffee to?"
"15 Sterling Hill Road, Scarsdale..."
"It was 15B, not 15A. The next house."
I took the receipt out of my pocket to check, and that was when I realized I had made a mistake. I had entered the wrong house because those men were chasing me.
"I am sorry. I made a mistake. I went into the wrong house."
"That makes you unfit for this job..."
"Please... please, I need this job. I'm so sorry. My father's hospital bills are piling up, and I need the money. Please. It won't happen again."
"I'm not running a business so you can pay your father's hospital bills. This isn't a charity..."
He was still talking when someone suddenly kicked the glass door open.
I turned, and my heart nearly stopped. They were the same men who had chased me that morning, the ones I thought I'd escaped.
My heart pounded as they marched toward me, and my boss immediately stepped back.
"Little b***h," one of them sneered. "You can't run forever."
"I know my dad owes you money. I already told you I just need more time. Please, try to understand."
One of the men kicked a table so hard that it crashed to the floor.
"Time's up," he barked. "We'll make far more money by selling you to an underground brothel. You can repay us with your body."
I looked at my chubby boss, hoping he would say something to calm them down.
"You are such an unfortunate girl. You're fired," he said, pointing toward the door. "I don't want any trouble here. Leave."
To my shock, he ran out of his office, leaving me behind.
"Please... I'll pay you back," I cried.
"With what job?" another man mocked. "The one you just lost?"
He shoved me violently to the floor. My knees scraped against the tiles, and blood ran down my legs.
These men were heartless. Was I really going to be sold to an underground brothel?
One of them grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet. At that moment, I knew I couldn't escape.
I was doomed. He looked into my eyes and smiled.
"Men will pay good money for those pretty eyes."
Suddenly, the door flew open.
The person who came to my rescue was the last person I expected. My best friend, Olivia. I'd forgotten that I'd texted her on my way from Mr. Damien' house, and she'd promised to meet me at the coffee shop.
I hadn't expected her to arrive so soon, but seeing her filled me with relief. At least, if these men took me away, someone would know where I'd been taken.
"All this because of the little money her father owes you?" Olivia asked confidently.
Her voice stopped the men at once, and they turned to see who was speaking. One of the men was about to challenge her, but stopped when he saw something that greatly surprised me too.
Olivia opened her small red handbag.
"Take your money and leave my best friend alone."
She slammed several bundles of cash onto the table. Immediately, the man holding me let go of my arm.
The other two quickly began counting the money. It took them several minutes, showing there was a lot of it.
"What about the interest?" the leader asked, his greedy eyes fixed on me. "You're still coming with us."
"No... please!" I cried. "I'll find the rest and pay you."
"When?" He stamped his foot.
"Tomorrow!"
I answered at once out of fear. I had only wanted to free myself from them, but I'd trapped myself instead.
"You have twenty-four hours," he said coldly. "I hate empty promises. If you don't pay, we'll auction you off. That's your only way out."
"You'd better pay us every dime tomorrow," another man warned as he stepped closer to me. "It's your last chance."
The moment they left, I couldn't hide my shock.
"Where did you get all this cash?" I asked Olivia. "You don't even have a job."
"That's not the issue right now." She frowned. "You just promised those monsters you'd pay them tomorrow. How are you going to do that?"
Her words reminded me of what I'd just promised, and my heart began to race.
"What am I going to do?"
Hot tears streamed down my cheeks. I was terrified they would sell me.
Olivia remained silent for a moment.
She gently placed both hands on my shoulders. She looked like she was about to tell me something important.
"Sophie..." Her voice softened. "Are you ready to do whatever it takes to clear your father's debt and pay for his operation?"
What was she talking about?
"Tell me," I said quietly. "Please."
I knew Olivia didn't have a job, yet she always wore expensive clothes.
"Let's go to my house."
Her eyes dropped to my bleeding knees.
"We need to clean those wounds first. Then I'll tell you everything, including how I make my money. It's something I've never told anyone."
- Writer
