Painful Determination

AVA "Your sister has to leave immediately Gerald." I heard Ivana say and I felt so small and insignificant."she doesn't do anything in the house she only stays awake all night typing into that malfunctioning laptop of hers." I was done listening to the conversation. This was what I had to face ever since I came to live with my elder brother. I had no job and the last job I had at a restaurant I had mistakenly broken 50 plates and had to pay for them with my salary. Ivana never liked me for any reason , her hatred for me grew when I came to stay with them but everyday my brother Gerald tried to make her see reasons to accommodate me until I found a place of my own. I walked with heavy steps to my room ,my stomach rumbled reminding me of how little I had eaten last night. Though I had gotten a job at a restaurant downtown, I kept it a secret from everyone I was going to tell Gerald of this evening. But I had to meet with Madame Alexa this afternoon. She had been pressuring me to meet her first grandson. Whom she had told me in a whisper with a laugh that he wasn't good with women and she wanted him to get married as soon as possible. Madame Alexa was filthy rich. Her family was so popular in the whole country and each time I met with her in the restaurant I felt that there was something missing in my life . I glanced at the wall clock which said that it was 10:30 a.m. and we were supposed to meet with her by 12 pm. My stomach rumbled again as I dashed into the bathroom and came out a few minutes later with a towel around my small frame. Blow drying my messy blonde was difficult and I stared at the blue dress which was on the bed. "I'm sorry I have to wear you for the third week this week." I said as if the dress could hear me. I had managed to sneak in Ivana makeup and scatter just a little on my face to make me look a little pretty. I dashed out of my bedroom and I could feel Ivana's hateful glance on me from the kitchen. She was preparing breakfast by 10:45 a.m. It was her usual way of starving me. "I'm off brother." I called her Gerald who came out from their bedroom holding a newspaper. "Where are you off to so early Ava ? " He asked with concern in his voice. "Did you—" But Ivana couldn't let him finish when she cut him off, her voice dripping with so much venom. "What else but to go to another failed attempt at job hunting. Dragging the name of this family into the mud." She hissed in frustration. "Don't listen to her."Gerald whispered to me and I smiled because I knew if Ivana hears him , there would be a quarrel which could last for the next two weeks because of me. "I saw a newspaper publication." I lied and Ivana rolled her eyes as she walked passed with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and bacon and I almost salivated. "Really!"Gerard yelled "that is great news?"he said, hugging me tight ." When you get your first salary you can use it and get new clothes and shoes —" And again Ivana couldn't let him finish. "New clothes and shoes?" She shrieked. " So we will all starve right , who does she want to impress?" "I think I will leave now ." I said I'm quickly dashed out minutes after taking a cab. I arrived at the restaurant , I glanced at my watch and it was past time. My stomach rumbled again. I had taken a seat by the window when I saw a card drive into the parking lot. It was a Mercedes-Benz of the latest model and I knew that whoever was behind the wheel was filthy rich. I saw Madame Alexa get out of the car with a young man who was strikingly handsome , the first two buttons of his shirt was popped open and his hair was sexily ruffled. He looked around him and suddenly our eyes locked for the briefest of moments before he looked away. "Welcome , Madame Alexa." I greeted them when they came in. "This is my favorite grandson, Evans." She said, smiling at him. "I know I said he was my first grandson but I wished he was , there are two others." She whispered, smiling at me and winked. "Nice meeting you Mr Evans , I have had so much about you and I just couldn't wait to meet you."I got off on my seat clutching my purse and stretching my hands towards him. Instead of grabbing my hand back in a handshake , he looked up at me from my head to my toe and back again like I was an orphaned rabbit. I should have known that he was so rude and arrogant, but I had overlooked it. My cheeks flushed with frustration and I shamefully sat down. From the corner of my eyes I could see Madame Alexa nudged at her grandson who looked like he was first to come to the restaurant. "Nice meeting you—" "Ava." Madame Alexa said. She cleared her throat nervously and began , I had already known while we were here and I was just hoping this will go just as planned. "I'm quite sure my grandmother told you everything." Evans said, staring me in the eye. " I need a bride." He said with a nonchalant attitude like I was already destined to be his bride from birth . "Yes,"I said in a very small voice , kind of nervously. "Good," he said ." Get ready." I nodded. "We will have a court wedding tomorrow." "What!"