The Don's Captive Heart: Bound By Power And Desire

“You shouldn't be here.” I said as I grabbed a mop along with a bucket. “Come on Suzette. You need to get a rest from this boring job. Today is Sunday.” “Get rest and go hungry for the whole week.” I rolled my eyes at him. Jesse leaned on the wall, watching me mop the floors of the shanky cafeteria. It was 10 in the morning, yet no single customer had set foot in the building. “Don't keep your legs there for goodness sake.” I complained at Jesse who was seated on the chair with his legs placed on the table. “Relax. No customers are coming in.” he responded nonchalantly. I didn't bother convincing him to drop his legs. I knew he wouldn't listen. Jesse was my boyfriend and he made it his duty to escort me to work. “You should come along tomorrow,” “To where?” “I'm having a party at a friend's.” “Baby, but I've told you many times that I have to work even on Monday. Madam Kay won't give me a break.” Speaking of the devil, Madam Kay walked into the restaurant, holding a bag in her hand. She was dressed in a summer dress and black stilettos with red color spread across her lips. That was her normal dress code which I had always thought to be outlandish. “Good morning ma'am.” “What's so good about the morning?” The woman responded curtly. “No customers huh? If you could get customers in here like the same way you bring your boyfriend here everyday, maybe I could have given you a raise.” She dropped her bag on the counter and proceeded towards her office. “Madam.” I called out, causing her to stop in her tracks. She gave me a condescending stare and stood impatiently while waiting for me to speak. I fumbled with the knots on my apron, unsure if she will grant my request. “Cat got your tongue? You can't speak anymore?” “Madam, I actually need a raise. The raise which you promised me.” Madam Kay shrugged her shoulders and furrowed her brows as if thinking of something. “I promised you a raise? I don't remember any of that.” “You said if I worked for 8 hours last week, you'll give me a raise.” “And what happened on Tuesday? Didn't you leave for two hours? I said 8 hours, not 6 hours.” “Madam please, I left early so I could meet my sick dad. I really need that raise.” I begged, my voice breaking down. “Work for 2 more weeks and then I'll give you a one dollar raise.” She grabbed her bag from the counter and walked into the room. Her heels clinked against the marble floor, releasing a sound that sounded irritating to my ears. “You don't need to cry. I'm here for you.” I heard Jesse's voice and felt his hand on my shoulders. “I'm not crying.” I responded, shrugging my shoulders and causing his hands to fall off. “You can imagine how I miss classes to work here for the entire week and I get only one dollar raise at the end of two weeks.” I said, my voice a mixture of desperation and anger. Tears were beginning to form in my eyes and I blinked them back. A customer walked into the shop. The only thing he wanted was a latte. “I'll see you later.” I heard Jesse say as he walked out of the shop. I let out an exasperated sigh as I placed my elbow on the counter. It was few minutes to closing time and the man who bought the latte was the only customer for the whole day. “I need to find a new place to work.” I sighed to myself as I closed the shop and headed home. I took two steps backwards as I stepped into the house. This was a house that I had cleaned and arranged before leaving. Right now, it was in a state of disarray, making me to wonder what happened. Two bottles of beer lying on the floor answered my question. “Not again papa,” I hissed in discomfort as a forlorn expression crept to my face. “If only he would stop drinking and leaving the house in such a mess.” His drinking was even average today. Other days, he would litter the house with a crate of beer. My legs found their way to my room. I paused abruptly as I saw two more bottles of beer lying on the floor of my room. My clothes were also scattered on the floor and my eyes widened in disbelief as I looked at the left corner of my wardrobe. “No. It can't be.” I screamed as tears found their way to my eyes. I let them fall freely as I sat on the ground in despair. My safe was empty. The only money I had left to survive was gone. I picked up my phone, dialing the only number that could help take the pain away. “Hello Jesse.” I broke down sobbing before I could say anything else. “What's wrong Babe? Why are you crying?” “It's my father. He has continued with his gambling ways. I came back to see my safe empty and all my savings gone.” “That's sad. But don't worry, just text me the amount, I'll help you out once I receive my salary.” “Thank you so much.” I sniffed in the tears. “See you later.” He said before ending the call. I cleaned my tears and dragged my tired legs to the kitchen in search of something for dinner. Three loaves of bread, a half packet of pasta, two eggs and the almost finished bottle of ketchup was all that was left in the fridge. I pulled out the combo as I contemplated what I could make for my father and I to eat. My thoughts were interrupted by the beeping sound of my phone which revealed a message sent from someone anonymous. This was the third one I had received this week. I tossed my phone aside after going through the message which read, “Watch your back. I'm coming after you.”