To Remain On Top

Chapter 2

I saw Atty. Ricouforte leaving. That's the cue that I'm waiting to finally slide down and talk to my dearest and looking so problematic Mom.

Whatever it is that she and Atty. Ricouforte talks about. Sounds like another problem we can no longer face. Despite of giving me her I don't wanna talk to anyone facial expression. I insist on talking to her by pulling a chair placed across hers.

Mommy drowned herself in a glass of scotch before she chuckled like a woman close to losing her mind.

"What did Atty. Ricouforte said? Can he take Daddy out of jail?"

"You think he can?" she asked back with a sparkling boredom. I heaved exasperatedly and take the bottle of expensive scoth away from here. She should stop burning her throat and stomach with this. It'll be best if she'll sell this to her Amiga instead. I'm sure it'll cost a decent amount since most of our wines and other liquors in cellar is way older than Amanda, me even.

"Give that back to me, you brat."

"Emillia Arganza!" I yelled her name out of frustration. It's already late when I realize that I'm already tearing up. The loudness of her voice probably wakes of her sleeping rational self. Mommy redeemed her composure.

"You can't stay like this forever. You have to be strong for Amanda and I. Daddy is in jail. My sister and I, we're losing everything. Don't make us feel like we're about to lose you too." I shut my eyes. A tear fall desperately from it. "That would be too much to bear," I said with a broken voice.

I was about to stand up when Mommy caught my hand. I look at her while trying to dry my tears. I had to. No one's gonna do it for me.

"We can't pay Atty. Ricouforte anymore. He'll pass your Dad's case to a public attorney. I'm afraid Lonarde can't escape from his crime anymore." Mommy cried. The ever-elegant Emillia Arganze who once bagged the Miss Universe title is crying like a baby in front of me. Something she never really do before.

My hand move on their own to caress her back until I am hugging her already. Later on, Amanda joined the two of us.

"What are you doing here? It's too early to pick outfit for your classes tomorrow," Amanda commented. I took my favorite Dolce and Gabbana, Chanel and Gucci bags from its storage and properly put them on the table to take a picture of it.

"Poppy?" Amanda's eyebrow is furrowed.

"I'll sell these and probably some of my jewelries too. We got lot and I think I don't necessarily need much," I said then get back to what am I doing.

These are all in their good condition. I'm sure I can still sell them in a good price that we'll be enough for us to survive the remaining quarter of this year.

"If I do the same thing. I'll be able to pay for our tuition. Mom should sell some of her pearls and diamonds too." After saying those. Amanda left my walk-in closet.

"I can't believe I'm doing these to my babies," I whispered to myself while posting the pictures of my high-end bags to an online platform that allows you to sell pre-loved items.

I lay on my bed and sighed heavily. It's not yet sinking in my mind. Everything feels like a nightmare that we just can't wake up from. There's no way to end it.

My phone beep twice. Thinking that I receive a notification for the items that I posted. I grab my phone from my side and check it. It's Zoe's message on our telegram group.

Zoe Maschuline:

Solace and I will meet our favorite designer. Will you be there? Same place.

Before I turn off my phone. It beep again and another message from her came.

Zoe Maschuline:

Solace and I can pay for your dress to Argus birthday party if you don't have extra money, Poppy.

Zoe Maschuline:

No offense meant. We just want to help.

I had to lie to my bestfriend again.

To: Zoe Maschuline

I'm not yet sure if I can make it to his party.

I stop typing and spend some time sorting things in my head that I'll use to reply to her.

If I can make it that day. Don't worry. I still have party dresses that I haven't even wear. You know my closet.

I added.

Zoe seened my message. When I exited the app. The notification that I've been waiting for come. Someone is finally interested with my Dolce and Gabbana studded calf-skin bag. She's buying it for 1800 us dollar. We will meet tomorrow in the afternoon at the restaurant of Hotel McAllister.

The following morning. I look forward to meeting my buyer. It's the most important part of my day. When my last period class ended. I hurriedly heads to the university's parking lot where I saw the stranger in the library walking with a familar man, Clyde Argus.

The two of them were joking around while they make their way to a jaw dropping black McLaren P1 that's probably Argus' ride.

I averted my eyes from them and starts looking for my Mazda CX-30 only to realize that my car is next to Argus.

Fucking f**k.

I automatically lowered my head and stride to my car as quiet as I can. I barely success getting into it without them noticing me until my phone rang. I'm dead serious. I can feel the two of them staring back at me like a goody show they'll enjoy for the rest of the day.

I stood up properly and was about to open the door when the familiar stranger speaks. "I waited for you. Thought you'll spend lunch there again."

I gritted my teeth wide enough to make it look like I'm smiling to him. "I won't eat there again. I just did it the other day for experience." Not wanting to prolong the conversation. I get in my car. Starts its engine and drove off.

I almost cried. I had to ask my buyer to let me touch my precious bags for seconds before she leave after she gave me the payment for it. She's kind enough and allowed me to do the favor ask. Maybe because she's a bag collector too that's why she can relate to my feeling.

Selling off that bag feels like I'm selling my own baby, a lifeless child. Still they matter!

I decided to stop by at our favorite steakhouse to buy dinner. The three hundred dollar in my one thousand eight hundred dollars left my hand like that.

It's too late to regret my decision of stopping here. Guess I need to try steak from a cheaper restaurant or better. Cook one at home. I will try to do it. One of these day.

"What do you mean I will have to sell my property? What debt are you talking about?" I did not expect to hear it after coming home.

Amanda who's waiting for me in the front door takes the paperbag of food from me.

"Set it up, dear." She willingly oblige.

"Mommy?" Emillia's eyes give me a broken-hearted look. I shut my eyes. When the hell will these problem stop slamming our doors?

"Your Daddy left us with millions of debt and not even a hundred thousand dollars on his bank account that wouldn't be enough to pay for it," Mommy started talking.

I glance at my family's accountant. Asking her to repeat the same thing she said to my Mommy earlier.

"The best option that I can suggest to you is sell your properties. This mansion, jewelries." Mommy laughs bitterly.

"Do you know that your stupid father already sold our villa in Maldives and Hawaii? Same with our vacation house in Alaska?" Mommy asked. I don't have an idea about it either.

"You're basically telling us to sell the remaining things we have and starts to live an awful life?"

"Mommy," I countered.

With a simple look. I give our family accountant a permission to leave and she quickly did. Like she's looking forward to do it since the beginning of time.

Mommy lock herself in her room and didn't come out anymore for dinner.

"Poppy." Amanda handed me a file of letter envelop. Look like they are for the bills.

"These are for our electric, water, internet and postpaid bills. We need to pay for them this week or they'll got cut off." I massage my temple. I almost had a heart attack after seeing the total amount of our bills. It's 1, 118. 67 US dollars.

"Do you have money for that?" Amanda asked. I force a smile on my lips so she'll no longer worry about it.

"I got this," I said confidently and look back at all the bills that I have in my mind. God, if you're hearing me. Send help.

I can't date someone like Xavier Santiago. I am sure that before we get into engagement stage. His millions of fans already hired someone who'll drain life out of me. I shake my head and scrolls my mother's laptop again.

Kahlo Alasthoire Lancaster. The richest of them all. A close to perfect choice except the fact that he's in Europe and no one really knows what he looks like. Lancasters are private and rarely appear on social gatherings. If they do it's just the power couple, Ezrielle and Kharline. He's a no for me too. Beside, I don't know how I'll get into him if I don't know where he is or what he looks like.

The last but definitely not the list. Clyde Argus Montreal. I stared at his candid pictures.

"Alright Greek God. It's time for you to meet me," I murmured.

I close my Mommy's laptop and then check emails in my phone. I sighed out of really upon seeing a virtual invitation for Argus 21st birthday next week. Thank Goodness his party organizer still sent me one.

"Poppy?" Mommy sounds sober than before.

"Here!" I shouted while still searching for a perfect dress for the party. Mommy showed up wearing her black silk sleep wear.

"Where are you going? Girl's night out?" I shook my head then take out a sheath halter backless silver sequined dress.

"Then this dress is for?"

"Argus' birthday. I need become the prettiest to his party. I want his attention. Hopefully his heart too," I said and didn't mind her reaction anymore. I immediately look for a heels that will look good with this dress and a pair of earrings and stacked rings.

"Poppy..."

I pause and glance at my mother with a small smile peeping in my thin lips. She looks guilty. I can see it in her face that she wants to stop me but she doesn't have the courage to do it.

"I realized you're right. The only choice we have to survive and remain on top is to get him marry me. In a way, maybe they could do something about Daddy's case." There were bitterness in my voice and I'm sure that my Mother heard it clearly. She ignore it on purpose.

Aside from all the reason that I have. The thought that Amanda might end up doing the same thing haunts me. I can't stand watching that to happen. Unlike me, Heather Amanda Lee is full of dream and already figure out what she wanted to become when she grow up. I wanna help her become what she dreams to be.

This is my way of helping her.

"This is the only sacrifice I can make," I said and get back on searching the perfect shoes. A pair that feels as magical and appealing as Cinderella's glass shoes.

"Good night, Poppy. You'll see. When everything are back to what they used to be. You'll thank me for asking you to do this. Marriage for convenience is not as bad as you think it is."