Ana excused herself for a moment in order to go through the documents.
Mr Scott simply nodded, he didnt seem to care. She couldnt escape her fate, but that cant be said for the minions standing behind him ready to pounce on a slight suspicious move on her part as if she can run away.
She retrieved her reading glasses from her room and sat under the reading lights to go through the contents of the documents carefully once again.
After scanning through it, she realized the reason they had missed the debt: it had been credited long before she started helping her mother with her business, when her mother started the bakery after her fathers death. She wondered why Mr Scott never came for it or why her mother forgot to mention it.
I thought you had settled everything, mother, she thought.
This debt had fallen through the cracks. The real amount wasnt much seeing the contents of the documents. But the interests of all these years, nearly two decade, had generated $60,000 to be paid back. It was ridiculous that Ana or her mother had never received a reminder for it. She wondered. The greedy man is as heartless one could get when it comes to his money.
If I sell all the furnitures, jewelries, and my car, it will be about $8,000 and the business and house will fetch $23,000, she thought, but I will still be $25,000 short.
She clasped and unclasped her hands on her lap nervously. She wouldnt be able to pay everything back, even if she sold everything she had.
I can pay only $35, 000 in such short notice, sir" she said Mr Scott returning back to the room.
And the remaining $25,000?" he asked.
I will need some time to pay it all," Ana sighed dropping back in her chair. She felt drained, the hours of work finally catching up with her
Time?" Mr Scott scoffed, How long do you require?"
That… I…," Ana stammered, unable to answer. She hadnt an inkling how she was going to pay him everything.
During the time that I am supposed to wait," began Mr Scott, What are you going to about the interest that will be generated further?"
Ana froze. She hadnt thought about that at all. Well, she hasnt thought about anything.
Ms Green," he said expecting her reaction, The is bad. How can a young lady like you, without a stable job or wealthy relative, pay $25,000 even if I gave you ample time?"
I will do whatever it takes to pay you back," said Ana, I just need a little time."
Mr Scott stroked his flimsy grey moustache that connected with his white beard. Whatever it takes?" he said, I want to hear more about that part." Ana was silent. She didnt know what he was getting at.
He let out a sigh. You know what I hear from all my debtors?" he said with mock pity, Exactly what you have just said. Its obvious that they cant pay everything back, like you."
He took out a cigar from his breast pocket and lit it. The tip of the cigar turned red with heat as he puffed out a thick cloud of smoke. Ana coughed glaring at the cancer stick as he exhaled the smoke, but Mr Scott seemed to hardly care.
Ms Green," he said, puffing out more smoke, If I wait for you to pay everything back, it will haunt me for years. Frankly, I doubt you will be able to pay me back even if I do wait."
Again, Ana remained silent. He wasnt wrong. She had no resources or extra property to sell in order to pay back the debt.
Her family isnt exactly well off that couldnt afford to go to college without putting a strain of their income. So after graduating high school, she joined her mothers business. Her mother tried to change her mind but Ana wouldnt budge.
Now, she doubt if anyone would want to hire a high school graduate with no experience apart from baking. Even if they do, the pay wouldnt be much.
The smoke from his cigar filled the entire room in a suffocating air. When it had almost obscured everything in view, Mr Scott spoke again.
You said that you would do whatever it takes to pay me back," he said, So then what exactly are you going to do?" Ana couldnt speak. She felt uncomfortable at his words. She knew something sinister was going to be proposed and yet, she had no choice but to listen.
Marry Michael, my son," said the loan shark looking at her through the smoky haze.
Siana choked, horrified at his suggestion. Marry Michael?" she asked, as vile crept up her throat coughing vigorously as her face drained of color.
Thats what I said," he said puffing away at his cigar, not even batting an eye to the suffocating girl, If you do, the debt will be forgotten. And of course, I will not touch any of your assets, they will be yours."
Ana held her tongue because a barrage of cuss words was threatening to burst forth. She doesnt swear, but right now, its very tempting. She is afraid if she open her mouth the slightest, she might unleash a shower full of the content of her stomach all over this insufferable bastard and dig her own grave.
Mr Scotts son was nowhere near what she or anyone wanted as a man. He had to be, at the very least, 10 years older than her and not married. His reputation was far from respectable as well.
Michael had the record of a fuck boy. Being the son of the director of the only construction company in town, he flaunt his money without shame. He organized parties each weekend to show off his girl of the week like some trophy.
Perhaps he truly felt that way. And since all that occur under the watchful eyes of his parents, no one dared to say a word about it.
Its believe he had slept with every female in Rockville that is below the age of 50. Ana doubt the authenticity of the rumor since she could count the number times she had put him in her eyes. And she most definitely did not sleep with him, neither did her mother.
But the sheer mention of his name gave her the urge to throw up. He might be a scum bag but his personal life is the least of her problem.
Ana promised to be strong, but the idea of marrying the culprit of her mothers death would more than just break her. She dont care what strings he pulled to get off the hook for her moms death, as long as she he stayed away from her. Its wasnt that she forgave him, but the moment she heard the person responsible, she had expected him to get away with it.
Everyone has.
Ana knew all Mr Scott wanted was a girl to put up with his sick son, but never had she ever thought, not even in her wildest dreams, that she would be his target. If she didnt know any better, she would have thought he had her mother killed on purpose. She refused to respond. Mr Scott smiled wickedly and looked at her.
You might already know, Ms Green," he smirked, There arent many jobs that pay well out here in Rockville for people like you with no friends or family." He snapped his fingers. "I dont want your youth to be destroyed toiling for scraps. Flowers are the prettiest when placed in a vase as decoration. Not when they are blooming on a road, waiting to be withered by the touch of a stranger."
Each word that came out of his dirty mouth riled her up.
The ugly man drew on his cigar deeply and flicked the shortened end on the table, insultingly. Anas lips quivered in anger by the gesture. She had spend hours scrubbing that up. Great, add more stains, why dont you?
He was a man without manners or shame. Most of his wealth wasnt even acquired acquired legally, at least that was expected. Apart from money laundering, he deals with drugs and weapons too. She couldnt afford to mess with someone like him.
She ardently wanted to kick him out of the shop, but the dire situation kept her in check. He can easily make her disappear without a trace and no one would say a thing about it. For now, she needed to calm down and think of a way out of his proposal.
As grateful as I am for your concern," Ana mustered all her courage and her non existent acting skills, voice dripping with helplessness. And as eager as I am to consider your offer," she gritted her teeth, "it hasnt been long since my mother passed away." She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief holding back a sob. Even though her tears was fake, she isnt very far from shedding real tears.