The following morning, Ava woke up to see a credit alert on her phone, it was from Mason, the balance he promised he was going to send to her.
"Yes!" She pumped her fist in the air. She was excited and relieved that she can finally pay Robinson, so he and his thugs would get off her back. Now she doesn't have to continuously look over her shoulders for fear of Robinson's men coming to harass her.
"Thank you!" She said, looking up to the ceiling in the bedroom.
The bedroom door opened and Maddie walked in carrying a paper bag, alongside her purse. "Hey girl," she placed the paper bag she was holding on the bed, kicked off her shoes, dumped her purse on the floor, and climbed on the bed.
"How was your night?" Ava asked her.
Maddie turned to look at her, "do you really want to hear the details?" She asked with a mischievous grin.
Ava clipped her lips together, "you know what, forget I even asked. What's in the bag?" Ava asked, referring to the paper bag Maddie had placed on the bed.
"I got us coffee and bagels," Maddie replied.
"Aww, thanks, I was already pondering on what to have for breakfast."
"What has got you smiling this way? What's the good news?" Maddie asked Ava who couldn't stop herself from smiling.
"I received a bank alert for the balance payment," Ava replied smiling.
"For real?" Maddie sat up on the bed.
"Hmm, he paid in full," Ava said with a smile.
"Oh my God Ava this is good news, that means you can pay Robinson the money," Maddie said in excitement.
"Exactly, I plan on going to pay him everything this morning."
"I'm so happy for you," Maddie embraced her friend. "Now you can finally be free of Robinson and his useless lots!"
"You have no idea, how relieved I am. Now I can go back to saving for my education."
Ava didn't get the chance to go to college, she stopped at high school. Her father had promised to send he to college, but then he died before she was through with high school, and her mother was too busy getting high on crack to consider sending Ava to college.
"And most importantly, you would have peace, and be able to sleep with your two eyes closed. I just hope your mother doesn't come back from wherever it is that she has been hiding with more debts for you to pay," Maddie hissed in annoyance. She hated that Ava's mother was exploiting her. Several times Maddie had told Ava to report her mother to the police and have her arrested.
"You won't believe that she called me last night," Ava said.
"What did she want? Wait let me guess, more money, right?"
"You guessed right, she called asking that I sent her $500, that she was in trouble and needed it to sort herself out."
"Like hell, you care! What is wrong with that woman? Why is she bent on frustrating your life? I don't even know why you still take her calls, I keep telling you to report her to the police and have her arrested."
"And what type of a daughter would that make me?"
"Are you seriously asking me that? This woman constantly incurs huge debt leaving you to pay them, without even bothering how you are going to be able to pay them. What kind of a mother does that make her?" Maddie sounded pissed.
Ava understood Maddie's anger, several times she had considered reporting her mother to the police, and getting her arrested. But she is the only family Ava has left, even though they aren't close, it sometimes helped to think that she had a mother.
"I wish it was so easy for me to do that, Maddie, but it isn't. She is still my mother, despite anything she does."
Maddie blew out a breath, "she is lucky to have you, but unfortunately, she doesn't know it. Because my mother wouldn't do half of these things to me before I report her ass to the police and have got a restraining order."
Maddie took the paper bag and handed Ava a bagel, and a cup of coffee.
"Thanks," Ava said to her. "I still can't understand why this guy would part with such a huge amount of money for nothing."
"And I keep telling you, it wasn't for nothing. You spent time with him."
"$12,000, just to spend time with someone?"
"And you strip teased," Maddie said with a wink.
"I'm not a stripper!" Ava looked horrified.
"You are missing the point. I'm not saying you're a stripper, not that there is anything wrong with strippers. All I'm saying is, you did something for the guy, even though it was little, according to you. And you got paid for your services."
"Hm, it still doesn't make sense to me," Ava bit into her bagel.
"I would have loved to go with you to Robinson's to pay back his money, but my shift starts this morning," Maddie glanced at her wristwatch, "speaking of which, I have to get prepared and leave if I don't want Brad breathing down on my neck," Maddie abandoned her coffee and bagel, as she got up from the bed and went into the bathroom to shower.
Maddie and Ava both waited tables at a diner not too far from their place. When Ava wasn't on shift at the diner, she worked as a salesperson for a Nike store in town. She always took up as many jobs as she could, just so she could save towards her college education, and also pay off her mother's debts. Now that the debt was out of the picture, all she needed to focus on was her education.
Ava finished her breakfast and got ready to go to Robinson's to pay him back his money.
"Be careful okay? Should he try anything funny, don't hesitate to call me," Maddie said to Ava as they both walked outside.
"I will," Ava said.
****
As Ava walked into the dilapidated building where Robinson's office was located, she was grateful that this would be the last time she would ever step her feet into this place.
The place was poorly lit and smelled of sweat and cigarettes, the stench was so much, Ava began to wonder if smoking was all they did in there. And sex, of course, Ava could hear the sound of a girl moaning as she passed by one of the offices.
"Hey, sweetie," one of Robinson's men came out of the shadows. He gave Ava a toothy grin as he came closer to her. "What brings you here?"
There was an angry-looking scar on his forehead. This guy's face always scared Ava. She took a step back.
"I'm here to see Robinson, is he around?"
"Oh forget about Robinson, I can make you feel good. How about we both go and have a good time? You and I alone, hmm?" The dirty-looking guy asked, coming closer to Ava.
Ava had to resist the urge not to scrunch up her nose because the guy's body odor could kill. It smelled as if he was carrying rotten fishes with him.
Ava took another step backward as the guy came closer.
"Please, I'm here to see Robinson," Ava tried her best not to allow her fear to show, but in a true sense, she was terrified.
"Robinson isn't around, but I will give you a good time. Better than Robinson," the guy said, licking his lips.
"If Robinson isn't here, then I will leave and maybe come back later." Ava turned to leave but the guy drew her back to himself. "Not so fast honey."