"What is the matter, Flower? Don't you have the money anymore?" Robinson asked Ava when he saw the expression on her face.
"I do have the money Robinson, but not in cash. Give me your account details and I will transfer you the money immediately," Ava insisted.
"I run a cash policy around here Flower, or how do you think I have money to give to all the people who come here asking me to borrow them money? Or do you think I wired the money to your mother? I gave her cash!"
Ava thought the point that Robinson was trying to make was stupid. Why carry cash around and risk getting robbed, when you could just put your money in the bank and make a transfer when needed?
But then again, Robinson headed the crime in the neighborhood, meaning no one would want to be in his back records by trying to steal from him.
Robinson got up from his seat and came closer to Ava. "It's okay if you don't have the money, I already told you that you can forget about the money, so long you agree to be mine," he said with a smile.
Ava stepped away from him, "that won't be necessary, because I have your money."
The smile on Robinson's face quickly vanished, "then go get it!" He said.
"I will, but I need you to send some of your men with me to the bank while I go and make the withdrawal," Ava said.
Robinson chuckled, "and why would I do that?"
"I need protection, I can't be carrying such amount of money about," Ava said.
Robinson started laughing, "my Flower, you amaze me sometimes. It's twelve thousand dollars not twelve million dollars."
"Regardless, it's still too dangerous for me to carry around such an amount of money in a neighborhood like this," Ava insisted.
"That's your problem, not mine. When your mother came to me for the loan, it was given to her in cash, and no one robbed her. If you feel you need protection then that's your headache."
"Robinson, all I'm asking for, is for one of your men to___"
"I run a business here Flower, and for every time any of my boys step out of this building, they are expected to come back with business or money. Now, do you have the money to pay my boys to go with you to the bank?"
"How much?"
"200, per hour."
Ava became pissed, two hundred dollars an hour just for his men to accompany her to the bank?
"Robinson you can't be serious, you___"
"You are wasting my time Flower, and time is money." Robinson nodded at the door, "if you don't have my money, I suggest you take your leave."
Ava seeing he wasn't going to heed her request, decided to leave his office. While she was at the door, Robinson said, "it's the end of another week, and you know what happens every new week, Flower."
Interest! Every new week, interest is added on the money that Ava owes Robinson, and it wasn't a small percentage that was being added, 5%. For every new week that Ava is yet to pay up, 5% interest is being added to what she owed or rather, what her mother owed.
As Ava stepped out of the building, she inhaled a breath of fresh air. She wondered how Robinson and his men can stay in such a foul-smelling place for hours every day.
She brought out her phone from her purse and decided to call Maddie.
"What's up, have you paid Robinson back his money?" Maddie asked the moment she answered the call.
"No I haven't," Ava replied feeling weary.
"Why, did something happen?"
"Robinson won't accept transfer, he wants the money, in cash," Ava explained.
"And why is he insisting on transfer? Surely he doesn't expect you to carry such an amount of money around a neighborhood like his."
"He insisted I go to the bank and withdraw the money and bring it to him," Ava said. She could hear a customer complaining about his order taking too long.
"How is going over there?" Ava asked.
"Chaotic, we are swamped with customers and the chef resigned this morning."
"He resigned? Why?" Ava asked.
"No one knows, but I heard some whispers about him getting a better offer from the new restaurant that just opened on the next street."
"Oh my! Brad didn't deserve that," Ava said.
"Same thing I said, he has taken over cooking until he finds a replacement."
"How is he?"
"A ticking time bomb, if you know what I mean."
"I can imagine," Ava glanced at her wristwatch, "I have to go to the bank, and that might take a while, I might not be back on time before my shift starts. Do you think you can fill in for me until I come back?"
"Yes sure. But do you think, you going to withdraw the money alone is a good idea?"
"It's the only option I have, Robinson won't agree for one of his men to go with me, so I have to go alone."
"How about you hold on until next week? We can both go to the bank together on our day off."
"I thought about that too, but that would mean extra money because of the interest."
"Oh, that fucker!"
"Don't worry, I will be fine. Just cover up for me until I get back."
"All right. Please be careful."
"I will."
After Ava ended the call with Maddie, she took a taxi and headed to the bank.