Narrator's POV
Do you think she will succeed?
You never know with her Steph, I can't keep my hopes high just yet and I will advise you not to too. Arianna replied as she continued going through her phone when Stephanie sighed allowing silence to dwell briefly among them.
Do you think she will remember again?
Mom is I charge of that so don't worry about it. Arianna replied and turned to her sister with a smile. So we have big clients this night, what do you think I should wear?
Umm let me think, how about the silver gown? Stephanie asks after thinking for a while.
Yeah silver! ... Sorry which silver exactly?
The pool party silver. Stephanie replied as she kept flicking through channels looking for a suitable show to watch.
You don't seem happy for tonight, are you ok? Arianna asked realizing the mood her sister was in as she kept throwing her frustrations in a simple remote.
I am cool Aria, just that the damned thing wouldn't produce a good option. Stephanie replied an groaned in frustration as yet another channel is not pleasing.
Hey girls! Eva's voice came and they both turned to see her entering the door full of smiles.
She looks very happy, OMG do you think she got the job? Stephanie whispered to Aria who gasped in return and then masked it with a smile before turning to the approaching Eva.
Hi, you seem happy, how was your job hunt?
So guys, I managed to secure a job. Eva said still brimming with smiles.
Really, so soon, that is super amazing! Arianna told her through gritted teeth and with a full weird looking forced smile on her face while Stephanie totally ignored the both of them pretending she was real busy. Her attitude changed after the party and Eva was still to find out why.
So what is the name of this company? What position were you given? Aria asked her in forged excitement which of course Eva didn't notice for she was so ingrossed in her excitement to notice the dominant mood.
Um, it's a restaurant!
A restaurant? Aria spelt out to be sure as she blinked. What exactly are you going to be doing in a restaurant? Her voice now masked with mockery as she asked this and suddenly she blinked again and her eyes went genuinely wild as she thought of something.
No fucking way Eva, are you now a restaurant manager? What the fuck, I am so happy for you baby girl. She kept going on and on as she hugged Eva who stood there like a statue trying to process what she was saying.
Hey Aria, breathe ok? Eva told her calmly as she gently pushed her off.
What? Shouldn't I congratulate you for your big catch Eva? It's not everyday that we get such big opportunities easily.
Calm down Aria, it's no managerial position ok? Eva said softly and she blinked a couple of times.
Ok, if not that then what? Are you like a kitchen staff ? Because it's not cool at all, though it can...... She trailed off when Eva groaned out her name in frustration.
I am a waitress ok? Eva told her in frustration and then a very deep silence followed. Everyone was already staring at her like she was nuts or something. Suddenly, Arianna burst into rounds of laughter, a very loud annoying one as she fell on the couch holding her stomach from the effect of her continuous laughter. Stephanie only made a surprised gasping sound and stared at Eva in shock creeping the girl out as she stared from one to the other in confusion.
I'm sorry what? Stephanie suddenly asked still looking shocked, just what is shocking about being a waitress, hello waitresses are humans too. Eva felt like yelling at the two of them but decided against it as she only stared at them with no expression on her face.
Waitress Evangeline Wright! Arianna called mockingly in-between laughters. I will advice you Eva, just decline the job offer and please never tell Mom about it ok? She continued with her laughter after she said this and Eva rolled her eyes.
Ha ha ha, very funny! Eva said in mockery and rolled her eyes again. She wasn't ready to take Arianna's advice especially when it was full of mockery, no thank you. With these thoughts, she matched off to her room ignoring the states and laughing sounds.
Jerkasses! She muttered under her breath as she started walking up the stairs to her room.
Eva! I love you and that's why I'm looking out for you! Arianna called after her but she scoffed in reply. Indeed, more like mocking her.
Evangeline's POV
I hear you got a job Eva, that's interestingly soon. Where and what did you get? Aunt Mina asked as soon as she saw me approaching the table for dinner. I scoffed, how quickly news travel.
An attendant! I said simply as i sat down not ready for much talks and all but when Ilooked up at Aunt Mina's face, I realized that I wasn't clear at all and definitely didn't make any sense because Aunt Mina was looking as confused as ever.
As in a mortuary attendant? She asked with a curious tone and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at my auntie.
No Aunt, i meant a restaurant attendant. I spelt out almost with an eye roll at how confused she looks right now.
Wait what? A waitress? There was disbelief in her voice as she voiced out her thoughts after a scoff and when I nodded, she spang up from her chair and then banged the table in rage which caught everyone unawares because they are jumped in fright.
Are you stupid or do you by anymeans take this family as stupid huh? I stared at her in shock from her reaction and all but she didn't seem to care because she continued her rant.
No one and I mean no one in this family is permitted to take a job as lowly and stupid as a waitress job so live without. For your information young lady, it is either you get a respectable job or you work in the club.
I took some seconds to process what she had already said as I watched her fuming possibly waiting for my response. How dare she talk down on my efforts like it's nothing? I am so not going down without a fight.
You have no right to call that job lowly or stupid! I muttered quietly but enough for her to hear it.
I beg your pardon?
I am saying that if you consider a waitress job as lowly and stupid, then what is stripping? Disgusting huh? She watched me in silence as I made my speech as the frown on her face increased deeply.
Do you always have to push people around and make stupid choices for people so that you will be pleased huh? Your own kids you've pushed into prostitution and yet you are not satisfied at all and now you want to destroy my life too? Well let me spell this out to you Aunt Mina, I will do what I want with my life and you will do nothing about it. As soon as I said these last words, she slapped me hard; I guess I was expecting it, I bit my lips and giggled softly to stop tears from dropping and it succeeded and so I stood up and looked her in her angry eyes challengely and said.
Slap me all you want Aunt Mina, but it doesn't change the already established fact it only proves you are worst than protrayed. With this, I matched out of the house breathing heavily refusing to shed a simple tear but bottling up all my anger. Whatever respect I once had for Aunt Mina already flew off the window when she insisted that I become a stripper and somehow, I knew that danger was around the corner but I am so ready to face it .
I found an empty bench around the corner and sat on it harshly and now a tear successfully dropped from my eyes. I suddenly felt scared and unsure of myself and what my future held,bwas I wrong to have talked at Aunt Mina that way, what if she threw me out of her house? Well I better live in the streets than turn into her slut. I wiped another angry tear refusing to breakdown until I heard his voice.
Hey, are you ok?
Seeing Fred again looking at me with concern kinda unbottled my whole emotions and I broke down. Maybe he understood because he sat beside me quietly and hugged me allowing me to cry into his shirt. Now I can't stop the tears from constantly flowing, I kept shaking and crying feeling vulnerable. It took me some minutes to comport my self and all these while, he was quiet only patting me softly in a comforting way. When I was done crying, he handed me a handkerchief which I accepted and wiped my face.
How do you feel now? He asked with a genuine smile.
A lot better, thank you very much! I said and my eyes fell on his shirt and j groaned from embarrassment.
I'm sorry for your shirt! I muttered feeling embarrassed at how drained his shirt was from my tears and he grinned in response.
Seems you owe me an explanation for ruining my shirt. He said trying to lighten the mood and I smiled sadly.
Do you want to talk about it? He asked gently And I feel silent thinking about it. I felt like opening up and I did, maybe a bit too much.
It's a long story, i woke up a couple of weeks ago to realize that I don't have any memories from my past because of an accident where I lost my parents I don't remember and got a critical head injury. I moved in with my auntie and her kids since she was the only one available and have been with them since then.
He nodded waiting for me to continue and when I looked at his face, there was no judgemental look on it but concern and curiosity and so I continued.
Yesterday she came up with a decision that I will work in her club as a stripper.
What the fuck? He muttered and I shrugged.
I declined and we got into an agreement that if I can get a job that will pay me enough and is respectable enough, she will let me out and do I sort for a job and got one today at a restaurant as a waitress; and when I told her about it, she called it stupid and lowly and threatened me that it is either I get a better job or I become her stripper by force.
Now he sighed deeply as soon as I paused. I'm sorry you had to go through all that. He said softly and I nodded. I am sorry for myself too.
I kinda fought back anyway and told her I wouldn't be a stripper and that she can not define my life for me, she slapped me and i came out here. I don't know the next step to take and to be sincere, I am really scared. I muttered and again he hugged me.
Don't worry, I will help you Eva, we will find a way out of this ok? He asked and I nodded against him, somehow I believe him.
I have an idea, I could help you make an appointment with my boss and I will talk to him about you, he is a good friend and I think he will be willing to help. He told me quitly and I hugged him in happiness. Thank you.
Be at D'van Technology tomorrow by 10, I will make you an appointment. He said and I smiled feeling hopeful.
Don't worry, everything will be fine. He whispered and I believed him