Olivia stood outside, glancing at the gates of the community college, she could not believe it, she had graduated. It felt only like yesterday she was admitted here to study the course of her dreams, real life art, her parents could not afford to send her to her dream school which was NYC so she opted for the community college and finally three years was over, she was done, now she had to start earning money to help her parents and brother who was sick, diagnosed with lung cancer since he was fifteen.
"Ollie, is that you?" Her mother screamed as she sighted her as soon as she walked into their gate.
"It is me, mom" she says as they both hug very tightly.
"I am so glad you are here. Let's get you inside"
They walk into the house hand in hand. They had lived in New York their whole lives and everyone knew them in the small neighborhood that they reside in.
"Where is Dad?" Olivia asks as she puts her small suitcase on the bed in her room
"He went to the hospital, we are taking shifts to look after Daniel, I just came back to make something for the both of them"
"Oh, okay cool. I'll check in with them later"
"Why don't you come with me? I'll be heading there soon in about twenty minutes" she says as she glances at the bedside alarm clock.
"Oh, I can't go now, I have an interview downtown that I need to get ready for"
"But you just got back" her mother said looking at her, eyes pleading
"I know mom, but I can't waste anytime. We are in desperate need of the money. Daniel can't start chemotherapy until we sort out the payments and I don't want anything to happen to him, none of us do"
Her mother sits on the bed, clearly exhausted and she begins to cry.
"Oh mommy, please don't cry, everything would be fine"
"But this is not your responsibility. I and your father are supposed to be the ones caring for you and your brother, not the other way round"
"Mom, I am not complaining, neither is Daniel. We know you both did the best you could, we know you tried your best, I am here now, let me help you in the little way that I can"
Her mother nods and hugs her, she heads back to the kitchen to finish cooking.
Olivia begins to unpack her suitcase, she is about to enter into the bathroom for a quick bath when her mom yells out her name.
"Ollie?!!"
"Yes mom, what is it?"
"I am heading out to the hospital. Please lock up when you leave"
"Alright mom"
Olivia hears the door lock downstairs before stepping into the bathroom.
The street air was quite choking, there was smoke coming from different directions, cars, restaurants, buses polluting the air, the art club was located about an hour drive from where Olivia resided, she checks her wristwatch and figures she is right on time for the interview, she enters into the club and a bell hung overhead the door rings, signaling a new customer has arrived. She heads straight to the receptionist and gives her and name.
"Take you right, then head upstairs. Stella is expecting you" Sarah, the receptionist says to her.
"Thank you"
Olivia follows the instructions and knocks on the door.
"Come in" said a deep female voice from inside.
Olivia steps into the office but it did not look like an office, there were different paintings everywhere and Stella's table was filled with different papers and water paints.
"Please sit" Stella points at a seat that was empty
"Thank you"
"You must be Olivia"
"Yes, I am"
"Alright. I have gone through your résumé and I must say, it is quite impressive"
"Thank you"
"Pardon the mess, my office is in, on a good day, it doesn't look like this"
Olivia smiles and nods
"Okay, so back to business, you are expected to come into the club at least three times a week where you would be required to do a live painting for the audience, anything of your choice, after which it would be auctioned, you take 30% while the club takes 70%, understood?"
"Uhm..yes but is that not a bit too much, I am basically doing all the work"
"That is how it is over here, you are using our space and time, so do you agree to our terms or not?"
Olivia thinks for a moment, she knows for a fact that they are taking way more than they are supposed to get but she needs the money more than anything and she could not find any other place willing to hire her.
"Fine, I'll take it"
"Good, always be here by 10am sharp"
"I will"
She stands up and leaves.
"Hey" Stella nudges at her elbow when she was done with her first painting for the night
"What? Did something happen?" Olivia asks looking at her squarely in the face
"That man has been staring at you since you started your session this evening"
Olivia looks at where she was pointing to and she sees a dark shadow lurking in the corner of the club, she could not really assess what the man looked like, but she could say for certain she did not like the feeling she felt in the pit of her stomach.
"He looks wealthy" Stella says breaking her thoughts
"Hmm"
"Yeah, old kind of but wealthy"
"Also kind of creepy. What is a man like that doing here anyway?"
"Don't know, don't care, but I do care about his money so please smile and draw when you start your second session. I don't want you chasing potential buyers away" Stella says and taps her on the shoulder then leaves.
"You did well today, three of your pieces got sold. Here is your cut" Stella says as she hands over the envelope containing cash to Olivia.
Olivia sits down on the chair facing Stella's desk in her office.
"Please, I spoke to you earlier concerning my brother's health, this is not even enough to cover his medical expenses" she says signaling to the envelope.
"Please help me increase my cut, I am clearly doing most of the work"
"I have told you countless times, this is how it is done over here, I don't mix whatever family problems you have with my business. You agreed to the terms before you started working here. So you either deal with it or you quit"
"Please Stella, please I'm begging you"
"I have nothing more to say to you Olivia, kindly pick up your money and get out of my office"
Olivia stands up and leaves
"What an ingrate" Stella says.