Chereads / Claws from the past / Chapter 9 - Chapter Nine

Chapter 9 - Chapter Nine

Gwen for Roy>>>>>

Greene ran his hand on his suit as the gate keeper opened the gate for him and smiled.

"Good day,Mr Greene Russell Carnegie. Welcome home."

The house keeper said smiling brightly at Coach Greene. They had probably heard that he had been back in town but had refused coming here. Since his mother funeral,he vowed he would never step his foot here as there was no difference between the way he was treated and every other slaves.

"Is Mr Carnegie in?" 

" Yes and he has been expecting you. Come with me". The housekeeper said leading Greene in. The house hasn't changed much since he left just a few touch of elegance and luxury.

Mr Carnegie sat on the chair close to the window inhaling the huge piece of tobacco pipe in his hand. He looked up as just Greene walked in.

"The prodigal boy came home at last."

"Good day sir."Greene said stiffly. Being here and having this conversation with his uncle was the last thing on his list. But remembering the tears in Joanne's eyes and the situation keystone has placed Gwen,he could not help it. The ball is now in his court and he has to play it well.

"Well, I heard you have been in town for a while."

"That is not the reason I'm here. I am here for a very good team player of mine in your possession,Roy Saunders."

" Just like you said,he is in my possession because he is my property. Or did you come to pay off the debt that local wretched church rat owes me?"

" You had this all planned along,didn't you?"

" Ah ha! " Mr Carnegie smiled at Greene," I always told your mother that she had a very smart son just like my own boy, Curtis. You two have that in common," Mr Carnegie sighed deeply and wiped at his eyes," Well, you see, My wife,Francesca has been really ill of lately. And you see all this workers are not just it. They are stubborn headed and demand a lot, usually rebellious. So I thought to myself,why not have a worker who has no choice but to be indebted to you for life and while I was at the bar,I saw keystone start playing with some of the locals and then my idea clicked into place. He had two kids and I don't mind one being my servant." He smiled sheepishly as he poured himself a shot of Everclear, "Keystone was the king but I was the Solomon,the one who is ripe with wisdom. He was so sure of himself that he was not even paying attention to the game and that was how he lost to me. He may be the king but I control the land."Mr Carnegie said and chuckled.

Greene stared at his uncle in disgust. This man was so selfish that he never put other people's feelings into consideration. He might be smart like his uncle but there is a difference between them, he would never try to hurt someone else in the process of achieving his dreams.

" Well...that is a great idea. But the problem I have is my boy,Roy, is now stuck in your brilliant scheme. And I'm not here to discuss your tricks ,uncle. All I want is to know how to get Roy out of here."

" Well if the sister is so concerned,why don't she take Roy's place instead?"

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Gwen pulled out the last weed in between the plants With her mind so disorganized,thinking about how to bring her brother back,how to pay off her father's debt and the heart ache of breaking up with Gilbert,she had come to the garden to pull out the weeds growing in between the plants to keep herself occupied.Joanne asked her to stay behind and try relaxing her mind when she heard Gwen broke up with Gilbert.

She didn't even mean to break up with Gilbert that day but hearing those words from his mouth only to realize that the man she once thought her life evolves around, the right one to spend her future with is nothing but a self centered man, just like her father. And of course,Gwen knew she couldn't settle for any guy who is just like her father.

For two years now,she had always dreamt of the day Gilbert would go on his knees and ask her to marry him,to be the mother of his children. Well,asking her to marry him was always and would always be a dream because Gilbert would never propose to her.

Of course,he did love her but he only showed her his affection whenever it suits him like she was begging for it. And of course,she did beg for his affection. She had always been the one to drop a text or call him just for him to say he is busy and would call back.

And then things started drifting apart when Gwen started pressuring him about them getting married and starting their own life. Things really changed between them and she kept on bumping into him and different kind of women. They were either his old customers or just high school friends. Gilbert gave so many excuses that she even got tired of listening.

The horse that broke the camel's back was Gilbert lack of concern to all that has been going on this past few days.The most painful part of it all was that he felt it was all about her insecurities and not his fault.

He didn't even feel remorseful for not showing up. Every lady has the certain kind of man they want and she knows what she wants. Even though if he ever had flaws,it won't be a man who does not care about her and her family.

Ever since her mother died,she had been the one taking responsibility for everything going on in their family.All she needed was a man who could understand her,sooth her pain and see through that strong wall she had built around herself that deep inside she was crashing in her effort to protect everyone. But Gilbert was not that guy. He was just another wrong choice.

"Gwen!!!"

Gwen turned around as she heard her name to see her friend standing with her hand over her face trying to block out the sun so she can see Gwen properly.

"You got me scared. I have been calling your name searching through every room. Coach Greene is around and he has something to tell us."

" Oh okay. Let me quickly wash my hands." Gwen washed her hands and cleaned them dry on her faded jeans before picking up the baskets filled with Vegetables. Joanne placed her hand over Gwen's shoulder as they headed into the house.

Coach Greene was sitting in the parlour staring at the picture of Gwen's mom at the the other side of the living room. He stood up just as they entered.

"Good day, Miss Gwen". Greene said and smiled brightly at her." Sorry I didn't come to check up on you on time. The boys are having rigorous trainings since they have a match coming up next month."

" Roy is supposed to be amongst them,right?"Gwen asked in a shaky voice.

" The team misses him. And I will do anything to get him back." Greene said as his eyes locked with Joanne's.

" Thanks for making time out of your busy schedule to go talk to Mr Carnegie on behalf of my brother."

" He is bright kid, Miss saunders. I would not want him to end up like one of the workers in Mr Carnegie's mansion." Greene dipped his hands into his pockets and sighed deeply." Well, you see, one of the main reasons I'm here is because of my visit to my uncle".

" Then please sit down so we can talk about it properly."Gwen said as she sat down. Joanne gripped her hand firmly in anticipation of what Mr Carnegie had decided. She was also scared too.

"Well, you see, Roy is one of my best players on the team and I told him one day, he is going to bring home an NBA award. And I so much believe in that dream and his passion for the game that I won't let it go to waste to see him become an ordinary worker. I stayed in that mansion for about two years and I know everything including how the workers are treated. So I spoke to my uncle and he told me about my aunt's failing health".

" Mrs Francesca is ill?"Gwen asked confused.

" She fell ill a long time ago when someone tried to kill her by poisoning her drink. Thankfully enough,she had not had much of the drink but the poison did cause a lot of harm to her body. She has done kidney implant and a whole lot of surgeries." Greene explained." So Mr Carnegie had no other option than to cheat his way into the game so he can win your father. He is not after the money,Miss Saunders. He is after the collateral." Greene knew he had let his uncle biggest secret out but he knew he had no other option than to let Gwen know else his conscience would judge him.

"He did what?! Sorry to say this,but your uncle is nothing but a fraud!" Gwen said angrily as Joanne patted her to calm down. " What does he want with my brother?"

"Because of the lack of trust and the fact my aunt doesn't want any of the workers talking care of her,he decided that none of his workers will be given the responsibility to take care of my aunt. "

Joanne swallowed hard. She knew where the story is going to. Mr Carnegie wanted Roy as personal slave for his wife and that,she would never accept.

"So what is the way out?"Joanne asked.

"Gwen for Roy."

" I don't think I understand what you just said."Joanne said even more confused now.

" Gwen would have to serve five years at the Carnegie's mansion. All her father's debt would be cancelled and he would let Roy go."

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