Irwin nodded. "Of course, the police. I can help you phone them." The mockery in his voice was clear. "Robert phone the police tell them what's going on, it's Mr Johnson last request." A devilish smile widened further across his face.
"Mr Kent," Mr Johnson looked at Robert, who seemed to be doing exactly what Irwin had asked him. "No! I'm sorry!" Mr Johnson said, moving towards Robert.
Robert immediately hung up, stepping away. "Are you ready for a real negotiation?"
"I'll pay you your money, I just need some time!" Johnson begged.
"I don't have time on my hands, you see... I'm a very busy man. You've been at my workplace bothering my employees, and it's very disturbing." Irwin's voice was low but it was clear he was angry.
"I promise I won't! I won't!" Mr Johnson begged.
"Your daughter is in Italy. According to the report given to me about you, you sent her a sum of five million dollars. I'm sure you can pay back what you are owning." Irwin said flatly.
Mr Johnson looked cornered. His eyes darted around and then rested on Eisley behind Irwin, still startled.
"Fine, let's talk," Mr Johnson looked at Irwin.
August afternoons were made to be like this, the sunny sky and the drive to a café. The sky, mid-afternoon, is a beautiful canvas graced with sky blues and pure milky whites and golden balls, shining down to earth. The blue in the depths beyond and the smooth, rounded, sugary sweet clouds in the foreground.
It's been two days since the drama at Irwin's company. Eisley sat in the car as Morgan drove her. She was finally getting to meet Aurora Dutton and Robina Hawton.
As soon as she arrived at the Café she stepped out of the car, staring around. Eisley took a deep breath, summoning courage. She finally opened the cafe door, scanning the place for them.
"Eisley? Is that you?" A voice came from behind, and she looked behind her. It was Aurora Dutton— she was a blonde with blue eyes. Her hair fell down her back, and she wore a blue denim trousers and white shirt.
"Aurora?" Eisley said. Aurora looked the same from high school, but she looked more sophisticated and pretty.
"Oh my! Eisley!" She immediately pulled her into her grasp, hugging her. "Oh my, I can't believe this, it's really you!"
Eisley stayed in her hold as her eyes became watery, aching, tears rolled down her eyes, and she sniffed, unable to control it.
"Robina!" Aurora yelled, her eyes red and teary as she hugged Eisley, calling for Robina.
Eisley hugged her tightly. Despite the emotional bond, she felt so warm.
Her eyes gaped wide when she felt someone hug her from behind, then she chuckled when she realised who it was. Ten minutes later, Eisley, Robina, and Aurora sat quietly while they waited for the waiter to bring their order.
"Here you go," the female waiter said breaking the heavy silence between them before placing the food they ordered on the table.
Eisley smiled and pulled out her card, handing it to her. "Use this, please."
Before Aurora and Robina could understand what was going on. The waiter had walked out to scan their payment.
"Goodness, you look stunning!" Robina complimented.
Eisley's flushed, pushing her hair behind her ears. She wore a black denim mini skirt and black top and a high boot.
"You also look stunning, and Aurora, how are you so pretty? I remember back in school," Eisley swallowed. The room was too emotional for them. She took out a napkin wiping her eyes. When she looked up, Aurora and Robina were doing the same. "Guys!"
"I can't help it. I've missed you. Goodness, tell me what happened. Ever since you got married, it's been difficult to—"
"Here, Mrs. It was successful," the female waiter interrupted, handing the card to her.
Robina and Aurora's eyes followed the black card until she pushed it back into her bag. Their heads turned to each other, and their lips parted. Aurora blinked and looked at Eisley.
"Do you work? Are you rich now?" She asked curiously.
"What do you mean? I don't work,"
"Ahhh, so that belongs to your husband? Besides, how did it happen? We suddenly never saw you in school anymore. Our teachers weren't able to get a hold of your mother. One day, Mrs Rita called your mother's line, and a man picked up and told her not to call again."
Eisley sighed, her lips pressed together. She had nothing to say. She didn't know where to start. After her marriage with Magnus, she never heard of her mother again, so it's possible she would have done that.
"Come on, talk to us."
"Hold on, I have something to ask. Is that your husband's? A black card? I mean, are you rich!" Robina asked.
"Come to think of it. A man has been standing outside, staring at us," Aurora pointed towards Morgan.
Eisley giggled, "I— that's not my husband's card," she lowered her gaze, bitting her lips. "I mean—"
"Aren't you married?" Eisley blinked. She didn't know the beginning of the story or how to even start.
"I am. I'm getting married, I wasn't married before, we— I, " her eyes darted, "I was with him, but we were never married. I'm getting married now to a different man," Eisley nodded. The room went silent as Aurora and Robina only nodded after she spoke.
Aurora and Robina looked at themselves simultaneously.
"So, this your fiance, I do want to meet him," Robina winked.
Aurora nudged her. Eisley laughed, blushing. Her eyes met Morgan, who seemed to be making a call.
"What about you?" Eisley said with a low voice. Eisley's phone buzzed, and she looked at it.
An hour later, Eisley held Aurora and Robina laughing wholeheartedly as she stepped out of the Café.
"Come on! Let's go clubbing soon, I think it's a good idea," Robina said, pouting, her eyes staring lovingly at Aurora beside her.
"Hey! Aren't you married? Eisley is getting married too,"
"I don't mind, I want to," Eisley said.
"No, no, you're getting married soon, we have to avoid those."
Eisley laughed, stepping out of their grip, "I don't think he minds. Don't worry, he wouldn't,"
"Really? Then we can go tomorrow? Tomorrow is good!"
"Hey, I have work," Aurora rolled her eyes, she pushed her hands into her bag, and took out her phone.
"You have work in the morning, not in the night!" Robina said teasingly.
Eisley watched as they teased and laughed with each other. Who knew that meeting friends could ease your stress.
"Guys," she called, and their attention was on her. "Let's do this often, huh?"
Aurora and Robina smiled and laughed. "Ohhh, look at those stars in her eyes. Sure, I'm in!"
"Me too!" Aurora said cheerfully.
Everything had come to an end, and it was time for them to go home. She sat in the car, watching the sunset. Suddenly, she dozed off, and when she opened her eyes. They had arrived at Irwin's mansion again.
"Oh, Miss Mercer, you're home," Grace rushed towards her. Eisley looked around. It felt lonely, so she looked at Grace.
"Irwin?"
"Mr Kent isn't home. Robert said he would be here in three minutes, why don't you change, he wants to have dinner with you,"
"Who? Me?"
"Yes. And oh, Mr Kent wants you to prepare it if you can,"
Eisley's eyes widened in excitement. "Really?" She rushed into the house, climbing the stairs swiftly. As soon as she got to her room, she took off her clothes, changed to a more relaxing outfit, and wore her slippers as she dashed out of the room. She heard whispers and paused in her tracks.
"I won't let you go, you're mine, Irwin, I made you, I own you, you only submit to me, you only have me, you can't have anyone else."
The room was filled with heavy breathing, and silence was evident between them.
"Mother," Irwin called softly, but there was a hint of displeasure and anger in his voice.
"Drop the act. We both know we aren't related. Why are you scared that your little butterfly would find out about us," Eisley gasped. Her feet shuffled backwards swiftly but stopped. The fear of being seen kept her frozen.
"Enough, aren't you tired. Those days of you using me as your sex toy are over, Mother. I am not a child or that little boy you can control anymore." The force of his voice came with a hint of anger.
Eisley's heart raced, her knees trembling. She didn't mean to hear such, but she couldn't help it. Goosebumps crawled her skin. The conversation she had just heard chilled her even more.
"I call it off when I want to! You still have the time to come back to me, Irwin! Or else, you don't want to see your little butterfly hurt? I'll make sure I break every part of her. Wife?" She scoffed. "Do you think you're capable of loving? Or having a family? Your family abandoned you."
"And I won't abandon her,"
"You think it's easy to have a family? Isn't it? Those wings of yours have grown, it's high time to cut them."
Eisley moved back slowly until she entered her room, shutting the door quietly behind her. Her chest was aching until it began to hurt. Her whole body was shaking. She didn't know why, but tears gathered in her eyes, and rolled down, she was crying, unable to stop her emotions.
Eisley sat on the floor as Constance Kent words replayed.