PART I CHAPTER VI: NEW BEGINNINGS
They alighted at the train station. She tightly clutched her briefcase which contained her belongings as they made their way out of the station. She paused to feel the cool summer breeze, which made her feel calm. Her stomach suddenly grumbled, making her blush out of embarrassment.
"Are you hungry?" June asked out of concern.
"I'm good," She said, trying to avoid the topic.
"Your stomach's grumbling."
"I can wait…"
"There's a restaurant a couple of blocks away. I used to go there back in the day. We should go there…"
"You've already done too much for me June. I can't…" She said, trying to stop her.
"Do it for the baby."
She let out a deep sigh, followed by a subtle nod of agreement. They strolled towards the eatery she had frequently visited in the past before heading out. June hailed a taxi and they proceeded deeper into the city.
They arrived at a small apartment that looked similar to the one they used to live in during college. The air was filled with the fresh scent of pine and fragrant lavender. As she looked up, she saw birds hopping from tree to tree, and she was mesmerized by the colorful butterflies jumping from flower to flower. Along the path, there were daisies, roses, bougainvillea, sunflowers, and daffodils, creating a beautiful splash of colors that brought life to the dull, misty environment. She felt lighter than a cloud and amazed by the picturesque scenery. Suddenly, June tapped her shoulder, jolting her back to reality, and she looked at her with a dreamy expression, as though she had just awakened from a beautiful midsummer's dream.
"This...This place…" She said stuttering.
"It's terrible, I know. We can leave if you don't like…" She said out of embarrassment.
'It's beautiful. This place is perfect!' She said excitedly. Hurriedly, she grabbed her bags as they walked towards the apartment.
As she stepped inside the apartment, she was struck by its pristine cleanliness. The air was crisp and fresh, with no hint of mustiness that one might expect from a place that hadn't been used for a while. The décor was a feast for the eyes, with polished furniture made of rich, dark wood that had intricate carvings and delicate upholstery. Her eyes traced the curves and lines of the furniture, admiring the craftsmanship that had gone into creating each piece.
Her gaze drifted upwards towards the high ceiling which held the vintage light fixtures. The ornate chandeliers cast a warm, welcoming glow that bathed the room in a soft light. The ceiling itself was an architectural masterpiece, with intricate moldings that added to the grandeur of the space.
Finally, her eyes rested on the grand fireplace, which was the centerpiece of the room. The antique mantelpiece was intricately carved, and the firebox itself was large enough to hold a generous stack of logs. As she imagined a roaring fire crackling in the hearth, she couldn't help but feel that the antique house exuded elegance, history, and timeless charm, giving it an aura of luxury and opulence.
It didn't take long for her to settle into the apartment. She sat on the cozy sofa in the living room, mesmerized by how different her life had become. Her gaze moved to the lit fireplace, her focus completely on it. She sighed and went up the stairs to her new bedroom to get some rest.
****
A few weeks after June had left for college, Hannah was able to secure a job as a waitress in a casino. She was to resume work later that evening. Trying to make a good first impression, she put on her smartest clothes which hid her already visible baby bump, and arrived at the casino on time. Getting there, she headed for the manager's office and without knocking simply pushed the door open, where she saw him counting a wad of notes. His face held a startled expression, probably because of her unannounced entrance.
"Is there any problem miss?" he said, gathering his words together.
"Sorry about my barged entrance. I'm Hannah Williams, the new waitress." She calmly explained.
"Ah, yes, my dear," he said, getting up from his seat with great effort. The moment he got out of his chair, she tried not to laugh. Seeing his stout body and pot belly reminded her of the Michelin Man. His gait wasn't helping either since he walked like a pregnant lady. She began to wonder who was pregnant - her or the manager. He picked up a stack of documents and dropped them on his table.
"You can pick up your uniform at the reception. You'll be serving the VIPs so make sure you get ready on time…" He concluded.
She sprinted out of the office and headed to the reception. Taking her uniform, she went to the dressing room and hastily got dressed. Finally, she went to the VIP lounge. She stopped in front of the lounge, wanting to turn back and run out of the place. The disco balls and blaring music she could see and hear reminded her of the experience she had at the hotel. Her mind darted back to the strange noises she heard but she shrugged it off because she felt she was drunk that day. She decided to face her fears and timidly went into the lounge.
As expected, the people in the lounge were mostly the rich. She felt repulsed by the way they threw their money around because she knew they were just squandering the wealth their parents had accumulated over the years. She timidly walked towards the counter but was pulled back by one of the men in the lounge.
"Good evening sir, how can I help you?" she said, trying to control her conflicting emotions.
"Why so uptight beautiful?" he said with a smirk on his face.
Her gaze went to the tailor-made suit he was wearing to the Rolex on his wrist. It darted from the expensive leather shoes to the gold chain on his neck. She tried pulling her hand out of his grasp but failed successively.
"Would you like me to get you a drink?" she said, still trying to pry her hand out of his grasp.
"I'll have a dry martini…" he said, letting go of her hand as he walked towards his table.
She quickly walked towards the bar to get the drink. The bartender poured her the drink and said to her, "Be careful…"
She smiled and said, "I'll be fine"
She turned back and headed towards the table where the man was seated. She dropped the drink and turned to leave but was pulled back by the man. He sat her by his side and placed his arm over her shoulder. He leaned in closer and said, "Relax beautiful, I just want to be your friend…"
His breath smelt of marijuana and brandy, making her feel suffocated. She tried to wriggle out of his hold but failed. Suddenly, a man walked into the lounge, radiating an aura of boldness and affluence. The ground seemed to shake with every step he took. The man lifted his arm off her shoulder and immediately walked towards the man who had entered the club.
"Heathrow! Long time no see!" He said excitedly.
"What do you want this time?" Julian said, having a bored expression on his face.
"I know I probably dragged you away from your loving fiancée…" He commented
"I'd rather be here than stay in a room with her," he said, adjusting his black custom-made suit.
He laughed and said, "I didn't know you two had any issues!"
"You're drunk, aren't you?" He said, arching his eyebrows.
"Guilty as charged. Howard hired a new waitress, cute little thing she is…" He said, his words becoming slurry.
"What did you do to the poor child?" He said sarcastically.
"Nothing yet, I was waiting for you to decide!" He laughed.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're a dog, Reginald?" He said with a serious expression on her face.
"Whatever you say…"
His eyes went to the table where he had been sitting just a few moments earlier, but he was surprised to find that she wasn't there. He quickly ordered his bodyguards to find her. After a while, they returned with the girl, who was in tears. He took her to meet his friend.
"Here she is!" he said, shoving her towards him. He looked closely at the girl, trying to remember where he had seen her face. He took her hand and pulled her out of the casino. She struggled and cried but he turned a deaf ear to her pleas. Stepping out of the casino, she tried to run but he caught her just in time.
"Please let me go sir…" she cried. He held her wrist firmly but she managed to push him away. He staggered back and she tried to run away once more. He pulled her back and said, "Would you just calm down for a minute!"
He removed his sunglasses, and when she saw his face, she turned pale. She gazed into his deep gray eyes, which seemed to see right through her soul. Gathering her thoughts, she attempted to run, but he caught her and said, "You'll never learn..."
She frantically hit his chest, screaming that he would let her go. "If I let you go, will you run away or calm down and listen?" he said with an air of authority. "Fine I'll listen," she said through clenched teeth.
"What are you doing here?" He inquired.
"That's none of your business." She rudely replied.
"I asked a question…"
"And I answered!" She said angrily.
He paused and said, "This place isn't for girls like you. You shouldn't be here…"
"Why do you care?" she screamed at the top of her lungs.
"I just…"
"You ruined my life! Because of you, I left college and now, I'm stuck in a dead-end job living from hand to mouth! I should have written my final exams today but because of your psycho fiancée who'd probably kill me if I stepped foot into school, I can't. I've lost everything I've worked so hard to build because of this!" she said in tears.
He ran his fingers through his hair before embracing her. She inhaled the sweet smell of his cologne before laying her head on his chest, crying profusely. He placed his hand on her head and patted her hair gently. "I'm so sorry," he said calmly. She looked at him, her brown eyes already reddened. He took her hand in his and they left the casino premises.