Mr Bill
Chapter 1
LUNA
The morning alarm buzz filled the room, waking me up from my sleep.
"Gosh, it's morning again." I grumbled as I stretched my body, shaking off any trace of sleep in my eyes, just then, my phone rang.
"Who's calling this early?" I picked up the phone and looked at the caller ID and it read 'BRIANNA'. I answered the call.
"Hello beautiful!" A tiny voice screamed at the other end of the phone and I immediately moved the phone away from my ear.
"Jeez Brianna, take it easy, I just woke up, you know. "
"And that's why I have to bring you back to life with a scream". Brianna giggled.
"Whatever, what's up? Why did you call this early?
"I have good news for you" her voice sparkled with excitement.
"What's it?
" Guess"
" C'mon Brianna, just tell me what it is"
" Well... Empire suites wants to launch another hotel in Florida, and they are in need of an event planner. "
" Really?"
"Yeah"
"That's nice, but I won't be able to do the job"
" Why? She sounded concerned.
"I can't pay for my flight to Florida"
"Chill girl, your flight's expenses will be on the CEO"
"Are you serious?" My eyes widened in amazement.
"Of course, I am"
"I'm in! Wait, how did you get the information?
"A friend of mine works there as a hotel receptionist, so I secured the contract for you with her help"
"Aww, that's so sweet of you bestie" Brianna was a friend indeed
"Anything for you, lollipop. I'll send you his personal assistant's number"
"Alright. Thanks sweetie"
"Bye".
As I got out of bed and strolled to the dinning, I thought of the contract I just got, when I overheard my parents discussing in their room, which was along the hallway that led to the dining room. I leaned in towards the door, eavesdropping on them.
"Gabriel, I've told you so many times that the best option is to marry her off" Natasha, my step mother spoke as her rude voice rang across the room.
"Come on Natasha, we can't make her marry someone she doesn't love". My father countered her calmly.
"This is not about love, it's about money, I don't care if she loves him or not!"
"Don't be inconsiderate, she has her right to marry someone she loves, we can't sell her off"
"We are not selling her off, she is getting married, isn't she old enough? No man will be attracted to her so you should be grateful I found her one that agreed to take her."
"She is also your daughter, you know"
" She is not my daughter!"
"Fine, I'll find a way to talk to her about it"
"You better do"
I sighed and left the door. Few minutes later, my Dad and my stepmom joined me at the dinning.
"Good morning Dad, good morning Mom." I greeted. Natasha ignored my greetings and sat beside my father.
"Morning Luna, how was your night?" Dad smiled at me as he took his seat"
"Great "
I stared at my parents at given intervals, wondering if I should confront them about what I heard earlier or not. Something kept pushing me to confront them but I later waved the thought off.
"Where is Jasmine?" Natasha asked.
"She went out last night," I replied.
"And she didn't return home?" Dad frowned.
"Maybe she went to see a friend," Natasha defended.
Dad stopped eating. "And that's why she slept outside without informing her parents? This girl is getting out of hand, I think I ...."
"Honey, you don't have to", Natasha quickly intervened. "I'm sure she told someone." She glared at me.
" She..she told me." I stammered.
"I told you, come on eat up" she faked a smile.
NATASHA'S SALON
Whenever she finds out that I had an event planning gig, Natasha always insists that I should assist her at her salon to increase her customer count. Natasha's customers always enjoy my services because of my jovial and chatty nature, which keeps them engaged. Even though Natasha didn't like me being happy, she couldn't risk losing her customers so she just let me be. The number of Natasha's customers drops whenever I'm absent and increases when I'm around. She tried to make me quit being an event planner but I couldn't let her succeed, even if she mostly made decisions for me. Being an event planner is one thing she can't stop me from doing, it's my passion.
I was brushing a wig that was to be delivered to a customer when Jasmine, my step sister came in and snatched the hair brush from me, she walked to the mirror and started brushing her hair, admiring herself in the mirror.
"You should've asked for it instead of being rude"
"And why should I take permission from a motherless child before using my mother's property?".
I felt stabbed by Jasmine's words.
"Don't call me a motherless child, I'm not motherless and I was never motherless" I said calmly, knowing that Jasmine is trying to cause a fight.
"Then where is your mother? Huh?" I said nothing to her. "You should be grateful my mother took you in, if I was her, I'd have left you on the streets where you belong."
I left the shop and went to sit outside, Jasmine's words ringing in her ears over again, I wished my mother didn't die, I wished my mother would wake up and stop this woman from maltreating me. My father, my only family, is being controlled by a woman, the same woman who makes life miserable for me. I tried but couldn't hold back the tears in my eyes so I let them flow freely down my cheeks. Just then, my stepmother arrived.
"Hey, why are you crying?" She asked.
" Mom! You're back" Jasmine rushed to her mother outside.
"Why is she crying?"
" I don't know," Jasmine shrugged. "She tried to stop me from brushing my hair."
She lied. Before I could defend herself, Natasha shut me up with a stinging slap.
"How dare you?" Who do you think you are to stop my daughter from using what belongs to me?"
"Mom I ..."
"Pronounce that word one more time and I'll pluck your eyes out"
I went silent.
"I am not your mother and I'll never be a mother to an imbecile."
I sobbed as my stepmom and her daughter went inside the salon.
"You better wipe those crocodile tears away before you scare my customers with that ugly face of yours". She said from inside the shop.
Later that evening, we were having dinner when dad brought up the discussion that I had been praying he wouldn't bring up.
"Luna"
"Yes Dad?
" Urhm... There is a man that wants to..." He scratched his head and before he could continue with what he was saying, my stepmom jumped in, not letting him finish.
"Lorde Zachary wants to marry you"
I choked on hearing the statement. I knew he would talk about it but I just didn't expect it this early. "What? Why me?"
"Ask my feet" Natasha replied sarcastically.
I turned to my father, feeling betrayed. I guess my stepmother had manipulated him once again.
"It's for the best, sweetheart. We are going bankrupt"
"I need to restock my salon." Natasha said.
"So you're selling me off? Dad, I thought you loved me?" My heart was shattered.
"I do, but I don't have enough money to cater for you and your sister, it's for your own good" He tried to touch my hand but I moved it away.
"He will come to take you soon." Natasha said. I stood up and left the dinning, I couldn't stand them. I went to my room and dialed a number on my phone, it rang for a few seconds before someone picked the call.
"Hello, Luna."
"Hi. Were you able to find the culprit?" I asked.
" No, I haven't. "
" Alright. "
" But why did you insist that she was killed? She had an accident and it's normal."
" No it's not, I know there's something behind her death and I must find out. "
" If you say so, just know it will cost you a lot of money. "
" I don't care how much it will cost, I will find the money and make sure I bring the culprit behind bars."
" Okay. "
" Keep me updated please. "
" I will."
" Thank you. " I ended the call.