The loud, violent banging resumed, rocking the weak door on its hinges. "Hey Rachel! "Open the fucking door!" The flat reverberated with the heavy, gravelly voice of Mr Carter.
"You have until the end of this month to leave or I'll smash down the door and throw your garbage on the curb myself! My heart was racing as I sat motionless on the couch, hardly daring to breathe. His heavy boots stomped on the creaking hallway floor as he continued to rant.
"For seven months! Rachel, seven months! I'm done waiting. He swore under his breath as he hammered on the door one last time before rushing out, his voice growing louder. I remained motionless until his footsteps stopped making noise.
Mr. Carter had been at it for weeks now, frequently popping in to complain about the rent. To catch me, he would occasionally bring workers and threaten to "fix" anything. I didn't open the door, though. I couldn't. There was nowhere else for me to go, no money, and no escape route.
The flat reflected my life and was a complete mess. Clothes littered the bed, the floor, and the small table in the corner. Unopened bills covered the table, and the sight of them was enough to make my stomach spin.
I leaned back on the worn-out couch, with tears in my eyes as I stared at the chaos around me. My reflection in the dusty mirror across the room didn't help, I looked just as bad. My hair was greasy, my face was pale and hollow, and my oversized hoodie and sweatpants clung loosely to my thinning frame.
I was so tired. Tired of hiding, tired of the shouting, and tired of the gnawing hunger that wouldn't go away.
Then, my phone rang, its sharp tone startling me. I scrambled to find it under a pile of clothes, my hands shaking slightly. When I saw Max's name on the screen, I let out a trembling breath and answered.
"Max?" I croaked.
"Rachel," he said, his voice of comfort and worry . "Have you been crying?"
"No… I'm fine," I said, though my voice gave me away.
"Don't lie to me," he said firmly. "You haven't left the house in weeks. What's going on?"
I sighed heavily, leaning into the lumpy couch. "What isn't going on? I haven't had a job in a year, Max. Even when I get one, it doesn't last. I don't know what I'm doing anymore."
That's not true," he said gently. "You just haven't found the right one yet."
"And Dad's debts? What about those?" My voice cracked. "He took out all those loans, the business failed, and now he's gone, leaving me with this mess. I can't fix this, Max. I can't even keep a roof over my head."
He paused, the line quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "I'm going to help you, Rachel. Don't argue."
"Max—"
"I'm serious," he interrupted, sounding insistent but not quite confident. "I've got a friend who knows someone hiring. I'll set it up for you, okay."
I sat up, a spark of hope flashing in my chest. "Okay, fine. But what's the job?" I was still skeptical, trying to keep my guard up.
Max hesitated again. I could feel the reluctance oozing from the phone. "It's... um... Blackwood Corporation," he finally said, with his words carefully measured.
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Blackwood Corporation? The name hit me like a cold wave. That company was massive, everyone knew it as the most untouchable and powerful company in the city which makes it almost impossible to get into. Why would Max be offering me a job there?
"Wait, wait," I said, my voice sharp with disbelief. "Blackwood Corporation? You've got to be kidding right?."
Max didn't respond immediately, and I could hear him breathing on the other end, trying to find the right words. "Look, Rachel, I didn't... I just… didn't want to overwhelm you with the details."
I couldn't hide my frustration. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner? Why Blackwood? Why are you giving this job to me? This doesn't make any sense."
The unease in his voice clear now. "I've been trying to find you something that fits, but you've been getting knocked down with every job. This... this is different. I didn't want to stress you out with the specifics and I thought if I told you everything, you'd think it was too much."
I snapped, the skepticism in my voice growing stronger. "You really expect me to just take your word for it after keeping all of this from me?"
Max's voice faltered, like he was trying to decide how much to tell me. "I know it's a lot to take in but his could be your chance. Just trust me."
"I don't know if I can," I said, my doubt still heavy in the air between us. "How do I know this isn't some kind of set-up? Blackwood? Really?"
There was a long pause, and when Max spoke again, his voice was softer, almost resigned. "Look, Rachel… I've been keeping some things from you."