"It's so tiring that I get to correct you every time. My name is Lena, not Enaaaa." She emphasized.
"Noted, Lena." He smiled at her, but she didn't acknowledge that.
She moved out to check the weather outside. It was still a bit dark. She stretched her hand to feel the impact of the raindrops on her skin, and it was manageable.
She did a mental calculation of the distance from the pharmacy to her house and realized she would only get drenched a little bit if the intensity of the rain didn't increase.
She shoved the small polythene that contained the drugs into her purse and dared to enter the rain.
"Hey Ena, Lena, hey, wait for the..." Pat ran out of the store, but all attempts to stop her were futile. He shrugged his shoulders, returning to crouch down on the stool.
The rain increased, and Lena muttered curse words as she walked in the wrenching rain. She was now cold, and her feet were barely moving.
Through gritted teeth and cold shivers, she checked around, but there was no shade to hide for safety. She walked on, hoping a miracle would happen.
That was when she saw it - a black-tinted-window Range Rover Sport, parked at the end of the street. No lights. No movement. Just... waiting.
A chill ran down her spine that had nothing to do with the rain.
She hurried her steps. The street lights were off, probably due to the heavy rain. She heard the honking sound of a car and turned away before it hit her.
She halted at a standstill, staring at her wet clothes and drugs. Her father would scold her for not waiting for the rain to stop before returning home.
The already wet drugs were not the problem; she could get new ones with the money she'd saved over the months, but her card wasn't with her.
She rubbed her temples in worry. Biting her lips regretfully, she wished she had a car. She strolled on and noticed the car that had passed her earlier hadn't moved past the place the driver had halted.
She walked past the vehicle but was stopped when the driver wound down the window. He smiled at her and asked if she wanted a ride. Lena shook her head and walked swiftly. She didn't trust men around - there had been cases of missing bodies lately.
The car trailed behind her, causing trepidation to creep into her mind. Can the day get any worse?
She didn't understand why he was following her, but she made sure not to wait. She walked as fast as her legs could, but unfortunately, the car caught up.
Inside the vehicle, a man sat in the backseat, half-hidden in shadows. His blue eyes traced Lena's silhouette through the tinted glass - her wet clothes clinging to her body, her jaw clenched in defiance.
Darian Dawson tilted his head. "She's scared," he murmured, almost amused. "Good."
The driver wound down and stopped again.
"What the hell do you want from me!" Lena yelled at him.
"Chill, my boss wants to have a word with you." He smiled at her, revealing a perfect set of white teeth. "Would you wait now?"
"I don't give a fuck who you and your lame boss are. I'm drenched and need to get home!" She yelled again and walked away from the car.
"Sir, she just left. Do you want me to pursue her?" The chauffeur bowed his head slowly and looked back.
"No, leave her be." Darian's deep voice was calm. "She's rude. But interesting."
He watched her retreating figure for a moment longer. "She'll come to me eventually. They always do."
They drove past Lena, and she muttered curse words at them. She hissed and continued walking.
The raindrop was less now. She hurried before it would start again. She regretted not coming out with some cash and her card. She got home in a few seconds.
As she approached her house, something caught her attention - the same black Range Rover Sport. Parked right outside her door.
No. It can't be.
Different thoughts ran through her mind as she walked closer to the doorstep. She flung the door open -
And froze.
Her father was on his knees.
A man stood over him, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette. He wasn't yelling. He wasn't even moving fast. That was what terrified her most.
Darian Dawson turned his head slowly, his blue eyes finding hers.
"Finally," he said, exhaling smoke. "The daughter arrives."
"You again?" She pointed an accusing finger at the skinny driver with dirty blonde hair. He smiled at her - surprised to see her as well.
Lena rushed to her father. "Dad? Are you okay?"
Gavin Johnson looked frail, his hands trembling. He wouldn't meet her eyes.
Darian didn't wait for pleasantries. He sat on their tattered couch as he owned it - because, in a way, he did.
"Your father owes me a hundred thousand dollars," he said flatly. "He's had three years. He's paid nothing."
Lena's blood ran cold. "That's not true."
"It is," Gavin whispered.
Darian smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "He also offered you as collateral."
The room went silent.
"What?" Lena breathed.
"Not in so many words," Darian said, taking a slow drag from his cigarette. "But he knew what I'd want when I saw you."
Lena turned to her father, her hands shaking. "Tell me he's lying."
Gavin said nothing. That was worse than any confession.
Darian stood, walking toward her. Lena backed into the wall.
"You have twenty-four hours," he said, close enough that she could smell the tobacco on his breath. "Pay me - or she's mine. Not as a wife. As payment."
"That's illegal," Lena whispered.
Darian laughed. Low. Genuine. "Sweetheart, I am the law."
He stepped back, straightening his jacket. His blue eyes never left hers.
"I think I would need you," he said softly. "You look like someone who would know how to do something right."
He looked at his chauffeur. "What do you think, Jay?"
"That would be a perfect decision, boss!" Jay replied. "A valid one."
Darian turned to Gavin one last time. "Gavin Johnson, I want my money now." His voice was calm, but his words were knives. "I will send you to jail if you don't provide it at this very moment. But you do have options here."
He relaxed on the tattered couch, his eyes ogling Lena like she was already his.
"Dad?" Lena called, but Gavin ignored her.
"Please, I will pay you. I promise to pay you once I have my job back," Gavin begged.
"Pay me?" Darian chuckled. "Where do you intend to even get that money from? I need my money now. And if you don't provide it, you'd be jailed."
"Who are you, and why are you frustrating my sick father?" Lena flew up angrily.
Darian gawked at her, pitifully shaking his head.
"Did your father not teach you to mind the first words you say to strangers?"
Her father pinched her hard. She winced in pain.
"Let's break it down for the little girl," Darian said. "Your father here came to borrow a huge amount of money, which he spent on gambling. Been over three years, and he still hasn't paid half of it. He even had the guts to challenge me to a game. Well, I won it. A master will always be your master."
He straightened up and looked at Lena.
"Your daughter is ripe enough for marriage. You either pay my money, or you give her to me. You have twenty-four hours to decide if you will go to jail, or if I will be planning a wedding in my crib."
Darian walked toward the door, then stopped.
He turned back, just enough for Lena to see the corner of his mouth curl.
"Twenty-four hours," he repeated. "But between us?"
He leaned in, just enough for her to feel the heat of his voice.
"I've already decided."
He walked out without looking back.
His driver followed behind him, slamming the door shut.
Lena slid down the wall, her heart hammering.
Her father sobbed behind her.
But all she could hear was Darian's last words, echoing in the dark:
"You just don't know it yet."
Lena exchanged a knowing glance with her father. He sure had a lot of explaining to do. But before then, she hurried to her room to get her card.
She dashed out of the house to get new drugs for her dad before he asked about the ones she had gone to buy before.
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