Chapter 15
The honking of a car outside the shop startles me awake. I open my eyes and take in my surroundings, the memory of a few hours ago coming back to me.
I must have passed out from all the crying, I thought.
I pulled myself up from the ground, almost stumbling from the throbbing pain in my head but catching myself. The fact that I hadn't had any food to eat today definitely wasn't making it any better.
I walked to my office to check for some painkillers I always kept in my drawer and popped some in my mouth with some water.
The light on my phone came on and I rushed to grab it hoping it was a message from Darius but it was just some routine message from my bank. I kissed my teeth as I placed the phone back on my table
Sighing I stared into the mirror to try to look like I hadn't been crying but what stared back at me was a dishevelled looking woman in a hoodie and biker shorts with bloodshot eyes and a runny nose.
I took in a deep breath as I pulled out my make up bag and decided to do a quick lip combo and just lay my edges to atleast take the attention away from my eyes. My mind wandered briefly to Darius, thinking about how the last and only time we've ever fought which was in college and how we settled in less than a week. Something told me this wasn't going to be that way.
I pushed him to the back of mind and decided that today was going to be a day to focus on myself.
The bell at the door chimed softly as I closed it and locked up, slinging my bag over my shoulder I made my way to the bustop, my hood up signalling that I didn't want to talk to anyone.
It kind of felt like I was forgetting something as I walked back home. Getting to the front door, I saw that the lights in the kitchen were on and I could see my mother's shadow close to the stove and it suddenly hit me, today was her birthday.
Fuck!!
I take a deep breath as I push the door open, and I see her in an apron holding a glass of red wine dancing in the kitchen.
"Welcome back dear." she says as she places the glass on the table.
"Happy birthday mum" I paused. " Sorry it's coming la–" I started to say but she cuts me off.
"Not a problem dear." She continued. "I know you've been busy with the bakery and other stuff"
She was being overly nice to me and that had me wondering what was happening and I realised it must have been that she was drunk. The only time she was very nice to me was when she was slightly drunk but along the line the more she drank the weirder she became and she would end up drinking way too much and crying about Dad.
She lightly shoved me upstairs"Why don't you go up and change"
"Don't you need help with dinner?" I asked, with guilt welling up in my chest.
I forgot her birthday.
"I've got it covered, dear" she paused. "Now go on."
It was so weird every time she was like this but no one needed to tell me twice to enjoy it while it lasted. I peeled off my clothes from my body immediately I got into my room and went straight to the shower. Given the day I had I needed to soak myself in my bathtub for at least an hour.
I pulled out some candles from my drawer, a bath bomb and rose scented essential oil and added it into the hot water, leaving it for a while for the bath bomb to dissolve.
Connecting my phone to my speaker, I decided to play some jazz to add to the vibe.
I sunk into the water, immersing myself fully under the tub as I closed my eyes letting the water take over.
As soon as I could start feeling my skin wrinkling I knew it was time to get out.
I pulled my towel over my body and got out of the tub.
I decided to start brainstorming ideas to get more sales in the bakery this month so I pulled on some shorts and a tank top and brought some notes and pens.
Even though it was difficult, after about two hours I had gotten several ideas that I could pitch to get grants and applied for several grants so I could get more equipment and possibly hire more people.
I had a lot of debt to pay and the money from Matthew would have helped but I had closed that door now and it was too late to go back.
Darius was right.
It wasn't a good idea and it was going to end up ruining my life so I had to find other ways to get my life back together.
I scrolled through my phone looking for his number and saw some messages from the landlady.
Landlady: Good day Andrea. I understand things may be difficult right now, but avoiding me will not solve the issue. If the rent is not paid by Friday, I'll have no choice but to evict you.
Friday?
Today was Tuesday, which means I only had three days.
Three days till the only thing that gave me hope that I could survive is taken from me.
A shaky breath left my lips, the realization starting to hit now.
Nobody is coming to save me.
I had to do what I needed to do to survive.
My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a few seconds.
Then I typed out the message.
Me: When can I sign the contract?
Before I could talk myself out of it I hit send.
And just like that I stepped into something that might ruin my life.