Chapter Two
Laurence wanted to follow her to see where she lived. He wanted to know who were there in her family. He wanted to know more about her but couldn't since there was no place to park his car in the vicinity. It was a crime prone area and he couldn't leave his car and follow her around. So reluctantly Laurence drove off home with the hope that she would arrive at his office tomorrow for the job that he had offered.
Arianna walked down to her humble rundown one bedroom apartment in a shabby old dirty building. The stench of rotting garbage, leaking pipes, drains and used dirty toilets were all around the place. It was the worst place for a young girl to live in but this was all she could afford. After her mom's death, her father sold off their small two bedroomed apartment and pocketed the whole amount. Arianna rented this apartment out of her meagre pay. Her best friend Isabella helped her shift. Isabella lived at her foster home with her foster family. She worked part time at the cafe while majoring in English creative writing.
Arianna was happy that her father had disappeared from her life. However, after six months he returned to her humble abode after spending all the money away. The torture and the torment continued. Sighing heavily, Arianna climbed the rickety staircase to the second floor. She then opened the broken door of her apartment and entered her home. The stench of alcohol was too much to bear as her father sat drinking in the living room. He looked up with blood shot eyes at her.
"Why are you home so early?" He bellowed at her.
"I got off early," she answered quietly.
"Billy said that you were fired from the job?" He asked gruffly. Billy Davies was her dad's best drunkard friend who lived two buildings away.
Arianna kept mum. She knew that if she told him that she had lost her job, he would hit her. "Why don't you answer?" he shouted getting up. Arianna was scared to the roots of her hair.
"Yes dad but I found another job. I'll join work from tomorrow, " she said quickly.
"I want money," he slurred getting up and trying of gain his balance.
"I don't have right now dad. I'll give you tomorrow," she said but her dad got furious as he stepped towards her. Scared, Arianna moved away, backwards.
"I want now. I'm sure Freddie has settled your dues," he snickered.
"No dad. He didn't give me a penny, " she sighed. Her dad raised his hand to give her a tight slap across her face but she dodged expertly and went out of the door. His dad followed her outside.
"Be ready in an hour. There's a nice gentleman who needs a woman. He's willing to pay any amount for you," he said, staggering away. Arianna stood shocked by what he said. Was he thinking of selling her for money? Or was he just going to force her to sell her body to strangers for money? She closed her eyes. She had to get away from here. She hurriedly went inside and packed all her stuff into two big duffel bags. Then she took all the money that she had kept hidden here and there away from her dad's eyes for emergencies. Dragging her bags, she went out of her apartment and down the staircase. She hailed a cab and loading her luggage, she climbed inside.
"Where to ma'am?" Asked the cab driver. It was already late at night and Arianna had no place to go to. She closed her eyes and told him Isabella's address. If she didn't allow her to stay, she would spend the whole night in her garage.
She paid the cab driver and unloaded her luggage. Then crossing her fingers, she went and rang Isabella's doorbell. After two minutes, Isabella's foster dad, David Gray opened the door and stared at her in disbelief. Arianna had visited her a few times in the past and he knew her.
"Arianna, come inside. Is everything alright?" He asked with concern.
Arianna's voice was choked with unshed tears as she felt helpless and lonely. "Can I stay the night uncle David? I'll leave in the morning, " she begged. Isabella and her foster mother, Henrietta Gray came downstairs and looked at her with surprise.
"What happened?" Asked Isabella. She had offered Arianna to stay with her many times before but she had never agreed.
"Dad wants to sell me off to some stranger for money, so I ran away from home," she said as a sob escaped her throat. Isabella rushed forward and hugged her tightly. Arianna broke down completely.
"Hush girl. You will stay with me, now, " she offered. Her foster mom too consoled Arianna.
"You've done the right thing, child. Now wipe your tears, you're safe here, " she said.
"Did you eat anything?" Asked Isabella looking at her pale, tear-stricken face. Arianna shook her head.
"I'll serve you your dinner, come on," said Isabella's foster mom. "Isa, take her luggage to the guest room," she instructed. Isabella nodded and went to do as asked.
"I don't want to be a burden, aunt Henrietta. I'll go away tomorrow morning," she promised.
"Shhh, just eat dear, I'm not letting you go anywhere. You will stay here till you get a decent job, till you are able to stand on your own two feet. You will complete your studies too," she said sternly. Arianna didn't argue, she was thankful to have a shelter over her head and a safe bed to sleep in. Tomorrow she would go to Laurence Lennard's office for the job that he had offered her.
It was only when she started eating the delicious food that she realized how ravenous she was. "Thank you aunt Henrietta. This is the best food ever," she said appreciatively. Aunt Henrietta smiled. She was Isabella's mom's friend.
Isabella's dad, Norman Harrington was a lawyer who belonged to an aristocratic British family with orthodox views. Her mom Gloria Porter was an orphan and worked as a waitress in a posh upscale restaurant. Norman Harrington met her and married her against his family's wish. However her dad died due to a brain stroke when Isabella was just ten. Her mom tried hard to make ends meet. However she too died two years later due to kidney failure since she neglected herself. Isabella was just twelve and didn't have anyone to go to. It was then that the Grays accepted her into their world. David and Henrietta Gray had two sons, Hudson and Weston Gray who were twins and six years older than her. They studied in New York and came home only during the holidays. The Grays adopted Isabella and brought her up just like their own.
Arianna smiled back at aunt Henrietta. She took her plate to the kitchen to rinse it after she was done eating. Aunt Henrietta showed her to the guest room and left to go to her room to sleep. She saw that Isabella was busy arranging her stuff in her room.
"Thanks Isa, you go and sleep. It's past midnight. I'll do the rest," she said with gratitude.
"You will stay here till you get an education and a decent job," she ordered. "No more living alone in slums."
"Yes mom," said Arianna with a smile. Isabella left and Arianna was too tired to take a shower. She just changed and climbed into the soft bed. Soon she dozed off to blissful sleep out of sheer mental as well as physical exhaustion.
The next morning Arianna woke up a little late. It was already 7:30 in the morning and she had to go for a job interview. Quickly she took s shower and got ready to go. "Don't go on an empty stomach Arianna, " said aunt Henrietta. She pushed coffee and sandwiches towards her and Arianna ate gratefully.
"Thank you aunt Henrietta," she said gratefully.
"All the best dear," David Gray said with a smile.
"Thank you, uncle David, " she said happily. She took a cab to the address specified on the card that Laurence Lennard had given her. The cab stopped in front of a twenty storey luxurious tower. She paid the cab driver and stared at the huge glass façade of the commercial building. She would never fit in here with her zero qualifications and work experience. All the employees were dressed in formals while she just wore a black skirt which belonged to Isabella and a basic white shirt. She didn't look her best but who was she to impress? She would be thankful to get any job here. At least it would be better than being a waitress at a bar. She walked into the reception area and saw a beautiful blonde talking to a man with a smile on her face.
"Good morning, I'm Arianna Willis. I have an appointment with Mr Laurence Lennard at 9 o'clock in the morning," she said. The blonde receptionist looked at her, taking in her whole appearance with disbelief.
"I'll just confirm," she said, talking into the intercom.
"Okay, you can take the elevator to the eighteenth floor," said the receptionist.
