Chapter Five
1204 Words
I was late.
I looked at the time on my wrist to discover that I was Fifteen minutes late. Ashley had been the reason for this. If she hadn’t been distracting me when I was doing the dishes, I would have finished with it earlier.
I pushed the double doors and the cool Ac air blew at me as I stepped inside the coffee shop.
There were quite a number of people in there. My eyes searched around for Arsen’s attorney. Although I had no idea what he looked like I knew it wouldn’t be difficult to figure him out. I searched for a man dressed formally in suits and ties ‘cause I couldn’t imagine an attorney wearing anything else to an appointment.
There were three men in the room who were in suits. Just before I could begin to guess who the attorney was, one of the three formally dressed man in the room raised his hand up. My eyes met his and I just knew he was Carl Ambrose.
I clutched onto my purse and took precise steps towards the table he was sitting on.
“Ayva Williams?.” He asked and I nodded my head. “Please have a sit.” He said politely, pointed and the other chair by the table. “Good morning again Miss.”
“Good morning.”
“I guess we get straight to business.” He pulled out some papers from a brown file and placed them on the table before pushing it towards me. Just before I could pick the papers up, a waitress walked to our table with two cups of coffee. She carefully placed them on the table before walking back to her post. I looked at him, wondering if he was the one who ordered the coffee.
“I’m hoping you take coffee?.” He asked.
“Yes I do. Um thank you.” I said before taking a sip from the cup.
It was a hot latte with a leaf art design on top. Even though I had taken coffee that morning, it still felt great to have another cup. Besides the coffee was really good. It could as well be the best I’ve ever had outside my house.
I flipped through the pages, it was a lot and the fonts size were really small. I felt too lazy to read it.
“Um I’m sorry what are all these about?.” I asked him. Reading through the first page of the papers were confusing enough for me not to understand what they were for.
“It’s concerning the damages of the sculpture and the amount you are to pay, the time frame and also the consequences if you failed to comply with any of the rules in there. I suggest you read it or have your lawyer read and explain it to you. We wouldn’t want you to sign documents without you knowing what you are getting yourself into.”
“Are you saying I don’t have to sign this now?.” I asked, flipping through the pages of the papers. It had over six pages. What in the world did Arsen have them put in here. Seriously what’s the need of all the extra pages.
“Yes ms. You can go with it and read up on it, understand it before taking your decision whether you would want to sign it or not. You can call me when you make your decision.” He said and slid his business card on the table over to me. I looked up at him before picking it up.
He took one last sip of his coffee before getting on his feet. He buttoned his blazer, and smoothness down his suit even though it was free from crease.
“One more thing, you have three days to make a decision. Good day Miss.” and with that, he left.
********
“So?.” I asked Ashley, “What do you understand in all these?.” I gestured to the papers laying on the table, the one Carl had given me minutes ago.
“One thing is for sure, Adonis or Arsen or whatever his name is one sick bastard. It says here that you have to pay one percent of the sculpture’s worth as damages. ”
I froze.
One percent might not seem like a lot but that sculpture is worth a couple of millions.
I zoned out. Thinking of how I could get that kind of money. Even if I were to work at the club every hour of the day, I still wouldn’t be able to pay him back in years.
He could have as well told me he wanted my life. Even if I sold every sellable organ in me, it still wouldn’t make up for half the amount I’m supposed to pay.
I didn’t even realize that tears were now dropping for my eyes. I didn’t think I would have noticed if Ashley hadn’t pointed it out.
She shook my shoulder, trying to bring me back to present.
“You are crying Ayva. Stop crying it’s only one percent. I’m gonna help you with this, how ever I can I promise.”
I shook my head, and lowered it down.
“I’m f****d Ash.” Another balls of tears rolled down my face. There was no way I could ever pay him back. Not in a hundred thousand years.
“How much is this sculpture anyways?.” Ash asked.
“Ninety one million dollars.” I deadpanned.
“Ten percent of that is........ holy molly f**k!.” She exclaimed, staring at me with wide eyes. “Ayva do you know how much that is?.”
I nodded my head slowly. “Yes yes I do Ash. I perfectly know the amount he expects me to pay. Where the hell am I supposed to find almost a million dollars.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “What is the other option?.” I asked after a while.
Ash sighed. “You’ll be charged to court. And since this is a case of vandalism of a valuable property, you will be charged with felony and significant fines.”
I was looking at her, trying to interpret all what she had said.
“Felony? That means I’ll go to prison?.” I asked and she nodded. “For how long?.”
“Ayva!.” She exclaimed. “Are you seriously considering that right now.”
“No! I just wanna know how long.”
“It doesn’t matter how long it is if you will still be asked to pay fines. You might be asked to pay almost as much as he’s asking and even serve jail time with it. Let’s not even talk about restitution.”
“So this is the end for me? My life is officially over.”
“No Ayva don’t say that. We are gonna sort this issue out. I think what we should do now is to contact a professional. Someone that knows better in situations like this. I can call my aunt if you want, you know she’s experienced in criminal defense.”
“Please call her. Please.” I pleaded.
- Writer
