"Unfortunately, the house was built on government property which hadn't been addressed until now."
Faith stared at the lawyers in confusion, she was only trying to sell her house, and this is what she got?
"What are you trying to say? The house belongs to my family! I have all the papers to prove it!" Faith was still trying to grasp the meaning of the situation.
"We are sorry to tell you that your father built this house illegally on government land which is a crime, as a matter of fact, your family doesn't own the house which is why you are not allowed to sell it, try to be understanding."
"What am I supposed to understand? I'm not about to lose my house!"
Faith could only stare at them in shock as the news continued to crush her hopes.
How could it be?
It couldn't be true!
Why wasn't the situation addressed years ago?
Why wait until now when she desperately needed the money?
Selling the house was her only hope to gather the money, they had to be joking.
Why were there so many unfortunate incidents befalling her lately?
Even if she was to take the matter to court, it would take at least several months for the issue to be resolved.
Her mother's condition couldn't wait until then.
Her life could not get more worse than this! Or so Faith thought until she received a call from the police station.
*
*
Faith stared at Julian, at nineteen, he resembled her in every way, from the dark hair to the color of her eyes which they both inherited from their father.
She had always felt pride in her heart each time she paid him a visit at school, she thought she was doing a good job of raising him right. She always thought he had a bright future ahead of him, how could he do this to her?
When the police station had first called her, she had refused to believe it was her own brother who had committed such a serious crime__
He would be charged, and then what__? It would be all over.
"Why did you do this? You could have just called me that you needed money, you know I always try my best to give it to you? Why did you have to do this!" Faith cried, burying her face in her handkerchief, at this point, despair and grief tore through her heart like a sharp blade.
"I didn't do it! I swear I don't know how those drugs got in my bag, someone framed me for it!"
Faith might believe her brother, but what would that achieve?
"But there's no evidence to prove that! Didn't you hear what those officers said? They had seen so many other people give the same excuse! They don't want to believe you without proof!"
Faith's whole mind was a mess, being convicted with drugs in his possession was a serious crime.
"What am I going to do if you're charged and sent to jail? What will happen to mom if she finds out you're in police custody! Oh god! Why is all of this happening to me?" Faith tried to blink back tears but they fell anyway.
The responsibility to stay strong and keep her family together rested on her shoulders, it was a burden she couldn't give up on even if she wished to.
"At least you believe me right? I really didn't do it! The police just arrived from nowhere, it was as if they had been informed that they would find the drugs in my bag! You have to help me get out of here, please get me out of this place!"
Faith met Julian's desperate stare, she was hopeless too.
She could only try to hire a lawyer to help with the case but a good one would probably cost a lot, and money was what she didn't have right now.
"I'll try my very best, please calm down, we'll get out of this! We will get through this together." She tried to assure him even when she didn't feel so confident inside.
As Faith walked out of the station, she finally allowed herself to break down into tears, why did her whole life turn upside down like this?
She was still struggling to gather the money for her mother's therapy, if her brother was charged and found guilty, he would spend long years in prison.
*
*
Faith stared at the large familiar building in front of her where HIS name was boldly written.
She clenched her bags tighter, wavering with each step taken.
She had promised herself never to return here, had felt so proud of herself when she turned in her resignation letter. Her stomach felt queasy with nervousness at the thought of seeing him again.
What was she going to say to him? "Oh hello sir, I realized I shouldn't have quit so soon, can I have my job back? And oh, can I get a loan of half a million dollars? Thanks."
Faith shook her head wishing it was that easy, self-shame coated her insides as she walked inside the company. Was she about to go beg a man she had told she hated so much?
Would he think she had no self-respect? Would he look down on her thinking she was feeling entitled just because of the mistake they made together? What if he chased her away as he did to his other girlfriend?
The thought made Faith cringe, she wished she wasn't in such a tough situation.
She met the receptionist first, Yvonne Stared at her surprise flickering in her eyes.
"I thought you quitted? Why are you here?"
Faith winced, it had only been three days, and it seemed the whole company knew of her resignation. She met Yvonne's unfriendly stare.
"Mr. Hunter and I have some important issues to talk about."
"Is that so? Do you have an appointment?" Faith heard the voice behind her and turned to see Darla.
Great! Just another person who hated her so much!
"As Mr. Hunter's new assistant, he'd specifically asked that he isn't to be disturbed, if you don't have an appointment, I'm afraid you can't see him!" Darla wore a sugary smile that was meant to irritate.
Faith tried to ignore the pang in her throat, did he replace her so quickly?
It shouldn't have hurt so much but it did, she thought as his secretary she at least mattered to him, he could have at least replaced her with an outstanding person who she knew would do a better job than her!
"It's fine, I'll wait for him out here!" Faith responded and started to walk towards the waiting area when Darla blocked her path.
"I said he wouldn't see you! Don't you get it?" She spat, Faith stared at her calmly.
"Did Mr. Hunter specifically say that?"
The scowl on Darla's face deepened " Are you saying that I'm lying? Is it because you look down on me? Don't be so smug, you should be ashamed of yourself, didn't we tell you that Mr. Hunter would get rid of you after fucking with you? That day is already here, does it hurt seeing that I'm at the spot you used to be?"
Faith sighed inwardly, why did Darla always want to compete with her in everything? She already left the company, why couldn't they let her be?
If she didn't have such a pressing need, she would have given her a befitting response.
Faith waited for a long time, an hour turned into two and then three__
It was only then that Faith finally believed Darla's words, maybe Sterling Hunter just didn't want to see her.