Ben cleared his throat ” You’ll pay for this, Ava ” He swore softly.
” Yeah you will, I promise you that ” Bobby added.
Ava looked unfazed by their threats ” Well? ”
Ben cleared his throat but couldn’t get words out. Before they came here, they had been so sure Ava would fulfill their request but now, he was not so sure, especially not with the kind of cold welcome they received from her. He had no idea how she would receive the news. He sighed, they should have thought of a plan B before they left home. Taking a deep breath, he started to speak but Bobby beat him to it. He thought his father was too slow so he took it up on himself to ask Ava. Ben thought his son was brave, foolishly brave if he must add.
Clearing his throat and maintaining eye contact, Bobby started talking ” The thing is, we’re in real need of some urgent cash and we’ve tried all possible ways to get it but… ” He let his voice trailed off. He looked at Ava to see if she was listening. Sure, she was and she motioned for him to go on. Bobby smiled to himself and licked his lips.
Gaining more confidence this time, he went on ” So we thought, why on earth couldn’t we come to you and ask? You work in a mansion after all, and getting us some cash shouldn’t be a problem for you or whatcha say, Dad? ” He looked at Ben for confirmation.
Ben nodded and cleared his throat again. Thank goodness he was able to get words out this time.
” Er… Yeah, we’re in need of urgent cash and since you work here, we thought of asking you ” He exhaled a deep breath, relieved that he didn’t stutter too much.
” We’re family after all ” Bobby added, rubbing his palms together in anticipation.
Ava laughed so much that tears started running down her cheeks freely ” I can’t believe you guys actually came to ask me for money ”
She laughed harder ” Family? I was never part of your family, you said it yourself, Bobby. So why has your words changed? ”
Bobby started to answer ” I… It’s just… ”
But Ava cut him off and continued ” You came to ask me for money at my workplace and you call yourself family?? Nah, family doesn’t act like you do ” She shook her head slowly.
” I never saw you as my family, the only family I had died few years ago so I’m all alone in this big world ” She spread out her arms to emphasize.
Bobby was getting impatient ” Are you gonna use that against us and not give us some cash? ”
Ava glared at him ” Sorry big brother, I have no money to give you ”
Bobby lost his cool and shouted ” You wouldn’t dare! ” He made to move close to her but Ben held him back.
” Calm down! ” Ben shouted too.
Ava smirked and twisted her mouth in disgust ” Try me ” She said in a low voice and right then, Ben and Bobby knew she meant every word.
Ben inhaled a breath and tried to reason with her in a calm way. That might work, he thought.
” Remember I took you and your mother in when you had lost all hopes of surviving. I married your mother and brought you up to become this young, beautiful woman ”
” Yeah sure, thank you so much ” Ava said mockingly and huffed.
Ben continued like she didn’t say a word ” You shouldn’t treat me this way, I’m your father you know ”
Ava bursted out ” To hell with you, you are not my father and will never be! ”
” Hey! Watch your tongue! Don’t you dare talk to my father like that! ”
” Oh my bad! I’m so sorry! ” Ava said sarcastically.
” Ava! ” Ben’s voice boomed, he meant to threaten her since coaxing didn’t work with her.
It didn’t work too, instead Ava threw him a deadly glare ” You don’t threaten me to get money from me, Ben. I don’t have money to give you ”
Bobby glared at her and she glared right back ” Doing that won’t help, Bobby. Your session is over, you should take your leave ”
Bobby grabbed her arm as she turned to leave ” You wanna make things difficult for us, huh? Maybe I should hit some sense into you ”
Ava started to panic, oh no , he was going to hit her. She should have made a run for it the moment she made it known to them that she couldn’t give them any money.
She saw his hand went up and she shut her eyes tightly, waiting for the pain but it never came. She heard him yelped in pain instead so she cracked her eyes open to see what was going on. Alas, Alex stood between her and Bobby and he had prevented him from slapping her.
” She’s my sister! Who the hell are you?! How dare you interfere in our family matter?! ” He screamed out in pain. Alex let go of his hold abruptly and Bobby fell down. He held his hands and tears were rolling down his eyes. Ben rushed over to help him. He couldn’t speak as he saw who hit his son. It wasn’t an ordinary person but the great Alexander King. So this was where Ava came to hide, he thought.
Bobby wanted to stand up but Ben held him back ” Let go of me, Dad! I must deal with this idiot! ” He shook himself free and went to Alex but stopped on his tracks when he saw who it was. Alex shoved his hands into his pockets and raised his eyebrows, waiting for him to carry out his threat. Ava’s eyes welled up with tears of gratitude as she looked at him.
” A… Alexander King?! ” Bobby stuttered on his words, his eyes huge. He staggered back and motioned for his Dad to get up.