Chapter 4 Sudden debt

Lydia pov

In the afternoon, I was busy preparing Jane special food. She told me to prepare the food for her, so that she would quickly eat and rest. She was coming from the office. I was given 1 week leave in the Bank,I didn't go to work and I decided to stay at home to take care of the house.

After my Dad died, she took over my Dad's soft drinks company, and she was made the new CEO.

Jane came out from her room and she sat down on the chair, in the sitting room.

"Lydia, are you not through with cooking? I am very hungry, I am salivating at the food already, because I can hear the aroma of the food", she Spoke .

I cried out from the kitchen

"I am so sorry ma, I am still cooking the Spaghetti, you told me to cook, is just that the cooker is slow, I made it slow so that it won't get burned ma," I replied .

" Ok no prob, just be fast with it" she concluded.

I dare not burn Jane food, because she will flog me excessively and she will make me have bruises. I remember last week that I burnt her rice, she flogged me and inflicted injuries on my buttocks. The pain was too much on that day.

The kitchen was well tiled and neat, it was painted with red color, my late Dad loves red color, It has different equipment in it. It is a mini kitchen, what I mean is that it is not a big kitchen, because my Dad can't really afford a big kitchen.

The kitchen has a microwave, knife, Electric cooker, gas cooker, stool, shelf, kitchen roll holder, washing basin and bowl, plate rack, spoons and forks, blender, Electric kettle, jug, sink.

I brought a white flat tray filled with assorted soft drinks and spaghetti and chicken, the drink of one the assorted drinks,coca cola cover was opened and the drink mistakenly fell on my clothes, my white apron was stained with Coca-Cola, instantly i knew that I am in real trouble when it happened.

I placed the tray on the dining table and I removed the Coca-Cola drink. Jane loves Coca-Cola and red wine. That is her favorite drink. I decided to change the Coca-Cola drink to another Coca-Cola drink. Jane bought 12 packs of Coca-Cola drink.

"Ma your food is ready, please come to the dining table for right away", I spoke

I was trying to escape, because I don't want Jane to notice my apron is stained with the Coca-Cola drink.

She walked towards the dining room and we both crossed each other and she yelled loudly at me.

"Lydia what happened to you? " Why are your clothes so stained ? She pitied me.

I was so surprised , because it has been a long time since Jane has shown pity on me, because if I make any mistakes she will raise her hands on me by flogging me.I was surprised that she pitied me.

" I am so sorry ma, my apron was stained with the Coca-Cola drink, I wasn't intentional ma", i defend myself.

" Why did you allow my drink to pour on your stupid apron? how can you be so daft that you are not careful with the tray, maybe I will employ nannies that will cook my food, it seems you don't fit to be cooking my food, you idiot", she took the remaining Coca-Cola drink and she poured everything on my apron.

I was so surprised, because I thought she has changed her attitude towards not knowing that her character is aggravating. Sometimes I wish for death, because I don't know why I am created on this earth and why is my stepmom so heartless and wicked, treating me like a nobody.

She went to the dining room and she started scooping the spaghetti into her mouth.I was staring at her. It shows she was angry.I was sobbing and started removing my apron,so that I would be able to wash it .

She stopped eating and she thrust her left finger in my direction, "don't dare use the washing machine to wash that clothes or I will flog you mercilessly,I am still pitying you,because I am planning to send you away from my house", she threatened.

I opened my mouth aloud and started sobbing. When those sharp words came out from my mouth,it pierced my internal body and I started sobbing.

"Do you think you can bribe with that your tears, don't kill yourself in this house, your tears don't move me at all, I am heartless and ruthless because I can do anything to you, if you don't know how to behave well, you good for nothing girl, you are not useful to me in this house", she insulted me.

" I have gotten used to the beating already, there is nothing you want to do again to me, that I am not used to, I know that I will definitely be free from your torment, you wicked woman, you are an animal putting on a human skin", I was forced to speak.

I intentionally spoke those harsh words to her, I dare not reply to Jane with a harsh tone. What did I do that she splashed the Coca-Cola drink on my apron, when I explained the reason why it happened.

She walked towards me, because she was through with the food that was on the dining table and she came to my side and gave me a dirty slap on the right cheek and I was staring at her with disdain.

"How dare you reply to my words? " so you think because your Daddy has died that is why you have the effrontery to reply to me whenever I am talking to you. I am the owner and ruler of this house and I am the one controlling your life" she spoke harshly.

" You are not the controller of my life, you ruthless woman" I replied to her, I was no longer fearing her, like before, because I have gotten used to her torturing me.

She want to come and hit me with a cane and her phone rang,I was so lucky that I went to my room,so that I will escape from her torturing

"Hello Ichabod!! I hope you are attending to the customers in the office and you are monitoring everything in the company??

"Many things are not working fine ma,all our staff in the company have resigned. They sent a resignation letter to me this afternoon.I don't know what happened to them," he said.

" What!! "Why did they resign?? I promise them to pay their Six month salary before this week end,why can't they be patient with me, don't they see the things that is happening in the company,we lose all our customers to our competitors and there is no longer sales again,it has depreciated from 100& sales to 10&,the wholesaler that do buy soft drinks from us complained concerning the drink,am i the only one that is having this havoc? They don't have to leave the company now". She was stammering.

" Ma I don't know?? " all of them has left one by one,but ma it seems you are the problem, because since our former boss death and when you were coronated as the CEO of the company, you will squandered our money anyhow, you won't pay salaries, the money that we supposed to used in the production of the soft drinks, you squandered everything on unnecessary things that don't matter", he spied out the words.

I was overhearing those words from the kitchen.I know that Jane has destroyed the company my father suffered to build. Jane is a spoiled woman.

"How dare you blame me" ?? you fools!! please don't lay the allegations on me, please don't ever talk to me like that,we are not in the same level and I want you to remember that I am still your boss,I want you to know that the company will grow and soar just like the way it has been", she defended herself.

" Ma are you putting the blame on me,do you think I don't know how this company has been running,I have been working with Mr Desmond for the past 10 years before he died,I pray may his soul rest in peace" Ichabod replied .

Jane cut the call and she dropped the phone on the table angrily. She was so dejected and heartbroken because of the company's poor state.

"Oh God!! " Why is all this happening?All my staff have left me and we have lost all our customers to other companies", she was crying bitterly.

After a few minutes a strange number called her .

"Hello who am I speaking" ?

"This is Mr Calvin from Kansas Bank,I want to tell you that your company is going to be taken by the bank as from now on, because you were unable to pay the debt you owe us and we have waited patiently for you, it seems you are not yielding positively,we are coming to take over the company next week Monday if you don't act fast,by paying our money " the caller cut the call.

I heard a sharp cry from the room and I rushed to the sitting room,I saw Jane was lifeless on the floor.

"Jane please stand up" I shouted and started pulling her hands and gown together maybe she is alive.