Chapter 5 Inside Hell

WOMEN'S MEETING

Vivian sat at the edge of the wooden chair, the chair creaking slightly under her weight as she avoided eye contact with the women.

The smell of expensive perfume lingered in the air, mingling with the scent of paper and pens scattered on the table.

She had been avoiding the money issue for days. Bad enough Amelia didn't give her the money like she threatened her to, courtesy of Lisa.

She folded her first imagining throwing some punches at Amelia. But now it was time to face the women questioning looks.

"Vivian!" One of the women called jerking Vivian out of her dreamland.

"You've been quiet for too long. It's time for you to present the money. This is not a charity case, you promised, and we have been waiting." the woman by the name, Salma said in a sharp voice.

Vivian's face twitched, her brain glitching on what she was going to do.

She looked down at the table, clasping her hands tightly together to hide the tremor in her fingers, Her palms felt sweaty.

How would she explain that the money, the one thing they had been saving for months, had vanished? No doubt It was going to sound like a cruel joke

"I, uh... I'm still working on it. Remember I told you I was having issues with my bank, the mone..y is..safe" Vivian lied, trying to keep her voice steady.

But before she could explain further another woman, Rita, stood up.

"Stop lying, Vivian. We all know the truth. You've been pocketing the money for yourself! You've taken it, haven't you?"

A sudden silence fell over the place as all eyes glanced at Vivian. The heat in the room felt suffocating, and Vivian's face turned bright red.

"No! I-I didn't take it, I just said my bank was having some issues, just a matter of time" she protested with a shaky voice.

But Salma wasn't having it.

" Vivian! You think we don't know what you've been doing? Taking advantage of our trust, and now you want us to believe you?" Salma shot, her eyes bulging with fury.

But the final blow came from Rita.

"Maybe you should just stay home and stop pretending to be a part of this group. You can live in your lies as long as you want but you'll get nothing from us again." Rita stated and the others supported her immediately.

"Our mistakes was entrusting our hard earned money into your hands"

"I had big plans for that money, it wouldn't go in vain"

"You just killed our trust for you"

"You'd provide that money or else I'll personally call the cops on you"

The voices of the furious women attacked Vivian. Just as the tension seemed unbearable, Vivian stood up, shaking with rage and humiliation.

"I will make things right! I will go back to my bank and force them to give me the money" She spat out, her voice laced with fear. She picked her bag and hurriedly left the scene in tears.

"In three days time, our money should be available or else we're turning you over to the cops " One of the women's voice echoed in her ears as she fled out.

★★★★

ADAM'S RESIDENCE ~ 5PM

Victoria was on the treadmill, her feet pounding the machine rhythmically as she pushed herself harder with every step. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but she was determined to keep going.

The sound of the front door opening caught her attention, and she glanced over to see her husband, Sinclair, walking in after a long day at work.

She immediately stopped her exercise, wiped her brow, and moved swiftly to take his bag from him.

"Welcome home, darling" She said giving him a peck as she placed the bag down.

"Thanks honey" He replied shoving her front hair behind her ears.

"Go shower, and come down for dinner. I'll have the dinning set up in a few minutes." Victoria said slightly pushing him up the stairs.

Sinclair gave her a tired smile, grateful for her attention as he climbed the stairs.

Victoria quickly went into the kitchen to set up the dinning table. She cooks her meals and serve her husband. Her maids were only meant for tidying the house and running errands.

A few moments later, Sinclair came down dressed in a casual shirt and black pants. The dinning table was filled with different delicacies as their aroma rented the air.

"Are we hosting a party chef Vicky?" He teased her and she let out a wide laughter.

"Let's say a party between me and you" She replied romantically, playing with his well shaped beards.

They shared a meal together and teasing each other about their day. Victoria couldn't help but smile as they laughed over silly things, the warmth of their bond palpable.

In between their happy moment, Sinclair's phone rang, its harsh tone cutting through the air. He excused himself and walked out to the balcony, leaving Victoria alone at the table. She watched him leave, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Something in her gut kept pricking her that something was going on. Her suspicions grew as she continued to watch him from across the table.

A few moments passed before he came back inside, his expression neutral, but Victoria noticed the slight tension in his shoulders. She cleared her throat, deciding to break the silence.

"Who was that?" she asked casually, setting her fork down on her plate.

He hesitated for a second, his lips curling into a tight smile.

"Just work stuff" He replied, a little too quickly.

"Work at this hour?" She teased, trying to make it sound light-hearted, but there was a hint of suspicion in her voice.

He chuckled, but there was a strained edge to it.

"Yeah, you know how it is. Late night meetings. Can't escape it." He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that usually indicated he was stressed.

Victoria watched him carefully, her thoughts racing.

"Mmm, sure. It's just... you've been working a lot lately. I miss us spending time together." She pouted.

"I know, I know. We'll make up for it soon, okay?" He reached across the table, gently squeezing her hand.

Victoria smiled staring deeply into his eyes.

★★★

BLACKWOOD'S RESIDENCE

Yet again Claire had another request to make to the couples, hoping they'd grant it.

Claire stood in the living room, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her blouse as she waited for Eleanor and Damian to finish their conversation. She had been itching to speak with them for days now. It had been days since she'd been cut off from the outside world, not even allowed to check her messages or social media.

Finally, the moment came. Eleanor sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone, while Damian leaned casually against the wall. Claire took a deep breath and approached them.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Blackwood, Mr. Blackwood," Claire began, her voice hesitant but firm.

"I... I was hoping you'd reconsider about me having access to the internet, even just for a while. It's wrong to deprive me access to the internet" And the last statement was where she got it all wrong.

Eleanor's eyes snapped to Claire, narrowing with fury. She stood up abruptly, her face turning red with anger.

"You think you deserve that, you burglary? After everything we've done for you? Depriving you from the internet is wrong but stealing from our store isn't wrong right!" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife.

Before Claire could respond, Eleanor's hand shot out and slapped her hard across the face. The sound of the slap echoed in the room, and Claire staggered back, her hand instinctively reaching to touch her burning cheek. She could feel the sting of both the slap and the humiliation.

Damian, who had been silently observing, didn't move a muscle. His expression remained cold, emotionless. His silence was almost worse than the slap.

Claire's heart sank, but she stood tall, refusing to show weakness.

"Please" she whispered, but her voice cracked under the weight of her desperation.

Eleanor glared at her with absolute disgust.

"You will not get what you want. Understand your place in my house!" She turned and walked away, leaving Claire standing there, her cheek still burning as tears rained down her red cheek.

★★★★

LATE KADEN'S RESIDENCE ~ 8PM

"Get out you fool, you're going to spend the night outside for causing me humiliation today in the women's group " Vivian said with disdain as she pushed Amelia and Alex outside the house.

Amelia stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock as Vivian's furious voice boomed inside her ears.

" I don't care where you sleep tonight, just get out!" Vivian's tone was as cold as ice, and her hands trembled with rage.

Amelia shook her head in disbelief, her heart racing.

"Please ma... you can't leave us outside, at least consider my little brother" She pleaded, her voice cracking as tears welled up in her eyes.

But Vivian's eyes remained hard, her face stone-cold.

"I've had enough of you and your nonsense. You're just a burden!" Vivian's voice was low and venomous.

Alex started crying .

"And if your brother continues crying one more time, I'll deal with him too!"

Amelia felt the weight of her words. She couldn't understand how the woman she had once tried to please could be so cruel. She dropped to her knees, desperate.

"Please, ma'am this is our father's house and we have rights to live in here for as long as we want. why are you doing this?"

Her five year-old brother, Alex, tugged at her sleeve, his small face twisted in confusion.

"Auntie Vivian, I'm cold. Please don't throw us out" His innocent voice came.

But Vivian's face remained unmoved. She slammed the door shut at their faces. Amelia grabbed her brother's hand, her chest heavy with fear. Alex began to sob uncontrollably, his tiny body shaking from the cold breeze that cut through them.

"I'm scared, Amelia. It's so cold out here" His lips were shaking vehemently.

Amelia tried to comfort him, her heart breaking. The night air grew colder, and soon enough, a heavy rain began to fall. They ran towards the nearest shelter they could find a small, rickety shade that barely covered them. The rain hammered against the roof, and the cold seeped into their bones.

Amelia wrapped her arms tightly around Alex, trying to shield him from the relentless cold. But it was no use. The rain pelted them from all sides, and the tiny shelter offered no real comfort.

Alex's cries echoed through the night, and Amelia, her own tears silently falling, could do nothing but hold him tighter. The world around them felt dark and cold, and all she could think was that she had failed them both.