Between Love And Class

The ringing of the alarm woke the sleeping beauty on the bed.

She stretched out her hand and slapped the innocent clock as if it were the cause of her problem. Turning to the other side of her bed, she drifted back to sleep with her long hair scattered all over her face.

The room itself looked so scattered with clothes and socks lying here and there but the occupant didn't mind.

Suddenly the door opens to reveal a beautiful woman in her late thirties with a bottle of chilled water in her hands. No one needs to ask what she was going to do with the water.

Uncapping the bottle, she poured the contents directly on the sleeping beauty who sprang up immediately.

"Mom, what is all these? Can't I have peace in this house? She half-yelled

"I can't give birth to a mistake like you. Get busy!!! The woman yelled

"This is unfair" the girl cried wiping the water on her face.

"Life itself is unfair. And your sl*t of a mother is more unfair for sleeping with my husband and you are the most unfair for coming into this world and into this house. I wonder why your useless mother didn't flush you down the toilet" the woman said and walked out of the room leaving the girl standing.

This is the kind of life Angel has been living since the day she stepped into this house.

Despite having a rich father, she still lives like a pauper. Her parents treats her like an outcast. Even her step sisters are not left out. Her only comfort is her step brother who is not always around.

Her father sees her as an unfortunate being that should not have come into existence. Her mother couldn't take care of her so she left her with her father and traveled to PARIS to search for a greener pasture.

It has been hell living with these people but she had no where else to go.

"Hey! Why are you still standing here? You think I won't go to work today?" Ava asked from the door.

Angel simply looked at her and left the room without speaking to her.

"So you have become mute. Its better that way. Prepare breakfast for me, i'm running late" Ava said and went to her room.

Angel walked to the kitchen to start her morning chores with Ava's breakfast. Her step sisters have turned her into their slave but she have no say if she do not want to be homeless.

"You are still in your nightwear. May I know why?" Aria asked coming into the kitchen and Angel chose not to answer.

"You are not dumb. Are you?" Aria asked and Angel exhaled.

"I didn't get to change because your sister wants her breakfast now" Angel answered without looking at her.

"eeewwww, you stink. And you are making breakfast with that stinky hands of yours. I think its time mom gets you a hand glove so you don't contaminate our food one day with your dirty self" Aria said making a face.

"Ava! Ava!! Aria called and Ava appeared in the kitchen almost immediately.

"Did you asked this low-life pig to make you breakfast without taking a proper bath?" Aria asked

"What! You are making breakfast with your dirty body. Do you want to poison me?" Ava asked and landed a slap on Angel's face leaving her finger prints there.

Angel bit her lips hard until she could feel blood. She was trying not to cry. She looked steadily at Ava as she tightened her hands on the knife in her hand.

"What? You want to stab me? Go ahead" Ava said and moved closer to her.

"I told you that you are not welcomed in this house. Just leave. You irritate me" Ava said to her face and left the kitchen.

"You should see your face right now. Pathetic" Aria said pouring the water in her hands on Angel. She smirked at her and left.

That was when Angel let out her tears.

"Mom where are you. Come and take me away from this pain that i'm feeling" Angel muttered with tears rolling down her eyes.

Angel looked at the time and found out that she is already late for work. She just got a job in M.J Hotels and suites, one of the biggest hotel in Washington. She was really lucky to get a job there, the pay there is really nice.

"I can't be late on my first day at work. Its not a good impression" she muttered as she wore her old snickers and checked her self in the mirror. She smiled sadly looking at her outfit.

"Things are going to get better, I promise. Fighting" she motivated herself and ran out of her room.

She came face to face with her step mother and sister sitting in the living room with their eyes glued to the television. She wondered why they were at home. The moment they saw her, Aria started laughing and she felt bad immediately.

"Were you picked out of the garbage dump? Just take a look at your clothes. Your shoes are worse. I bet you will be fired on your first day. You think that M.J hotel is for classless church rats like you" Aria said amidst laughter.

Angel kept folding and unfolding her skirt. Her sisters' taunts are not her problem right now. How was she going to ask for transportation fare?

"Ma'am please, I need a little money for transportation" Angel said nervously

"Do I look like your useless mother. Get out of my face. Imagine. Little money indeed" Eunice said to her.

"Ma please, I 'm really late. I don't want to be fired" Angel pleaded going on her knees.

The door opened and Finn, her step brother came in, she stood up immediately wiping her tears.

"Finn, you are back so early. How was your trip?" Eunice asked hugging Finn who was staring at Angel.

"Why do you have tears in your eyes?" Finn asked Angel ignoring his mother.

"Its nothing. I'm fine" Angel said and Aria scoffed going upstairs.

"Why are you dressed up? Going somewhere? Finn a asked and Angel nodded.

"Come with me then" Finn said taking her by the hand and they both left.

The drive to M.J. hotels was a fun-filled one as they kept on chatting about random stuff.

They arrived at the hotel and Angel started feeling nervous again. She knew she was late and its her first day at work.

"Should I accompany you to see the manager?" Finn asked when he noticed her nervousness.

"No. I'll be fine" Angel said and got down from the car.

Finn got down too and walked her into the hotel.

One of the waitress approached her with smiles when she recognized Angel from the last interview.

"You are late. I guess you don't have your uniform yet" The girl said and Angel nodded.

"I saw you at the last interview" the girl said when Angel kept giving her questioning stares.

"Come with me" the girl said taking her in. She turned and waved at Finn before going upstairs with the girl.

They arrived at the manager's office and Angel wowed at how nice the office was looking. Its her first time entering such an office.

"You might want to close tour mouth before flies enter inside" the manager said and Angel smiled awkwardly.

"Good morning sir" she greeted politely.

"How may I help you?" The manager asked.

"Sir, its about her uniform. She is a new staff. Something came up that is why she is late" The girl explained and Angel exhaled inwardly.

The manager looked at her for some minutes before handing her some clothes and she left with the girl who brought her.

She took her to the changing room where she changed into her uniform.

"I'm Winnie by the way" the girl said as they were going back to their duty post.

"Angel" she said simply.

"And you look like and Angel too" Winnie said with a smile.

"Why did you defend me in there?" Angel asked

"Nothing. I just like you and I felt like you needed that. So friends? " Winnie said spreading her hands and Angel moved into her for a hug.

She felt at peace in Winnie's arms. She was like her comfort zone. This is the first time someone would want to genuinely be her friend.

Every other person she met in the past avoided her like a plague. Thinking about these things brought tears to her eyes and she didn't know when the tears dropped. She sniffed a d wiped her tears.

"Is someone crying?" Winnie asked breaking the hug.

"No. I'm not. I was just overwhelmed" Angel said with a smile.

"Can I hug you again?" Angel asked and Winnie hugged her without responding.

She kissed her hair as she was taller. Angel smiled at this gesture. Finally, a friend to lean on.

"Was that your boyfriend?" Winnie asked and Angel smiled.

"My brother" she said

"Your brother?" Winnie asked breaking the hug and Angel nodded

"Is he single?" Winnie asked and Angel nodded again smiling.

"Oh! Sister in-law" Winnie half yelled and hugged Angel again.

"Winnie, you are being dramatic right now" Angel said.

"What? Me? Dramatic? I just found my future husband" Winnie said hugging Angel again.

This was like a dream.

"What? Me? Dramatic? I just found my future husband and you said that i'm being dramatic" Winnie said hugging Angel again.

This was like a dream to Angel. All her life, she never had a friend. Winnie is a whole mood.

"Lets get to work" Angel said dragging Winnie along.

They met other workers and made little introductions.

They all seemed nice to Angel but Winnie remains the best.

"Girls, the anniversary is coming up in a week" A girl who introduced herself as Luna said.

"Are we supposed to be excited about it?" another girl called Yvonne said.

"What anniversary?" Angel asked Winnie

"It's the hotel anniversary. We get to meet many rich people but they always look down on the poor so we sometimes get nervous" Winnie explained

"Those rich people that has no regardless for the poor. They are lucky that I need this job because of the pay, if not, they will have a taste of their own medicine from me one day" Yvonne said

"What about the boss" Angel asked

"Boss? We don't even know what he looks like" Luna said

"Really?" Angel asked

"Yes. Even on social media, you won't see him. He is a very private person. But I heard he is very handsome" Luna said

"Handsome? Have you seen Angel's brother? That guy is drop dead gorgeous" Winnie gushed

"The only thing that is going to kill you both is fine boys" Yvonne said going to puck up the phone that was ringing.

"Room 55 needs attention. Angel I think you should attend to them" Yvonne said

"Me? Why?" Angel said

"So you'll start getting familiar with your duties" Winnie said and Angel nodded.

They gave her directions to the room and she left. She knocked on the door twice before it was opened and she came face to face with her sister, Ava.

What a bad start!

"Oh! Look who we have here" Ava smirked

"How may I be of assistance to you?" Angel asked

"Add ma'am unless you want to loose your job" Ava said

"How may I be of assistance to you ma'am?" Angel asked with her face to the floor. She didn't want to mess up on her first day.

"Get me a bottle of vodka" Ava said

"Okay ma'am" Angel said and left

Few minutes later she returned with the bottle of vodka and handed it to Ava.

"Why didn't you come with a glass?" Ava asked

"I will go get it" Angel said and turned to leave.

She came back with the glass and handed it over to her.

"Is this a wine glass? Ava asked and she sighted the manager coming towards them.

"Take it back" she said giving the glass back to Angel but she intentionally dropped the glass and it shattered.

"Are you this clumsy? Can't you hold a glass properly?" Available shouted at Angel

"But you were the one that dropped the glass" Angel said trying to defend herself.

"What is the problem? The manager asked

"This incompetent fool you hired can't even hold a glass properly" Ava fumed

"I'm sorry ma'am. I apologize for the inconvenience. She will replace the glass immediately" the manager said and turned to Angel who was at the verge of tears. "what is wrong with you? Its your first day and you are already destroying things" the manager scolded Angel while Ava smiled.

"I'm sorry sir but she did this intentionally" Angel said

"What? You are accusing me of dropping the glass? What if I drop a bad review?" Ava said facing the manager.

"Don't do that ma'am. Apologize now" The manager said to Angel

"I'm sorry ma'am" Angel said

"I will deduct this from your salary. Now clean up this mess" the manager said and left after apologizing to Ava again.

"Let me see how you are going to last here. Unfortunate being" Ava said and left Angel to her fate.

When Angel took long in coming back, Luna and Winnie went to search for her and found her cleaning the broken glass.

She explained what happened to them and they couldn't believe their ears.

"You sister must be heartless to do that to you" Luna said and Angel only smiled.

"You are too soft. You have to fight back because if you don't, they will keeo trampling on you. Stand up for yourself" Luna said

"I will be fine" Angel said and they left.

🌻🌻🌻

The weather was getting cold as Angel closed from work. She decided to trek home as she had no money on her for transportation. Its gonna be a long journey but she had no option.

She was still walking on the road absentmindedly when a car nearly ran her over but someone pushed her out of the road.

"Do you want to die?" Yvonne asked

"Yvonne, when did you get here?" Angel asked.

"Just now" Yvonne said looking her over to make sure she isn't hurt.

The car that nearly ran Angel over came to a half and the driver came down from the car.

"Are you hurt? The man asked

"No sir, i'm fine" Angel said

"Are you sure? I can take you to the hospital" the man said

"She said she is fine. Are you deaf" Yvonne said taking Angel's hand from the man.

"Relax. I didn't mean any harm okay" the man said to Yvonne

"What is holding you there, Luke?" another man said from the car and the Luke guy turned.

"I was just trying to be nice, man, relax" Like said

"Let's get out of this place please" the man said and the Luke guy turned and left while Yvonne left with Angel.

"These rich folks, I don't know what is wrong with them sometimes" Yvonne muttered and Angel smiled.

"Thanks for helping me out there" Angel said smiling.

"Stop smiling. You should be careful next time" Yvonne said and stopped.

"Why did you stop?" Angel asked

"What sort of question is that? Where are we?" Yvonne asked

"A bus station" Angel said

"Don't tell me you want to trek home" Yvonne said and Angel smiled sadly.

"I have no money on me" Angel said

"Don't worry. I'll pay" Yvonne said

"Thank you so much" Angel said hugging her hand.

"Consider it a loan. You are going to pay back" Yvonne said and Angel frowned

"You look like a doll when you frown" Yvonnne said and the bus pulled up immediately. They both entered since they are heading to the same place.

Angel arrived home and met an angry Eunice in the living room. She knew there was trouble.

"What is it by your time, young woman?"

"I'm sorry ma'am. We didn't close on time" Angel said shivering in fear.

"Because you got a job, you now come home anytime you wish. Won't we have dinner tonight? Eunice asked

"I will start preparing dinner right away ma'am" Angel said and left.

When she finished cooking, she called Eunice and told her that she was done with dinner. Eunice went to the kitchen and trashed the food in her presence.

"Ma'am, I haven't eaten anything since today" Angel said on the verge of tears.

"How is that my business?" Eunice asked

"It took me time to prepare this meal ma'am. Why did you have to trash it?" Angel said sniffing

"Oh! My bad. You took your time to prepare this meal and so what? Clean up my kitchen when you are done crying" Eunice said and left.

Angel cleaned up the kitchen and went to her room dejectedly. When she remembered the man that nearly ran her over, she smiled.

"He is so handsome. I wish we meet again. Luke. Just like Winnie, I think i've found my future husband too. Gosh. He is so cute" Angel thought dreamily but Ava's voice brought her out of her dreamland. She quickly left her room and went to answer Ava.

"You called me" Angel said standing with her hands behind her.

"Take my bag inside and prepare dinner for me" Ava said.

Angel took the bag and left. She took the bag to Ava's room and went to prepare dinner for her.

When she was done preparing the dinner she set the table and called Ava who came to the dinning immediately.

She sat down and picked up her cutleries ready to eat. She spat out the first spoon she scooped into her mouth.

"What in God's name is this, Angel? You want to poison me" Ava said

"I'm sorry" Angel said and in the next minute, Ava poured the food on her.

"Clean up this place and get me a cup of coffee" Ava said and stood up going back to the living room.

Angel went to her room and cleaned herself up before going back k to the dinning to clean it up.

'Stand up for yourself' she kept hearing Luna's voice in her head.

She went to the kitchen and made the coffee taking it to Ava.

"Ava" Angel called and Ava raised her head from her phone. Angel poured the coffee on her and gave her two blinding slaps. Ava screamed and her mother came running.

"I am tired of tolerating your excesses in this house. I am a human being too" Angel said with tears and Eunice turned her around before slapping her too.

"How dare you touch my daughter? Are you nuts?" Eunice asked and Angel cried the more.

"Yes I have gone nuts. You and your children are driving me nuts. So yes, I have gone nuts. Why can't I have peace in this house for once. Why treating me like a slave? Am I not a human being?" Angel said with tears.

"When your sl*t of a mother chose to leave you in my house, what were you expecting?" Eunice said

Eunice dragged Angel to the door, opened it and pushed her out, locking the door behind her.

Angel kept banging on the door but there was no one to rescue her. She is going to freeze outside. If only her brother would come back now and it was as if God heard her prayers because Finn drove in immediately.

"Angel why are you outside?" Finn asked and Angel explained what happened to him.

Finn opened the door with his own key and went inside with Angel. He peeped inside and there was no one in sight. He signaled Angel.

When Angel was going to her room, she tripped and nearly fell but Finn was fast enough to hold her and they stared at each other for some time before Finn let her go and Angel stood straight.

Ava who was at the dining watching what was going on, clicked her camera and smiled.

'Angel you are leaving this house sooner than you think'

Finn took Angel to his room and made her sit on the bed. He took off his clothes and entered the bathroom first. After some minutes he came out all dressed up.

"Have you eaten?" Finn asked

"No" Angel replied.

"Lets go and eat" Finn said taking her hand.

"There is no food. Mom trashed the food I made" Angel said sadly.

"I'll watch you make another one for us" Finn said taking her to the kitchen.

"What should I cook?" Angel said as they entered the kitchen.

"Anything is fine. Maybe noodles since it will be faster" Finn said and Angel smiled.

"Noodles it is then" Angel said and got to work while Finn sat on the counter watching her cook.

"That reminds me, Finn, my friend has a crush on you" Angel said

"Friend? Which friend?" Finn asked

"My friend at work" Angel replied

"You already made friends. That's good. Be careful anyways" Finn said

"I will be careful bro. You haven't said anything about my friend that has a crush on you" Angel said

"I'm taken" Finn said

"Taken? By who? Because the last time I checked, you were single" Angel said and Finn chuckled

"You remember, Cara?" Finn asked

"Ava's friend?" Angel asked and Finn nodded.

"I know what you are thinking, Angel, but don't worry your pretty head. She won't trouble you" Finn assured her and she nodded

"Its just that they say that birds of the same feathers flocks together" Angel said

"What are you trying to say?" Finn asked

"The spirit working inside Ava might possess her one day, don't you think?" Angel asked and Finn flicked her forehead.

"Ouch! That hurts" Angel whines and Finn smiled

"Its not a must they will have the same character" Finn said and Angel rolled her eyes.

"You wont change your mind about her anyway. The heart wants what is wants so what should I do?" Angel said concentrating on her food

"Don't think too much about it. What about your boyfriend? I hope you both are still together" Finn said and Angel nodded with a smile.

"I know that smile. Give me the details" Finn said and Angel's smile grew wider.

"There is nothing to say. We only had our first kiss" Angel said blushing and Finn burst out laughing

"A simple kiss is making you blush. Angel you are unbelievable. Don't let this boy play with your heart because the rate at which you are going about him, I wonder if he is into you that much" Finn said and Angel frowned.

"You are such a mood spoiler" Angel said.

"I wonder when he is going to propose" Finn said and Angel laughed.

They finished up with their cooking, ate and retired to bed.

Eunice went back to her room after seeing Finn and Angel together. No doubt she was angry with how close they were and no one dares get on Finn's bad side. They all know how he can be when he get angry.

An angry Finn is what you wouldn't want to encounter on a normal day. His anger is scary.

'So this girl wants to turn my son against me. It won't working' Eunice thought

*FEW DAYS LATER*

Working at the hotel and being a slave at home has not been easy on Angel but just as she promised herself, she hoped it will get better one day. She has been managing to survive.

She has her friends to cheer her up at work and her brother to cheer her up at home.

She takes her job seriously and gives no room for jokes. She needs to be free from her hellish family so she is working really hard to save up in order to move out of the house, tho she has never told anyone about her plans. Not even Finn. She knew that Finn would try to stop her and she can't say no to him. It would hurt him if she leaves.

"I'm nervous" Angel said rubbing her palms together.

It's the first day of the hotel's anniversary and their duties has been shared to them. Angel and Luna were to serve at the VIP. She was sad that Winnie and Yvonne got their task at the general hall.

How was she going to cope, even Luna herself was close to tears. They were both helpless.

The last time they held this anniversary, those that served at the ViP lost their jobs and they don't want to loose their jobs especially Angel that just got the job.

"I feel like the ground should open and swallow me. I just want to disappear" Luna said pacing around.

"You girls should calm down. Nothing is going to happen" Yvonne said rubbing Angel's shoulder.

"I believe we can do this" Winnie said trying to encourage them.

"I am really nervous. What if I feign sickness and go home, won't that be better than loosing my job" Angel said

"Don't even think of that, they will know that you are lying" Winnie said.

"I don't even know how to act once I get in there. Its almost time" Luna said.

Their senior walked in to announce to them that everyone should go to their duty post.

Angel looked at her time and her eyes widened.

7:30pm!

'How would she get home after the party?'

She didn't even know if Finn was going to be among the VIP members. All she knew was that he was going to come. But if she get home, how would she explain that she was coming directly from work?

God save me!

Angel and Luna carried a tray containing some glasses of wine and walked into the VIP hall and Angel wowed at the interior décor. Everything in here screams luxury. She could bet that billions was spent here to get the VIP space to become this fine.

Her mood lightened immediately she spotted a familiar face. Her prince in shining armor.

Luke!

He was with some men whom Angel assumed to be either business partners or friends.

'What If he doesn't recognize me?' Angel thought.

She stared around at the ladies and gentlemen in the room and she felt so off among them despite being here as a worker.

Their dressing alone radiates money. They were all dressed in expensive outfits, both the men and women. Their colognes and perfumes could last for a whole month. It must have cost them a fortune.

'Poverty is a disease' but wait she is from a rich family too only that they don't treat her as part of them.

"You are staring too much" Luna whispered into her ears on their way to get the more wine for the guest.

"You noticed?" Angel whispered back and Luna nodded.

"I wonder if the boss is here too" Angel said.

"Do you want to see the boss that much? Anyways the boss we all know is here. The father of the boss. He is the boss we know" Luna said when they were out.

"Oh! I saw him again. Seeing him for the second time, I think he became more handsome" Angel said

"Your boyfriend?" Luna asked

"No" Angel answered with a smile

"Then who?" Luna asked

"Luke. The one that nearly ran me over the other day" Angel said dreamily

"What about your boyfriend because you are blushing right now just by talking about this Luke guy"

"I have a boyfriend and so? Can't I have a crush on someone else? Its just an innocent crush, okay. Let's say he is my celebrity crush" Angel said blushing heavily.

"Are you sure you are okay. You think this your crush will ever know that you exist. He is up there and you are down here" Luna said demonstrating with her hand and Angel rolled her eyes.

"You are such a kill joy" Angel said walking off

"Wait up, miss celebrity crush" Luna said running after her.

They got the wine and went back to the VIP section walking confidently.

They were both smiling as they passed the drinks around until Angel bumped into someone and the drink spilled on his expensive cloth.

Luna's eyes and mouth opened on their own refusing to close the moment she heard the breaking of glass. She needs no soothsayer to tell her that Angel has done something clumsy.

Angel immediately fell on the floor and passed out.