Chapter 7: The Loan Saga

It's been two weeks since Gabby's wedding was called off. Everyone had returned to their normal lives. Josey kept flirting, Mrs Presley rarely came home & Mr. Presley was home at the end of each day.

Gabby couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong with her. Not even Stephanie had called to apologize for her son's infidelity & betrayal. She began to believe they were all in on this. And to think of the fact that she literally worshipped Stephanie.

Josey's instincts never failed her. She didn't like Steph not Richie and now she clearly understood why.

"Hey honey. Could I talk to you for a sec?"

Damn! She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice her dad walk in.

"Well... I..."

"What's up? Are you okay?" Her dad asked taking off his jacket and hanging it onto the coat rack.

" Yeah sure. You sound pretty serious."

"I am. If it were up to me, I wouldn't make such a foolish decision. See the thing is, your mum wanted such a lavish wedding for you. You should know how much of a show off your mum can be. She decided to take a loan from the bank using our house as a collateral hoping to pay back in a month's time but things didn't go as planned so... "

" So we're gonna lose our house soon? " Gabby said looking around the room.

" Not if you agree to my suggestion?"

At this point, her dad hung his head and played with his fingers that it made Josey suspicious. Her dad had always been a confident and outspoken man.

"What are you up to, Dad?"

"I hope you understand that whatever I did was for your benefit"

Okay, she was no longer suspicious. She was now getting scared.

" Dad, what did you do? "

" Okay so I've paid the money back to the bank"

"What? When? How did you even get the money so fast? Don't tell me you borrowed another loan to pay this one! " Gabby said amused at her own words.

The look of worry and fear was still cemented on her dad's face and soon she was no longer amused.

"I took a loan alright but I'll need your help to pay back." Her dad stated.

"My help but why? You want me to work some extra hours? I can do that. I can do literally anything for you. You know that right? "

" Yes I know sweetie but listen, this is serious. I met Capone Rossi for the money. "

Was she having hearing problems or did her dad just call the name of the deadliest money lender who killed people whenever they failed to pay him back at the agreed date?

"What? Who?"

"I know, I know. He's a dreaded underdog but I didn't have much of a choice. I had to clean up my wife's mess." Her dad said in his defense.

When he said it that way, you can't argue.

" So what did you use as a collateral and when did you promise to pay him back? Like I said, I can work extra shifts to get the money. I won't let that filthy scumbag lay his hands on you. You're important to me Dad."

" He doesn't want his money back." Her dad said.

" Really? Doesn't sound like him. Capone Rossi isn't that generous. We know he's ruthless and doesn't joke with his money. Dad, he's someone that freaking kills his debtors! So why would he..."

" He wants you."

" Wants me for what, Dad? I'm not his property." Gabby asked really confused.

" He wants your hand in marriage, Gabriella."

At this point, Gabby gasped. Her dad never called her by her first name. This was no joke. She knew he was deadbeat serious.

"What? No! I'm not getting married,not anytime soon. You know what happened the last time dad. I can't marry an animal. I'll never marry him! " She yelled standing up from the couch in a fit of rage.

Just as she was about to leave the sitting room, she heard her dad say,

"The collateral is my life and my payment is due in two weeks" Her dad stated simply still hanging his head. He didn't have the guts to face his daughter. He literally sold her out.

Gabby felt the lump in her throat thicken and the air in her lungs become stale.

She was gonna be married to a ruthless man in less than two weeks

"What did you say?"

"Hes gonna come for my life if you don't marry his younger brother in two weeks."

How did her life turn to this?