Chapter Four - My Dilemma

"The bill is a million dollars," Mr Diego, the family doctor, said to everyone's hearing.

"What?!" I jerked off immediately, as if stung by a bee.

"That's a great deal!" My father started, with a lump on his throat.

'Hmmmm'

I feel really frustrated right now. 'How on earth would I be able to come up with such a huge sum of money, when I earn only ten thousand dollars a month?'

I couldn't think of anything else to do. I doubt if I'd be able to make the money, even if I took other jobs. Legal jobs, I mean. Well, even illegal ones too.

Mum needed to undergo surgery urgently. She had breast cancer. It was getting serious. I need to get the money. The earlier, the better.

She grew weaker and paler by the day. I can't stand and watch her die away, slowly.

'God forbid!'

In the midst of my thoughts, I grabbed my phone quickly and clicked on the contacts icon. I scrolled through my contact list, to see if I could find anyone who could help.

I sent texts to some of our relatives and family friends living far away in Europe, telling them the situation, while trying to find out if they could be of help.

I remembered Becky, so I decided to tell her about it. Maybe she'd be of help. I sighted my boss's contact just below Becky's. I remembered he was a billionaire.

'If anyone should get me out of this mess, Mr Bernard would.' I thought.

Thankfully we're getting close to each other. A smile crept to my face.

'What else am I waiting for?'

I quickly dialed his number.

"Hello Mr Bernard!" I greeted.

"Hi Alice! How're you doing?" He asked.

"I'm fine. How about you?"

"I'm good. Do you have anything to tell me?"

"Yes, please. I'm in a mess now. I really need your help."

"What?! What happened, Alice?"

"My mum is critically sick and I need money to pay the bills."

"Oh! So sorry about that. Can we talk about it in the office tomorrow?"

"Okay then, thanks a lot, sir."

There was silence on the other end.

I couldn't hold my joy. I screamed out loudly.

'Mr Bernard is such a sweet soul.' I said to myself.

'Wait a minute… Alice, are you dreaming? He hasn't yet said anything yet and you're yelling all over the place. What if…' A thought crept into my mind.

'What if he has something else in mind? No one helps people for free nowadays, or is he that sympathetic? What if he requests for something in return? Obviously, something outrageous. Something I can't deal with.'

I know my boss to be the arrogant and grumpy no-nonsense kind of human being. No feelings, no friendly aura, just focused and taciturn. In fact, I'm surprised the way he talks to me these days and it seems it's just me he talks to that way.

His father was a philanthropist. I'm sure he'd never tread that path. He had no iota of human sympathy in him.

He had all the money at his disposal, but he only helps when he's sure to receive something in return. I just hope he'd save my ass out of this ugly situation.

I stare back at my mum lying helplessly on the hospital bed, breathing heavily, trying very hard to survive the pains she's passing through.

'God…'

The sight is gory! My heart aches. I just don't know what to think about.

I'm the only child of my parents; the only good thing that has happened to them, since they got married. It's been one sad story to another.

I could remember when we lived in the slums years back, when I was still a kid. We had to go around the neighborhood to beg for food. My dad didn't have a job at the time and my mum was just retrenched. She worked in a hotel as a cleaner.

We managed to survive all this while and now we're off the dirt, more problems keep coming. My dad's debts haven't yet been cleared and now his cafe is being held hostage... That is just a vicissitude of my problems right now.

I just want mum to get up and live successfully, just like everyone else. So many things in my mind. I just close it up with a generous smile. But down in there,... I'm drowning slowly.

My pay at the company where I worked was good enough. It was handsome, I mean, with all the mouthwatering allowances… Well, what else would you expect, when you have a billionaire as your boss?

Notwithstanding, I barely have enough to save. My wages are spent off almost as soon as they come around. I have bills to pay at home, I send money to my mum monthly, I pay a thousand dollars every month out of dad's debts, yet there's still a whole lot to pay. I'm just twenty-five, with all these responsibilities.

Everything is on my neck right now. I never dared to spill it out to anyone, not even Becky, except for now. Now, that it is getting out of hand!

I looked at my wristwatch. It was six o'clock. I've stayed at the hospital for hours now, and I need to leave soon.

"Mum, I'd be going home now," I said, pitifully.

"Oh no! I'd have loved you to stay a little longer!" She replied, tears gathering in her eyes.

I didn't want to see her cry, so I stayed some more. I left an hour later with dad, after giving her a kiss.

My parents' house wasn't too far from the hospital. We lived quite close to each other. Dad trekked down the street, while I boarded a taxi to the next street.

I got home, took a quick shower, and went straight to bed. I've completely lost my appetite.

I live all by myself. The house was too lonely. I felt bored. The thoughts of what happened today still resonate in my mind. I couldn't hold it anymore. I needed to talk to someone. I cried myself to sleep.

I can't just wait to see my boss tomorrow morning, and pour my heart out to him. I believe he'll listen to me and help me out, hopefully.