~Zoey’s pov~

A life without pain , A life without worries, A life without debts, I believe such a life does not exist .

My life is like a faulty rollercoaster goes up and then goes down without any improvement to go back up .

Growing up , things were not easy for I , my mom and my grandmother . My mom and my grandmother struggled to feed me and send me to school . Everytime I look at how hard they work , I always tell myself “ Zoey , you must be rich !” So I can take care of my mom and grandmother and also give my kids a much better and luxurious life . But look at me today , A twenty five years old still living with her mother with the burden of two kids .

Let’s say I had a life goal prepared in my head , but I did not work hard towards my goals .

~FIVE YEARS AGO~

It all started with the relationship between Richard and I . Richard and I were best friends since kindergarten and to me , he was also my soulmate . I liked Richard since the first day his family moved to our neighborhood.

One day , we went for prom and Richard girlfriend broke up with him. We were both drunk that night and we had sex . I gave him my virginity and after that day ,whenever Richard is sad , he will come to me and we will have sex . I thought he was in love with me already , so I asked him out and he said ;

“ I can’t date a lonely , lifeless , poor and pathetic girl like you from a dirty family “

How dare you say that Richard ? My other best friend rukky asked him .

“ let’s be honest with ourselves here rukky . We both know you and I are just friends with Zoey cause she’s smart and easy to deceive . She’s not like us , we have fathers and siblings but she has just her drug addicted mother and that stinky old woman that as few days left”

Immediately Richard spoke ill about my mom and grandmother ,I lost it and I beat him up till the school guards separated us .I got suspended and honestly , I do not regret hitting him till now .But I was beyond hurt. I tried committing suicide so many times but it felt like God didn’t want me to die then .

On my twentieth birthday , rukky and I decided to go to the club to have fun and celebrate our admission into the university and also forget the whole Richard stuff . We were having fun in the club and then I started getting tipsy , so I went to the restroom to wash my face . On my way Back to our table , I bumped into someone . We became instant friends , we danced and we shared a lot of our problems with each other . One thing lead to another ,we were in the hotel room and yes we had sex ! .

It was my first time having sex with another guy and also someone that is not Richard and it was nice . The next morning, when I woke up , the guy left the hotel already . He also left huge bunch of cash beside me and although the money was fascinating , I was also angry he saw me as a cheap one night stand but I’m poor and won’t get free money like this ever , so I took the money and made a promise to myself to look for him in the future and pay him back two times the money when I have the money .so typically, I borrowed the money .

Two months later ,I found out I was pregnant. I was so scared to tell my mom and my grandmother . I was scared to see their disappointed faces,So I tried aborting the baby so many times but it didn’t work . The last abortion trial , lead me to the hospital. My grandmother and my mom used their last savings to pay for my hospital bills . Although I know they were disappointed,they still treated me with love during my pregnancy.

Rukky suggested we should look for the guy but I refused .one reason cause I’m not sure if the baby is richard’s or the club guy .

I made a decision that after giving birth ,I will get a dna done and if the baby is richard’s then he has to help with the child expenses since I’m poor and he’s rich and if the baby is for the club guy then I obviously have to raise my baby on my own .

After giving birth , I knew immediately that my children are not Richard’s .They have the club Guy grey eyes and dark hair .

So I became a single mother of two living with my grandmother and my mother and this is my Life now .

Mum ! Can you drink egg and milk ?

No baby that is disgusting

But mirabel said her mum takes egg and milk that is why her daddy loves her mum .

my princess ,mummy doesn’t have to take egg and milk for someone to love her

Okay ? Okay Mummy

Now put on your canvas and let’s go to school .

Where is your brother ?probably playing hide and seek with great grand mother

Travis! Travis ! I give you ten seconds to come down here or you will signed absent in school .

No mummy ! No mummy ! Please don’t do that

I have to keep my record In school straight . So I can buy you a better car and also buy grandma and great grandma a better house with a working water heater .

“Prince ! I understand you want to help buy me a new house but why talk about the water heater “

Cause the water heater stopped working a long time ago grandma and you know that .

Okay that’s enough ! Get your bags and go into the car.

The drive to the school was very calm unlike other days . Travis and Tara had zero quarrels and they were both quiet .I dropped them both at school and I signed them in .

Bye babies !

Bye mummy love you !

Love you too my damsels

I was leaving the school in hurry so I wouldn’t meet the principal but she was right in front of my car already .

“Good morning miss saint”

Good morning principal! About the fees , I don’t have the money now . Can you give me a week , I will get a better job within a week and pay their fees .

“You say this every new week about you getting a new job . The kids are owing the school a lot and I’m overlooking it cause I know how hard you are trying and cause your kids are one of the smartest kids in our kindergarten .

Since you are looking for a job , we are currently looking for someone to clean the children toilets and also clean the classrooms “

So you want me to work as a cleaner in my own children kindergarten?I understand

See you later Mrs johnson

The day went by so fast and now I have to go to my last job for the day .

When I got to work , I was serving drinks and attending to customers peacefully . Then the manager requested for me .

You asked to see me ma

“Yes ! Mr benson , one of our VVIP customers will love your company this night .”

But that is not my job . I’m a bartender not a stripper and I do not intend to strip for someone that can give birth to me .

“Think about it Zoey , this is a lifetime opportunity. You asked for your salary in advance , Mr benson will pay you triple of your salary this night or he can pay more “

I’m not interested ! If that is all , please excuse me . I have drinks to serve .

When I got back to work , the so called Mr benson was standing close to the bar stand . I tried walking pass him but his men pulled me back .

“Sleep with me Zoey !”

I would never do that sir

And why is that ? Cause I’m not a slut and I won’t go so low in my life no matter what the situation would be .

Well this is not about what you want is it ? It is about what I want and I will always get whatever I want .

Boys ! Take her to the room .

“No ! You wouldn’t want to do that would you ?”

And if I may ask who the fuck are you ?

“Someone you should listen to” who is she to you Zoey?

I……I don’t know her . I cried out in pains as benson pulled my hair tighter

The girl said she doesn’t know you so what right do you have to stop me ?

“Take them !”

The police from nowhere took benson and his boys . I tried covering my body with my hands cause my cloth was torn at the side .

The lady put her suite on me and she said

“Come with me “

I followed her to her car and we sat down in silence for some while

Then I asked out of curiosity

Do you know me ?? I don’t have to know you to help you

She replied

She removed her dark sunshade and I almost fainted

“ I’m Veronica Bailey and this is my business card

It was nice meeting such a virtuous and outstanding woman like you . You remind me of an old friend

I saw your sketching online and I tracked you down to this place “

A…are you for real ? Am I dreaming right now ? You are really Veronica Bailey ? You really came here for me ?

“That is so many questions but I will go straight to the point

Zoey saint , The Bailey’s fashion home wants you .

Your talent is unique and beyond outstanding

ZOEY,WILL YOU WORK WITH US??”