CHAPTER TEN

DIAMOND POV

"Is the work done?"

"Yes ma'am we made sure to look like we had been sent from the authorities and surprisingly the girl's mother believed our fake story."

"Good, don't mess up my plan, otherwise I'll make sure that you don't receive the money I promised you."

"I have a question to ask ma'am."

"What is it?"

"If Kacey's mother is unable to pay for the bakery do we have to bulldoze it?"

"Yes I want it gone because it will make Kacey suffer."

"She thought that she was playing smart by getting Elijah involved. Now I'm going to hit her where it hurts the most."

I hung up the phone call but before I could leave I bumped into the person I was least expecting to see.

"Maxwell, what are you doing here?"

"I'm very ashamed of you Diamond and what you're doing to Kacey isn't fair."

I crossed my arms over my chest.

"And when did you become a judge?"

"I won't let you get away with this Diamond and I will tell Kacey the truth."

I sighed deeply.

"I still can't believe that you fell in love with that nerd just like Elijah. I don't even know what you see in her."

"So are you going to report me?"

"If I were you Maxwell I would keep my mouth shut and stay out of this because I ruin your life with just a few phone calls."

"Your father already hates you and he thinks that you're a big disappointment. Imagine how he'll feel if you suddenly get expelled for trying to assault me."

"Are you really that heartless Diamond?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

He remained silent.

I cupped one of his cheeks gently.

"You should pick your sides more carefully Maxwell, having me as an enemy isn't the smartest thing to do."

"And you should know your place Maxwell, you're not even my boyfriend, you're just a boy toy to me."

"Consider yourself a trophy boyfriend."

He stormed out of the room and I burst out laughing. Now that Maxwell is taken care of I can finally execute my plan and destroy Kacey once and for all.

KACEY POV

"Do you really have to go?" Elijah asked curiously.

"Yes, my mother isn't feeling too well. I have to be with her even if it's just for a few days."

I didn't tell Elijah or Ronnie what was really going on because I didn't want them to worry. If Elijah found out the truth I know that he would help my mother and I in a heartbeat.

"If your mother isn't feeling well then let me drop you off. It's the least I can do."

I shook my head negatively.

"No you don't have to do that Elijah I can take the bus home."

"Are you sure that you'll be fine?"

"Yes and I promise to call you once I arrive."

"Alright then."

I bid my friends goodbye and left campus with a heavy heart. No matter how kind hearted my mother and I are, problems won't leave us alone.

When I arrived back home things still looked the same and it was like I never left at all in the first place. I knew that I would find my mother working at the bakery. It was her safe place and each time she went there she would bring back cookies but they would end up getting too salty because of her tears.
I pushed the doors and walked inside only a few customers were inside.

I found my mother in the kitchen baking a batch of cookies just like I had predicted.

"Mother, I'm here."

"Kacey."

She dusted off the flour and wrapped her arms around me.

"I can't believe that you're finally here honey."

She pulled away from me.

"I feel so guilty for taking away from your studies. I know that this scholarship means everything to you."

"That's true but a scholarship isn't more important than my mother because you'll always be number one."

We took our seats.

"So what happened?"

"It was just like every other day at the bakery and suddenly two men in black suits showed up and I thought they were customers but it turns out that they were sent from the city council."

"They said something about the bakery being built on historical land and that a gold mine was underground."

"So they want to bulldoze the bakery."

"How are they even sure that there's gold down there?"

"I don't know honey, maybe we just have the worst luck in the world at the moment."

"But isn't there a way to save the bakery?"

"Well there is a way he mentioned something about taking our case to court but it would cost a lot of money."

"And if we fail to pay them the money we have to vacate the property in three months."

I sighed deeply.

"How much money?"

"I haven't even inquired about the actual amount yet."

"Did they leave a business card or something?"

"No I didn't even think of asking for one because I was still recovering from the shock but I'm sure that they'll come around one of these days to find out whether I made a decision or not."

"I'll do whatever it takes to save the bakery. It's our only source of income. The money that comes from the bakery might be small but it has always helped us pay a few expenses."

"Dad built this bakery from scratch and I won't let the council take it away from us."

"But that's not the only problem we are facing, honey. Apparently your father took a huge loan from the bank in order to build the bakery but when he disappeared he ever finished paying back the debt."

"And now the people at the bank are very angry and they want their money back with interest. I don't even know where to start paying them back."

"Don't worry about anything, I'll find a part time job and find a way to pay both debts."

"Kacey I know that you don't want us to lose the bakery but this isn't a sample task a couple of bucks won't fix this honey."

"I know mom but I have to try something. I'll find two jobs if I have to but please don't lose hope."

"How long are you going to be in town? I don't want you to miss too many lessons. It may affect your scholarship if your grades are low."

"I'll only be here for two days, it's the only time I can spare."

"Well I'm sad that I didn't prepare anything special for you but I'll make your favorite meal tonight."

"Thank you mom, I would love that."

"I forgot to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"How's Elijah?"

"Umm he's fine he really wanted to be here but they can't give breaks to all the students so he had to stay behind and he misses your pastries."

"Maybe when you go back to the university you can take him a few pastries. I'm sure that he'll enjoy them."

I nodded quietly.

"I'll go back home and get changed and then I'll help you around the bakery just like old times."

She smiled at me.

"Yeah just like old times and it brings back memories of your father and sister."

I sighed softly.

"I know that you don't want to hear about your father but he cares about you."

"If he really cared about me he would have never left in the first place but he chose to abandon us."

"He disappeared on my birthday and never came back and I wanted for him for all these years but I'm not his little girl anymore and I don't think I want to be his daughter anymore."

"Kacey please don't say that."

"I don't love him anymore."

I grabbed my things ready to leave.

"I have to go, I'll be back in a few minutes."

Being back home brought back memories I didn't want to acknowledge and I hated the fact that I still cared about the man who abandoned me when I was a child. If he really loved me he would have come back by now. I looked around my room and my mother never even bothered to change a single thing in here. A few of my clothes were neatly folded on the bed. All my toys and books were still intact and she kept them safe.

Two days later I returned back to the university determined to find a job at any cost. I knew that I would be able to find something online although I had very little skills and qualifications to find better paying jobs but either way I had to work with whatever I had.

While browsing the web I came across an advertisement. A famous nightclub was looking to hire dancers but not just any ordinary dancers . They wanted strippers who were 18 years old and above.