章 11: Chapter Ten - My assumptions were wrong, Andrei is different
I checked the time, it was already 10:00p.m. and Daisy was still not back. I knew she was a late-night kind of person but she has been returning early since the past few days.
I was worried about her. First, she didn't return yesterday and then, she hadn't called nor picked her calls and I had this feeling of unrest, I felt all was not well.
I picked up my phone when I heard a notification sound, I saw a video was sent. I quickly played it and what I saw devastated me.
It was Daisy, she had been kidnapped. Before I could think of anything, an unknown number called and I picked up immediately.
" Hello, hello," I said anxiously.
"Cherry, Cherry," I heard Daisy's voice.
"Daisy, hello," I screamed.
"If you don't want your sister end up in hell, then by tomorrow, pay back the twenty million she owes. One more thing, don't try to track this video or call, and do not even think of informing the police-,"and the line went dead.
"Hello, hello," I panicked.
I breathed heavily, so Daisy was kidnapped, I knew something was wrong.
And the money, twenty million, where would I get money from within twelve hours.
My heart beat faster, the panic attacks were coming. I tried to breathe calmly.
I walked towards the dining table, took my medicines and sat down.
"Cherry, calm down, calm down, nothing bad would happen to Daisy, she'd be fine," I assured myself. Then I took my phone.
"Who do I call," I asked myself.
I thought of Amanda but I remembered her mum's condition. By the way, how was she going to help, it would only trouble her. Then, I thought of Everly. No, she can't do anything and I didn't want to disturb her.
And then I thought of the final person, my only hope now.
"Hello, hello," I said.
"Hello, Cherry! You called? And your voice, are you okay?"
" No, no, please, I need your help," I said.
" Relax, I'm on my way."
I dropped the phone and tried hard to fight my panic attacks. Nothing can happen to Daisy, she's the only family I have.
About thirty minutes later, l heard a knock and with the last energy I had left, I rushed to open it.
"Andrei, Andrei, thanks for coming," I said and hugged him, really tight.
"Cherry calm down, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale," he said when we were seated.
"My sister, my sister was kidnapped," I said still breathing heavily.
"Was kidnapped? The police, have you informed the police?" He asked.
"No...no police, don't inform the police, I have been warned," I begged.
I showed him the video and him what I was told.
"Don't worry, I'ld prepare the money and by dawn, we'd head out to look for her," he said.
For the first time in my life, I felt so helpless that I couldn't even think of declining his help.
"Andrei, thank you, thank you and I promise I'ld pay back," I said.
Finally, the panic attacks were gone and I could breathe properly.
"Cherry, I have to go now, I'ld be back," he said but then I stopped him.
"Please, don't leave me, please, I would go with you,"
"It's fine, I'ld just ask someone to bring the money here, I won't leave," he said.
"Thank you, thank you so much. I don't know what I'ld have done without you. I have never been so helpless. Daisy is my only family," I started and he listened.
"My dad left my mum for another woman after that her emotionally and physically. Few years later, she had cancer and because she was already broken she didn't make it. Since then, Daisy has been my only family. Daisy is not a perfect person but she is not a bad person either. I don't want to lose her. Andrei, she would be fine, wouldn't she?" I asked helplessly, as if he would know.
He held my hands before consoling.
"Don't worry she'd be fine."
He parted my back and I fell asleep in a few minutes.
* * * * * * * * * *
I ran towards Daisy, she had finally been freed. Yes, we paid the twenty million and yes, Daisy was released.
"Daisy, thank goodness, you're okay," I said as I hugged her.
"Cherry, I was so scared, I thought they were going to kill me," she said shivering.
"Thank goodness, you're fine now," I replied.
"I am sorry, I'm sorry Cherry, for causing so much trouble," she said.
We got into Andrei's car and he drove us home. Daisy went straight to her room and locked herself in when we arrived home.
"Just give her sometime, she's still traumatized," Andrei told me. I looked towards Andrei.
"Thank you so much, I have never been nice to you but when I needed help, you didn't think twice before helping me. I always thought I was strong and independent but-," I was saying.
"Shh! don't say that, you're strong and independent. I was scared too, that's why I called the police, though they didn't catch those crooks and still took the money," he replied.
"Andrei, let's start afresh, let's become friends, I promise I'ld be nicer this time," I told him sincerely.
"Sure," he said with a smile.
"And I promise I'ld pay back the money I owe you," I told him.
"It's okay," he replied before leaving.
I tried to absorb what happened just within the last few hours. Daisy was kidnapped and Andrei was the only person who I knew could help.
And he helped me without hesitation, though I have never been kind to him.
My assumptions about him were wrong, Andrei was a good person and he was not like the other men I knew. He was different. And now, I was sure he really liked me.
I walked towards Daisy's room and knocked on her door.
"Daisy, open the door," I knocked.
Daisy opened few seconds later, she was still crying. She moved towards me and hugged me.
"Cherry, I'm sorry, I am so sorry," she said. We entered the room and sat on her bed.
"Tell me how you ended up owing twenty million," I asked her, I had to.
"I gambled. Initially, it was five million but then over the months, interest was added and it became twenty million,"
"Over the months? You've been owing since?"
" Yes Cherry... I really don't know what went into me that day that I gambled until owed five million. It was two years ago and since then, I have been trying to pay but...," She was saying.
"So we'd never get back the money even if we get the police to investigate?"
"Please, don't ask the police to get involved, I would be arrested for gambling if the truth is uncovered,"
"Daisy, do you know what would have happened if Andrei hadn't helped us? Are you still going to continue living this way?"
"Cherry, I am really sorry for the trouble I caused. I thought I was going to die, I never expected you'd find a solution. Cherry, I know I've never been good to you and I've always acted mean but trust me, I envy you.
When dad tortured mum and she became sick, I was traumatized, I couldn't handle it and that's why I went into drugs. Trust me, I have been trying to end all this, to live straight, to be brave and independent like you.
Cherry, I am so lucky to have a sister like you. Without you, I don't know where I'ld have been. Even after everything you went through, you managed to pull through, you even went to school.
I am sorry Cherry, for all my mistakes and I promise from now on, I'ld be good, I'ld change, I'ld quit drugs and gambling," she said, then held my hands. I couldn't help but sob.
"You have promised, so you cannot go back on your words. You have to be good, you have to change," I made her swear.
"I swear, Cherry, from now on, I'ld be straight, I'ld not cause any trouble and the debts we owe Andrei, we'd pay it together," Daisy promised.
"Yes, we will."
"Cherry, speaking of Andrei, there's something I need to tell you," she said and I looked at her intently.
"Cherry, I know you're are scared because of what mum went through. I know you're careful about not wanting to make the same mistake she made but, don't take it this way, you have to open your heart to love. Andrei loves you so much," she began and I couldn't wait to hear what more she had to say about him.
"You are acting really weird, you barely know Andrei and you're saying this?"
"No, you're wrong, I know him. He came to me the day you were discharged from the hospital. He gave me money to pay your debts and he made me promise to be of good conduct. Cherry, Andrei was the one who gave you employment in your current company," she said.
"He paid my debts? My debts were paid?" I could say. No wonders I hadn't gotten any reminders, and he gave me employment? He had done so much for me.
"Cherry, he asked me not to tell you but I had to," she added.
I closed eyes to think clearly. I really had a lot of making up to do.
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