Fated to the don

Alicia's POV

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me!"

My voice echoed through the apartment as the door swung open and hit the wall with a dull thud.

The smell hit first... dust and that ugly scent of other people where they didn't belong. Then my eyes adjusted and my heart dropped straight into my stomach.. the place was fucking destroyed!

"Holy shit." Maureen gasped behind me. "What the hell happened?"

I stepped inside like my legs were on autopilot. Couch cushions were ripped open and tossed aside, the coffee table was flipped, one of the chairs lay on its side like it had given up on life, drawers were pulled out and dumped and our tiny TV was gone...so was the microwave. Even the stupid lamp I hated because it flickered was missing.

"Please." I whispered, already moving. "Please, please, please..."

I didn't wait for Maureen. I ran straight to the corner behind the sofa, dropped to my knees and shoved my hands under it. Dust coated my palms as I dragged out the shoebox we'd hidden there.

It was open.. and empty!

There was no envelope, no bundle of wrinkled bills and no coins.. nothing!

"No." I said, shaking my head. "No, no, no..."

Maureen rushed over.

"Ali? What is it?"

I turned the box upside down like the money might magically fall out if I asked nicely but still nothing.. not even a penny.

"They took it." I said, with myy chest tightening like someone had wrapped a belt around it and pulled. "They fucking took it!"

"Oh my God." Maureen said. "No. No way."

"That's all the money we had!" I jumped to my feet and kicked the sofa so hard my toe screamed in pain. "Goddammit!" I slammed my fist into the armrest. "That was everything!"

Maureen ran her hands through her hair, pacing like a trapped animal.

"We should've taken it to the fucking bank!"

I rounded on her.

"Don't say that."

"I'm just saying..."

"We had reasons!" I snapped. "Valid reasons."

"Like what?" she shot back. "So burglars could have easier access?"

"Oh yeah, because banks are so easy for everyone. You forget they freeze accounts, right? Or.. or charge fees we can't afford?"

She opened her mouth and then closed it.

"And my credit is trash." I added. "You know that.. we can't go borrowing now and your account is already overdrawn. If we'd put that money in the bank, it would've disappeared anyway."

Maureen stopped pacing and her shoulders slumped.

"I know." she said quietly. "I know."

We stood there for a moment, surrounded by our ruined life and the silence felt loud. My hands started shaking so I sat down hard on the edge of the sofa and pressed them together.

A knock hit the door and I flinched while Maureen froze. Another knock came, firmer and annoyed.

"I'll get it." Maureen muttered.

She opened the door and of course... because my life had officially decided to hate me... it was Mr. Rogers.. our landlord.

He stood there with his usual sour expression, his jacket neatly pressed and his eyes scanning the apartment behind us with clear disgust.

"Evening." he said. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Yes." I said flatly. "You are."

Maureen shot me a look but Mr. Rogers ignored me.

"I'm here to remind you both that you have three days left. Court's ruling came through this morning."

My stomach twisted.

"Three days?"

"I was generous already." he said. "After three days, I have permission to remove you and your belongings by force."

"Please." Maureen said quickly. "Sir, there's been a break-in. We just got back and everything's gone."

He glanced around again, unimpressed.

"That's unfortunate."

"Our money was stolen." I said, standing up. "All of it."

He sighed like we were boring him.

"My problem remains the same. Rent is due. Either you pay or you leave."

"Can't you give us more time?" Maureen pleaded. "Just a week..."

"No."

"A few days?" I asked. "Please."

He adjusted his jacket.

"I've been patient long enough. Three days. That's final."

Then he turned and walked away like we were nothing.. like our lives weren't falling apart in real time and the door closed softly behind him.

I sank back onto the sofa, staring at the wall and I didn't even feel angry anymore.. just empty.

Maureen started pacing again.

"Okay. Okay. Think. We need to think."

"There's nothing to think about." I said. "We're screwed!"

"No, we're not." she said. "There has to be a way."

"I'm just a waitress." I reminded her. "I barely make enough for groceries."

"And you think I drown in money at my job?" she snapped, then stopped and her face fell. "But I'm in debt.. a lot of it."

"Exactly." I said. "So borrowing is out."

She stopped pacing and slowly, she turned and went to her room. I heard drawers opening and closing before she came back holding an envelope.

"There's only one way now." she said.

My heart dropped before she even said it.

"No."

She held it out.

"Alicia..."

"No fucking way." I shook my head so hard my vision blurred. "Don't even say it."

"You said yourself the pay is huge."

"I don't care."

"We'll be homeless!"

"I don't care!"

"Yes, you do." she snapped. "You care a lot."

I stood up.

"That place is dangerous."

"It's one night."

"It's an underground fashion auction for rich assholes." I said. "Anything goes at those places."

"You'll be fine." she insisted. "You're just modeling."

"No." I said. "We both agreed we wouldn't go."

"That was before this!" She gestured around the apartment. "Look at us, Alicia!"

I clenched my fists. .

"I won't do it."

Maureen's voice softened.

"Please. This is our only hope. Or else we're sleeping on the street in three days."

I hated how reasonable she sounded and I hated that she was right.. my resolve cracked.. just a little.

I looked at the envelope again where my name was written on it in elegant ink. Just one night and big money.

"Fine." I whispered. "One night."

Maureen let out a breath and hugged me.

"Thank you. Thank you."

I didn't hug back.

***

The next night found me behind the curtains, heart pounding so loud I was sure everyone could hear it. The backstage area buzzed with voices as models whispered and assistants rushed around.

I pulled out my small hand mirror and checked my reflection again.

Long red hair, loose tonight, falling in waves down my back. Pale skin that almost glowed under the lights and blue eyes that looked too big for my face.

I barely recognized myself.

The dress was blood red, medieval in style, hugging my waist and flowing down in heavy fabric. It felt dangerous like it belonged to someone braver than me.

"Next." someone called.

I swallowed and when I stepped onto the runway, the lights blinded me for a second then the crowd came into focus.

I heard whispers, laughter and catcalls but I lifted my chin and walked anyway.

Rich bastards...

I stopped at the end, posed like they wanted, turned... and then something in the crowd caught my eye...