Chapter 1

"Hello, mate," Raymond asked his friend, Pete, on the phone. "I have a request."

"What is that?" Pete’s voice was distant and distracted.

"Money. I'm in need of money."

"How much?"

"Maybe ten grand," Raymond shrugged rubbing his head

"Ten thousand dollars? What's that for?" Pete’s voice rose five decibels higher than normal.

"You know… I've been wanting to surprise Roselle. Maybe get her something really expensive that she will really appreciate. She said the gifts I give her are poor." He hesitated, but then he still said: "Just like me."

He sighed. "Sorry, man. It's your fault, though. You shouldn't have gone for a rich woman. Sometimes, I think you don't deserve her. She deserves someone in her class or higher."

He exhaled, rubbing his temples, trying to think. "You're right, that's why I'm trying to make it up to her. I want to get her something that she'll remember for the rest of her life."

"So, you need money?"

"Yes, I do. I'll pay back."

"Okay. I have a friend who lends money. Since you promised to pay back, I can link you up with him and get you some cash."

Waving off a sigh of relief and he felt his heart heaved. "When do I get the money?"

"When do you want it?"

"Today. Now." Raymond said quickly.

"Okay. I'll make some calls and text you the address." Pete said and hung up.

Picking his pitiful life, Raymond walked up to a bench and sat down. People passed. People with businesses, with plans, with a dream and a future. Raymond had none of those. All he had was a wife that didn't appreciate him.

His phone pinged.

“Number 5 Winhold Str. In between Block A and Block B”.

He picked himself up and looked at the address once more. Without knowing where it was, he added it on G****e Maps and tried to follow its navigation.

He finally got to the block and waited. His shirt was soaked in a great amount of body perspiration, and he thought of what he smelled like. Overlooking that, he waited.

Two men finally showed up and stood in between the blocks, he knew they were the ones he was waiting for.

One of them was dressed in ragged jeans and a tie-and-dye shirt he looked skinny, His hair fell to his huge arms that looked big and intimidating. He wore a cap that didn't reveal his face and his whole body was covered in tattoos. The other man was simpler and skinnier. He had his hair cut low and he had a gold premolar. He dressed in casual tees and jeans, and as he walked up to them.

"Sup," Raymond tried to tell them casually, but they didn't look like they were there to joke.

"You wanted ten thousand dollars, right?"

The big man had a grumpy, husky voice that made his heart thump for a minute. Then, he nodded.

"Yes, yes. Ten grand."

"You also pay interest," the man said, then dug out a wad of cash from his pocket and began counting them. "Twenty percent," his ragged voice croaked.

"Twenty percent? That's a whole lot of money."

"Just maybe you're not ready to do business with us. We just spent our time coming here.” He signaled his partner and they made their way to leave, but he stopped them

"Okay. Fine. I'll pay twenty percent. Do you have the cash?"

The man did not say anything but dropped the money in his hands. "If I don't get my money at the end of the week, you die." He made a sign of a dagger about to slit someone's throat. "I don't joke with my money."

He gulped hard and his Adam's apple bobbed. "Yes, I understand." His voice also had a bit of shakiness to it.

Squeezing the money into his pocket and turned to leave. The men, too, had gone, leaving him to lurk in the dark alley. The money felt heavy in his pocket, but it was all to please his woman, Roselle to him was the most beautiful woman and he felt a final wave of relief as he was finally going to please her. He made his way to the jewelry store.

Taking the next turn, he felt someone tailing him. He tried to lose the person by taking another turn, but the person kept following him. He tried to double his steps and the person tripled his. His heartbeat escalated. He knew he was being followed.

Before he could think of what to do next, Raymond saw himself surrounded by a gang of men all in black attire. One displayed his dagger from his belt, another showed his gun, and the other, a club. He looked around, trying to think of a way to maneuver his way out, but saw none he was surrounded.

"Where's the money?" the leader of the gang asked.

He dipped your hand in his pockets to make sure the money was still there. He felt the papery texture of money and sweat trickled down his face.

"What money?" His voice betrayed him.

"You don't mess with me, Mr. No one does." He walked closer to him and punched him in the face. He felt like he'd lost a tooth. Blood ran down Raymond's nose and he wiped it with his finger.

"I don't know about any money you speak of."

The man looked up at two men and signaled them with his eyes. Before he knew what was happening, two men held his hands tight. Trying to struggle and push, but they weighed a ton. The man walked down to him and searched his breast pocket for the money. When he couldn’t find it, he got down to his trousers and dipped his hands into it.

"Please," he begged, "the money is to be used for something very important. I really need it."

"If you had been truthful, I would have pitied you, but you lied to me."

He turned and walked away, his gangs following him. He was left in the cold night with a bruised, broken nose and a feeling he had lost a tooth. He broke out a yell in pain and his whole body ached as he tried to stand up.

He rubbed his head where he felt he was injured and when he brought the hand to sight, it was soiled in blood. checked his knees that hurt and he found a scratch. He'd gotten it when that man hit him with his heavy club.

His shirt was torn from the fight and his jeans had smears of mud. There was blood, sweat, and sand in his hair.

He was able to pick himself up after recollecting and regaining strength. Stood up to the ground and his head spun. Pain shot into his scalp, throbbing his nerves. He managed to move and ordered a cab.

The cab driver dropped him off at the driveway and he got out, trying to get to his front porch.

"Not so fast, Mr. You haven't paid."

"I haven't?”

"You'll give me my money or else the cops will be involved in this." He raised his voice high and wagged his finger at him like he was a child.

He exhaled. "Can you wait for me to go inside and go get some money? I'll be back with it."

"FIVE minutes and if you aren't out, I'll break down that door."

He got into the house and climbed the stairs, looking for his wife to ask for fifty bucks from her purse. Such shame.

She was furiously typing data into her laptop when he walked into the room. She had already bathed and dressed in robes, she smelled the very opposite of him.

"Honey, hello," he greeted and flashed a smile. Thankfully, all his teeth were intact.

She pinched her face. "What's that smell?" And covered her nose, too.

Raymond shook his head. "Long day. Can I get fifty dollars from your purse?"

Her anger was aggravated by his request. She shook her head and turned away from her work. "Today, Raymond, Christian bought his wife a new Rolls Royce. All you do is ask me for money."

"Honey, I'm sorry, I just need to clear off the taxi man that's at our door." He tried to move closer to her, but his stench made her back off.

"Before you come two feet close to me, you have to take a shower. I didn't get you well. The taxi man is at our door? What's he doing here?"

Before he could respond, the cabman's voice echoed in the whole neighborhood, reaching his bedroom that was a foot away from the porch. "Where's my money, man? You think you can get away with fifty bucks just like that?"

Roselle crossed her hands in disappointment. "Raymond, when are you ever going to make something better for yourself?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but she didn't wait for him to respond. She dug her hands into the purse and got money from it. "Give it to him."

"Thank you," he said in delight. He was almost on the floor with gratitude.

Rushing off to the front door and there the man stood. Now he was standing, he was very tall.

"I told you I'll get your money."

He snorted. "Stealing from your woman's purse. That's no way to be a man."

It was sad she didn't notice how bloody her husband's face was. She looked past it and wanted what he'd gotten her. He opened his mouth to say something but stammered. "I was…I was robbed."

"Robbed? That's your excuse? That's your excuse for being a boy? We've been married and all you give me are excuses."

He eyes lowered. "I'm sorry, my love."

"Go take your bath, you stink."