Chapter 1
"He's going to come here today to see you. He likes you. He has little girls just like you, you know?"
The sound of her uncle's voice paused her in her steps. What was he telling her sister inside her room?
She stood at the door, listening.
"This could bring in a lot of money, and I can finally get you a new backpack, some nice clothes. You'd like that, wouldn't you."
"Yes"
"Good girl. And all you have to do is play dress up."
"Dress up?"
Dina's shoulders tensed
"Yes and if you are good at it, yo-
"What the hell are you doing, Cole?" Unable to listen any longer, she barged in.
"Dinaaaa" Her sister called "I am getting new dresses."
She looked at her sister, her eyes softening for a moment before they snapped back to her uncle, "I asked you a question."
"Dina" her uncle said, a fake smile plastered on his face, "Maybe we should step outside and talk"
"We should. Lily, continue doing your homework, okay? I need to talk to Cole alone."
"Okay."
When they shut her door and strode far enough in the hallway, Dina turned "So?"
"I am having Lily meet a friend of mine, Mr Peterson."
"Why?"
"He runs a modeling agency and has an amazing opportunity for her."
"Right and you had to tell her this amazing opportunity in hushed tones. It's almost like you didn't want me to know about it."
Her uncle said nothing.
"Cut the bullshit about amazing opportunity. Why do you need the pay?" Dina asked.
"What don't I need it for? Taking care of you two, the electricity, water, school supplies. Where do you think the money comes from?"
"I already work two part-times just to help with that."
"Well that is your contribution. Not your sister's."
"If it's not enough for you, I can take up a third job."
"And yet it would not pay even half as much as what Peterson is offering."
Dina gritted her teeth
"I don't get it, Dina, the pay is good and the job will be fun so what is your problem?"
"My problem," Dina said, her nostrils flared, "is that I don't trust any of your 'friends'. Last time I had to spend a day with one because you sent me to 'learn' a skill... we know how that ended."
"This again. He wanted to teach you pottery, of course he had to touch you sometimes. If you didn't like that then you should have talked to him but no, you went and broke his nose."
His voice climbed higher
"Do you know how much I could have made had you just stayed?"
All of a sudden the air was sucked out of the room. He clamped his mouth shut but it was too late.
"How much you could have made? That doesn't make any..."
Her voice faltered
"You know it's strange. Whenever I think about what happened, I get the feeling you knew Page didn't just want to teach me pottery."
Cole's jaw clenched. "You are angry and confused. We should finish this conversation when you feel better. Besides, aren't you late for your shift at Jefferson's?"
"Shit" She cursed as she remembered she was heading to work before she overheard her uncle and her sister.
She gave one last look at her uncle before dashing out.
Note: This is a short story and I will publish new chapters every day 🥳
