TWO

I had arrived two weeks before my first week to settle in and learn my way around the city.

I'd spent all morning on the phone insisting the landlord needed to hire a plumber. Cold showers just weren't up to my standards. Not because I'm from wealth, but because I don't want to lose a toe to frostbite in the shower. Winter was beginning to seep into the city air already. A winter north of the equator seemed desirable at first, but it felt no amount of layers was enough.

Once he arrived with the plumber he gave me directions to the nearest coffee shop, supermarket and station. When they were gone and I had access to hot water I decided to ready myself for the day and carpe the diem out of it.

I take a lap of the block finding a small cafe with a help wanted sign. I decided to test my luck. Surely this is a hint from the universe.

"Hey, are you the manager?" I smile at the cheery woman, she looks to be in her 50s.

She beams at me and immediately I love her.

"Hey. For the accent I certainly am," she smiles at me, "where are you from?"

"Australia," I say, "I noticed your help wanted sign and I was hoping I could get some information."

"Of course. I'm Sandy. Gosh, Australia. I'd love to visit there someday," she straightens her apron.

"I'm Bella. You definitely should," I smile following her to a booth.

The place was quiet, but it had a sweet charm about it that I loved.

"So what brings you to our side of the world?" she asks sitting down.

I take my seat across from her.

"University. I'm on a student exchange program. I technically didn't swap with anyone but my university is connected with the one here. I am here for a few months. New York was my favourite of the bunch on offer. I could have picked LA or Toronto, but I visited New York when I was a kid and I loved it here," she nods along as I speak, "I was hoping to find a job that could help cover rent, food. All that fun stuff while I am here. I have a temporary employment visa with my program."

"Well, Betty just randomly up and left me last week. Something about her boobs, a doctor and Thailand," she waves her hand in irritation, "I need someone fast. I must admit I didn't expect it would be this fast. Do you have experience, kid?"

"I do," I nod, "I worked in a cafe in Bondi."

"Fancy," her eyebrows raise, "I'm sure customers will love to chat with you. You're hired. I'll have you come in for a test shift tomorrow, but I doubt you'll have many problems with it. Just wear jeans, black shirt and sneakers. We're casual."

"Great," I'm amazed at how easy this was.

"I'll warn you I don't pay great. It's minimum wage, but I'm sure tips will fly your way," she shrugs, "I'll give you a discount and I'll show you the secret to the perfect coffee."

"What's the secret?" I smile.

"After the trial," she waves me off, "do you live close by?"

"Actually around the corner. I was on my way to the store to pick up some groceries," I say.

"Great. Okay, well that's even better," she claps her hands, "oh there's a delicious noodle store a few doors down. Considering you're new around here you might as well know the best places to eat."

I give her my phone number and she sends me on my way with a pastry to snack on. As far as bosses went, she's probably the best one I've ever had. When I arrive home with my groceries I simply can't wipe the smile from my face.

That question mark had suddenly turned into an exclamation mark.

I manage to make Sandy pleased enough to offer me a few shifts a week. The work is fairly easy, with a steady flow of customers. I'm rarely overrun by them and I'm constantly quizzed about home. I humour some of them and boast about my pet koala, the one I store inside my imagination of course.

I'd ducked to the grocery store right after work to pick up dinner before enjoying the slow, easy walk back to my apartment. Smiling at strangers on the street, loving the city life. They probably think I look like a moron that thinks I'm the main character.

On my way home from work my brother's number flashes up on my phone. It's early afternoon and I needed to desperately tidy up the kitchen I'd left a pigstye in a haste to get to work this morning. My start this morning had been early and my sleeping pattern was still struggling to adjust. Making me exhausted and not in the mood for one of his meltdowns.

"Hey. You remember I existed," I answer already irritated.

"Bella. Have you seen the news? Have you heard from Dad?" he sounds panicked.

"What time is it there?" I ask confused.

Had someone been hurt? I pull the phone from my ear as he begins to rant to check the time. It's just after four in the morning in Sydney. He must be drunk.

"... and that's when he..." he's in nuclear mode.

"Slow down. Can you recap everything slowly and in English for me," I interrupt.

"We're finished," he is panicked.

"What do you mean? Zane. Talk to me." I demand.

I must sound frantic at this point. From the tone of his voice, I begin to realise that this really isn't a joke. I'm attracting the attention of passersby on the street who look at me concerned. I wanna scream mind your business but the last thing I need is to wind up in a mental institution.

"Dad. The business, our money," he stammers, "it's gone."

"Gone," I suppress a laugh, "are you high? Zane, come off it. His business can't just disappear overnight. That isn't how it works. There is liquidation, lawyers and insurance. All things you'd know about had you not dropped out of your degree."

"He's gone, Isabella. He's selling the company and he's in debt," he says quietly, "Dad just called drunk as a bat."

"I believe the term is a skunk," numb sarcasm is all I can offer.

"Isabella, just... look you've got to come home," he sighs, "I can't get him through this alone with him. The media are outside the house already and there's stuff all over the business' social media about the pregnancy. It's like someone in the company leaked everything right as our ship began to sink. His investors turned their backs and now some Chinese company is going to buy him out. It will be just enough to cover our debts. He's completely drained both of our accounts, including the money from mum."

"Wait, what? That wasn't his to... I need that for... I can't leave. I just got here," I'm so shocked that I don't know how to be angry quite yet, "What about the backup money."

"This is the backup. This foreign company think they can buy the company broken and fix it up," he says, "We're broke. The bank is going to repossess the houses, the furniture, the cars. Our jet and boat at already gone. He never said how bad things were getting and now look."

"But New York. I need Dad's help. I can't afford this all on my own right away," with each panicked step I eventually find the door to my apartment building.

Juggling my groceries I cradle the phone under my chin while I fumble with the lock.

"Need help?" An amused, deep voice makes me jump.

"Bells. Please, just come home," my brother shouts down the phone.

I'm more startled by the deep, sudden voice than my brothers. So startled my groceries crash to the floor. As I quickly turn to find who it came from, I smack into a hard, muscled chest, dropping my phone from under my head. It's shattered. I don't need to look at it to know the screen is now fragments. I don't need to hear Zane to know my disconnecting has sent him into a frenzy.

But it's the god of a man before me that hit me so much harder than the news about my father ever could.

Like a tonne of bricks.

Just like that the exclamation mark has turned back into a question mark.

Thank you so much for reading my second chapter. If you enjoyed it please drop me a review.

Make sure you favourite/follow the story so you don't miss out on chapter three!

Thanks,

L