Chapter Five: Sold
Despite getting what he wanted, Stephen found himself getting stressed out. David was on his trail now, Audrey informed him that he was rooting through his bedroom when he was at work. Didn't help that he now had to deal with Geoff and stop him finding out anymore of his lies. Otherwise he may not get anything from the will and he may spend it on himself as advised. Sarah being on his side however helped very much. She was with him for a long time in Milan and he was glad to be reunited with his niece. Sarah noticed him looking not quite as smug as she thought he might be after Carla's promotion...
"You alright? Did Carla leave you a workload?" Sarah asked with a polite smile.
"Oh no. Just David...Mom said he's been snooping in my bedroom today. He thinks I would be really take my family's money. I would never steal from mom or from anyone else. I could have taken it weeks ago if I wanted to" Stephen insisted.
"Yeah we know. Just ignore David. He's having one of his downward spirals and taking us down with him as always"
"I told Geoff some of his problems. Because I'm not having him think I'm some sort of lying scammer"
"He's not worth fretting over. You just have to be ruthless towards David sometimes, it's the only language he understands. Look I got to go but don't let him ruin this moment for us" Sarah told him.
He just nodded as he watched her go off again. She walked through the factory and was thinking through things in her head. David was going through a lot but she didn't want him to ruin another thing for her. She briefly walked past Fiz and had a complexed look on her face. Though Fiz was more on David's side due to her closeness with Maria and Sarah quickly avoided her eye contact as she knew this. So she went to Beth instead as she quietly asked...
"If David ever comes in. Let me know, okay?"
"Sure but why would David ever come in?" Beth questioned out loud back.
"Because...Because he just might. Just let me know if he ever does" Sarah replied slightly annoyed.
Fiz and Sean giving each other a knowing look. What was the family problems this week? Beth just nodding as she said...
"Fine yeah"
Sarah giving a reluctant thank you back. Retreating away from the machinist area and proceeding to the window. She looked out towards the street and could see David sitting outside the Platt household. As if he could sense she was about to look through at that moment. She quickly retreated backwards and could have sworn he gave her a smirk but it was all in her head. The sound of the kettle boiling made her slap back to reality. Stephen passing her a cup of tea which made her say thank you again.
"It's so sweet" Sarah answered with a smile as she took a sip.
...
"Sarah's lovely but she hasn't got the business mind. It's just nice to have somebody on my side" Stephen spoke to Geoff.
As he went round after work for another nightly chat with his biological father. It had become more common now. It seemed he had found somebody to offload to but he was keeping him at arm's length nonetheless. Geoff giving a chuckle as he gave a shrug.
"Really? What about Milan?" Geoff asked from disbelief.
"She was like my intern. She's my niece and I love her dearly but she's an intern. Not a manager"
"Oh gosh. Well sack her then"
"I can't. She's my niece"
Geoff laughed again before taking a swig from his beer. Stephen though was having a cup of tea due to driving. The will however was still not discussed. Stephen was too scared to mention it due to all the progress he's made in getting Geoff thinking that he's here for his company rather than the money.
"Oh well try and stir her in another direction. She's lovely though, isn't she?" Geoff asked.
"Yes. I love her dearly like I said. David on the other hand, well now he's snooping in my be...house. My bedroom in my house"
"You're joking?"
"Oh no. Mom sometime stays with me and he came in on one of the days she was in. He came in and just began rooting around my house. I should change the locks really but it's a load of work"
"He's being ridiculous. Should put him in the nick with his son"
"It would make my life easier but my sister Gail. She's got his back no matter what. You can't reason with her when it concerns him" Stephen spoke.
He looked upon his watch and suddenly exclaimed about the time. He would have to go back before it gets past ten as he's parked the car elsewhere. Geoff grabbing onto his walking stick as he walked with him to the door. Telling him to watch his back due to 'local yobs'. Stephen just telling he will as he retreated outside and down the stairs as the lift was still not in service. His presence was getting known around the flat as he visited Geoff almost nightly now for two weeks. He was working hard for this twenty grand in his mind. He left the flat however which is when five figures came into view as the teenagers from two weeks ago surrounded him. They looked sixteen and seventeen, maybe eighteen at a push.
"Money...We know you must have some" the oldest looking one began.
"I don't" Stephen tried to say as he tried to move on.
Though they wouldn't move on as they kept walking besides him. Demanding he give them money or his watch. Stephen could see they weren't going to let up untilt they got something and not wanting to lead them to his mother's car. He took his watch and passed it over. Hoping that might sway them but they demanded the money.
"Come on...I gave you my watch. I hardly got anything on me. I don't carry cash that much" Stephen insisted.
"Cash? You mean money? Come on...Money otherwise you will regret it. Yank" the same teenage lad warned.
"I'm Canadian actually" Stephen replied as he didn't take the threat seriously.
"Then say sorry and give us the money!" a second teenage lad shouted.
Stephen gave a scoff as he went to walk away again. Only to find himself suddenly jumped. As he was shoved to the ground with such force and kicked. He froze up as he tried to get out his wallet. Only to find his hand stamped on and his wallet snatched. The sound of them running away made him move slightly, his mother's keys thankfully in his pocket. His hand wasn't broken but felt very sore. He forced himself up with his one free hand. He just felt dreadful and his hand was clearly strained. With the fear of them coming back, he sped up his walk while looking down at his hand in disbelief. Minutes felt much longer as he kept looking over his shoulder. He managed to make it to Audrey's car as he quickly unlocked it and got in. Locking it just as quick and despite the pain in his hand, he forced it around the steering wheel and drove away. Trying not to think about how his credit card and only source of getting money was gone.
...
"You poor thing...I got bandages in the drawers. And you're sure it's not broken?" Audrey asked he returned.
"I'm sure. Geoff warned me about the yobs. Last time I stay that late, I'm just grateful they didn't steal the keys to the car"
"Don't worry about the car. As long as you're alright" Audrey replied from the kitchen.
Coming back in with bandages as she began to wrap them around his hand. First time she ever had to do that. He followed her into the living room, removing his jacket and shoes. Feeling safer as he saw the fireplace lit up and felt vey welcome but the credit card was on his mind.
"The credit card. They took my credit card...I don't have any other way to get income" Stephen spoke with a sigh.
"Get a new one" Audrey suggested.
"I shared one of the credit cards with Gabrielle. I could get a new one for myself but I'm not going to remember the other one's number. And I'm not ringing her, I don't want anything to do with her now"
"I could ring her"
"Oh no. Bad idea. I'll figure something out, don't worry. Now Carla's let me have the reins for a bit. It should be easy."
"Okay sweetheart. Whatever you say...Just tell me if your hand get any worse. Gosh, the fact they took your watch too. Surely Geoff can't expect you to go back tomorrow night"
"I'll leave it for a few days. Don't want to make him a target too"
"Oh yes, I didn't even think about that. They are just scum that need to be washed down the sink. That's all I can say. Well I'm going to bed, I'll see you in the morning and please, take it easy"
Stephen just nodding with a forced smile. It faded as soon as his mother left the room. He was secretly angry and panicked. What was he to do? Granted the lads didn't know the pin number but they still had it and he needed it. Going to the bank and opening up another bank account is not what he wanted to do. Not with his debts but now he has no choice.
...
The following day came and after a little chat with his mother over breakfast. Stephen went to the bank and told them about his credit card being stolen. The bank however were concerned with his debts. He owned Gabrielle and the bank money. He lost his temper slightly as he demanded it be open for him again as he was expecting money. This argument with the bank is why he was in such a bad mood when he arrived back on the street with a bandaged hand. They told him to ring up later for more details and help. He looked towards the factory and was half-tempted to just not go in. He was sat in Audrey's car and had an idea. Not a very nice idea but one he felt he needed. He could settle some of his debts and open up a new bank account if he just had something big enough to sell. Hence the car but wouldn't that make it obvious? He sat in there for a few minutes with the engine still running. He got a knock on the window and looked to see Maria, making him roll it down...
"You alright?" Maria asked him with slight concern while eyeballing his bandages.
"Yes. Perfect" Stephen replied in a false happy tone of voice.
"Alright. Because your car's still running and the fumes are so bad. I've been trying to tell people this for months-"
"Save me the lecture, Maria. I'm in a difficult enough spot as it is without your 'save the rainforest' speech" Stephen hissed. Showing his darker side for the first time to somebody not dead.
"Wow...Okay. There's no need to be rude, is there? Just think about others is all I'm asking"
"Go ask somebody else!"
This outburst made Maria step back as she shook her head. Seeing she wasn't wanted as she walked away. The car still running and with one last glimpse of the factory. He sped off down the road, speeding past a slightly shaken up Maria as if he was trying to scare her on purpose. She watched until the car was out of sight, she felt bad vibes for the first time. Maybe David wasn't just on "self-spiral mode" as Audrey put it, maybe he was right about his uncle. She didn't think he was on the level of Tony Gordon just yet but he was on some sort of bad level, right? Nobody guessed how dark he's gotten yet. Stephen hit the wheel slightly with his good hand and lamented the lack of right paperwork.
...
Hours passed and nobody had seen Stephen since. Maria informed both Audrey and David in the salon about what he did and said. Audrey explained about how he was mugged. Which made his bad mood make a bit more sense but still, Maria never saw that tone in his voice before.
"Well he still shouldn't have spoke to Maria like that" David spoke up. Further convinced of his theory.
"He's under so much pressure. Honestly...He's going through divorce, extra work and goodness know what's else" Audrey tried to explain.
"And he sped past me like the devil was chasing him" Maria said while looking at David.
"Let's hope he catches up then" David spoke; his gran tutting in the background.
The man in question meanwhile found himself with money in a briefcase (like some old-fashioned movie). Stephen had indeed found somebody 'off-the-grid' and sold Audrey's car. He regretted it as soon as the purchase was complete. He gripped it tightly with his good hand. He got on the bus and returned to the bank with ten grand (not nearly enough for somebody who wasn't desperate) but Stephen was desperate. He got to open his bank account again but he felt guilt-ridden. He walked back to the bus stop with his head down. Getting the next bus to Coronation Street and the trio were still in mid-conversation at the salon by the time it reached the street. He got out of the bus and found himself empty-handed (besides the credit account which had a measly sum of 500 pounds!). The rest went to Gabrielle and his debts. He just walked slowly towards the factory, his sister Gail stopping him to say hello.
"How is Sarah doing?" Gail asked with a big grin on her face.
Though her grin faded as she noticed her older brother barely responsive. He looked as grim as he felt. His hand being bandaged up didn't help with the image he tried so hard to retain these last couple of months. He just walked away despite Gail asking him what the hell is going on. The car not being there didn't register until the trio came out of the salon.
"Stephen. What's the matter?" Audrey asked as she came over with a worried look on her face.
"Nothing"
"Maria said you just sped up. Where did you go? And where's the car? Is it back at mine?" Audrey questioned.
Maria felt Stephen's frosty glare for a moment as she stood by David. He felt himself being stared at by them all. David was going to gloat about this for weeks, wasn't he? He was proven right. Though Stephen knew also that he would have no defence for selling her car unless he came clean about how bad his debts got. Audrey knew some of it but not the worst of it.
"I sold it...I'm sorry" Stephen admitted as he had no choice.
"You sold my car?" Audrey asked in a sad tone of voice.
"Yeah. I had to because they wouldn't let me open up my bank account without any money" Stephen said quietly.
Audrey and Gail being the only two close enough to hear. Both of them were disgusted. Audrey however was even more so as this was the first time she has seen her son like this. She looked more sad than disgusted. It wasn't about the car but what it symbolized for her. It was her way of getting around and her way of independence. Now it's just gone.
"And how much did you get?" Gail questioned him.
"I only got 500 pounds left from it" Stephen answered.
"You sold my car and now only has 500 pounds to show for it? And you didn't think to tell us how bad you were? Was...That car wasn't yours to sell" Audrey spoke with a wobbled lip.
"Sorry"
"You take away my one form of independence and it's just sorry? And here I was...Stupid old me; thinking you actually loved me. And held no grudges"
"I do love you. You're my mom. This had nothing to do with you...It was all me. Because I messed up big time" Stephen tried to say.
"Right"
"I'll pay you back. Once I get the factory up and running and the profits come rolling in. You will get double I promise"
"That might work with your business partners but not with me. You hurt me deeply today, Stephen. You sold that car before asking me for help. Which says a lot...Maybe David's right. Maybe it is just my money"
"No. Please mom. It's not about the money...I promise I'll pay you back everything with interest"
"Stop talking to me like a business partner! Talk to me with actual feeling, Stephen. You have sense, so you have feeling!" Audrey snapped.
"I'm sorry"
"Like a broken record. I don't know where your brain is at the minute, Stephen. It's probably gone where your heart has"
Though nothing to seemed to sink in almost. It was as if he had no feeling or thoughts beyond money anymore. Audrey turned around when she felt tears about to fall down. David got the cold shoulder as she walked straight past him and let herself into the salon.
...
TBC