Authors: Joslyn Black
A Debt Paid (8 page)
Anya ran from the penthouse,
barely taking the time to grab her purse
before she left. She was crying hysterically
on the elevator ride down. When the
elevator reached the lobby, she tried to get
her phone from her purse but fumbled and
dropped it. She bent down to pick it up and
stumbled out of the elevator. The doorman
caught her before she fell on her face.
ma’am?”
She wiped her the tears from her
face. “Yes, yes, I’m fine, thank you.” She
steadied herself and walked swiftly out of
the building. The minute she got in her car,
she started it up and sped away, driving
where she didn’t know. Her mind began to
race; her thoughts were jumbled like a TV
playing multiple shows at once all on fast
forward. She couldn’t marry Calix. She just
couldn’t; it was wrong. What was she going
to do now? And what was going to happen
now that she was backing out of their deal?
Was her mother going to be in danger
again? She needed to figure things out and
fast. One thing she had to do immediately
was call her mother. She was much too
distracted and emotional to drive and talk
on the phone, so she plugged in her blue
tooth.
“Mom.”
“Yes. Anya, is there something
wrong, honey? You sound upset.”
“God, Mom, I don’t know where to
begin.” Anya just drove around the city
with absolutely no idea on where to go. She
just kept driving as she told her mother
everything. She told her about her father,
his debt, the threat against her, the deal
struck, and even how she lost her virginity.
Carol couldn’t believe what Anya
was saying. She started to cry over what
Anya had done for her.
me?”
“Mom, how could I, you can barely
function as it is. I love you, but you’re
always drunk. How was I supposed to tell
you?”
time.”
“Yes, you are, Mom.”
“No, no, honey. Oh God, I should
have told you.”
“Told me what?”
“I’ve been faking it.”
“What!” Anya screamed.
“After I tried to leave your father
and he wouldn’t let me, I started planning. I
knew I wouldn’t be able to leave him unless
I had money and a good lawyer. So, I
started hiding money away. I’d started off
small by buying clothes, jewelry and things
on the credit cards and then returned them
for cash. Always keeping the bigger
transactions below a few thousand, so it
wouldn’t draw attention. When I paid for
things, and it gave me the option for cash
back I would take small amounts out. Then
I took that money and saved. I saved until I
had enough to invest. I bought low risk
bonds via index funds. With each return, I’d
invest more. To make sure your father
didn’t think I was able to function, I made
sure he always saw me drinking or with a
drink in my hand.”
have told me. It’s been almost five years.”
“I know. I was waiting for his reelection. He won’t want a big salacious
divorce during an election year. I thought
he’d let me go easier.”
have?”
“Well, it’s not all in cash. It’s broken
up in a lot of small accounts and more than
half of it is still in bonds, but roughly,
depending on the market, almost half a
million.”
are you hiding that much money?”
Carol’s voice was calm and clear as
she laid this last bit of information on her
daughter. “Well, actually, I don’t have the
money, you do—well you and Grandma
Nancy.”
Grandma Nancy is dead.”
“I had to make sure the money
didn’t alert the IRS or trace back to me in
the off chance that your father checked. I
learned how to funnel and hide things. I
opened a couple of offshore accounts in
your name.”
“Oh God, Mom.”
“I know, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I
was really glad when Calix offered me the
trip with his mom. I started planning to go
and not come back till the divorce was
final.”
“Mom, I’m sorry, I messed up your
plans.” Anya started to sniffle and cry
again.
changed my plans.”
“You did?”
“Yes, I’ve been talking with Maria. I
told her my situation, and I was actually
going to move in and roommate with her.
She told me about her brother-in-law, you
know what I mean?”
“Well, she assured me that I
wouldn’t have any trouble with your father.
I’m moving in this weekend. Of course,
your father doesn’t know. He’s going to be
served once I’m out.”
you now that I’m not going to marry Calix?”
“Anya, you must not know Maria
very well. She doesn’t know about this,
does she?”
“Didn’t think so. She would never
have allowed Calix to do this.”
“Mom, I need to leave. I know Calix
won’t leave me alone if I stay.”
“Baby, why don’t you tell Maria?”
“No, I can’t. His uncle knows. If she
goes to him and finds out everyone knew
but her, it would cause a lot of trouble
between everyone. I–I can’t do that.”
“Okay, okay, I’m going to text you
the bank information, write it down then
delete the text. I want you to memorize the
account information then I want you to rip,
shred, burn or whatever to the paper so
that there is nothing for anyone to find. Use
as much as you need. I want to know where
you go, though. You stay in contact with
me.”
“Mom, where should I go? If I go
anywhere with family, he’ll just track me
down and come get me.”
“What about your girlfriend on the
coast? Nicole—you still talk a lot with her.
Could you go there? And, don’t worry about
your job; I’ll talk to Jim. I won’t tell him
everything, just enough so he
understands.”
“Okay, I’ll call Nicole. I don’t have
anything with me. I ran out with only my
purse. I need a plane ticket, clothes. I have
nothing.”
“Anya, calm down, you’re working
yourself up again. I’m going to go over to
Maria’s. I’ll use her computer, so there’s no
trace for your father to find. I’ll get your
ticket so there’s nothing on your bank
statement for Calix to find. When you get to
Nicole’s, you’ll pull money from the account
and buy some clothes. It’ll be okay, honey.
I’ll take care of everything. You got into this
mess trying to protect me. I’m going to get
you out of it.”
“Now listen, park your car at the
mall or a grocery store and take a cab to
the airport. If you leave it at the airport,
he’ll know you flew somewhere. Has he
tried to call you?”
beeping since we started talking.”
“When you get to the airport, turn
off your phone and put it away, don’t use it.
You can get a prepaid when you get to
Nicole’s.”
“I know I need to get away for a
while, but do you really think I have to
change my phone? Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Anya, you know who his uncle is.
You said he knew about this arrangement.
Do you think he won’t help Calix try and
find you?”
“Where are you now?”
“I don’t really know. I’ve just been
driving. I haven’t really been paying
attention.”
“Okay, I’m going to go to Maria’s
now. I’ll tell your father I’m having a late
dinner with her. Go to the airport. I’ll get
you on the next flight out. Southwest
always has seats open.”
her runny nose with the back of her hand.
“Honey, I love you. It’s going to be
okay.”
“I love you, too, Mom.”
“I’ll text you the flight information
as soon as I book the flight. Stay calm,
baby.”
“Bye, honey.”
Anya hung up. She looked around to
see where she had driven to. She used Seri
to find the closest shopping mall. As soon
as she knew where she was and where she
was going, she called Nicole. She couldn’t
remember what the time difference was.
She didn’t want to disturb her if it was too
late, but then again this was an urgent
matter. The phone rang five times before
she picked up.
“Hello.”
“Nicole?”
“Yes, hey, Anya, is that you?”
“Yes, I’m sorry if I’m calling too late
or woke you.”
“No, no, it’s fine. I haven’t gone to
bed yet. Actually, I just got home. My shift
at the hospital ran over. Girl, are you
crying?”
Calix was going nuts. He’d been so
shocked by Anya running out that he didn’t
think to grab hold of her and not let her
leave. By the time his brain kicked in, she
was out the door, and he was bare assed
naked and couldn’t chase after her. When
he finally threw clothes on and got down to
the lobby, she was gone. He’d been calling
her over and over again, but she wouldn’t
pick up. He called her parents’ house, but
she wasn’t there. Richards had answered
the phone. Carol was at Calix’s mom’s
house. If anyone knew where she was, it
was Carol, but she wasn’t answering her
cell either. He couldn’t wait for her to
answer his message. He was going over to
his mother’s.
He got to his mother’s within
minutes and knocked on her door non-stop
till she opened it.
bambino (my son), where’s the fire?”
His was rushed in his answer.
“Sorry, Mom, I need to talk to Carol. Is she
still here?”
wrong?”
“Nothing, Mom. I just need to talk to
Carol.”
“Calix Vincenzo Anastas, you tell me
what’s wrong, right now.” She hit him on
his chest as she spoke.
Calix huffed. “Uh Anya and I had a
misunderstanding, and she left. She ran
out, and she’s not answering her cell. I
don’t know where she is. I need to talk to
Carol.”
“I’m right here, Calix.” Carol’s voice
was cold, nearly void of all emotion but
anger.
Calix turned to see Carol walking
into the foyer. “Oh, Carol, have you heard
from Anya tonight?”
Carol crossed her arms over her
chest and glowered at him and was very
clipped in her answer. “Yes.”
toward Carol. “Thank God, where is she?”
“Maria, can I have a moment alone
with Calix, please?”
Maria looked back and forth
between Carol and Calix. She was unsure if
she should leave them alone at all. She
could tell something was very wrong, but
they intended to keep her out of the loop.
“Oh, okay, I’ll just be in the dining room,
clearing the table.”
She looked one more time in Calix’s
direction and pointed a finger at his chest.
“If you’ve done something stupid, you
better make it right, do you hear me? Mi hai
sentito (Do you hear me)?” she finished
harshly.
Then she left them alone. Carol
waited till she was sure Maria was not
within hearing distance.
“Shut up!” she hissed. “You are a
lying bastard.”
Calix didn’t believe he heard her
correctly. “Wh–What?” he stammered.
Confused by her sudden fierceness.
“You heard me. Anya told me
everything; how you used her fear for my
safety to force her in this relationship, how
you raped her on your desk.”
Calix was struck dumb. He had no
words, but in his head he was cursing at
himself.
“Carol, please, let me explain.”
“No, you listen, you are going leave
my daughter alone. This wedding is
cancelled, and if you don’t leave her alone,
if you try to find her, I will tell your mother
everything. I know your underhanded
uncle knows about this, and if he asks you
why things ended, you’re going to tell him
you changed your mind.”
Calix was pulling at his hair. He
couldn’t believe this was happening. He
tried to plead with her, “Carol, please, you
don’t understand; I didn’t mean to hurt her,
and I haven’t done anything that she hasn’t
wanted since that morning. Carol, please, I
love her.”
Carol actually shook her head and
laughed sardonically. “You love her? Please,
you don’t rape the woman you love.”
“You weren’t there. I know I was
wrong. I snapped when she, when
she…”Calix quit speaking as his mother
started walking towards them.
Calix face was somber. He had the
look of a broken man.
“Calix, honey?”
He turned to Carol one last time
before he answered. Carol was serious; she
wasn’t going to tell him where Anya was.
Her eyes grew big, and she reached
for his arm. “What? What do you mean it’s
off?”
She looked to Carol for an answer.
But Carol was silent and turned her head to
look in another direction.
“I–I messed up big, and Anya left.
She’s not going to come back to me. I need
to leave. I’ll talk to you later, Mom.” He
turned and left without saying goodbye or
shutting the door behind him.
Maria walked behind Calix and
stood at the open door, watching him get in
his car and leave. As he pulled out of her
driveway, she closed the door. Standing
with her back to Carol for a minute, she
gathered her words.
haven’t we?”
Carol dropped her arms and relaxed
her stance. “Yes.”
“And you’ve told me about Tomas,
and I’ve told you about Vito, so we trust
each other, right?”
Maria looked Carol square in the
eye.
“Then, don’t lie to me, or keep things
from me. What is going on with Anya and
Calix?”
Carol couldn’t look Maria in the eye.
She dropped her head and looked at the
floor. Her voice was quiet and strained. “I
can’t, Maria, it’s for Anya’s safety.”
would never hurt Anya.”
“He already has,” Carol mumbled.
“Carol, please.”
“Oh, Maria, fine, but we need to sit
down for this.”
Carol lead Maria to the couch, sat
down, held her friend’s hand, and told her
everything Anya had told her.
Maria was bewildered. She started
to cry. Her son couldn’t have done this, and
Vito would never approve of her son
hurting a woman. Vito did a lot of things,
but he and everyone in his ‘Family’ would
never hurt a woman. That was just not
done. She began shaking her head in denial.
“No, Calix couldn’t have hurt her that way.
He loves her. I know he does. If you only
knew the way he was before Anya. She’s
lightened his heart.”
“Anya didn’t tell me all the details,
she just told me he had forced himself on
her. She was a virgin, Maria, and he wasn’t
gentle; it wasn’t a misunderstanding that
he took her by force.”
saw she was happy.”
“She said she just blocked out that
first day and that this evening when she
took a home pregnancy test that’s when it
all came crashing back, so she got dressed
and ran out of the penthouse.”
“No, it was negative. She left, and
she’s not coming back, not for a long while
because she’s scared of Vito. I gave her
access to my account. Even I don’t know
exactly where she is.”
“Oh God, Carol, I just can’t believe
this. How do I apologize to you, to Anya? I
just can’t believe he would hurt her. I know
my son…at least, I thought I knew him.”
“Look, I know all this is a shock. It
was a shock to me, and I’m sorry, this is
why I didn’t want to tell you.”
“You threatened him, didn’t you?
Threatened to tell me if he didn’t leave her
alone and cancel the wedding.”
Maria was so upset; she just covered
her face and continued to cry.
Carol wasn’t sure whom she felt
sorrier for, Anya for the pain she suffered,
herself for not protecting her daughter, or
Maria whose son had done all this. “Maria,
the wedding is off. Why don’t we leave for
Italy early? I know the earlier we leave the
better. You’re going to need time to process
this. I’m going to need time, and I really
want to leave Tomas. Anya only told me
about this a couple of hours ago. Anya was
crying so much I only got half of what she
said. I need to talk to her and get the whole
story and to get her counseling if she needs
it. You know, I blame myself; she did this
for me, trying to protect me. If I had been
honest with her and told her my plans, it
never would have happened.”
Maria sat up and pulled Carol in for
a hug. “I’m sorry, Carol. It’s not your fault. I
didn’t raise my son to do things like this,
you know. You’re right, we should leave
early. I don’t think I could face Calix or Vito
for a while.”