Chapter 1

"30 000?",Jessica Bale screeched over the phone. It was a debt collector,his voice came booming through the telephone. She could hear the aggressiveness in his voice and knew this was no empty threats. For many months, Jessica was addicted to gambling. It started of with a few hundreds. At first she won a few Hundreds here and there. The thrill and excitement had her betting more and more each time whether she was winning or losing. She loved the adrenaline rush it gave her. Before she knew it, she was neck deep in debt. She hung up the telephone and held her head in her short stumpy hands. She did not want her husband Andrew Bale to find out. He thought she was at the gym doing woman's yoga every Friday night. How was she going to explain this to him. She nervously bit her nails as she tried to think, pacing around the room. Her heart was pounding,as she recalls the man's every word. They had said if she did not pay by this Saterday, they would be paying her a personal visit. She knew she could not allow this. They were hooligans. She watched them at the gambling table all too often. She also knew that the last person that did not settle their debt, did not see the sunrise. She shivered thinking about it. These men couldn't be bribed. They didn't settle for payment in kind, nor did they except favors. She knew she was in a mess. Jessica felt like kicking herself. She wished she would have listened to her inner voice to stop. She had 3 days to rake up 30 000 Rands. "Where on earth would a housewife like me find 30 000 Rands?", she thought out aloud as she circled the room. She looked in her jewelry box which was almost empty. She had already pawned a few items to settle her previous debts. She picked up her wedding ring and then dropped it back inside the case. It was too sentimental to her to pawn. How would she escape questioning about her wedding ring from her husband? Her stomach was knotted and beads of sweat now covered her forehead as she sat thinking of a way out. She woke up of her soft bed and almost ran to her husband's wardrobe. " I am pretty sure he has hid away some money for a rainy day. Today is a rainy day", Jessica thought as she rummaged through his coat pockets only to find a few hundred. It wasn't much but it was a start. She stared at the notes in her hand and began to count. "450 Rands, only!", she wanted to scream ungratefully but instead crumpled up the green bills and pushed it back into her husband's coat pocket. It wasn't his fault she had a gambling problem. It wasn't his fault that she has now landed herself in a tight spot. She wanted so badly to blame someone else for her own mess. Jessica sat on her bed, crossing her legs. She had no idea where she was going to rake up 30 000 rands from but she knew she had only three days. " If he had shown me the attention I deserved so much, I wouldn't have given in to gambling", the devil on her shoulder spoke. Jessica chuckled loudly, "who am I kidding, blaming my hard working, loving husband!!! Am I gone that desperate and shallow to blame the love of my life for my mess ups". Jessica still could not wrap her head around the 30 000 rands owed by her. She knew no bank would grant her a loan to pay her debt. And how would she even pay the loan back. She needed to make money. Selling cakes would not get her the money she needed in three days. She had a better shot at selling her body instead. But who would want an old prune like her. She was already in her late fiftys, out of shape and getting wrinkles. She was no longer pleasing to the eye as she was twenty years ago. Her eyes glistened as she thought of how slim she was with her delicate curves, rosey red plump lips and firm skin. Child birth had given her a belly, stretch marks and vericose veins,but she stared thoughtfully in the mirror. She wouldn't have it any other way. She lived her daughter, Claire who is the splitting image of her. Claire was now eighteen years old and had started her very first job. She thought of asking Claire for the money but how could she burden her own child. She knew Claire would try her very best to help her but it was too much of a trouble to place on her shoulders. Jessica looked at the big gold and brown grandfather clock in the corner of her bedroom. It was already four o clock in the afternoon. She knew she had to prepare dinner. Claire would be home by five o clock and she is usually exhausted and starving as soon as she walks through the door. Her husband, Andrew would be home at six o clock sharp. She shook off her troubles and freshened up before heading to the kitchen. It was a large, fully furnished kitchen. Fitted with the most expensive, exquisite wood in Africa. The dark chocolate color wood against the white tiles and gold trims made it look antique and classy. Jessica loved the life she lived. She cooked a stewed mutton with dumplings, trying 5o concentrate on everything else but her problems.It was already five o clock and as usual Claire barged through the living room door, threw her bag on the couch, kicked of her shoes and walked over to her mum and gave her a hug. Claire hugged her in a tight embrace," Dick, my boyfriend will be joining us for dinner today mom, I hope you don't mind".Jessica smiled and welcomed him. They were quite familiar with each other since he lived next door. "I am going to have a shower, see you guys in a bit", Claire spoke over her shoulder as she went upstairs to her room.