You Are Mine

We both turned toward the direction of the door when we heard a car stopped in front of my house. It was Charlie, my manager and my friend.

He went directly inside and hugged me.

"Sorry, I had to deal with the director of that commercial we are about to shoot, how's everything?', he said and turned to Joseph.

He squeezed my hand, silently asking who the man in the middle of my living room is.

"Ummm, Charlie, this is Joseph, Joseph, this is Charlie, my manager", I said and squeezed his hand.

Joseph's gaze fell on our hands and a smirk can be seen in his face.

I thought I heard him say "just as I thought" but I did not pay any attention to it now.

I took Charlie to sit on the couch. Joseph followed us and sit on the couch opposite us.

"Ahm, Charlie I might be away for a couple of week', I started to explain but Joseph interrupted me by saying:

"You will move to D City permanently so you have to cancel all your appointments and if you would like to sell this house, I can help you arrange that", he said.

"What?", Charlie and I exclaimed in unison.

"Joseph, I cannot just leave everything here. I have so many debts to pay due to grandpa's hospitalization. I need to work as hard as I could. I cannot just leave just like that", I said with a high pitch.

"Mr Joseph, I am her manager. What you are saying is impossible. I cannot allow that to happen", Charlie added.

"How much is it to cancel your contract with your agency and manager?", Joseph asked as if he did not hear Charlie.

"I cannot afford to pay it. You don't have any right to tell me what to do. I will agree to go to D City but not permanently", I told him angrily.

"Wait a minute, Christine is my talent and I cannot just let her go", Charlie protested.

"I have already looked into your contract and it will be ending this month but I am still willing to compensate you regardless of the fact", Joseph replied with a stern look on his face.

"Actually, I already have someone settle your contract with your agency and paid all your debts", he continued casually.

My jaw dropped at his statement and looked at Charlie. Charlie sensed that Joseph is not someone he can deal with, he sighed and looked at me.

"I also learned that this house is about to be seized by the bank. So basically, there is nothing for you here. Now that your grandpa had passed away, there is no reason for you to stay here", he said as he stood up and went to the window with his back on us.

I felt like screaming after realizing what he had done. He is pushing me to the edge. I basically now have a huge debt on him and I don't have anything to pay him. It is true that I have used this house to borrow money from the bank to support grandpa. Although I am already making so many ramp and commercial ads but it was not enough. I was only given a week by the bank to relocate.

"What is your decision?', Charlie asked me as he hold my hands. I felt the sharp gaze from Joseph who had already turned to face us.

Charlie has been good to me. He has been with me from when I started to work as a model but I know no matter how hard I work I will not be able to pay all of my debts and take the house back from the bank. I am simply broke.

But Joseph, he was cold to me the entire time I was in D City. But what am I supposed to expect?I don't have much choice left. I am in-debted to him and I would also want to at least pay my father a respect plus there is Claire. She has nothing to do with all of it. Even if Celine did not treat me like a family, She was still part of my family and Claire is my sister.

"I have to go", I said after some thinking.

"It may be the best for now. I thank you for all the you have done for me", I said sadly and tears are attempting to fall from my eyes.

Charlie just stared at me and squeezed my hands, hoping that I would change my mind. But I have already decided.

After a few minutes of chatting and making sure that I will be ok, Charlie bade goodbye. I walked him out the house and waved goodbye as he drove his car out of the gate. Its already 7:00 in the evening and I need to pack my things.

I went back inside and saw Joseph standing in the middle of the living room with his hands inside his pocket and his eyes looking intently at me. His face is blank and I cannot tell what he is thinking.

We stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds before I walked towards my room.

"I will just be packing my things", I said before I opened the door.

I shut the door and locked it from the inside. My knees started to wobble. I leaned on the door and slowly fall on the floor. All the emotions I have held earlier are now starting to claim my mind and body. I small sob escaped my throat and tears flowed freely.

I cried for quite some time. Not aware that joseph was on the other side of the door and can clearly hear me crying. He felt his heart being torn apart at my sobs. He knocked on the door to remind me that a plane is waiting for us.

"Be right there", I said and hurriedly stood up. I wiped my tears away. I took a suitcase and filled it with just the clothes I need. I opened the drawer on my right where I put all the important things for me like cash, jewelry and passport.