Scattering Lilac Ashes

Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen

"Where's Mum?" Daniel asked immediately upon entering.

"Getting some tea," Lila replied, watching her Dad take a seat in his desk chair with a heavy sigh.

"Tea sounds excellent," her Dad said warmly. "Especially since this sounds incredibly serious."

As though his words summoned Lila's Mum, she appeared with a tray full of cups, a pitcher of milk and a teapot. Asher instantly crossed the room to her, collecting the tray from her hands.

"Oh, thank you," she smiled, though her tone was incredibly surprised. "You didn't have to."

"This is pretty heavy," Asher replied, setting it down on an empty space on Lila's Mum's desk. "Thank you for preparing it."

"You're most welcome," Lila's Mum beamed pleasantly. There was silence, except for the clattering of teacups and liquid being poured before Lila's Mum took a seat. There weren't any more chairs in the study, but Lila didn't mind standing. She placed her teacup on one of the filing cabinets before turning her attention to Daniel. Everyone else also started looking expectantly at Daniel.

The shakiness of his hands almost forced some tea out of his teacup, and he placed it on top of the filing cabinet as well, wiping his hands anxiously on his pants.

"Uh, hi," he said, his face looking extraordinarily pallid.

"Hello," Lila's Dad stated with a nod. The corners of Lila's mouth twitched, but she managed to suppress her impending snort.

"I... uh... have something to tell you," Daniel continued, glancing at Lila. She smiled encouragingly at him and he took a deep breath.

"I've... been running a business."

"Oh," Lila's Dad blinked, setting down his teacup. "What kind of business?"

Daniel placed his hands over his eyes for a moment before answering. "It... started really small... where I was lending money to a friend. Then, it got a lot bigger, after I realised a lot of people wanted to borrow money too. I also went into, um, delivery services. Like, for lunch, my employees-" Lila's Dad spluttered, but Daniel soldiered on, "-they take orders for Uber Eats and bring the deliveries back and hand them out."

The room was unsettlingly quiet as Daniel's words seemed to hang unnecessarily long in the air.

"So... you're a loan shark?" Lila's Dad finally murmured. Daniel lowered his hands and nodded.

"At school?" Lila's Mum's question was sharp and wavering with poorly hidden anger.

"... Yes."

"Do they know?" Lila's Mum's eyes were narrowed, as though she already knew the answer.

"No... not yet. Kinda. It's, um, underground," Daniel replied, twisting his hands together. Lila's Mum's eyes flashed, and she made to stand before Lila's Dad spoke.

"Now, Edith," his voice was a measured warning. "Let's hear him out before we get too hasty. Son, how much money are we talking?"

Daniel looked uneasily at Lila and Asher, who both nodded. He inhaled slowly before passing over the notebooks to his Dad.

"Here," he said quietly. "This... was my last notebook before-" he cut himself off, pressing his lips together tightly.

"Before?" Lila's Dad looked up at Daniel over the rim of his glasses, the books still unopened.

Daniel shot Asher another uneasy look.

"It's okay, Daniel," Asher said softly. "Don't worry about me."