𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓯 ⇏ 𝐛𝐚𝐳𝐳𝐢

FIVE

VENUS

{SEPTEMBER 1st, 2020}

"LISA'S BEAUTY SALON, how can I help you today?" I questioned as I picked up the phone for the thirtieth time today.

no one answered and then hung up after twenty seconds of silence, "well fuck you too." i muttered, putting down the phone.

"woah, hey, hey, stop with the profanity young lady." my co worker, eeshana, joked throwing a candy wrapper at me. i laughed softly and picked up the wrapper, throwing it back at her. "now whats up with all this hostility today miss girl?" she cocked her eyebrow at me.

"baby daddy drama, i bet $10 on it." hikari, my other co worker walked over sitting down in front of us. "am i right?" he raised his eyebrow, looking at me, causing me to sigh and mumble a small 'yes' "sweetheart, you gotta stop letting this man get to you." he spoke, resting his hand on my shoulder.

eeshana nodded, agreeing, "i agree. it's affecting your mental health, imagine what its doing to mateo."

"i know. . . i'm just so. . . lost? what do i do?" i looked down.

"be straight up." hikari shrugged, "and be serious. tell him if his son isn't his number one priority, to stop coming around period. its better to have no father than one who comes and goes as they please. . ."

i nodded "you're right. . . i'm tired of seeing my son in pain." i said pulling my phone out, "i'll text him right now to meet me after work." i typed a quick text and sent it.

TO: caleb
are you busy at 6:30?

"and sent." i clicked my phone off, tucking it back in my pocket. the chime went off above our front door, signaling that someone was here. all three or us looked and i almost gagged.

it was my mother.

"mom?" i questioned, standing up, walking towards her, "what are you doing here?"

"well that's not how you greet your mother, now is it?" she laughed lightly, setting her purse down on the counter that was in between the both of us. "how's your son? um... what's his name... mathew?" she pondered.

"mateo." i corrected her bluntly. "he's amazing." i crossed my arms.

"yes! that's it, mateo..." she trailed off looking around. "nice place you're working at, i love the pink aesthetic that's going on he—."

"cut the shit violet." i cut her off, standing up straight. "what are you here for?"

she laughed lightly, "venus, i'm not here for anything. what would make you think that?" she looked me in my eyes. it was like looking at an older version of myself. out of all my siblings, i look like her the most. my mother was a beautiful woman; at one point.

"well i know that you know about our inheritance from dad." i cleared my throat.

"and the sack of shit didn't leave me a dime." she mumbled.

"you aren't getting money, violet. i don't have shit to give you. dad didn't leave me a lot, it all went to my son." i turned away from her, grabbing the broom and beginning to sweep.