Chapter 3 Spare Me The Lecture

• Valerie heard Layla calling her from the bedroom. She took a deep breath, straightened herself, and rushed out, her voice rising with panic as she neared Layla.
• “Layla, my life is over!” she cried, running into the room. “BeeLuxury Fashion House just sent me an invoice for forty-five thousand dollars. Forty-five thousand! I don’t even remember ordering anything, and now Bernice Rosetta’s calling and expecting payment!”
• Layla’s eyes widened as she took in Valerie’s frantic state. “From one problem to the other from one crazy night! You know what? Val, calm down,” she said, though the shock on her face was clear. “Forty-five thousand dollars? That’s insane! Look, let’s just think for a moment—maybe I can help. How much do you actually need?”
• “All of it,” Valerie said, her voice desperate. “And I was hoping maybe you could lend it to me? Just until I figure something out…”
• Layla’s face softened, but she shook her head. “Val, I love you, but I don’t even have half of that in my account. Forty-five thousand is… a lot. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
• Valerie’s shoulders slumped as she sank onto the bed beside her friend, feeling the reality of her situation close in on her. “Then what am I supposed to do, Layla? It’s either I find that money or Bernice will probably blacklist me from every exclusive boutique in the city, she would call me out on social media! Billionaire hairess and influencer, Valeria Davis an insufferable debtor!! Check that!”
• “Okay blacklisting you would be fine for now but calling you out would be messy, is she threatening to do that already?” Layla asked.
• “Not yet, but she might be. I’m loosing my mind!”
• “Have you tried calling your dad?” Layla asked again only to be met with Valeria’s red shot eyes; she knew what was coming next.
• “What do you mean calling my dad—he’s already cut me off!” Valeria yelled, grabbing one of her pillows to her self, “How could he do this to me! I thought he loved me!”
• Layla took a deep breath, not knowing what to say. she glanced around the room, as if the answer might be hidden somewhere. Then she looked back at Valerie with a thoughtful expression. “Well, I hate to say it, but… maybe it’s time to sell one of your cars. I mean, you have four, and two of them are just sitting in the garage collecting dust. A quick sale would cover this debt and give you some breathing room because I’d hate to be in your shoes right now”
• Valerie’s eyes widened. “Sell my car? You are ridiculous!”
• “The blog headlines will be more ridiculous and scandalous, I’m sure you don’t want to deal with that!” Layla fired.
• “But... those cars are special! Dad gave them to me on my birthdays…”
• “I know, Val,” Layla said gently. “But we’re talking about survival here, not sentimentality. You need cash fast, and this might be the quickest way.”
• Valerie paused, considering the thought, and sighed. “Fine. Let’s do it. Do you know anyone who could set up a quick, discreet sale?” as though rethinking her thought, she added, “I really hate that I’m doing this”
• Layla nodded, pulling out her phone. “I actually know a guy who specialises in this. He can get you a good price and move fast, no questions asked.”
• Valerie bit her lip, the idea of parting with one of her prized cars tugging at her. But Layla’s steady gaze reminded her that she didn’t have the luxury of hesitation. She nodded, her decision made. “Alright, get in touch with him. The sooner, the better.”
• Layla faintly smiled reassuringly, already typing away on her phone. “Don’t worry, Val. We’re going to get through this. Just one car, and you’ll be back on track. Hopefully this would put an end to this chaos, we’d discuss about your dad afterwards. Everything will be fine.”
• Valerie managed a weak smile, hoping that Layla was right.
• In the weeks that followed, Valerie’s life had, in her eyes, returned to its rightful place. A few moments of financial crisis were nothing she couldn’t manage, she thought. A few times she had been tempted to call her dad but she liked the independent lifestyle she had now, away from his constant nagging and scrutiny, she was that girl, independent and free. She was once again basking in the luxury she adored, hosting elegant dinners and hangouts, slipping in and out of designer heels, and shopping in her favourite boutiques. The fact that she’d sold one car, and then another, to sustain her lifestyle didn’t bother her at all; for what it’s worth, it felt like a necessary sacrifice to stay on top of things, from one club to another, one party to another. Every sale was another thrilling surge of cash, another escape from the financial reality her father had thrust upon her.
• While everything seemed to be going on just the way Valerie wanted, Layla on the other hand was terrified for her. She watched her friend drain her resources, auctioning off car after car, selling her designer bags to yet again purchase another designer bag, her prized jewellery, even a rare watch her father had gifted her on her 21st birthday. Valerie was slipping away from reason, and every time she called to tell Layla about her latest purchase, her carefree attitude only deepened Layla’s concern. The car sale was supposed to be a onetime thing but has now escalated into something else and Valerie was obviously losing it.
• One evening, Valerie had returned from yet another shopping spree, her arms loaded with bags from Chanel, Versace, and Louis Vuitton. She walked through the house as if on a runway, dropping her things on the kitchen island with a satisfied sigh.
• Layla, who’d been waiting for her, took in the scene with a tight-lipped frown. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before speaking.
• “Valerie, we need to talk.” Her tone was cold and firm, though her eyes were pleading.
• Valerie paused, turning to her friend with a breezy, bemused smile. “About what?” she asked, tossing her coat over the back of a chair.
• Layla approached, glancing at the pile of designer bags on the counter. “About this.” She gestured to the bags. “You’ve been selling off your things one by one just to keep living like this. Val, you’ve got to start cutting down on your spending before you hit rock bottom.”
• Valerie laughed, a bitter, dismissive sound. “I’m fine, Layla. This is what I want. I’m living my life. You should be happy for me”
• “What is here to be happy about? Selling one luxury item to buy another, you should be thinking about ways to sustain what you have till your dad comes around” Layla queried with her hands akimbo.
• “No! I’m not asking my dad for a dime, and he will come around by the time he see’s I’m doing just fine without him, he cut me off, so I will be fine without him and as regarding my incessant shopping spree? It’s not ending any time soon” Valeria firmly said.
• Layla shook her head, her voice rising with frustration. “Valerie, this isn’t sustainable! You’re literally emptying your life out and it’s painful to see, Yes I supported you with selling the car at first but it was just to solve the initial problem with finances but it appears I have open a can of worms and have let the gates of hell loose because my friend is about to empty her house just to keep up with appearance, trying to please people that don’t give two flying fucks about her. I can’t stand by and watch you ruin yourself, draining every last bit of your savings and assets just to keep up!”
• Valerie’s eyes flashed, her voice suddenly icy. “Oh, here we go. Spare me the lecture, Layla.” She folded her arms, her chin tilted defiantly. “I don’t need your advice. You’re not my mother, alright? I know exactly what I’m doing.”
• “Val, you’re being reckless! You’re selling things that meant something to you. Do you even realise how much you’ve sacrificed just to buy more things you don’t need?” Layla’s voice was rising now, her face flushed with frustration. She took a breath, trying to keep her calm. “I’m only trying to help you, Valerie. I don’t want to watch you destroy everything you have considering the situation between you with you and your dad”.
• “You know what? I don’t even know who is worse, you or my dad, your both just want to control me, leave me the fuck alone!” Valerie yelled.
• “I even regret helping you sell the first car if I’d known it would turn into this.” Layla muttered under her breath.
• Valerie’s face was stormy as she glared back at her friend. “If my spending is such an issue, then maybe you should just mind your own god damn business. You don’t understand. Do you? This is my life, and I’ll live it the way I want.”
• Layla shook her head, her voice low and filled with disappointment. “You’re right, I don’t understand, Valerie. I don’t understand why you’re willing to throw everything away just to prove some point. And if this is what you want, fine. But don’t come running to me when there’s nothing left to sell.”
• Valerie flinched, anger flashing in her eyes, her lips void of words to say. Layla grabbed her bag and stormed towards the door; the room fell into silence. The click of the door echoed through the empty house, and Valerie was left alone, standing in the midst of her luxury purchases. She clenched her fists for some seconds before gathering the bags and heading upstairs, her heart pounding as Layla’s words echoed in her mind.