Chapter 4 Living Nightmare In Broad Day Light!

• Valerie jolted awake to the shrill, relentless chime of notifications. Her heart hammered as she reached for her phone on the nightstand, bleary-eyed and disoriented. But as she unlocked the screen, any remnants of sleep vanished. Line after line, her banking app displayed the horrifying truth—millions of dollars had been siphoned from her accounts, cleared out in what looked like a whirlwind of transactions from the previous night. She felt her heart pound wildly, each beat louder than the last, as she tried to make sense of it.
• “No… no, this can’t be happening,” she muttered, her fingers shaking as she scrolled through the endless debits, each more crushing than the last.
• As the shock settled, a wave of nausea hit her. This was everything she had left, all she had scrabbled to keep. Without that money, she had nothing. Valerie’s mind reeled, memories of shopping sprees, extravagant parties, and meaningless luxuries flashing before her and vanishing the next second. She’d been reckless, yes, but this—this was a nightmare.
• For a long moment, she stared at the screen, paralysed. Then, as if in a daze, she tried calling the bank, but her frantic attempt led only to a recorded voice and an endless hold. She hung up, her hands clammy and her pulse racing. Her debts, already piling up, were now a monstrous weight she could no longer escape at the thought of them all. She’d borrowed, spent, and sold, and now… there was nothing left to sell. It was as though Layla’s worry caught up with her real quick.
• As the reality settled in, she realised there was only one person she could turn to. But after the way she’d ended things, would Layla even pick up? She asked her self.
• Swallowing her pride, Valerie hesitated before finally dialing Layla’s number. The phone rang once, twice… but there was no answer. Desperation mounting, she called again. On the third ring, Layla picked up, though her voice was cold, almost reluctant.
• “What do you want, Valerie?”
• Hearing the icy tone, Valerie’s voice caught. She fought the urge to cry, but panic was thick in her words. “Layla, please… I need you. I’m in trouble. I don’t know who else to call.”
• Layla’s silence on the other end was painful. After a pause, she responded, her voice wary. “In trouble? What kind of trouble?”
• “Please, just come over,” Valerie begged. “I… I don’t know how to explain it over the phone. I just… I need you here.”
• “Why should I?” Layla’s voice held a hard edge, and Valerie flinched. “After everything, you think I’m just going to drop everything to save you?”
• “Layla, please, I’m begging you,” Valerie whispered, the words escaping in a plea. “I know I messed up. I know. But this… this is different. I’m ruined. I don’t have anyone else.”
• There was a long silence, then a sigh on the other end. “Alright, Valerie,” Layla said finally, though her tone was heavy with reluctance. “I’ll come over. But this better not be one of your games.”
• “It’s not,” Valerie said, choking back a sob. “Thank you… thank you, Layla.”
• When she hung up, Valerie sank onto the bed, too many emotions rushing through her like a circuit box about to blow up, her phone clutched in her trembling hands, her heart pounding with equal parts dread and relief. She hoped Layla was coming, but as she sat there, alone in the shabby emptiness of her room, Valerie couldn’t shake the sinking feeling that her life was slipping beyond her control, and this time, she might never regain it.
• …
• The giant front door creaked open, and Layla stepped into the marble-floored foyer of Valerie’s house, only to be met with an unusual silence that seemed to drape over the house like a thick veil. The place that once echoed with opulence and activities from domestic staff almost half empty and the sounds of Valerie’s indulgent lifestyle now felt like an empty shell. She glanced around, unsure of what she’d find, but her uncertainty was quickly interrupted by Mrs Marshall, the housekeeper, who hurried toward her with a concerned look on her face.
• “Oh, Miss Layla, thank goodness you’re here,” Mrs Marshall said, wringing her hands. “I don’t know what’s happened to Miss Valerie, but she hasn’t left her room all day. I can hear her yelling and crying, and she won’t let anyone in. She’s been like this since early morning.”
• Layla’s face tightened, worry settling in her chest. She’d seen Valerie in dramatic states before, but something in Mrs Marshall’s face told her this wasn’t just another one of Valerie’s tantrums.
• “Alright, I’ll go up and check on her. Thanks, Mrs Marshall,” Layla said, giving the woman a reassuring nod before making her way up the sweeping staircase.
• Mrs Marshall followed, hovering a few steps behind, watching Layla with a mix of relief and apprehension. When they reached Valerie’s room, Layla could hear muffled sounds—a mix of choked sobs and words that didn’t quite make sense. She looked back at Mrs Marshall, who gave a small nod of encouragement, before lifting her hand and knocking firmly on the door.
• “Valerie open up, it’s me Layla!” she called out.
• A few seconds later, the door flew open. Valerie stood there, dishevelled and wild-eyed, her face puffy from crying, unwashed makeup smeared in dark streaks under her eyes. Her clothes were rumpled, and she looked nothing like the confident, glamorous Valerie everyone knew. A mildly terrifying sight for Mrs Marshall who drew symbol of the cross over her face with her right hand at the sight of Valerie and muttered; “Oh my days” under her breath. Layla’s heart sank at the sight.
• “Oh, Valerie—” Layla began, but before she could finish, Valerie grabbed her arm and yanked her inside, slamming the door shut on Mrs Marshall, who’d opened her mouth to ask if Valerie wanted her usual tea brought in. Valerie’s grip was desperate, her eyes pleading as she pulled Layla over to the bed and sat down, her hands trembling.
• “Layla, you don’t know what’s happened,” Valerie whispered, her voice broken.
• “What’s going on, Val?” Layla asked, her voice both cautious and concerned as she lowered herself beside her friend. “Mrs Marshall said you’ve been crying all day. Talk to me.”
• Valerie took a shuddering breath, her hands wringing together. “I… I was hacked, Layla. A fraudster got into my accounts, cleared me out completely.” Her voice shook, and her eyes filled with fresh tears. “Every single account. Gone. It’s millions… it was all I had left.”
• Layla’s face hardened as she absorbed Valerie’s words. “Valerie, how did this happen? I thought your accounts were secure.”
• Valerie’s gaze dropped, and she bit her lip, fabricating an explanation. “I think… I authorised some transactions without realising it. There was this link I clicked, and I thought it was legitimate. But I should have known better. I should have been more careful.”
• A sceptical look crossed Layla’s face, but she quickly masked it with sympathy. She didn’t want to believe Valerie had fallen for a scam, but given her recent carelessness, anything was possible.
• “Val, this is serious. How could you not see the warning signs?” Layla asked, trying to keep her tone gentle despite her frustration.
• Valerie looked away, her voice small and trembling. “I was desperate. I just… I needed more money. And now I’m… I’m ruined. Everything is gone.” She let out a shaky breath. “I’ve even got debts now. I don’t know what to do, Layla. I’m drowning.”
• For a long moment, Layla sat in silence, processing everything. She couldn’t ignore the sting of Valerie’s previous dismissal when she’d tried to warn her, but watching her friend unravel in front of her, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. The girl sitting beside her wasn’t the arrogant, carefree socialite she’d fought with; she was broken, terrified, and desperate.
• “What do you want to do about this?” Layla asked quietly, her voice softer now. “Have you considered your options?”
• Valerie looked at her helplessly. “I don’t even know what my options are anymore. I can’t think straight. Layla, please… just tell me what to do. I’ve messed up so badly, and I need… I need someone to guide me.”
• Layla exhaled, rubbing her temples. She hated to bring it up, but she had to be blunt. “Valerie, as much as I want to help you, you only have two real choices.” She paused, her gaze steady but sympathetic. “You could call your dad. Apologise to him, ask for his help. Maybe he’ll forgive you and help you track down this fraudster or even pay off your debts.”
• Valerie’s face twisted at the mention of her father. “No, I… I can’t go to him, Layla. He’ll have his ‘I told you so.’ moment. He’ll never let me live this down. Besides, he’s blocked me on everything. He practically said he’s done with me until I prove I can take responsibility. He turned his back on me.”
• “Alright.” Layla nodded, understanding but also firm. “Then there’s your second option: sell the house. It’s one of the only things you have left that can cover some of this. If you really can’t call your dad, then selling the house might be your only shot at escaping this mess.”
• Valerie stared at Layla as if she’d suggested jumping off a cliff. “Sell my house? Are you out of your mind? This house?” She looked around, eyes lingering on the elegant décor, the lush furnishings, fancy figurines and the memories she’d built here. “But… this is all I have left. I can’t sell it. If I sell it, I will be out on the streets”
• Layla’s gaze softened as she reached out and took Valerie’s hand. “Val, I know how much this place means to you, but you’re in serious trouble. You can’t hold onto things that are only going to drag you down further. Selling this house might be your only lifeline. And where to stay, you can take up the space in the boys’ quarters”.
• “Boys quarters??” Valerie jerked in surprise, “I will sell my mansion and live in the boy’s quarters? Layla you always give the best advice, I hope this is not you trying to get back at me for the things I said the last time”
• “This is reality Valerie, let’s face it, I don’t know what else you want me to say” Layla muttered, her eyes focus on Valerie.
• Tears filled Valerie’s eyes, tears of regret, fear and embarrassment, she looked away, unable to meet Layla’s steady gaze.
• “I never thought it would come to this. All my life, I’ve been safe. I’ve been secure. I’ve had everything handed to me, and now…” Her voice broke, and she took a shuddering breath. “Now I’m truly at rock bottom. I don’t even know who I am anymore or what to do about this situation because the minute it gets out that Valerie davis is broke, I’m done for.”
• “It won’t get to that if we act fast!” Layla said.
• Layla squeezed her hand, her own heart breaking for her friend. “Val, sometimes hitting rock bottom is what helps us see things clearly. I tried to protect you but I think you needed to experience it yourself to get a picture of what it feels like to hit rock bottom. You’ve been living in a world where everything came easily, and I know this hurts. But you’re stronger than you think. You just have to make a choice and stick with it.”
• “So what are you saying in essence?” Valerie asked again, she knew the answer that was going to come next and did not want to hear it.
• “The obvious, it’s either you call your dad or sell the house” Layla said abruptly.
• Valerie swallowed, her hands still trembling. She knew Layla was right, even if every fibre of her being rebelled against the thought of letting go of her house. She looked around the room, the chandeliers, the designer rugs, the extravagant trappings and the thought of selling off the house made her stomach rumble, she realised, perhaps for the first time, that they were nothing more than illusions of social security and nothing more, she wished she had listened to Layla but rather than sit in a puddle of her own tears, she needed to find a way out of her situation.
• “Is there way we can track the fraudster without involving dad?” Valerie asked wryly.
• “Trust me baby girl, recovering that money is going to take weeks or even months if the criminals have not already squandered it, you will need your dads contacts too, which you obviously do not have because he cut you off” Layla said, taking in a deep breath and rubbing her temple.
• Taking a shaky breath, she looked back at Layla. “Alright. I’ll think about it. Maybe… maybe you’re right.”
• Layla nodded, relief softening her expression. “Good. And whatever you decide, I’ll be here to help. But you need to act fast, Valerie. These debts aren’t going to disappear on their own. These are a lot of debts to clear up”
• They sat in silence for a moment, it was a mournful kind of silence. The room had become stuffy, so stuffy that Layla had flung the curtains open for air to come in. Valerie snaked into her bed and curled up herself, absorbing the gravity of her new reality.
• “Curling yourself up won’t solve the problem. Mrs Marshall says you have not had anything to eat all day. You will need to be in good shape to solve the issue at hand, a bag of bones wont.” Layla started, scanning through Valerie’s wardrobe; “Here! Wear this, we are going downstairs” she added, handing valerie a piece of night wear.