CHAPTER 3

Uncle Ryan... I smiled.He would hold me tight till I slept. "It's okay, my love. It will soon stop".With tears in my eyes, I would look into his blue eyes."When, when will it stop?", I would ask.He gave me that smile that came with a reassurance, pulling the duvet up to my chest.

"Soon. Pretty soon. When you grow up to becoming an adult, you will have to choose. Either you want to be a part of this kinda lifestyle, or you want out. Go to sleep, so that you can grow well", he said, kissing me on my forehead.

Uncle Ryan was like a father to me. Being daddy's baby girl, didn't imply that I shared a good relationship with my father. He gave me luxurious things, but he was never the kind of father I wanted.I missed him, Uncle Ryan. I heard he was murdered five years ago. I was heartbroken because, I didn't get to see him before he died. I was just 11yrs old when I left America for Russia.

"We are here", Billy announced, parking in front of a building.I peered through the window, it wasn't as pretty as I expected it to be.We got into the building and he showed me around, I wasn't pleased. We left, going from one location to another.Each apartment was better than the previous, still none of them suites what I had in mind. They were either too simple or under-serviced.We got into the car. It was Evening already and yet, no apartment piques my interest.

I sighed,"We could call it a day and continue tomorrow", I said."Miss Blake, there is one more place I want you to see. I bet you, you gonna like it", he said.I rolled my eyes,"But you've already shown me a lot of finer apartments. How are you so sure I am going to like this one?", I asked, checking the time on my wristwatch. It's almost 8pm."Trust me. It's one of the many exclusive apartments we reserve for the big shots", he said.Really?.He thinks I am some kinda plebeian or what.If only he knew who I really was."Okay. You won. Take me there", I said.We drove for a while,my eyes skimming through the skyscrapers. As usual, night life in the city was always rosy.

People on the street, going about their businesses. In every corner, stood cliques of hoodlums or gangsters. Either they were hooking up to sell illegal stuffs or they were just hanging out.Some things don't change. No matter how hard the government tries to fight it, it can't be eradicated from the system.The car pulled up in front of a tall skyscraper. The building looked really really nice and I appreciated the exterior view. The beautiful bushes and ornamental plants that surrounded it. The glassy entrance and I could see, it had an underground parking lot."I hope it is worth it, Billy", I said, unlatching the seat belt."If it isn't, I will take off 200 bucks from the initial rent.

That way, I am the one losing", he said, grinning as he stepped down from the car.I came out, staring at the house. It better worth it, it can't just be pretty for nothing.We moved in, taking the elevator up. We got to the 31st floor, walking down the hallway.

I must confess, the hallway was beautiful and neatly decorated with portraits and flower vases. The tiled floor was an attraction and I could see my reflection in it.We got to a door with the initials 3117 written on it. He took out the keys and then opened the door. "Ladies first", he said ushering me in.I moved in, looking around the place.This is definitely what I was looking for. Spacious and comfortable. Well serviced with fairly expensive furnitures. "How do you see it,ma'am?",he asked."It is...",I took a walk to the kitchen. I was impressed, exactly how I wanted my kitchen to look like. A broad rectangular Formica work table in the middle with a modern eight burner gas cooker in one corner. A dishwasher, hanging cabinets, double door refrigerator and many others. I smiled, stepping out of the kitchen."How much is it?",i asked, walking towards a door at the far end."$7500 ma'am", he replied."Cash or transfer?",i asked, opening the door."Transfer will be nice, ma'am", he replied.I was convinced in my heart that I will be settling in this place and I don't need any other apartment. I took out my phone, we did every necessary transactions. I signed the documents and then, he handed me some and also the keys.

"Nice doing business with you. I hope you find this place a befitting home for yourself", he said."I do. Its beautiful", I said.We shook hands, and then he left. I smiled contentedly, turning around slowly as I admired the big living room. "Finally, I get to live alone and away from my father. No one gets to order me around and no one gets to control me again", I said to myself.