Love is Suffering

 

Chapter 1

The numbers slowly moved up in the casino elevator. His parents, both prolific gamblers, left him in mounds of debt to the casino owner. Oliver didn’t know much about this man, although he was aware that the original owner had since retired and left the entire business to his 21-year-old son Sebastian. The light finally blinked 23 and Oliver stepped out into an office filled with people, all too busy to acknowledge his presents. Oliver approached one of these people, a young woman in a tight skirt with wavy brown hair and thick-rimmed glasses.

            “Excuse me”, he choked out. Her eyes stayed content on the small phone in her hands, unaware of the boy standing in front of her. “Excuse me”, he said a bit louder.

Her head shot up, clearly annoyed at the interruption. “Yes”, she said sternly.

            “I, um, I’m looking for Sebastian Mitchell’s office”.

The woman stared at him for a moment then pointed to a pair of massive glass doors. Her eyes drifted back to her phone before Oliver could thank her. He slowly walked to the doors, his heart beating like hammer. He knocked on the door, feeling the eyes of all of the office employees on him. It swung open to reveal a handsome man in a suit more expensive than most homes. Without saying anything, he stepped aside, allowing Oliver into the lavish office.

            “Oliver Lawrence, is it?” he said, examining the boy.

            “Yes”, Oliver said his throat growing dry.

Sebastian pointed to the chair across his desk as he sat down in his seat. Oliver took a minute to study his surroundings: bookshelves lined the walls, clearly decorative since some of the books seemed to have never been opened. A massive window behind Sebastian looked out on the city, which Oliver hated so much. Bright lights mockingly twinkled over the mountainous skyscrapers, polluting the sky until not a star was left.

            “How can I help you, Oliver?” Sebastian’s icy grey eyes fixated on the boy, as if he was trying to read his mind.

            “Um, my parents Julia and Peter Lawrence had some business with your father. I’m here to settle it”.

Sebastian’s eyes widened and a nasty grin spread across his face, “You’re Peter’s kid? No shit!” He exclaimed, “How old are you?”

            “18”, Oliver said quietly.

            “18!” Sebastian repeated to himself. “You know, you look just like your mom”.

            “You knew my parents?” Oliver leaned forward in his chair, tightly gripping his hands together.

            “Yeah I knew your parents”, Sebastian said as if to almost reminisce. “My father talked about them all the time. Almost drove us to bankruptcy you know”.

            “That’s why I’m here. I’ve been getting notices, ever since they died, regarding some debt”.

            “Alright”, Sebastian began, “and what do you plan to do about it?”

Oliver hesitated, “Well, I’d like to repay as much as I can”.

            Sebastian look at him for a moment then shook his head, “It’s not the kind of debt you can just repay”, his voice grew deeper and quieter, “Your parents caused a lot of damage here you know”.

            “What can I do?” Oliver could feel worry creeping up in him.

Sebastian shrugged and paused, looking around the room, “Have you ever worked in a club?” he finally said.

            Oliver shook his head and gripped his hands tighter.

“Well, we have a bartending position open. It doesn’t require much skill but if you work long and hard enough, I think we can work something out”.

            Oliver nodded his head, “Okay I’ll do it”.