Chapter 9 EVERYTHING SUCKS

Chapter 9: Everything Sucks

Tasha collapsed onto her bed, overwhelmed by tears. Her life seemed to be spiraling out of control, with everything unfolding at a dizzying pace.

She felt frustrated, exhausted, and utterly defeated. In her mind, her life was the worst it could possibly be – two failures in a row was a devastating blow, and she couldn't help but wonder if things could get any worse.

"Mom, I only came back to Mexico to fulfill your last wish, but everything is already so overwhelming. Can you believe I've had to deal with not one, but two rude clients right from the start? I'm so frustrated, and my dislike for this place is growing by the minute," Tasha said, her voice cracking with emotion.

"Why can't I be like everyone else, mom? I just want to be happy and fulfilled. Is that too much to ask?" She wiped away tears streaming down her cheeks, feeling defeated and hopeless.

"Or are you still angry with me, mom? For being responsible for your death, I know I'm responsible for your death. If only I had acted sooner, if only I had found a way to get the money for your surgery... you would still be alive today. The guilt is crushing me, Mom. I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry," Tasha sobbed, her voice trembling with anguish.

"I promise to be a better person, Mom, if you'll just guide me through this difficult time. I'm feeling empty and shattered, but the thought of my kids is what's keeping me going. For their sake, I'll keep moving forward, no matter what," Tasha said, her voice filled with determination.

With newfound resolve, she quickly got up from the bed, wiped away her tears, and headed to the bathroom to wash her face with cold water. She couldn't let her kids see her in tears; she had to be strong for them.

With her composure restored, Tasha exited the room with a newfound sense of determination. She was ready to face her clients, whether they were rude or kind, with professionalism and poise. Her focus was on earning a living and providing for her family.

As she descended the stairs, her children's chorus of "Mom, we're hungry!" greeted her. She smiled sweetly, her eyes shining with warmth. "How about noodles and eggs for dinner, my little ones? Would you like that?"

"Yay! We'd love that!" her children chimed in unison, their faces lighting up with excitement.

"Okay, sweethearts, why don't you snack on some popcorn while I get dinner ready?" Tasha suggested, dropping gentle kisses on their foreheads before heading to the kitchen, her heart full of love for her little ones.

... ... .

"Come on, spill the beans already!" Desmond exclaimed into the phone, his impatience growing by the second. He was eager to uncover Tasha's true identity and finally get the upper hand.

"Okay, sir, but I can't reveal that much information over the phone. It's too sensitive," his spy replied cautiously. "I'll send you a text with the details instead."

Desmond's agitation only intensified at the spy's response. He drummed his fingers impatiently on the armrest.

"If you weren't going to spill the beans over the phone, then why bother calling me in the first place? Don't be a jerk, just end this call already and send the text!" Desmond barked into the phone, his anger boiling over.

"I'm sorry, sir," his spy apologized hastily, knowing better than to incur his boss's wrath.

"Shut that gutter you call a mouth and end this call now!" Desmond snarled, slamming down the call before his spy could even respond.

"Incompetent jerk!" Desmond muttered under his breath as he waited impatiently for the message from his spy. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his phone buzzed, alerting him to a new message.

He snatched it up, eager to read the intel he had been waiting for, but his anticipation quickly turned to disappointment when he saw it was from his secretary instead.

"Mr. James called and is threatening to withdraw his support in three days if you can't secure Lighthouse Land Surveyor to survey the land," the message read.

Desmond's scowl deepened as he read the message. This was the last thing he needed – another problem to deal with.

This message only infuriated Desmond further. "Everybody is just insane!" he bellowed, his anger boiling over. With a fierce cry, he slammed his fist against the wall, watching with a twisted sense of satisfaction as blood trickled down his hand. Self-inflicted pain was his twisted way of calming down.

Just then, his phone chimed again, alerting him to another message. Desmond's eyes lit up with anticipation as he opened it, a wicked grin spreading across his face when he saw it was from his spy.

"Let's see who laughs last now, Tasha," he chuckled menacingly, his eyes gleaming with malice as he opened the message.

... ... ..

Tasha emerged from the kitchen, beaming with pride, as she carried a tray laden with three steaming plates of expertly prepared noodles. "Who's ready for some noodles?" she asked, her smile warm and inviting.

Her children eagerly chorused "Me, Mom!" as they danced around her, their eyes shining with excitement.

"Let's head to the dining table, shall we?" Tasha suggested, leading the way. Once they were all seated, she served them with love, her hands moving with a gentle grace.

Tasha settled into her seat, watching with warmth as her children dug into their food with gusto. "Slow down, hungry birds!" she teased, laughing at their enthusiasm.

"This food is too delicious!" Ken exclaimed, his mouth still full of noodles.

"It's more than delicious!" Kendell chimed in, her eyes shining with agreement.

Tasha smiled, feeling grateful for the moment. "Well, thanks, kids-"

But her phone rang, cutting off her words and shattering the cozy atmosphere. She hesitated, wondering who could be calling at this moment.

"I'll quickly take this," Tasha told her kids, reaching for the phone. "A strange number," she murmured, her brow furrowed in hesitation. She held the phone, weighing her options. She had always hated receiving calls from unknown numbers, but now that she had a business to run, she couldn't afford to ignore potential customers.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and answered the call, placing the phone to her ear. And then, a voice she knew all too well hit her like a ton of bricks. The last voice she expected.