As the landlord stepped into the house, his gaze locked onto the little girl who stood up, clearly frightened.
He recognized her immediately; she was the daughter of one of his most notorious debtors, Romina. As he surveyed the room, a strange feeling swept over him, but then, he focused back on the girl.
"Where's your mother?" he demanded in a gruff tone.
At the reminder, Maya felt the familiar sting of abandonment rear up within her, a painful reminder of how her mother had chosen to leave her, to leave her alone in a harsh world. The thought brought tears to her eyes.
"Looks like she took off and left her little kid here," the landlord sneered, quickly connecting the dots as he noticed the empty spaces in the house where once there were belongings.
He deemed Romina irresponsible, someone who had always gravitated towards others' favor while neglecting her responsibilities.
"How am I supposed to get my money? She's been dodging me for five months now," he grumbled, a frown plastered on his face.
"And she asked me to come today to collect. Who would have thought she'd run away and leave her daughter behind? Some people just aren't cut out to be mothers," he muttered, his words dripping with disdain.
The man beside him nodded in agreement.
Maya, despite her young age, caught the undertones of the landlord's words; she couldn't let this stand. "Watch what you say about my mama. She's not who you think she is. She's a good mama," she asserted, her voice firm despite her fear.
The landlord scoffed, "Yeah, right. If she were that good, she wouldn't have abandoned you. You're just a naive little girl. The world isn't as innocent as you believe."
Maya refused to engage him any further, turning her gaze away in defiance.
"Or maybe she left her here to settle her debts. Why else would she run away and leave you behind?" one of the men suggested, glancing at Maya with a mixture of pity and judgment.
"Romina is the epitome of irresponsibility," the landlord spat, clearly devoid of any empathy. Then, his eyes narrowed as a realization struck him. "You might be onto something. She must have left her here, knowing I wouldn't let her escape this time."
He turned to his bodyguards, pointing decisively. "You two, take that girl to my office," he commanded.
They sprang into action, approaching Maya to grab her by the arms. The landlord strode out of the house.
"What are you doing? Leave me alone!" Maya screamed, but resistance was futile against their stronger grips.
"Just be still, little girl. We don't want to hurt you," one guard replied, trying to sound reassuring.
"Even if we're not exactly the good guys, we won't hurt a kid like you. Just come to the office with us quietly, and everything will be alright," the other added.
Maya's heart raced, but somehow she sensed there was no immediate danger.
She took a deep breath, deciding to comply to avoid worsening the situation. She would figure a way out later; for now, she chose to go along, hoping that her cooperation might secure her safety.
Once inside the carriage, it rolled away from the house. Maya gazed back longingly, memories of the moments spent with her mother flooding her mind. Each one felt like a bittersweet dagger in her heart as she grappled with the reality of her situation.
Was her mother truly gone for good? Had she packed her bags in the dead of night and left her to settle her debts? Confusion clouded Maya's thoughts, and tears began to well in her eyes once more. How could she possibly navigate this world without the one person she had always known?
Or could it be that her mother truly hated her enough to abandon her, even while knowing she was her only child?
With her hands clasped and her head hung low, the tears spilled over.
When the carriage finally halted in front of the landlord's office, the coachman exited to open the door. Maya stepped out, fixing her gaze on the imposing building before her, its starkness a far cry from the home she had just left, and she took a moment to absorb the reality that awaited her inside.
She suddenly heard a voice calling out, "What are you doing, little girl? Come inside!" The landlord stood at the entrance, flanked by two imposing bodyguards.
Maya had arrived in a modest carriage designed for people like her, while the landlord had made his entrance in a lavish one. Taking a deep breath, Maya approached the landlord.
The interior was just as opulent as the exterior, reinforcing her realization of his wealth. They stepped into his office, where everything was arranged with precision—a sturdy table, an elegant chair, neatly stacked papers, and a well-organized bookshelf.
"Take a seat," the landlord instructed. Maya's gaze shifted to the plush couch in the corner, and without hesitation, she moved to sit on it. The softness was a stark contrast to everything she had known.
The landlord let out a heavy sigh. "What am I going to do now?" he pondered.
He was in a tough position; retrieving his money was crucial, but he would never consider selling the girl. Despite Romina's actions, he could see that this child was different. Selling her off would only lead to more misery, perhaps even turn her into someone like her mother. He dismissed the idea of putting her in harm's way.
His eyes scanned through the papers.
He always required tenants to provide a relative's contact information, ensuring he could reach them when necessary.
Now, he recalled that Romina had a sister—Maya's aunt. Contacting her was the logical step.
That way, his debts would be settled and Maya wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. She would be safe.
To him, it meant killing two birds with one stone.
With a sense of urgency, the landlord began to draft a letter to be sent immediately to her address.