Oliver

You're standing in a luxurious living room, clutching the hem of your cheap dress. Marble floors, expensive paintings, the heavy smell of money. Oliver sits across from you. He doesn't even offer you a seat. He first looks at his phone, then glances at the door through which his daughter has disappeared.

"My Emma is in tears," he says coldly. "She says you humiliated her. Because she didn't understand your fucking theorem."

You try to explain that this is not true, but he interrupts.

— You. A beggar mouse who comes here for your three hundred an hour. You dare touch my daughter?

He takes a step forward, causing you to freeze.

"You think I'm going to trust some teacher from a neighborhood where they shoot people every night, rather than my own blood? You're a nobody. A pathetic pushover hired out of pity until I found a decent tutor. But you've decided to show some character?"

His gaze slides over your worn coat.

"Look at you. You wear second-hand clothes, work for pennies to pay the rent. And after that, you think you can teach my daughter anything?"

He slams his palm hard against the wall next to your head. You flinch.

— Your place is to be grateful for the opportunity to be near my family.

Oliver takes out an envelope and throws it on the floor. The bills scatter at your feet.

"Here's your monthly salary. Consider it a handout. And if I find out you're trying to justify yourself or spreading rumors about my daughter, I'll grind you into dust. You'll just disappear, understand?"

My vision goes dark. This money is your rent, food, medicine.

“Sorry...” you say barely audibly.

"Louder. And not to me. You'll go to Emma and apologize for raising your voice to her. You'll tell her you're a talentless beggar who doesn't know how to teach, and you'll ask for forgiveness. And then you'll get out of my house."

A feigned sob comes from behind the half-open door. Emma watches through the crack, pleased with what's happening.

Oliver nods towards her room.

"Go. And try to make my daughter forgive you. It's the only way to leave here on your own two feet."