The story of the beginning of Alex's adventure/demise began a few months ago. It began when she received a Saturday late night phone call from Alex's son, David. He was frantic.
"Mom, I don't know what to do," he said.
"What happened," Alex asked.
"I was stupid, really stupid," David said. He began to tell her what had happened, and she was both angry and frustrated.
"How many times do I have to tell you that gambling is going to get you into serious trouble," she asked David. He apologized profusely, and told her where he was.
Alex and her husband Mike were living what most would consider the ideal life. Alex was a high school physics teacher and Mike was a successful pediatrician. The two have successful kids, Annabel and David.
Many would consider Alex the envy of all desperate housewives. Although she is 37, Alex is still quite a sight. She has no problems keeping the attention of her students (not to mention their father's) with her curvy body and her dark blonde hair. She does not look like she has had two kids.
Her entire family's image has been a result of social manipulation. Her daughter Annabel, was a high school honors student and is now a junior at an Ivy League university. Before graduating from high school, Annabel was caught by her high school principal for being in the mastermind behind a hacking attack where Annabel and her friends had changed their grades on their transcripts. Annabel and her friends were on the verge of being expelled from high school, before Alex stepped in. Alex, who teaches at the high school, had known about the affair that the principal had with the vice principal. Alex was able to pay off the principal (in cash) and had agreed to not say anything more about the affair, in exchange for her daughter. Annabel has since stayed out of trouble...for the most part.
Alex's son, David, was the star quarterback in high school and had just accepted a scholarship to play football at a major university in the upcoming fall. David was not without problems. He had not only had a drinking problem, but a gambling problem. Alex lost count of how many times she has had to give David money to pay off his gambling debt. This was yet another time that she has to bail him out again. His gambling and drinking problem could cause him to lose his scholarship, and any chances to playing football in the NFL.
Alex got her purse and got into her car. She drove out to where David had directed her. Once she was around the corner, she called him on his cell phone.
"I'm around the corner," she said. "Who do I have to pay off?"
David replied, "Mom...okay. Um...I am going to go out to the car with someone. You can give me the cash then."
Alex hung up and pulled up to the house where David was. It was late at night but there still seemed to be a lot of people going into the house. Within a few minutes, David came out with two other guys she didn't recognize.
"Here's your money," Alex said while handing him $500.
"Um, mom...I need another $500," David said. "I lost another $500 while you were driving here."
"What," she asked. "How could you be so stupid?"
"Mom...sorry," David said.
Alex reached into her purse and pulled out another $500 and gave it to him. He then turned around and gave it to one of the guys who came out with him. They had then given him an envelope.
"Pleasure doing business with you," they said to him. The two then turned and smiled at Alex and walked away.
"Why does David hang out with these lowlifes," she asked herself.
David got in the car. While they were driving off, Alex was letting him have it, reading him the riot act. She reminded him about responsibility and how he could and should not always depend on her to bail him out. He stayed silent for the entire ride back home.
Once they got home and pulled into the garage, Alex was tired of scolding David and she walked straight to the kitchen. David followed her.
"Mom, I have to give you this," David said and handed her the envelope that he had been given after he gave the two guys the money.
"What is this," she said taking the envelope from his hand.
"I'm sorry," he said while walking away.
As Alex started to read the letter, her heart sank into her stomach. The letter read:
Dear Alex,
If you are reading this letter, you should must be aware that your son has a serious gambling problem. Over the past 2 years, David has been one of our loyal players. While we value loyalty, David has had difficulties in covering all of his wagers. This evening was no exception. His wagers this evening were in the total of $2,000. David was unable to cover the entire amount, so an agreement was made. He agreed to pay $1,000 in cash while giving us ownership of a prized possession...
Sincerely,
The Club Alex turned to the second page and noticed it was a contract. The contract had been signed by David and had given ownership rights of his mother to "the Club."
"What is this, David," Alex demanded.
"Mom, I got in over my head today. The only way that they would let me out of the house in one piece today was if I paid them and signed the contract," David said.
"What are the ownership rights," she asked.
"I don't know," David said. "All they said was that you would be receiving instructions in the next few days..."