The biggest of the men who also seemed to be the ringleader faced me. "Who the hell are you?" He asked.
I hated this entire thing. It always went down the same way. "I don't know what's going on, neither do I care. But I'm trying to get some peace and quiet so it'd be best if you leave and continue later."
"Wow, you have some nerve showing up and spitting this bullshit," He laughed as he charged at me.
Wordlessly, I took off the beanie and sunglasses I had on and faced him fully. They all gasped in surprise, letting me know they had recognized me. The ringleader gaped from my face to the shoddy restaurant in puzzlement, questions probs running through his mind. Finally tearing his gaze from me, he ordered the rest of his men backwards, but not before landing on last kick to the crumpled figure on the floor.
"Next time you won't be so lucky," He growled, turning away and walking down the street.
When the man on floor finally realized they were gone, he scrambled to his feet, tossing the apron he was wearing in one of the dumpsters. I caught a glimpse of the restaurant's logo on it. So he worked here.
When he finally faced me, my brows shot up in surprise. He looked around Father's age. I couldn't help but wonder why on earth he would be here. But I didn't care enough to ask.
He cast a grateful look my way and began to scurry away. As if on second thought, he turned around and began to timidly make his way to me.
"What?" I barked, watching him carefully.
He came to a stop a few steps away from me. "I, uh, you seem to be someone to great importance to be able to ward those guys off..." He trailed off.
I frowned, wondering what he was driving at. He took a step closer. "I take it you're an very influential man, judging from your attire and your carriage."
My jaw clenched. The stench of cheap alcohol oozing off his breath and the way his eyes kept darting back and forth irritated me to the core and I decided that I did not like him.
"Get to the point."
"Err, I, I am grateful for your help. If, uh.." He scratched the back of his head. "If you could somehow offer further assistance, to help me pay off the people I owe, I will he eternally grateful," He breathed out so fast I barely caught his words, and lowered his head.
Oh so that's what this was. He was in debt. As my eyes raked him I reasoned that he did look like one. "And what on earth makes you think I would be willing to help you?" I asked, deciding that I might as well have some fun with this. I watched him stutter out a ridiculous plea and my eyebrows cocked at the amount he needed. It wasn't a huge amount. And he was old and obviously helpless. With the bruises he had sustained today, if this continued he was sure to endanger his life. I could easily hand him double the amount without batting an eyelid. But something in me didn't feel like he deserved such kindness.
When I had made up my mind, I cleared my throat. "What will you offer me in return?"
"W-what?" The shocked expression on his face was laughable.
I shrugged. "Surely you don't expect me to hand you all that money with nothing in return. This isn't a charity organisation."
His greedy eyes darted back and forth and he scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully. "I don't own anything of value. Nothing equivalent to..." He trailed off, his eyes widening as if he had realized something. He went silent for a moment and I could tell that he was deliberating heavily on something. Taking a drag, I waited.
"I have a... a beautiful daughter. She's about your age, maybe a few years younger..."
I couldn't decipher if it was a statement or a question. "What does that have to do with anything? What am I supposed to do with that information?"
He said nothing.
I let out a low laugh. "You're putting your daughter up? You'd be willing to give up your daughter?"
What kind of a sick fuck was this?
"Well, that's of no use to me. So, no. Goodluck though," I replied simply and took another drag.
I saw panic begin to rise on his face. "S-she is smart, beautiful and hardworking. A-and a law student."
"If you aren't already married or betrothed, she would make the perfect wife believe me. And it would be a good thing for that matter as well," He added. The desperation in his voice only irked me further.
As I parted my lips to reject his offer, something began to play in my head. The perfect wife. Bryan had joked about hiring a suitable woman to play the role of my girlfriend turned wife to quiet the media. Then we had all laughed about it. But it was starting to look like it wasn't such a bad idea.
Here was a greedy man in debt, offering up his daughter for sale for a few millions. I could take up his offer, use her to my advantage to get the media and my parents off my back, then file for divorce a few months later. If Mother thought I was too heartbroken to jump into a second marriage, she would feel pity for me and let me be. My heart began to thump heavily. It was the perfect plan. And it might just work. Humble, hard-working and a law student? My parents would commend me. And judging by this man's condition, his daughter was obviously struggling in school and would have no choice or objections.
A smile slowly creeping up my face, I outstretched my arm. "Looks like you've got yourself a deal."