Enzo
"What game are you playing at?" I asked, my voice calm but deliberate.
I watched as Ella confidently made her comfortable in the car, her sharp movements deliberate, as if she were stepping onto a stage. She settled into the seat and glanced at me like she owned the moment.
Her brows knit together in confusion, but she didn't lose her composure. "What do you mean by what game?" Ella asked.
I didn't answer immediately, just let my gaze travel from her head to her feet and back up again.
I leaned in slightly, trying to pierce through her facade. "How much do you want?" I asked.
I studied her, this young woman who carried herself like she owned the world.
"Excuse me?" She blinked, her head tilting slightly, the confusion on her face almost comical. "What are you even talking about?"
I leaned back in my seat, still watching her. I gave her a dry smile and crossed my arms. "Then why did you get into the car and tell me, 'This better be quick' if you weren't going to ask for anything?"
"Excuse you!" she yelled, her expression shifted, annoyance creeping in. "You literally ordered me into your car with your persistent 'Get in now' and because I told you to be quick, I'm the one who needs something?."
Her words only added to the mystery. "Why would you tell me that? 'This better be quick'? Who talks like that?"
"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Her face softened, and she sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "A lot was going on in my head, okay?"
I tilted my head, intrigued. "What things?" I asked.
She sighed heavily, a little theatrically, and threw her hands up. "I was on a call with my boyfriend. He was supposed to pick me up from the station, but according to him, something came up," She said and shifted uncomfortably, her confidence cracking ever so slightly, "And then I had to call my father to tell him the paperwork was signed. The police said he'd be getting his car back soon."
My lips curled into a grin before I could stop myself, and I let out a chuckle.
"What's so funny?" she asked, her brow furrowing.
"You are," I replied, a chuckle escaping before I could stop it.
She frowned, looking even more puzzled. "What is your deal?" She said.
"You could've gone home to tell your family the good news, you know," I added.
"Sure," she shot back, rolling her eyes. "If you hadn't interrupted me, I was about to say that I'm late for work. I had to sort all of these out quickly so can we wrap this up please?" She gestured with her hands for emphasis, frustration clear in her voice.
"Abel," I said sharply, "Let's drop Ms. Anderson off at the coffee shop."
"Alright sir," my driver replied and started the car.
"Wait!" she protested, turning to face me fully. "You don't have to do that. I can walk to the coffee shop."
"I insist," I said, my tone brooking no argument.
Her surprise was evident as she looked at me like I'd just claimed to own the coffee shop. "Wait. How do you even know where I work?"
I paused, my heart racing for a moment, but I quickly masked it with a calm expression. "Let's not get off track. Who sent you?"
"What?" she blinked again, her mouth parting slightly. "What is wrong with you? You've been asking weird questions since I got in this car!"
"I know you know what I'm talking about," I said, leaning slightly closer, my tone dropping.
She pulled back instinctively. "I can explain," she said calmly.
There it was. I said in my mind as I sat up straight, my expression hardening. "I knew it!" I howled like I just won the lottery, "Alright, start talking."
Her confusion deepened. "Wait, are you talking about the signpost in your office? Because I can explain that. I..."
I froze, caught completely off guard. "No." I said. My voice was sharp. "I'm talking about who sent you to ruin me!"
Her eyes widened, and I could feel the heat rise in my chest, my breaths coming faster.
"Sir?" The driver glanced back, concern evident. "You alright?"
"I'm fine," I snapped, though my voice betrayed me. "Just keep driving."
Zee reached out, gently placing her hand over mine. "Hey, Mr. Kingston," she said softly, her voice steady. "Calm down. I'll explain everything, okay?"
I forced myself to take a deep breath, her calmness cutting through my agitation.
Ella clasped her hands together, staring at them as she spoke. "It's not that complicated, She started, "I've got a lot on my plate right now. My family... well, things aren't great. I'm just trying to fix it. All I want is to get my dad's car back and put this mess behind me."
"And the comments you made in my office?" I queried.
"I..." She glanced at me, her voice more hesitant now, "I thought if I could get you to help me, then maybe—well, whatever it took..." She trailed off.
"Even if it meant sleeping with me?" I asked bluntly, my voice like steel.
Her hesitation was answer enough. "It's not like it would've been my first time."
Abel was right again, I thought to myself.
Her nonchalance caught me off guard. "How old are you?" I asked her suspiciously.
"I'm twenty," she said, lifting her chin. "I'll be twenty-one in three weeks time.."
"Prove it," I said, holding out my hand and narrowing my eyes.
She scoffed and reached into her bag, pulling out her driver's license. "Here." She held it up, shaking it slightly. "Believe me now?"
I took it, examining it carefully. The date checked out. I grunted, handing it back to her.
She slipped it into her bag and crossed her arms. "So? Are you satisfied? Or is there another interrogation coming?"
"No for now," I said.
"Now, my turn," she said, leaning forward slightly. "How do you know so much about me?"
I hesitated, but there was no point in dodging the question anymore. "Abel told me everything," I said casually looking in the direction of my driver while keeping my expression neutral.
Understanding dawned on her face. "Oh," she said, her voice soft. "That explains a lot."
Before I could say something, the driver announced, "We've arrived, sir." He turned into a parking spot near the cafe and killed the engine.
Ella reached for the door handle. "Here's my stop," she said, " Thanks for the ride."
I leaned forward, voice steady but firm. "Hold on," I said, "I kept my end of the bargain. It's time for you to keep yours. I can pay you cash and we'd be over with this. What's wrong with the signpost?"
She froze, her hand hovering over the handle. Slowly, she turned back to face me, her posture suddenly uneasy. "Promise you won't be mad about what I'm going to say?"
I raised an eyebrow, my patience thinning. "That depends. Just spit it out."
She sighed, fiddling with her fingers nervously. "Okay. So, I'm one of the top students in my marketing class." She gave a nervous chuckle. "Not to brag, but I've been working on this research project for months. It's about the loopholes in the marketing strategies of real estate companies. You know, isn't that a coincidence?"
I cut her off with a sharp glare. "How does any of this answer my question?" I asked.
"Chill, okay?" she said quickly, waving her hand. "I'm getting there. So, the research is actually going to be my dissertation, and I thought it might help your company too. When it's ready, I can give you a copy."
I folded my arms, irritation mounting. "I have an entire department for that. If they want it, fine. But how does this concern me right now?"
Her words tumbled out in a rush. "It's… a hoax," she blurted, "There's nothing wrong with the signpost. I'm sorry, Mr. Kingston."
Silence hit the car like a hammer. I blinked, my mind racing to make sense of her confession. "What?"
"I just needed some bargaining power," she admitted, her voice faltering. "But the research is real! It could really benefit your company if you just give me…"
"You've got to be kidding me." I laughed, cold and sharp, the sound filling the car like a crack of thunder. "You mean to tell me that all this…" I gestured at her, at the ridiculous situation we were in. "...was some fishing expedition? You wasted my time for nothing?"
"No! It wasn't for nothing!" she said desperately, tears brimming in her eyes. "At least we met, right? Maybe…"
"Stop." My voice cut through her words like a blade. "Just stop!" I yelled at her, "I've seen people like you before, always looking to reap where they didn't sow. You're shameless."
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Kingston," she said as tears spilled down her cheeks now, and she wiped them away hastily with her palms. "I just wanted to help my family. That's all."
Her voice cracked, but it didn't move me. Not anymore. I reached into my wallet, pulled out a couple of dollars in crisp bills, and shoved them toward her. "Here. Take this. I'll make sure your car is released by morning. But I don't want to see your face again."
Her hand trembled as she took the money, her lips quivering with unshed words. She opened the door and stepped out, the bills clutched tightly in her hand. Her tears sparkled under the sunlight as she glanced back, her eyes filled with something between regret and resignation.
And then she was gone, the cafe do
or swinging shut behind her.
I stared after her, my fists clenched.