"Quick! Move, move! Langster, I told you to check the quantity beforehand! I'm not covering up your mess again."
"Hurry up! Dump them, guys! What are you waiting for? And be quiet! I need no outside attention."
"They're going to be here any minute. We're screwed for real now!"
"Hey, stop panicking!" Langster tapped the man's shoulder. "It's all going to be fine. No one's going to catch us."
"You're telling me not to panic? Boy, this mess is all on you. And if we're caught, you'll be the one in trouble. So shut up!"
"Oh no, they're here! Hurry up! Lock the doors!"
"It isn't working! There are too many of them pushing the door!"
"Okay, then open the door and let them in. Let's show them how we handle things!"
Langster gasped, hearing the sound of breaking glass.
(Dream ends abruptly)
"Oh no, not again. The same freaking dream!" Langster muttered, staring at the broken glass of water on the floor. "If these silly dreams don't stop, I'll end up breaking everything in the house!"
He sighed and got ready to face another bad day.
(Phone beeps)
38 new WhatsApp messages.
50 new status updates
"What the hell? Don't these people have any work other than uploading statuses and messaging ?"
He scrolled through the messages. One caught his attention.
"Come to the coffee shop at 11 a.m." – Sara.
"It's 10:30 already! I better hurry!"
(TV playing in the background)
"Didn't I tell you I loved you? But you didn't seem fit for me. Where were you when I was struggling? Now that I'm a billionaire, you want to patch up again? I'm done with your sugarcoated lies!"
Langster glanced at the screen.
"Isn't that soap amazing, Langster?" Sara's voice startled him as she approached his table.
"I love these contract and billionaire marriage stories. I'm thinking of writing a similar one. Better sharpen your editing skills!"
"Why do you always hand me the work in person, Sara? You could just send it online," Langster grumbled.
"No! I believe in the old-fashioned way. Important things should be discussed face-to-face. Texts and calls don't convey emotions properly—you need to see the face too."
Sara's expression turned stern.
"And stop being a hibernation guy. Here, I've written a new chapter for you. Oh, and I'm cutting your pay because you didn't work yesterday."
"What?!" Langster looked at her, dumbfounded.
"It was your birthday, but that doesn't mean you stop working. Don't take advantage of my kind behavior. Bye!"
Sara grabbed her remaining food and walked out of the coffee shop. Langster stared at her retreating figure, confused.
"Why did she say all that? I've never seen her in such a mood. And why do I care all of a sudden? Am I… attracted to her? No, no, no! I can't afford this. I need a distraction."
Sara's POV
Sara rushed into her house, her mother's voice echoing through the hall.
"Sara, lock the door when you come in! Haven't I told you a hundred times?"
Ignoring her mother, Sara headed upstairs. She froze at the sight of a shadow near her room.
"You didn't lock the door again. What's with the aggression? Are you trying to tell me something? Did you get my work done?"
"Yes, sir," Sara murmured, trembling.
"Good girl. Now step aside and don't make any noise. I'm heading downstairs. We'll meet at night, okay?"
Terrified, Sara hurried into her room and locked the door.
"It's not the time to get frustrated, Sara," she whispered to herself. "Focus on your work."
Opening her laptop, she began typing.
"Good morning! Here's some tea and biscuits. Sorry, I don't have much right now. Money's a bit tight," Liam said, placing the tray in front of her.
"Thank you, Mr.… Can I ask your name?"
"Liam. And yours?"
"Elaine."
"That's a beautiful name. Alright, freshen up, have your breakfast, and you're free to leave. I won't stop you again."
Elaine took a shower and sipped her tea while flipping through a newspaper.
"36-V land available at a discounted price of $500,000."
"You want to buy it? It's right across the road. Want to see it?" Liam asked.
"Yes!" Elaine replied, excitement evident in her voice.
When they arrived, Elaine gasped. "Wow! It's huge. You could build a mansion here. Who's selling it at such a great discount?"
A group of men approached them.
"Ma'am, you again?"
"Stay away!" Elaine shouted.
Liam stepped forward. "Hey! Stay right there."
"We're not here to hurt you, ma'am. We're just here to sell the land. Do you want to buy it?"
"Are you the owner?" Elaine asked.
"Yes, ma'am. But how did you get the money?"
"It's none of your concern. Will you sell it to me?"
"Sure. You can pay $450,000 now as an apology for what happened that day."
Elaine hesitated but signed the contract and transferred the money.
"If you need further construction, we can help," one of the men offered.
"You also have a construction business?" Elaine asked.
"Yes, ma'am. What do you want to build here?"
"A marriage bureau. Nothing too big—I want to keep the remaining land as it is."
"Alright. Construction will cost $1,500 per square foot. That'll be $3 million."
Elaine's heart sank. "Three million? But I only have half a million."
"You can pay in installments, ma'am. No worries. That'll be $30,000 per month for 8.3 years."
"Okay. I'll take the installment plan," Elaine said happily.
Turning to Liam, she said, "Can you excuse us for a moment? I need to talk."
"Sure," Liam replied, walking away.
"Mr., I'm still confused. Aren't you…?"
"No, ma'am. We're not criminals. The police here don't care much about crimes, so we handle troublesome customers our way. Your husband was one of them."
"I can repay his debt," Elaine said softly.
"No, ma'am. It's not your burden anymore. We'll deal with him."
"I don't have a husband. I don't have anyone," Elaine sobbed.
The man looked at her sympathetically but said nothing