With him

New plan

“I thought I could trust you, but you are just a cheater. Why did you lie?” she demanded, her voice rising with anger as she confronted Mathew.

"Can you shut up" he snapped.

“Why would I shut up?? You lied to me that you were relatives and enemies. But yesterday I understood he is your friend, and he even called me a w***e! Is selling ladies your job? Who knows??” Her fury was palpable, her eyes blazing with betrayal and hurt.

Mathew took a step back, his expression shifting from defiance to desperation. “Okay, just let me explain. Please,” he pleaded, his voice trembling slightly. “You have to believe me. I never wanted to deceive you. It just... it spiraled out of control.”

He took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts. “My family has money, yes, but it comes with expectations. My father made sure that I had everything handed to me, but he didn’t want me to do anything without a purpose. That led me to make some choices I’m not proud of.”

Mathew paused, searching her eyes for understanding. “Jason and I had a deal. He offered me capital to start my business—something my parents refused to support because they wanted me to stick to the family business. Jason was supposed to be my partner, and in return, I promised him half of whatever I would make.”

He looked away, guilt washing over him. “I got too caught up in the idea of success. I began to realize that I didn’t want to share my dreams with him. I managed to pay him back more than he ever invested in me, and I thought that would be enough. But he saw my success as a threat.”

“That's why he kidnapped us” Mathew continued, his voice dropping. “I was running my own business—successful and thriving—while he was still struggling. But it’s not just him. He feels betrayed, and his words… I didn't want you involved in any of this. I didn’t want to drag you into my mess.”

“Trust me, I never wanted to use you or lie to you,” Mathew implored, desperation lacing his words. “I told Jason that things were different now; that I’d outgrown our agreement. He took that as a challenge. I thought we were done, but he didn't see it that way. I didn't think he’d stoop so low as to insult you. I don't even want to think of what he may have done to you. It’s all about business now, and he’s angry.”

Her anger vanished as if it had never existed. A softening expression replaced the tension on her face, and she looked at him with an earnest curiosity. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" she asked gently, her voice laced with concern.

Mathew hesitated, the weight of his own emotions pressing down on him. “I guess my ego got in the way,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I was afraid to open up about what really happened. I kept worrying that if I shared the truth, you might see me as the one at fault. What if you thought I was the one who made the mistake?”

He paused, taking a deep breath as he searched for the right words. “It’s not about wanting to protect myself—it’s more about wanting to protect this... us,” he added, gesturing between them. “I didn’t want to jeopardize what we had over a misunderstanding or my pride.”

Looking deep into her eyes, he felt the vulnerability of the moment. “But now I see that being honest with you about everything is so much more important than clinging to my ego. I should have trusted you enough to be open from the beginning.”

The air between them felt heavy with unspoken emotions, but in that moment, the sincerity of his admission laid a foundation for understanding.

"You should have given him what he wanted," she murmured, her voice low and heavy with regret. "But now he’s gone too far. There's no point in compromising anymore, especially after everything he’s done to you."

Mathew, his brow furrowed in thought, replied, "Perhaps we can flip the script. What if we befriend one of the goons? Offer him more than what Jason is paying. If he sees an opportunity for a better deal, maybe he’ll help us get out of this mess."

As we wrapped up our hushed conversation, the air in the dimly lit room shifted abruptly. The door swung open, and one of the goons sauntered in, a tray laden with food in his hands. With a careless flick of his wrist, he tossed the food at us, the items scattering across the floor. "Eat if you want," he grunted, a smug grin plastered across his face.

Mathew, undeterred by the goon's hostile demeanor, leaned forward with a smirk. "So, how much are you pocketing for kidnapping us? Must be a pretty penny."

The goon’s smile widened, revealing a crooked row of teeth. "Why do you want to know? Planning to offer more than what Jason’s paying? That’d be interesting."

Mathew met his gaze, steady and unflinching. "Let me ask you this: if I were to offer you more than Jason, would that mean we get to leave? A clean exit for a better deal?"

The goon paused, his expression flickering between curiosity and suspicion. This was an unexpected angle; it was rare that anyone would dare to negotiate from a position like ours. I held my breath, sensing that our fate might hinge on this tenuous thread of conversation, a gamble with the risk of life and freedom balanced precariously in the air.

"Maybe," the goon replied slowly, his eyes narrowing as he weighed our proposition. "But you need to realize that I’m not the one in charge. There's a hierarchy in this operation. You think Jason will just let you both slip away? You’ve got to convince me it’s worth the risk."

Mathew leaned back, considering his next words carefully. He understood the delicate game we were playing. "What if we sweetened the deal? Perhaps we could help you out. Information, a share in whatever Jason’s plotting—whatever you want, we can provide it. You just have to trust me enough to give us a shot at freedom."

The goon’s skepticism melted into intrigue, and for a moment, he could sense that the balance of power was shifting. A small flicker of hope ignited within Mathew, whispering that maybe, just maybe, they had found a crack which could exploit to their advantage.

"Alright, let's strike a deal," the goon proposed with a sly grin. "I'll lend you my support, but only if you offer me three times what Jason is willing to pay."

Mathew raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. "That sounds promising, but what exactly does your help entail, and when can we expect it?"

The goon leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "You'll need to give me three days. In that time, one of my companions is scheduled to leave for Seattle. Once he's gone, it will just be the two of us left. At that point, if I join forces with you, we can easily overpower the remaining guy and make our escape."

Mathew considered the implications of the goon's plan. "So, it's a matter of numbers," he said slowly. "With just two of us against one, we would have the upper hand. But what guarantee do we have that you'll come through once your friend is gone?"

The goon smirked, recognizing Mathew's skepticism. "You have my word, and let's be honest, I have my own stakes in this. The more we can put Jason's crew in a tight spot, the better it is for me too. Besides, once we execute the plan, you won't even have to look back."

Mathew felt a rush of hope. Time was of the essence, and waiting three days seemed manageable if it meant a chance at freedom. "Alright, let's do it. We’ll give you what you want, but I’ll hold you to your promise. When the day comes, you'll show us exactly how you plan to pull this off."

The goon nodded, his expression shifting to a more serious tone. "Just remember, don’t let the others know about this deal. We have to keep it under wraps until the right moment."

Mathew agreed, sensing the tension and excitement in the air. This was a calculated risk, but it felt like their best shot at escaping the situation they found themselves in. Together, they strategized about the next few days, knowing that soon, everything could change.