Chapter 7
1508 Words
Riley was stunned for a good whole minute, her lips tightly pursed as she glared at the man. “Excuse me?”
To her surprise, the man chuckled. “Not that way it came out,” he mused before looking around once more and sighing. “My daughter.” He said, before returning his gaze to her. “The one you saved yesterday? She wants to see you again.”
Riley let out a silent sigh of relief. For a moment there, she wasn’t sure what she had gotten herself into, and that too without even trying.
She nodded slowly at the man. At least his reasoning made a little more sense. But then again, why would he encourage his daughter’s wish to meet a stranger like her?
“I see,” Riley finally said.
“She has taken a liking to you,” the man continued, his dark eyes gleaming. “So much so, that she refuses to eat or drink until I find you and ask you to come meet her.”
Riley shook her head, wiggling her fingers. “I don’t really know if that’s a good idea.”
She stared into the man’s brown eyes, trying to figure out what could be his angle. He must be here because his daughter was a spoiled brat and didn’t know how to take a good ol’ no.
“Listen,” the man said. His soft yet deep voice resonated through Riley, and she felt goosebumps as his chocolate eyes penetrated her very being.
“It would mean a lot to her if you agree to come and talk to her, and I want her to have that closure. But if it’s alright, I want to offer you some reward in exchange, or repayment even. So whatever it is that you desire, we’ll arrange for that. In cash or in kind, we will see to it.”
Riley squinted her eyes, considering the options presented to her. The money sounded good; she could use some to pay her pending rent and the long grocery list that still waited to be taken out of her purse even though they were already in the middle of the month.
But accepting money from someone like that? Even Riley had her principles, and that sounded all sorts of sketchy.
Riley had made up her mind and was ready to shake her head when Britney finally decided to make an entrance.
“How much are we talking about here?”
Britney never really was one for having morals.
The man smiled, not even surprised by another person pitching into their conversation, and let out a puff of air. “Whatever you wish, within my means, of course. So is there anything? Do you agree with the proposition?”
“No. We don’t,” Riley started to say but Britney moved behind the counter and gave her a hard pinch under her shirt before she could utter the full sentence.
Riley gasped but held her ground, only crying inside.
“Just kidding! She just had her shift. She’s tired, nothing else,” Britney smiled sweetly at the gentleman. “But yes, you were saying. How much are we talking about here? Because my friend Riley here is quite a busy waitress. She comes early morning and leaves late in the evening.”
“You are the one who could use the extra tips, don’t even lie,” Riley hissed, hoping no one would hear her.
The man was looking at them quizzically, and he seemed amused by the way they were carrying on. But then his phone rang and he took a moment to check the screen. However, instead of answering, he slipped the phone back into his pocket. He turned to the duo.
“We can negotiate things later. How about I give you my number and you give me a call later when you are done thinking about it,” the man suggested, taking out a black card from the inner pocket of his black suit.
“No!” Riley wanted to say, but Britney seemed extra charged that evening. She cut her off with her peppy voice.
“That sounds perfect!” Britney said in a singsong voice, taking the card from the man and giving it to Riley.
“Great,” the man looked pleased. “I’m looking forward to your call.”
With one last, lingering glance at Riley, the man turned and walked away towards the door. Riley was left with Britney and a burning feeling in her chest.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Riley growled, glaring at her friend.
“Are you f*****g kidding me? Do you know who that man is?” Britney looked like she either wanted to jump with excitement or suffocate someone to death.
Riley was confused. So maybe she had no clue, but the fact still remained that he was a stranger. A handsome stranger, she admitted, but a stranger nonetheless.
Riley shrugged her shoulders, and Britney looked at her in disbelief.
“Are you serious? No. You can’t be serious. Are you dumb or something? That man. That terrifyingly beautiful man is none other than Sebastian Harrison. The f*****g billionaire.”
Riley frowned, not knowing what Britney was going on about. “So what?”
“So what?” Britney looked at her incredulously, hands on her hips. “You are such a nun! What do you mean ‘so what’?”
“I don’t know who that is, and frankly, I don’t care.”
But Britney was on a mission. “The Sebastian Harrison, the CEO of Harrison Enterprise. He’s worth more than the entire state combined. This is the kind of story that sells newspapers and makes headlines for weeks. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“An opportunity for what exactly?”
“To get out of our shitty lives and become somebody. And that too by just talking to his kid. Imagine what kind of a reward you’d get when you agree to the meet and greet?”
Riley could almost hear the cogs turning in Britney’s brain.
“I am not taking any reward for helping a little girl,” more like taking advantage, but she already felt bad enough, so she kept that to herself. “Besides, it’s not like he’s the president or something.”
“Oh please. You’re so dumb. He’s just a few steps away from that, and even the president would have come to him begging if his daughter had an accident like that.”
“He’s just a rich guy. There are a lot of them. They’re no big deal.”
“Yeah, sure, except that he’s the most eligible bachelor of the year and half the women in America have a crush on him.”
Riley rolled her eyes. Britney was making him out to be some sort of a god, and honestly, it was getting a little bit creepy.
She let out a sigh and went to the back room to grab her stuff. It was closing time and she had no intention to stay a minute longer.
But Britney didn’t care. She followed Riley to the room and continued her rant.
“Think about it. I’ve got the hots for the man, and he’s not even my type. And he’s asking you to go and talk to his kid, probably so she’ll shut up about meeting you. Do you have any idea how many girls would kill for a chance like that?”
Riley ignored her.
“If you don’t do it, I’m calling him,” Britney warned her.
Riley looked at her with wide eyes. She didn’t understand why her friend was pushing her towards this so hard.
“Don’t you dare!” Riley threatened, her blood boiling with rage.
But Britney was adamant.
“Look, Riley. At least, think about it, man. Don’t just throw away this amazing opportunity. You have a chance here to become something and earn something. I know how hard it is for you to get by with a crappy job and your stupid landlord. So take the help. Take the money. Get out of this s**t. Go back to college. Start your life. I know you’re not the kind of person who takes easy money, but trust me. This is not some scam or charity. The Harrison family has so much money that they won’t even miss it.”
Riley looked down. She was beyond tired to endure this anymore. But there was only one way Britney would ease up on her. She sighed, pushing a hand through her hair. “Fine.”
Britney arched a brow. “So, you’ll think about it?”
“Yes, I’ll think about it.”
“Great!” Britney clapped her hands together, a smile spreading across her face.
Riley couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
She didn’t need any more time to think about it. She was sure that she wasn’t going to do it.
- Writer
