Chapter 4: Found Her
1371 Words
"Goodness! Can you be a little subtle?!" Astria screeched.
"Never learned to be subtle. Where are you going with that suitcase? It looks two times heavier than your body weight."
Astria stopped walking at once. Her eyes surveyed her surroundings ahead. There was no one in plain sight. Definitely not a tall and muscular man with dark grey eyes.
"You can see me?"
"Yes, and you will be able to see me too if you just turn around 180."
Astria whirled around and was hit by a loud honk right in the face. She stumbled back when the front of a black car touched her knees.
The car was so close that it scared the living breath out of her. She thought she'd lose her life to an embarrassing accident right after leaving Duncan's home with attitude overflowing from her mouth!
"Don't you have eyes?!" Astria screamed at the car.
It was an expensive model, but who cares what kind of car it is if it hits you?! She was scared and angry.
Astria ruthlessly kicked the bonnet.
A head poked out of the driver's side window and said, "You have to pay the damages if my car is scratched!"
The head that poked out and the voice that came to her ears were both familiar. It was none other than the escort she left behind the number for. The call was still ongoing. She cut it off and walked over to his side.
"Are you here to settle the bill? Was it necessary to almost run me over?!"
The man scoffed, "Yeah. I keep the monetary matters close to my heart. What's up with the suitcase?"
Astria sighed, "Nothing important."
"Come in, I'll give you a ride wherever you are going."
"Really?" Astria brightened up at the offer.
"Yes, you won't get a cab easily at this time."
Bryce opened the door for her and helped her stuff the large suitcase in the trunk of the car.
Their arms brushed accidentally during the process. Astria didn't think much but Bryce paused, his dark grey eyes darken ever so slightly. Sure enough. A deep unsettling feeling gripped his heart as he looked at Astria.
How could it be?
She didn't feel anything.
Bryce couldn't come to a conclusion. He decided to wait and test it out first.
When the car started up again, Astria realised she didn't even know the name of the man who was helping her so much.
"How rude of me, I didn't even ask for your name.." Astria smiled at him and said, "My name is Astria, you are?"
He nodded at her, "Bryce."
"Cool. You have a nice car."
The loud compliment was followed by an internal monologue. Bryce must charge a lot. That way he must have brought the luxury clothing and the flashy car for himself. Astria couldn't think of any other way an escort could afford such expensive items.
"Thanks."
"How much do you charge? I'll transfer it to you."
Bryce didn't look too happy when the subject was brought up against. His stiff lips turned for a while, leaving Astria to think he must be thinking of a way to charge more money.
He won't try to trick her into giving more money because she kicked his car, right? She heard that men care for their cars more than their children...
"Can you afford it?" He asked in a sarcastic and griffy tone.
"Name your price!" Astria lifted her head proudly. She might not have enough money but she won't show it.
"Charges are different for a few hours and the entire night. You slept the entire night, so I'll have to charge differently. Not to mention I spend money to buy the clothes you are wearing right now. Adding all that should be... Around this much?" He held up one finger and then another, revealing a V.
Astria gulped, "20 thousand?"
Bryce scoffed, "Don't act clueless! The blouse you are wearing costs more than that. Try again."
A frown creased her forehead in worry. She barely had 10 thousand in her bank account. Astria blamed herself for not thinking that one day she'd face such a crisis.
"200 thousand?"
Bryce made a sharp turn which caught the nervous Astria off-guard. She fell over to one side, barely held together thanks to the seatbelt.
"Add another zero."
Astria raised her hands and gave up. "I surrender. I don't have that much money on me right now. Give me some time, and I'll definitely pay you!"
Bryce smirked, finally he had the upper hand. Although he got the title of an escort stuck to his head, at least he was able to bind her to himself. He brought himself time to figure out everything.
"How do I know you won't disappear on me?"
"I am an honest person! I never cheat others!" Astria said righteously.
"So honest that you didn't say your real name even when drunk out of your mind?"
Astria took a sharp breath, not believing what she heard. "What?"
"Sorain?" Bryce raises one nicely shaped eyebrow in question. His finger tapped the steering wheel telling her she couldn't escape the allegations anymore.
"How did you know that..."
"You told me last night. What does it mean?"
Bryce took a peek at her only to see her let out a relived breath. With that, he confirmed one of his suspicions.
"That's my name too. Just," Astria grabbed a better term for it before saying, "Not many people know about it. And it's a name I use for work, so you can believe that I am in fact honest. And your pay is secure. I'll pay you as soon as I make enough money."
Bryce rolled his eyes with a subtle smile. He seemed to have gained something much valuable through the conversation.
The drive to Astria's friend's house was long, and they reached it in the early evening when the orange sun was on the horizon. Bryce helped her take the suitcase out of the trunk and placed it at the entrance.
He reminded her of the money she owed him, "Two hundred thousand, remember the number. I'll be calling to remind you every couple of days."
"And what if I don't answer?"
She was glad to have left her phone number and not made a mind link connection on a whim!
Bryce laughed at her ridiculous question. He pointed a finger at the house where Astria was about to spend the new couple of nights.
"I know where you live now."
Astria gasped. She realised she dug a hole for herself by grabbing a ride with him. Anyway, she was not lying. Astria was an honest person who paid everything she owed.
"Alright. This is your number? I've saved it. Look."
"Call me if you need me again. I'm available anytime," Bryce mumbled, adding a wink.
Astria's face burned at the implication. She pursed her lips and hummed, not denying it at this point. After all, she did experience a night with him, and it was everything one would want for their first time and it left her craving for more. If not now then in the future.
She was single now, and hooking up every now and then shouldn't be a problem. Not until she paid him back though...
Satisfied with her unhesitant answer, Bryce got in his car and took his leave.
In the car, he felt a tug of the mind link and connected it. The people who could contact him via mind link were numbered in a pitiful two digits. Seeing it was his beta, he quickly answered.
Before the other side had the chance to speak, he dropped the news on him.
"I found her."
"Or you can say that she found me. Fate works in magical ways."
Bryce couldn't stop the smile forming on his lips. The other end of the connection was a mess of words. The gibberish was too messy to understand. Bryce was annoyed and disconnected after informing him of the news.
The tug came again, a bit more forceful than earlier. This time it was not as unbearable to listen.
"Alpha! Did you really find her?! Is it really Sorain?!"
- Writer
