Fake Daddy

Chapter 3 (One Million Dollars)

3 days ago, before the incident.

At a time when Neil was desperate about his mother's post-surgery medical problems, Roger came along like an answer to his prayers to God. The man offered him a job with a fantastic reward.

"One million dollars? What kind of crazy person would give me that much? What kind of job is that, Rog?" Neil didn't believe Roger's words and laughed at him.

The two of them had worked day and night and never earned a million dollars overnight. It didn't make sense.

Roger didn't take his invitation lying down. "Hey, listen to me. I mean it. I got this offer a few days ago, but I don't think I can do it alone. You know, our finances are in bad shape. As your best friend, I had to take you along. It's a high-risk job, of course, and the pay is very high. I can't say it here; it has to be outside."

They are currently in the hospital. Neil is visiting his mother in the hospital after having surgery to remove cancer.

"Someone offered me this job because he knew I needed it. That's about it," Roger continued.

This time, Neil took it a little seriously. He wondered in his heart, was Roger really not playing him?

"You're not playing me, are you?"

"What? Hahaha, you're so annoying. How could I be playing you? Come on, let's meet outside and talk about this more seriously. When else can we get that much money? Even a lifetime of slavery won't do, Neil."

Neil was getting interested.

"Alright, I'll make sure of my mom first, then let's meet at my house."

A satisfied smile was etched on Roger's lips. He patted Neil's shoulder and enthused. "I'll wait for you there, Bro!"

***

That conversation was the end of the two best friends' encounter at the hospital. And Neil kept his promise after he made sure his mother was okay.

By 9pm, Neil was in the courtyard of his home. He arrived in his father's rusty car. Roger was already sitting, waiting for Neil's arrival. He greeted him with a greeting.

"Hey, Neil. You've arrived, come here."

"Alright, so what's the job that pays a million dollars, Rog? Don't fool me, you'll know the consequences of doing that."

Neil was very curious. However, Roger didn't tell him right away. He was afraid someone might be listening.

"Let's talk about it inside."

Neil let out his breath roughly. He invited Roger inside. The man closed the door tightly and pulled Neil into the living room.

"Promise not to tell anyone?"

"Okay, so what? Don't waste my time, Rog."

Roger leaned closer to Neil. He whispered, "Killed someone."

"You seem to have lost your mind, Rog. I knew this was coming, you're playing me!" Neil fumed. "I'd rather go back to the mines or sell newspapers and milk than listen to your idiocy."

Neil turned to leave, but Roger stopped him immediately.

"Wait, Neil! I know this sounds unbelievable, but I actually got this job offer! I can even get a 20 percent down payment if I text back and say I'll take the job."

Roger pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and showed a communication between him and someone named "Joe".

Joe was the person who offered the dirty job. Someone from the capital of the United States, and actually, the man had already met Roger in person.

"Are you serious? No, I mean... this makes no sense. Why did it have to be you out of all the people he could have offered this job to?"

"He has his own reasons. It's because we're country people and quite far from there. That's what he thinks. We'd better not think about that; focus on the rewards. What do you think?" persuaded Roger. He really hoped his best friend would cooperate.

Neil flatly refused. "I don't want to do it, and I don't want you to do it."

"Don't be a fool, Neil. We both need the money. You for your mom, me for my wife. Come on, just once, and let's repent." Once again, Roger persuaded.

"Are you crazy? How are we going to do it? And... we don't even know who the guy wants to kill. We could have bad luck after doing that, Rog."

"I don't care, Neil. What matters is saving my wife's life. Remember, you haven't paid your interest-bearing debts, your mother's medical bills... how long do you think the hospital will continue to give you leniency? We're poor people, and we don't know if our family will be evicted tomorrow or the day after. Do you want your mother, who has gone through so much surgery, to be sent home without finishing her treatment? You know the risks of that yourself, right?"

Roger's words do have some truth to them. Poor people have a hard time getting justice. However, he still didn't want to commit a crime just for money.

Neil could work harder. Get a few jobs, and everything would be done. That was the cycle of life he was currently living. Although in reality, the money issue was never solved.

Roger continued to persuade Neil even though it was difficult. And Neil stuck to his guns. It wasn't easy to persuade Neil, until finally, Neil's mother's condition worsened, at which point Neil agreed to accept the dirty job.

That same day, Neil and Roger received a 20 percent down payment. The money was split in two and was enough to pay for the hospital's medical treatment of his mother.

Neil had been caught up in a criminal scheme, and he couldn't stop. In the end, Jennifer's fateful night had arrived.

The two friends were willing to travel the long distance to Washington to do their dirty work.

In the end, though, things didn't go as smoothly as planned. From the original plan of just killing Jennifer, it ended up being forced to kidnap the poor woman's little daughter, and the friendly relationship between Neil and Roger was damaged.

***

Neil didn't know where to take Leah. At a time when news of Leah's mother's death has become the main topic on every radio channel, maybe even on television.

Until now, Leah still thought Neil was her father. And that left Neil at his wits' end. How could he explain that he wasn't the father Leah missed so much?

"David, I'm sorry," Neil murmured, glancing down at Leah's beautiful face. The little girl was fast asleep in Neil's car seat. "I'm so sorry for destroying you. Killing your wife, and now I've taken your child. I'm really sorry."

For now, there was no way Neil could return to his hometown. So, he decided to enlist the help of his uncle to make sure his mother was okay.

Neil would pay the hospital bills regularly to avoid suspicion. And he would only return home after the mounting bills were settled, and when he had delivered Leah to David, his best friend, though he hadn't yet thought of how.

The man sighed heavily, then looked back at Leah. If Neil observed, Leah really did resemble David.