The Marriage Deal

Chris' Unworthy Lady

"My goodness!" she blurted out as she suddenly recognized her saviour, it was Mr Rowland what a horrible day to meet both men who had almost scared her to death a day ago,

The wealthy billionaire her grandma worked for was standing there with her and trying to rescue her, the one whose life she had put in danger a day before, and whose life she had also saved,

"Mr Rowland!" She exclaimed but Chris ignored her, his eyes burning and fixated on her attacker,

As they stood there, Mr Schmoke appeared with the Bartender,

"Oh my goodness!" he exclaimed, the last two letters coming out as a hiss, "What's going on here?" He never outgrew the Lisp

"Schmoke!" Chris called, extending a handshake to Mr Schmoke who hurriedly took his hand in respect,

"The old dog has sent one of his men to bully my lady here!" Chris said,

"Lay..lady?..." Raina stuttered but quickly caught a grip of herself, why was Mr Rowland referring to her as his lady when he knew fully well that she was nothing but a low-life woman from downtown?

"I see!" Mr Schmoke nodded attentively, his eyes scanning Raina from the head to toe, she didn't look anything close to worthy of being Mr Rowland's lady but who was he to suggest that Chris was lying?

Chris had once helped him save him from a mob by clearing his debts charitably.

He turned to the scar-faced man and started, "Now Bruce, you'll have to return back to your boss, tell him the lady is taken and wouldn't want to be bothered anymore,"

The scar-faced man who was being referred to as Bruce simple grinned at Mr Schmoke daringly,

but Mr schmoke held his composure and only smiled before pointing to the exit, there, three hefty bouncers stood awaiting his instruction,

Bruce understand the gesture and quietly returned back to the VIP section he was going to inform his boss about what had just happened, it was the wisest thing he could have done, knowing fully well that he couldn't take on the three bouncers and two of Chris Rowland's men.

"And Bruce!" Chris called, as the scarred-faced man turned to grin at him, "you won't be so lucky the next time you intrude my home like you did the last time!"

Bruce smirked as he returned back to the VIP section.

"I'm sorry about the embarrassment Mr Rowland," Mr Schmoke quickly apologised, "he won't bother you or your lady anymore as long as you're here, I promissse," he said, stretching the letter 's'

"That's alright," Chris said as he turned to look at Raina who looked confused and lost in the whole exchange,

"Who did you say wanted to see me," Mr schmoke asked the bartender who was standing next to him,

"The.. the lady," The bartender said in a bit of confusion, how could she be Mr Rowland's lady when she was standing right there a few moments ago begging for a job like her life depended on it? he thought,

"Aye boy! you must have taken some shots of the drinks you're to be serving" Mr Schmoke chided his bartender, "how dare you say this elegant lady wanted to work in a place like this? can't you see she's with Mr Rowland? have you forgotten who he is?" he asked the bartender who suddenly looked slightly embarrassed,

Raina thought to put him out of his misery by telling the truth but Chris immediately cut in, "That's alright Schmoke, let the boy be, neither I nor my lady is offended, isn't that right honey?" he asked smiling at Raina who nodded slowly and curiously, what was he up to? she thought.

"Thank you, Mr Rowland," Mr Schmoke said apologetically, "if you don't mind, please excuse us," he said gripping the bartender who was much taller than him by the arm,

He bowed in Raina's direction politely and stalked off, still scolding the bartender who tried to explain and defend himself.

"Hello my Lady!" Chris flirted with Raina, "I guess we're even now," he said,

"What do you mean? and why did you lie to those men that I'm your woman?" she demanded, folding her arms.

"I guess that's how you say thank you in your language, nonetheless, what are you doing her? Chris asked, "you have no business being here,"

"that's none of your business, just answer my questions, why did you lie to those men about me?" Raina persisted,

Chris rolled his eyes, "that's no way to say thank you after saving your life, you know" he said, "If I hadn't intervened, you would have been mistaken for one of the slave girls in this club and that means you would have been taken away with or without your permission"

"Wha..what do you mean?" she unfolded her arms and asked curiously,

"Every girl who works in this club has made a deal with schmoke, the old man trades Money for their souls, thereby, turning them into his puppets and slaves for cash, selling them to the highest bidder whenever he likes."

"What?! but there was a poster out there and it says..."

"Money doesn't come easy," Chris completed, "Work for schmoke and blah blah blah... it's all a trap to ensnare young unsuspecting preys like you, which brings me back to the question, what are you doing in such a place as dangerous as this?"

"So this is some sort of slave trade home? you mean people are sold against their will?" she inquired,

"That's none of your business lady, you better get out of here before you attract unnecessary and unhealthy attention to yourself like you already did," Chris warned,

"I can't leave!" Raina stood her ground,

"What did you say?" Chris asked daringly,

"I said, I can't leave, I need a job, I know you're going to fire my grandmother and I want to at least get a job by the time you do, that way we won't starve and I can pay for Diego's treatment,"