The Billionaire's Redemption

chapter 4

"Are you happy now?" Damian yelled as we got back to his apartment. He was pacing around the living room and I stood afar off. I was afraid he might do something nasty cause he looked pissed off. "You wanted them to dislike you and my mom did"

"I..."

He glared at me.

"When are you paying my money?"

"Y-you have to give me time"

"I don't have time to give. Pay me back my money now!!"

"I-i can't pay you back, now. I- I don't have such amount of money with me"

"I don't care. You have this week to pay me back my money or you will spend the rest of your life in jail" he threatened and walked out on me.

I sat on the couch wondering what sort of mess I have gotten myself into. Hunter walked in and smiled at me.

"Guess it didn't go as planned?"

I sighed. "It isn't my fault his mom doesn't approve of me right?. I shouldn't be blamed right?"

Tears streamed down my face. He was being inconsiderate. I wasn't the one who asked his mom to reject me. I wasn't at fault a bit. Instead of yelling at me, he was supposed to apologize for being ridiculed. But instead, he yelled and blamed me.

Hunter sat beside me. "Y-you are not at fault, Charlotte. You should not let his words hit you so hard. I'm sorry he spoke to you that way"

"You are nice" I cooed. "Nicer than he is"

"Damian is a very nice person too. He just doesn't know how to handle rejection. I am sorry he yelled at you"

I sniffed. "Thank you"

"What will you like to drink?" He asked when he stood up

"I am ok"

"No, you're not. Just tell me what you want and I will get it asap"

"I'm fine. I will just head home"

"No. You can't leave. Not after you take something"

"I..."

"I think I know what you will like. I will go get you a freshly made pineapple juice"

I smiled. "You don't have to bother. I am fine"

He pouted. "Come on"

"Ok, I will take a sip"

He smiled. "I will go get it"

He returned a few minutes later with two cups of freshly made pineapple juice as he had promised. "Hope you don't mind drinking with me?"

I nodded. "Sure"

He dropped the tray on the table.

"I made it myself. You should have a taste"

I sipped. "It's nice"

"You like it?"

he asked sitting on the couch close to mine and I nodded taking another sip

"Glad you like it"

"Thanks" I cooed

The juice was cold and had softened my heart. I stared at Hunter. Can't Damian be like him?. Kind and considerate?. I wasn't asking him to love me. I only hope he could be nicer, and try to consider other people.

"I should get going. It's getting late"

I stood up, dropping the glass cup on the table. Hunter stood up too.

"The chauffeur will drop you home. I will see you off to the car"

"You don't have to bother"

"Let me"

"Please. I don't wang Damian yelling at you"

He chuckled.

"I have gotten used to that. I think you should too if you don't want to get on his bad side"

I nodded.

"I will take that as advice"

"You should. After you, my lady"

He bowed and I smiled.

Isn't Hunter the perfect definition of a gentleman?

**

I was able to convince Damian through the help of Hunter to give me a little bit of time to gather up some money. He had laughed for the first time when I told him that. He must have found it hilarious. The money was much. How much of my savings will help pay off the debt?

"You want to pay back, by working?" He asked, his lips curving into a smile.

"I-i can do it. I will pay you back. I can't marry you"

He scoffed. "Like you have a choice"

"Don't be like that, Damian" Hunter said and he frowned.

"Do you now tell me what to do? Because of her?"

"No. I just think we should give her some time. It is not like you want to marry her for love in the first place"

Damian frowned. "I won't give her time. She either pays me to marry me" he stormed out of the living room, leaving Hunter and me alone.

"He's so stubborn," Hunter said. "But don't worry, he will change his mind"

"Are you sure he will?"

He nodded. "Trust me. He will"

I don't know how Hunter did it. But as he said, Damian changed his mind. He gave me two months to pay if not all buy at least half of it. I got three different jobs. One at a coffee shop, another at a library, and the last one involved delivery. I was to help deliver some good to some homes. Though that comes once in a while. It seems to be my best-paying job.

"How much have you gathered so far?" Andrea asked during one of my breaks.

I had visited her cause she works at a coffee shop a few meters away from the library I work at.

"Not much enough to pay off the debt"

"Do you think you can pay off half of the debt within the space of two months?"

"I don't think so. It's been two weeks and I haven't been able to gather up a thousand dollars"

"You should have just married him. That would have saved you of all this stress"

"I can't marry him. Do you know he looks at me?. He always gives me a smoldering look. I am sure if looks kiss, you would have sprinkled my ashes in the ocean a long time ago"

"What will you do now?"

"I don't know but I will keep pushing"

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No. You don't have to bother, Andrea. Having you with me is enough for me"

"I want to help. I have something for you. I will be right back"

She left and came back some minutes later. She handed over an envelope to me.

"Take this. You can add to the ones you have gathered"

My eyes watered and I couldn't hold back my tears.

"Y-you're giving me this?"

"Come on. You don't have to cry. You will make me cry too"

"I-i don't how to thank you Andrea. You're the best"

"You know I love you right?"

I nodded,

"I love you too, Andrea"

"What about your mother. She doesn't know yet right?"

I shook my head,

"She can't find out. She will be devastated"

She sighed.

"I know. I hope you can get out of this as soon as possible"

"I hope so too"

**

On my way back from one of my deliveries, I was stopped by some men. Their faces were not familiar. Two cars were parked across the road. When I tried to walk past them, they held me back.

"Leave me alone" I yelled, trying to push them away

They held me and dragged me across the road to the place where the cars were parked. The door opened and Damian's mom stepped out.

She pulled off her glasses staring at me in disgust.

"G-good evening ma'am" I greeted

"What have you given to my son?" She asked, ignoring my greetings

"I-i..."

"Keep shut. You don't talk while I talk"

"I-i..."

"Are you that dumb?"

I couldn't look at her face so I looked to the ground.

"I don't have much to say to you. Just stay as from my son"

She lifted my face.

"Do you like your life?"

I nodded fearfully.

"Good. Stay away from my son"

I watched her enter the car and drive off. Returning home, I called Andrea to tell her what had happened. She showed up at my door an hour later.

"Don't you think you should tell Damian about the incidence?" Andrea said

"I can't tell him. He won't believe me"

"What about Hunter?. He will believe you right?"

"He will but there is no way I will get to him"

"What are we going to do now?. His mom might hurt you"

"I know"

"What if you visit Damian's apartment?"

"I can't. He told me not to show up except he sent for me"

"And his workplace?"

"I can't visit any of it. He has warned me sternly"

She sighed.

"Things are getting complicated and there is nothing we can do about it"

"I will think of a way to solve it. You don't have to worry about me"

**

I was alone in the house. Andrea had visited me in the morning but had to go to work. I was to see Damian, since today clocks the two months grace he gave. I gathered all the money I have made so far and it was just ten thousand dollars. Adding the one Andrea gave me, it became ten thousand and seven hundred dollars.

It wasn't up to one-quarter of the money I was supposed to pay for that month. Before Andrea left, she had asked what I planned to do and had shown concern about me.

"How about a loan?"

Andrea had suggested but I could tell she knew that wasn't an option. Which bank or private loan company will offer me a loan worth that amount of money?

I had nothing to use as collateral which will make it difficult to get a loan. I knew Damian would not hear me out even if I ask him to add some months more. Knowing well that there was nothing I could do and no place to get fifty million dollars from, I sort for an escape root.

Running away was the only thing I could think of. I rushed to my room to get my things when I heard a knock on the door. At first, I was skeptical about opening the door.

"What if Damian has sent his guards to get me?"

Different thoughts ran through my mind. The knock came again but this time, it was louder and I flinched.

I walked to the door and opened it only to be met by the shock of my life. Damian was standing right in front of me. I had never once thought he would ever visit my home.

"Do you have my money?"

"I-i..."

"You don't, or do you?"

I shook my head.

"B-but I will pay you back soon. I promise. I have..."

He walked closer to me.

"We are getting married"

"W-what?"

"We are getting married and that's final!!!"