3
1397 Words
Izzy was nearly about to burst from nervousness as she sat in the taxi. She had been staring at the message from Seth Santiago for so long that she might have memorized every word after reading it a dozen times.
"U-um, sir, are we still far?"
Izzy asked the taxi driver. She winced slightly when she heard him sigh. She couldn’t blame him, though—she’d asked the same question just a few minutes ago.
“Just five more minutes, ma’am. The traffic’s bad, so the trip’s taking longer. Looks like you're going to meet someone important.”
Izzy winced again at the driver’s nosiness. Her nerves were getting the best of her, and she shot him an annoyed glare, making him quickly turn his gaze away.
“You’re not a gossip, are you, sir?”
“Sorry, ma’am. I just couldn’t help but notice. You seem like you’re about to meet someone very important. Just a heads-up, be careful—things aren’t as safe as they used to be.”
The driver’s voice turned serious, and Izzy forced a bitter smile.
“Do you still have a mother, sir?”
“Yes, I do. She’s old, but still strong—though she gets sick sometimes. Why do you ask?”
Izzy smiled to herself, her eyes welling up with tears. She turned away, staring out the window.
“Then you’re lucky, sir. Let me ask you—how far would you go for your mother?”
“I’d do anything, ma’am. We only have one mother. I’d give her everything to repay her for everything she’s done for me.”
The driver replied proudly. Izzy nodded, turning to look at him.
“You’re right. I feel the same way, sir. I’d do anything for my mother—no matter what.”
She took a deep breath before continuing.
“If you’re wondering why I’m going there, I’m doing it for my mother’s life.”
Izzy’s heart skipped a beat when she saw him—the man she had come to meet—walking out of a sleek building, wearing sharp business attire as if heading to an important meeting. She suddenly felt out of place in her coffee shop uniform, stained with spills.
“Ma’am, we’re here.”
The driver’s voice snapped her out of her daze. She swallowed hard, handed over her fare, and gathered every ounce of courage before stepping out of the car.
Not knowing how to fix her messy hair, she simply ran her fingers through it and gave herself a bitter smile. No matter what she did, she’d still look like an outsider next to him.
“Isabel Vergara, it’s nice to see you again.”
Izzy’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest when she heard his voice behind her. She turned to face him.
“S-sir Seth Santiago, g-good evening.”
She greeted him nervously, biting her lip when she saw that he wasn’t smiling. He remained as serious as ever.
“I-I apologize for calling you out of the blue. I-I just needed to ask for a f-favor—”
“Let’s not talk here.”
He cut her off, freezing her in place.
“P-pardon?”
“I said, let’s not discuss whatever you need here. We’re in public. I refuse to have this conversation here. If you don’t mind, please come with me.”
Though his tone was stern, it remained formal. Izzy nodded silently.
“Very well. Follow me, then.”
Izzy felt like she might collapse from nerves as she quietly followed Seth Santiago.
She wondered if he even knew how to smile. With his posture and demeanor, he looked like someone who’d punch anyone who dared joke with him.
‘Is this what wealth does to a person? Turns them into emotionless statues?’ She thought. Despite her anxiety, she couldn’t help but smirk at the thought.
Her smirk vanished instantly when Seth stopped in front of an impressive door.
“Relax, Isabel. I’m not going to do anything bad to you. I can feel your nervousness radiating off you.”
His voice held a hint of irritation before he opened the door with just his thumb, which left her momentarily stunned.
‘How rich is this guy?’ Izzy thought, feeling like a country girl lost in the city.
“Are you just going to stand there?”
His impatient voice snapped her back to reality. She stepped inside quickly, nearly tripping over her own feet from how much her legs were shaking.
“Sit over there and wait for me.”
He instructed in a cold tone before disappearing into another room. Izzy nodded mutely, taking a seat while her eyes roamed around the luxurious home.
“Just how rich is this man?” She wondered again, glancing around once more.
“Good evening, ma’am. Would you like something to drink?”
Izzy snapped upright at the sound of the woman’s voice. The woman, dressed in a maid’s uniform, looked only a few years older than Izzy but appeared much more poised and composed.
“J-just water, please. Thank you.”
“Would you prefer juice or coffee instead?” The maid asked kindly, but Izzy shyly shook her head.
The maid left and returned a few minutes later with a glass of water, which Izzy accepted gratefully. Her throat was so dry from nerves that she drank the whole glass in one go—only to choke when Seth suddenly appeared in front of her, now in a fitted white tank top and black joggers. He looked even more imposing.
‘Damn… is this guy even human?’ She thought, swallowing hard. She had just finished her water, but now she felt thirsty again.
“Stop staring at me.”
His emotionless voice broke her out of her daze.
“H-huh? I-I wasn’t staring at you.”
“Also, drop the ‘sir.’ I know I’m older than you, but there’s no need to make me feel ancient. You’re 22, and I’m 35—not a huge difference, is it?”
He said as he sat down across from her. The silence hung between them for a moment before Izzy realized something.
“H-how do you know my age?”
She asked suspiciously. Her heart raced when she saw him smirk.
“Lucky guess…”
He replied coldly.
“But we’re not here to talk about age. State your business, Isabel Vergara.”
He cut straight to the point. If Izzy had already been nervous before, now she felt like she could hardly breathe.
She took a deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut. When she opened them, she met his calculating, icy gaze.
“I-I know we don’t know each other, sir. I’m just the foolish girl you bumped into earlier today, b-but I… I need a big favor from you. M-my mother is in the hospital—”
“How much, Isabel?”
He interrupted. His unreadable gaze met hers, and Izzy held it, her heart pounding.
For my mother…
She reminded herself.
“I-it’s a huge amount, sir. I-I can’t ask for it as a gift—”
“How much does your mother need, Isabel?”
He interrupted again, his voice firm.
Izzy swallowed hard, then whispered, “Th-thirty thousand dollars, s-sir.”
Seth remained silent, his gaze intense as he studied her.
“Money isn’t a problem for me, Isabel. I could earn that in a few weeks, maybe a month. But I’m not concerned about the money. I’ll cover all your mother’s medical expenses. However…”
Izzy’s breath caught in her throat, waiting for him to continue.
“What can you do to pay me back, Isabel Vergara?”
“I-I’ll do anything, s-sir Seth. Anything, as long as you help my mother.”
His gaze sharpened.
“Anything, huh? That means you’ll do whatever I want?”
Izzy nodded quickly, her voice shaking. “Yes, anything.”
“Hm… I don’t need anything. But tell me, what can you give a man who already has everything?”
Swallowing hard, Izzy met his intense gaze.
“O-one night, Seth Santiago… One night with you. I have nothing else to offer but myself.”
She declared, despite the uncertainty and fear swirling inside her.
“I-I’ll let you have me for one night—just help my mother.”
- Writer
