Chapter 97
Gers*
“There haven’t been many,” the man said, referring to his “clients.” “Mainly because dating is about finding a like–minded partner.”
I almost laughed.
Like–minded?
He clearly just wanted to find someone who could contribute to his profits.
People often said jobs were hard to find these days, but if you used your brain, there were plenty of ways to make money with minimal investment. Clearly, he had cracked the code.
“So, miss,” he asked again, “have you decided whether to rent me as your boyfriend or to try dating me
for real?”
I pressed my lips together, keeping silent. He sipped his coffee elegantly, as if he had all the time in the world.
“A smart woman would choose to date me,” he continued, his tone confident. “That way, you don’t have to pay, and if it doesn’t work out, you can simply break up.”
“And wouldn’t you lose out if everyone thought that way?” I stirred my coffee absentmindedly.
“Not everyone gets this chance,” he replied smoothly. “I have standards too. I choose my clients based on their conditions.”
Ah, I understood now. He was interested in me because he thought I met his “standards.” This wasn’t just business–it was a cost–free trial for him.
“Do you offer any VIP discounts for the services you mentioned?” I asked, amused. His prices weren’t exactly modest.
Holding hands alone would cost me quite a bit. If I rented him to go to the Mercer estate, I’d have to act affectionate in front of Logan.
“No,” he said flatly. “No bargaining.”
I nodded. “I understand your terms. I’ll need some time to think it over. In the meantime, feel free to accept other offers. If someone else suits you better, don’t hesitate to decline mine.”
As I said this, it dawned on me that this wasn’t a date. It was a business negotiation.
He looked at me seriously. “I genuinely want to work with you.”
“Your conditions meet my needs too, but I’d like to see a few more candidates before making a decision,” I said, adopting the tone of an experienced negotiator.
“Alright,” he said with a small smile. “I’ll wait for your good news.”
He raised his hand to call the waiter over. “The bill, please, including this lady’s,” he said politely.
I shook my head. “No need. We can split it.”
He didn’t argue. He simply pulled out his phone to scan the payment code, nodded politely, and left. I lingered in the café for a bit longer, thinking over the strange encounter before heading out myself. That evening, I decided to take my time before heading home. Nora was working the night shift, so I
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couldn’t crash at her place.
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I grabbed a quick dinner, wandered through the night market, picked up a few quirky trinkets, and finally made my way home around eleven o’clock.
The night felt unusually heavy, as if rain was about to fall. A cold breeze sent a chill down my spine as I stepped out of my car.
Feeling uneasy, I instinctively hunched my shoulders. That’s when I felt it–a pair of eyes watching me.
I quickly glanced around but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
It’s just your imagination, I told myself. Still, the unease quickened my steps as I hurried into the building and up the stairs.
The hallway lights were out, casting the space into near darkness. I felt my heart race as I climbed.
Just as I reached the second floor, I heard it–the sound of footsteps behind me.
I froze for a moment, my scalp tingling with fear. The footsteps were slow, deliberate, and getting closer.
I gripped my bag tightly, holding my car key between my fingers like a weapon. If someone tried to attack me, I’d aim straight for their eyes.
Thinking about that gave me a burst of courage, and I stopped abruptly.
The footsteps behind me stopped as well.
Taking a deep breath, I asked in a shaky voice, “Who’s there?”
There was no response. The silence was deafening.
I forced myself to stay calm and shouted louder, “Who is it?”
Finally, a voice echoed back, “It’s me.”
The voice was familiar, and a figure stepped closer.
Then came an explanation, “Your blind date from the café this evening.”
I couldn’t believe it. We’d only met once, and now he was following me? My fear turned into alarm.
The hallway was so dark that I could barely make out his outline. He wasn’t close enough for me to see his face clearly, but his presence was unmistakable.
Gripping my keys tighter, I mustered the courage to ask, “Why are you following me?”
“Don’t misunderstand,” he said quickly. “I mean no harm. I just wanted to make sure you got home safely. It’s not safe for a woman to be walking alone at night.”
I almost laughed at the absurdity of his words.
Following me like this had scared me out of my wits, and he thought that made me safe?
I wasn’t naive enough to believe him. But provoking him now wouldn’t help either. I needed to stay calm until I could ensure my safety.
“Thank you for your concern,” I said evenly. “But I’m home now. You can leave.”
Instead of leaving, he stepped closer. “I’m a bit thirsty. Could I have some water?”
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His excuse was pathetic, and it made his intentions clear.
Clutching my keys even tighter, I refused firmly. “It’s too late. This isn’t a good time.”
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“Come on,” he said, stepping even closer. “You’re going to date me, so what’s the inconvenience?”
His tone sent chills down my spine.
“Stay back,” I warned, my voice trembling but firm.
“It’s just water. Why are you being so difficult?” His smile in the darkness was sinister.
I had prepared myself to strike if he got too close, but my hands were shaking.
As he stepped onto the last stair, I lunged forward with my keys.
But before I could make contact, a sudden rush of cold air swept past me. With a loud bang, the man was sent flying backward, crashing into the hallway wall before tumbling down the stairs.
The impact was brutal, and for a moment, I stood frozen.
Then, a familiar voice spoke beside me. “You went on a blind date?”
I turned to see Ashton standing there, his expression cold and unreadable.
Before I could respond, Ashton addressed the man sprawled on the stairs. His voice was icy. “Leave. Now. If you’re still here in a minute, I’m calling the police for harassment and trespassing.”
The man groaned in pain but managed to get up. Blood trickled down his face, though I couldn’t tell where he’d been hurt.
As he looked at me, Ashton stepped in front of me, shielding me from view.
“Do you want to lose your eyes?” Ashton growled.
The man didn’t need to be told twice. He fled quickly, leaving just Ashton and me in the dim hallway.
His hand was still shielding my face, and I realized I was almost leaning into his chest.
The silence was suffocating. I moved his hand aside and opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me
to it.
“You went on a blind date with someone like that?” he asked bluntly.
His words stung, but they weren’t wrong.
“I didn’t expect him to be so dangerous!” I snapped, more out of frustration than anything else.
Ashton’s expression didn’t soften. “Why didn’t you call me?”
I stared at him. “You rejected me, remember?”
He fell silent.
After a moment, I asked, “Why are you here?”
Ashton’s response was simple. “I came to find you.”
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