Chapter 6: No Bothering - Deal
Ember Corbin
I regretted not making a run for it and sitting down here to listen to Lance.
Even though there was bustling going on around us, all I could hear was the pin-drop silence between the two of us as the cold metal was firmly pressed on my skin. If I moved even a little bit, I might end up losing a finger or two, or maybe even end up losing my right hand. If it wasn't for the knife, I would feel like I was in love because my heartbeat was running like it was on a marathon.
After spending an entire month in the mental asylum, I thought nothing would ever scare me like this. But the latest incident with rapists a few nights ago and today was bringing out that extreme fear. Fear engulfed my entire being, and I was shivering. I gulped, afraid to look into his cold green eyes.
He hadn't uttered a single word after saying I was so dead. Should I give an explanation for my deeds and apologize to him before it was too late?
Better late than never, Ember.
I sucked in a deep breath and sincerely said, "Lance, I know I shouldn't have done that." I was hoping he would remove the knife, but it was still caressing my skin dangerously. It seemed like he was going to be a hard nut to crack.
"Done what?" Lance asked coldly.
"Well, my best friend, Candy wanted someone to buy that wristwatch for her, and she has done a lot for me. She's the only person who comes close to being a family to me. That's why I wanted to repay her by giving her the watch," I explained in one breath. When he stayed quiet, I further spoke, "I wanted to use the money I was saving for my world tour, but I still haven't saved up enough, so I couldn't afford the watch by myself. That was when I saw you. I felt like you were like an angel sent by God, really. I knew that you were very rich, so it wouldn't be an issue for you to pay the money."
"So you told the worker I was your boyfriend," he simply stated.
I let out a nervous chuckle. "It's not like I am destitute or living on the street. But you are so rich; I bet you can even buy the entire mall if you wish. Besides, it's just twenty thousand dollars."
He arched an eyebrow. "Just?"
"For you, yeah," I corrected myself. "For me, it's a lot. I am a simple-minded normal woman who works on a paycheck and appreciates saving. But Candy really wanted that wristwatch, and her birthday is just around the corner. It's her silver birthday, how can I not get her something nice? So Iâ" I was interrupted by him.
"The point, Lady?" he spoke roughly, making me shudder in fright, resulting in the knife getting pressed into my flesh.
I hissed in pain. "Are you intending to kill me? This hurts, you know?" I asked in fear, wanting to pull my hand away, but it already had a cut due to the sharp edge.
"I'm pretty sure I said you are dead. Be thankful that you are still not in pieces," he said, glaring at me.
Immediate panic rushed over me. I wanted to cry at this point. While I was really brave the last time Lance put me under gunpoint and said I wasn't scared of death, today, my entire being was terrified to the deepest core. "My mom says that God punishes those who kill humans." When his glare hardened, I added, "They never receive any happiness in their entire life."
Lance gave a humorless chuckle. "Then, consider I said farewell to happiness many years ago."
It piqued my interest, so I ended up asking with full curiosity, "Do you know how many years ago?" His glare was back on me, making me change my words immediately. "It's okay, you don't have to answer. Forget that I ever asked this question, and remove the knife, please. Look, blood's coming out." Blood was starting to ooze out from under the tight press of the knife against my skin.
"Do you think I brought this knife for smearing butter, Lady? Obviously, you getting hurt is my intention," he deadpanned. He pressed the knife more, making me wince again.
"God, this hurts like a bitch. Are you crazy, Lance?"
"Wrong choice of words." With that, he started cutting deeper. If I didn't stop him, I would lose four fingers, only my thumb would be cut off later because it was a little bit away from the other fingers.
"I don't want to lose my fingers, please. I am still so young and yet to get married. Imagine not having fingers, that's so inconvenient," I pleaded, tears brimming my eyes. "I swear I will repay the money. You can take all of my savings and I will pay the rest in installments. I swear on yoâ" when he put more pressure on the knife, instantly, I corrected myself, "Ember Corbin. I swear on Emâmyself."
Of course, he wanted the money. I was an idiot. He was in the mafia; he earned illegally, and an unknown woman had just wasted his precious money.
I thought Lance would finally agree after the offer to repay, but his next words had me confused. "Does it look like I am here to ask for money?"
I watched him removing the knife from my hand, for which I was grateful. He put the knife back in his pocket while I checked my hand. The cut wasn't as deep as I was feeling it to be. However, thank God, I still had all my fingers.
"If you don't want me to repay you through money, what do you want?" I questioned him, grabbing a tissue from the center of the table to wipe the blood, but when a thought got into my mind, I froze in my place, my eyes wide in fear. "Don't tell me you want me to be your slave or spend the night with you. Though considering it's twenty thousand dollars, would it be long-term?"
"What?" Lance let out in disbelief. "Who was your doctor in the asylum? I should cancel that doctor's license for giving you the wrong treatment."
I rolled my eyes, my fear already vanishing, and pressed the tissue to my wound. Well, Lance was temporarily scary, but now, he seemed to be in his usual mood. But he still had a deadly auraâno wonder why he was a mafia leader.
"If you don't want me to pay the money back, then do you want me to return that watch? Please no. Candy loved it so much." I pouted and took my chocolate shake in my hand after the bleeding stopped.
Lance sighed and said, "Look, Ms. Corbin, I will state this only once. So listen to me carefully."
"Okay..." I trailed off.
"Without interrupting me," he added, giving me a stern look.
I put on a thin-lipped smile, not uttering a word, and waited for him to continue speaking.
"You don't have to repay me the money. I just need one thing from you." I listened to him intently as he said, "I want you to promise me to stop bothering me."
"But when did I bother you?" I ended up asking, only to find him giving me a blank stare. Oops, I wasn't supposed to interrupt. I took a sip of my drink innocently.
"These days, you are appearing everywhere. I don't want our paths to cross, and even if it does, let's just pretend like we never met," Lance explained to me, and I nodded, shifting my focus on eating. "Just forget everything that has happened between us. Just forget that I exist while I will do the same."
"But how can I forget you when you rescued me from those goons?" I pointed out.
"It was just a one-time thing. Just forget it and focus on the negative sides of mine," he said calmly.
I arched an eyebrow. "Negative sides?"
"Like, I threatened you with a gun, then I kidnapped you, and today, I cut your hand. Think of me as an evil person, which I really am."
I suppressed my smile because he was trying so hard not to show he was a person with a good heart. He really was in the wrong profession. I cleared my throat and said, "But I like to focus on positive things. You rescued me, you dropped me to the kindergarten, and you even paid for such an expensive watch."
He groaned in frustration. "Just fucking promise me you won't bother me, Ember."
I liked the way he called my name. Even though I loved my name, it sounded nicer coming from him. "But it's not my fault. We just end up meeting somehow. I cannot stop that, now can I? It's not like I knew you would be in that watch store today, nor did I ask to be kidnapped by your men."
"Why do I have to repeat my words?" He was beyond annoyed now. "Even if we meet again, just forget I exist and I will forget your existence too."
I gasped, placing a hand over my mouth dramatically. "How can you forget my existence? I thought we were friends."
"What the fuck? Friends?" he let out in horror. "Lady, we are not friends, and we will never be. Where do you get these disturbing thoughts?"
"Buâ" I was interrupted by him.
"Will you just promise me? I don't have all the time in the world to wait around anymore. You tested enough patience of mine."
I bit my lower lip, giving his words a thought before sighing. "Fine, I promise not to bother you anymore." I extended a hand for shaking it with him, which he shook after a few seconds of awkwardness. "Deal," I mumbled.
"Thank God," he murmured under his breath, and we stopped shaking hands. "Never show me your face."
I nodded in response and looked in the direction Candy went. "Why is Candy taking so long?"
"Because I told my guard to keep your friend busy while I have this deal with you," Lance informed me, making me amused. "The work is done," he updated over his AirPods and got up from the seat. I watched him walk away.
Lance did so much just to convince me not to bother him anymore. I was really disturbing him, wasn't I? He was a good man and hated to be called 'good.'
"Em!" I got startled by the sudden voice. I saw Candy flashing me a bright smile as she took a seat in front of me, where Lance had been sitting. "You won't believe it, but this watch is really lucky."
"Why? What happened?" I asked her curiously.
"I was coming out of the restroom, and then, I met this hot guy. You should've seen him. Damn. And you know the best part? He came to talk to me," explained Candy.
She was talking about the guard Lance used to distract her. If she found the guard hot, she should see Lance. I wish I could tell Candy what was happening with my life, but unfortunately, I couldn't because Lance was in the mafia, and now, we promised to not even think about each other's existence.
I would stop bothering Lance, but I wouldn't be able to forget him even if I wanted to. He rescued me from an almost traumatizing incident. I would be forever grateful to him for that.
"We even exchanged numbers, Em. I am looking forward to this date, really. I'm going to cancel on my other date. This one's so much better."
"That's so cool," I said to Candy. "I am so happy for you. You should wear the red dress we bought today."
"I am thinking the same." With that, she kept talking about her plans, and I assisted by giving her some ideas on how to make the date perfect.
After we were done talking, I and Candy went to the cash counter to pay for our food.
"Oh, the payment has been completed. Have a great day," said the male cashier, making me furrow my brows in confusion. Did Candy pay while returning from the restroom because she was so happy after meeting the hot guy?
"Thanks for paying, Em." Candy's voice brought me out of the trance. "I will carry the shopping bags." With that, she went to collect the bags we kept on the corner of the table.
If Candy didn't pay, then who paid it? Was it Lance? But why would he pay for food?
"Excuse me," I said to the cashier, whose gaze shifted to me, waiting for me to continue. "Umm... if you don't mind me asking, who paid the bill?"
"Let me check. He paid with his card," said the cashier. He checked something on the computer and informed me, "Lance Storm."
A smile crept over my face hearing the name. Lance must have felt bad for hurting my hand. "Thank you," I told him and went to Candy, helping her to pick up the bags.
Lance Storm wanted me to stay away and think bad of him. How could I? He gave me one more reason to not hate him. He was such a softie behind that dangerous facade. He was like a coconutâhard from the outside and soft from the inside. Now, I was more grateful to him.
God, please bring happiness to his life.
He wanted only one thing from me, didn't he? Fine. I wouldn't bother Lance Storm anymore according to our deal.