Dealing With The Billionaire

Chapter Three

Elaine.

I was shaking as I scolded myself for being so stupid. I thought that coming to steal here would earn me so much money and I'd be out of this life for good, but things didn’t seem to be going at my favor. Maybe if I hadn’t been caught, things would’ve been better. I would’ve contacted old colleagues and made a great deal. But then, the guilt still stabbed my chest in ways that I didn’t like to admit. If only I hadn’t involved myself. If only I just found another job. It wasn’t my fault! If I delay any longer my sister could lose her life and that was something I wasn’t even labeling as a possibility.

I could hear the guards make fun of me and say how much I’ve ruined my life by messing with “the boss”. Who the heck was this guy anyway? In the files Phoebe brought, it stated that the boss was a woman but the man intimidating me was proving that point wrong.

I removed my face from my palms, where it was buried, before looking at the door. He had been gone for a while and I got anxious the more I waited. In the past, I had never gotten caught and this was a whole new experience for me. The thought of going to prison almost made me nauseous and what made me feel worse was explaining it all to Audrey.

The door opened and my heart skipped a beat. I sat up straight and let out a heavy sigh as I prepared to strike a deal or something with this man.

“You can leave,” he said to the guards and they exchanged looks before leaving. He put his hands in his pockets and looked at me closely. “You look like you want to tell me something.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’ll never repeat this so, please don’t call the cops on me. I was desperate. My sister needs help and I wanted fast cash.”

“For someone who seems so concerned about her sister, you’re not a good example, are you? Does your sister even know what you do?”

I pressed my lips in anger and embarrassment. “I’m so sorry. I’ll do anything, please.”

He hesitated. “What’s your name? Your real name?”

“Elaine. Elaine Jones.”

“Age?”

I hesitated, wondering where the sudden questioning came from. “T-twenty-six.”

He nodded. “Is stealing your job? Do you work with someone?”

“No. I own a small flower shop and I don’t work with a team when I do such.”

“Do you do these stunts regularly?”

“No.”

He walked closer to me and leaned down, his right hand resting on the arm of my chair. “Since you’re a dealer, let’s make a deal.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lets say I believe the whole story about how you want to save your sister. Wouldn’t it be better to have money afterwards as well?”

“Where are you going with this?”

“Yes or no?”

I hesitated but met his eyes. “Yes.”

“Marry me.”

“What!?” I exclaimed in shock and mild annoyance. “I’m not going to give you my body.”

He rolled his eyes after my outburst and said, “I don’t want your body. At least, not in a sexual way. I want a marriage.”

“Isn’t this plot twist too much? I’m so confused.”

“I’m having my own troubles and you need money. Marry me to sort my troubles and I’ll give you cash to sort yours.”

“You want to buy me?”