Enchanted Stories, Unwritten Endings

Chapter 5: A Brewing Storm Of Confusion

Valencia hurried to the bookstore, feeling a rush of excitement as she approached the entrance. When she saw Mr. Daniel already seated at a corner table, calmly sipping green tea and engrossed in a book, she mumbled to herself, "He's early."

She made her way to the table, and with a nervous smile, she said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Daniel. I hope I'm not running late."

Mr. Daniel glanced at his watch and replied, "Five minutes early."

Relieved, Valencia took her seat across from him. Daniel closed his book and set it aside. She reached into her bag and placed a file on his side of the table, saying, "Mr. Daniel, this is the adaptation proposal I've prepared. Please feel free to make any suggestions or changes."

She continued, placing another file on his side, "Here is the copyright agreement," and yet another, "This one is for the scriptwriting agreement. Since you might not have experience in scriptwriting, you can consider working with our professional scriptwriters."

Finally, she put down one more file and said, "If you ever want to explore collaborations for scriptwriting, the choice is entirely yours. The copyright remains our priority."

As Daniel took a leisurely sip of tea, he observed Valencia's enthusiasm. He neatly arranged all the files she had provided, seemingly considering her proposal. Then, he reached into his bag and produced a brown mini suitcase.

Valencia, thinking he was about to sign the agreements, said, "May I have a pen, please?" and began searching her purse for one. However, Daniel extended the suitcase toward her, causing her to smile and comment, "Mr. Daniel, it appears that you have a gift for me."

Valencia continued to speak as she opened the suitcase, "This doesn't seem like a pen," her eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked at him, and then she discovered a broken teapot inside.

Daniel's response was calm but straightforward, "I believe you mistakenly took my parcel without my consent. As a result, you are responsible for this."

Valencia hastily closed the suitcase and defended herself, saying, "I didn't drop this."

Daniel clarified, "The deliveryman has stated that he didn't drop it either. However, he claimed that you pretended to be my sister and collected my parcel."

Valencia's voice held a tone of regret as she inquired, "I'm truly sorry. I will certainly compensate you. May I ask how much this teapot costs?"

Daniel calmly stated the amount, "1,975.12 USD," leaving Valencia in shock. She repeated, "I beg your pardon?" and then exclaimed, "More than a thousand dollars? Are you sure about that?"

But she stopped mid-sentence when she noticed his stern expression. Trying to negotiate, she asked, "Mr. Daniel, you are aware of my financial situation. Could we perhaps arrange an installment plan?"

His reply was unwavering, "I'm not interested in financial compensation. I simply request that you order the same teapot set."

Valencia accepted the terms, admitting her innocence, "Very well, we have a deal. Rest assured, I had no intention of causing any harm."

As Daniel prepared to leave, he picked up his book and stood. Valencia tried to keep the conversation going, calling after him, "Well... What do you say about signing the agreement? Your consent would provide me with the means to compensate you. Well..."

However, he had already walked away, leaving her in frustrated solitude. She opened the suitcase once more, gazing at the broken teapot, and muttered, "What a scam," her expression pained by the unforeseen turn of events.

Valencia walked along the footpath, her mind preoccupied with the exorbitant cost of the broken teapot. She muttered to herself in despair, "1,975.12 USD...1,975.12 USD..."