Wicked Games {Ziam}

Opportunity of a lifetime

"As Ive been told, you and some of your friends were caught vandalizing this building, correct," Liam starts.
     "I mean yeah I guess," Zayn mutters with a careless shrug.
      "they must be much better at running away than you are, hm?" Liam asks. Zayn stares at the floor angrily. "Otherwise you wouldn't be sitting here right now."
      "Out of curiosity, what do you think the penalties of vandalizing a professional private business building is?" Liam asks.
      "I don't know," Zayn shrugs.
      "Well, since you 'don't know', let me tell you," Liam starts.
    "Start with 30 months in jail, at least. Quite possible up to 10 years imprisonment. With a permanent charge of criminal damage on your good record. Not to mention the whole process is quite tedious given..... the bail, the courts, the police, prison and probation. All for displaying your artwork on my good building," Liam tells him.
    "What, did you google the penalty for graffiti vandalism before I came here?" Zayn retorts.
Liam sits quietly, nodding slowly.
     "Now. I'm giving you two options," Liam starts. "You can either clean up your mess and work for me to pay off the damage, or you could not worry about any of this and I can continue to press charges and have your ass sued for everything you own. Which... I'm gonna guess is not very much. Now, Which one would it be?" Mr. Payne asks with raised, expectant eyebrows.
     Zayn sighs and rolls his eyes. Neither of those options sounded good to him at all.
    "Dude. It's not even a big deal.  just pay somebody to clean it off for you. You're rich enough," Zayn suggests.
     "That would be you, you are aware? Because After I would sue you, I would use your money to clean my building which you vandalized in the first place. So yes. Technically I would be paying someone to clean it," Liam explains. "And also, you would end up in jail," he adds for at least the 10th time.
     Zayn groans again and shakes his head unhappily.
      "What will it be?" Liam repeats.
       "Am I supposed to think you're doing me a favor by playing 'mr. Nice guy?" Zayn asks.
      "I'm trying to help you," Liam explains. "I don't want to see someone like you end up in prison with... Murderers and rapists just for graffiti charges. You don't belong there," Liam tells him.
      Zayn slouches in his chair and bites his lip. He really didn't want to end up in prison.... He wouldn't last a week there....
    "Yeah fine. I'll do whatever you want," he finally accepts grudgingly.
    "Good," Liam nods pleasantly. "I have the perfect job for you, actually. Something to put your talents to good use,"
     "So really you just wanted to help me so I could help you?" Zayn says. Liam grins slightly and continues.
    "We're working on a promotional campaign, to further expand our name and we recently lost one of our team members working on that project. That's were you would come in. We Could really use more creativity and artistic ability, which it seems you have plenty of," Liam tells Zayn who shrugs.
    "Not really.... But I guess I'll give it a go," Zayn accepts meekly.
    "Good," Liam repeats again with a proud smile. "So you can start tomorrow, yes?" Liam requests with a hopeful expression.
     "Will I get paid?" Zayn asks curiously.
    "Not until you work off the damage. But that shouldn't take too long," Liam replies. Zayn sits quietly, considering the situation. It sounded a lot better than jail.....
     "Yeah I'm in," Zayn confirms firmly.
     "Perfect," Mr. Payne replies with a smile. "We'll see you tomorrow then," he concludes.