Mr. Know-it-all

C H A P T E R 10

REGINA'S P.O.V

"Work"

Of course, how could I think otherwise. He didn't call me to have a chat or to reminisce about that 'one' good time that we shared in the past. When I think about the words "good" and "past" at the same time, that memory always pops up in my mind. He was a part of the good memories from the times when I loved life.

"What kind of work?" I asked him. I noticed that we had come far, in an unfamiliar neighborhood. It was silent and the roads were constricted here. It alarmed me.

"I've to get something from my business partner. It wasn't expected so I had no one trustworthy available to complete the task." He paused for a moment and then continued, "I believe you can do it for me."

"Why don't you do it yourself then?" I questioned him. It was a reasonable question on my part. Why bother calling me if it was so simple of a task. I was suspicious, my gut was telling me to refuse, "I don't think I'm doing it."

As soon as I had said that, I saw his jaw clench and his grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"What?" I asked, taking his reaction to my refusal into account.

"I don't want to be seen associating with his workers. You are unknown to them, its better this way." He said and shot a warning look at me. Why was I intimidated? He didn't own me.

"What will I get out of this?" I asked.

"What do you want? Money"? He asked back, amused.

"No, I'll think about it later. I'll do it if you swear to not refuse anything I ask for later on." I said and he nodded.

I really had no idea what to ask for. I was craving some cinnamon rolls and if I kept thinking about it, I was afraid I would ask for them so I decided to delay my demand to some other time. I can ask him to promote me back, but I needed time to think about it.

He took a turn onto another quiet road and parked on the curb. He reached into the back seat and procured a black briefcase. It was small, the kind you see in the movies in which they deliver shit loads of money in.

"You'll walk down the street, take a left and there'll be a small Chinese kiosk. It might be closed. You'll go to the guy and ask him for Ruby." He said handing the briefcase to me, "Hand this briefcase only when they have given you a red bag."

As much as I felt uneasy by all of this business, I nodded and held on to the briefcase. Asher's face expressions were business-like and his formidable aura had surpassed any confidence of mine that would make me question him. I exited the car and walked along the street. The air was cold and I shivered. I looked up and it seemed like it was about to rain. I had to hurry up, lest it would start raining. I was not looking for another sick episode.

I turned the corner and saw a lone food stall lit up in the middle of the street. I walked up to it and saw a man sitting in a chair beside the stall. He looked me up and down, and stood up when his eyes landed on the briefcase in my hand.

"I want Ruby." I said and he continued to look at me with a confused expression.

"Ruby." I said again, "Red?" I held the briefcase higher and he finally nodded.

"Wait." He said and went back inside. I looked around the place which would have looked normal if not the shady looking man who just went inside and shady looking briefcase that I held.

The man came back and I saw that he was holding a very small red bag, it was almost the size of a pouch.

"Give it to me." He said gesturing me to give up the briefcase. I shook my head, "No, you hand me the bag first." I held my hand out.