Angel's POV

To Angel:

The million is yours now. Tomorrow night, at XXX. Come or else you’ll vanish with those grands.

"Fvck, fvck, fvck. What should I do? What should I do?" I asked myself horribly. I paced back and forth not knowing what to do.

My hands are literally shaking, and my knees are wobbling because of mixed horror and confusion. I couldn't think straight. I didn't know what to feel and think now. I wanted to escape this reality or wake myself up with this nightmare.

With fear and shaking knees, I went to my bed and laid there, closed my eyes and tried to meditate and relax myself.

"This is not true." I spoke to myself a couple of times and even pinched myself just to wake up but neither of my hopes seems to happen.

I slowly opened my eyes, hoping that this would all be gone but no. I looked at my place and it's still the same. The phone is still there waiting for its owner's presence.

"You’re fvcked up, Angel." I uttered.

I stood up immediately and reached for my phone and read the texts repeatedly. I grabbed a handful of my hair and bit my fingers because of trying to stop myself from crying.

"Should I tell Molly?"

No, no, no! She'll just scold the shit out of me. She'll just say that she's been serious all this time and I just handled this like it was a joke.

"What if I'll just transfer the money again?"

But what if there's a contract and policy that I'm not aware of? And he just put up an ordeal! If I don't show up, then this is how I'll end? Oh god! I look so pathetic. Why am I talking to myself?

"Calm yourself, Angel... " I full my lungs with air. Trying to pull my shits up.

I can do this with the right process. For sure I can still fix this. I just need to beg and deal with him. Right? Right.

So, the next day, at the appointed time I just found myself standing at the glass door of the restaurant he said in his message last night. I just chose to wear a simple black dress and I paired it with white tennis shoes as well as a blazer if ever the night gets cold.

Even with a divided mind I still chose to enter. The place looks so fancy, as if even if I only ordered water, my wealth here on earth would be wiped off.

A man in uniform greeted me immediately, I'm sure it was a waiter. He smiled at me, so welcoming. He took me to a restaurant, and I thought we would stop at a table at the far end but we entered a secluded or seemingly private room of the restaurant.

I don't even know if a reservation is needed here, but it seems like they already know me enough to take me to this room. Nobody’s here, just me. My heartbeat can’t stop beating so fast and loud because of nervousness. I'm really the only one here because I'm came early compared to the time he said.

Just minutes after the waiter left me and he came back again.

"This is our menu ma'am."

Even though I knew I had no intention of ordering, I still managed to scan their menu, and I couldn't even move the pages because just one order of fresh mango juice and I’ll for sure run out of my one-week allowance.

” Uhm, Can I have water please? I’m still waiting for someone.”, I smiled awkwardly.

Fortunately, the waiter didn't seem judgmental, and he politely greeted me and took the menu in my hands before leaving in front of me. Just minutes later the waiter returned and laid fresh cut fruits on the table. He may have sensed that I’m wondering why he brought these fruits when I just ordered some water.

So, he uttered, “Our complementary, ma’am.”

My sense of smell quickly found the strawberry causing me to hold my breath. I don’t eat strawberries. I’m not allergic to it as much as I’m allergic to cayenne peppers, it’s just because I hate the smell of those. It looks appetizing but I hate how it smells, I don’t know.

I endured a few more minutes and held my breath but finally I got up to go to the restroom so that I could touch up because I felt like I was going to faint because of its smell.

I stared at myself in the mirror and calmed myself. In just a few minutes, I know I'll see the man I talked to last night. I know that no matter what decision I make, I still have no choice. Last night I was still trying to calm myself and convince myself to just give it a try and just wing everything but what was going to happen still didn't really sink into my brain.

Just a few days ago I was just a college student cramming for requirements and exams and now, I’m having trouble figuring out what steps I’m going to take while that man is trying to get me pregnant.

I closed my eyes tight and calmed myself before I pulled my shits up and decided to come back to the private room. I went straight in there but stopped immediately at the same time as my heart stopped beating.

A man in a corporate suit and tie intently sitting in front of the chair I was sitting a while ago before I left. In the distance I could immediately see how its thick eyebrows met. His nose is on point and his skin is fair enough that the lights would even give more emphasis on his skin.

He looked so serious and intimidating, I couldn’t move. In just a few seconds his sight moved into me, and our eyes met. My lips parted a bit as I looked at his deep menacing eyes. He’s seriously so good looking that I don’t even get why I’m suddenly complimenting him.

”Where have you been?”, his first words.

God, even his voice is deep but so soothing in my ears. Is that even possible? And his tone, he sounds annoyed and bored the same as his expression.

I grasped my sling bag and walked slowly near my seat. He followed me with his gaze and I seemed to want to catch my breath because of his stares at me. I gave him another look. His hair is not long but not too short. It is well fixed and matches his face structure.

“Uhm…” I was tongue tied. Is it him? Is it really him? Did he pay me a million just to get pregnant?

"I paid you a million and now you have the courage to run away from the conversation?"

“What?”, I asked him angrily.

” Isn’t a million enough? All right. Tell me, how much are you?”

My lips parted because I couldn't say what I wanted to say because of the mixture of annoyance and shock I felt. This arrogant and selfish beast! What is beautiful in appearance is ugly in character!

” Just so you know, you passed your application, and I made it all clear for you. I gave you what you’re desperate for, so now, you have no right to leave this conversation. I’ll get you pregnant and I’ll give you the grands that you wish for.”

I chuckled without humor. My first automatically clenched beneath the table as I listened to his words.

“For your information too, Mr.,” Arrogant, I wanted to add. “I was in the fvcking powder room as I arrived earlier than you asked. Don’t worry I’m not going to run for the hills because as you said, I’m desperate for your money right? I’m all in! When is it? Right now? Right here?” I uttered without pausing.

I could almost catch my breath because of the length of what was said and because of the suppressed anger that caused my chest to tighten. I’m so offended by what he said. Hell yeah! I’m desperate and I blame myself for being so dumb thinking this was all a scam.

His mouth is in a thin line. I remained smiling and confident like he didn’t hurt me by his words at all. But deep inside, as I look at him straight in the eyes, I feel like I’m caged into a contract and now left with no choice but to enjoy being in jail, with this man of course.

We’re both silent and remained to look at each other. I don't think we have the guts to stop the staring if the waiter hadn't come to ask for our order.

His stare remained on me, but I couldn’t manage to look at him. I look at the waiter and smile while also glancing at him seconds at a time. A few more moments when I stared at him and raised an eyebrow. That's when he coughs lightly as if he’s releasing the tension between our tables.

"Here's the menu ma'am and sir."

I accepted the menu and so did he. I kept my gaze on him as he seemed very knowledgeable and well-versed in eating in this kind of place. I unconsciously bit my lower lip thinking how he’s so good looking, yet his attitude is on the ground.

“We’ll have Filet Mignon and Chateauneuf du Pape for wine.”

After he said that he caught me looking at him, so I immediately took my eyes off him. I just pretended everything was normal and looked at him again. His eyes are pinned on me like he’s almost annoyed or what. What did I even do to him? He’s the one who did some insulting!

"Remove the pepper-based condiments for her please."

I gasped at my mind. I was stone faced on the outside but my insides were wondering how did he know about my allergy?

"Right away sir." The waiter nodded.

"What more do you want?" He asked me.

I snorted and shook my head before closing the menu and returning it to the waiter. I haven't paid yet.

” And please take these fvcking strawberries. She’s sensitive to its scent.” I heard him say.

My mouth went agape. All my annoyance and my thoughts about his dirty attitude fade away. I felt something inside me that moved, fvck. It seems like space and time became the finest point imaginable. Calm your shits Angel, it’s just strawberries.

‘Hell yeah! Just a fvckin strawberries, but how did he know about that? And the peppers! ’I shouted at myself inside my mind.

He fixed himself and seemed to be making himself comfortable in his seat while I’m still puzzled how come he knew about that. Did I even put it in my resume? No!

Well, who cares? Maybe he had some private investigators shit and all that. I should not forget what I am here. Just his surrogate, unofficially.