I stared at the money on the table; there had to be at least ten thousand dollars there, or maybe more. My fingers itched desperately to take it, but how long would it last? A week? A month? Then what?
I had no qualifications except a high school certificate, so it's not like I could land a job other than waitressing that would help me get by and pay my mother's hospital bills.
I needed more than money. I needed stability, a roof over my head, food and time to plan my revenge.
I needed him.
"What if—" my voice cracked, and I cleared my throat and tried again. "What if I told you I could ruin you?"
His brows arched. "Excuse me? How could you possibly do that?"
Everything hung in the words, I'd say next. This was my last card and my only leverage.
I met his cold, dark eyes and prayed this would work.
"I know about your new film; the success of that new film would depend on a lot of things, but largely on the investment of foreign investors, and I know you're trying to impress them…" I paused to let the words sink into his head. "What would they think if I went online and told everyone you sexually abused me?"
He didn't say anything.
"One post on SnapShare is all it takes. People always love a scandal."
"Are you finished?" he asked calmly.
Not the reaction I was hoping for.
"Well, Naya," he laughed. "You think a sex scandal would hurt a Ward? Sweetheart, my family has been involved in every scandal imaginable. Promiscuity, affairs, illegitimate children…the public is used to it. I won't even make the news cycle.
My stomach dropped.
"And even if it did," he continued, "do you know who owns most of the media in this city? My family. Your flimsy accusations would be dead on arrival."
"Still," he chuckled, reaching back into his wallet. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. You're the bravest idiot I've met."
He pulled out more cash and added it to the stack on the table.
"Now take this while I'm still being nice and go make something of your life."
He turned toward the door.
"It was a link!" I shouted. "They promised to pay me a million dollars if I upload nude pictures of you to a SnapShare account!"
That stopped him. Slowly, he turned and walked back to me.
"What did you say?"
"The people who sent me to pour that vial into your drink," I took a deep breath. "They sent me a message with instructions. They provided the clothes and makeup I wore that day. I was asked to go to a specific table, and a waiter in Club 69 gave me the vial. I still know his face."
"Can you identify him? And these instructions, do you still have them?"
"Take me back to your house."
He scowled. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"We have a deal, remember?" I met his eyes. "You wanted to know who sent me to kill you. I'll tell you everything."
"And then?"
"And then… I'll help you find them."
He scoffed. "How exactly would you do that? You have no resources or connections. What could you possibly offer?"
I took a step towards him, slightly closing the distance between us.
"Something you don't have, Mr Ward."
He raised his brow again.
"I have proof of the instructions I was given; I know the face of the waiter who gave me the vial, you need me to be able to identify him."
"Yeah, because it's the fucking stone age, right?" Hansel scoffed; his voice dripped with contempt. "That's what CCTV cameras are for, Naya Rivers. I don't need you to identify anyone."
"Wait!" Panic clawed up my throat. "Please—"
"We're done here," he said and turned to leave.
Without thinking, I dropped to my knees and clutched his leg. "Please, I'm begging you."
He stopped and looked down at me; his face was filled with disgust.
"What's wrong with you? Get up!"
"I'll do anything." Tears streamed down my face now. "Anything you want. I'll—I'll give you my body. Whatever you need. Just please—"
His expression darkened.
"Get. Up," he repeatedly coldly.
I refused to move, I clutched on to his leg like a lifeline, hoping I looked pitiful enough.
"Why the hell would I want to sleep with you?" he bit out. "You think you're so irresistible?"
"I'm desperate, Mr Ward and you're the only person who can help me. I'll do anything, I swear."
He grabbed my shoulders roughly and pulled me to my feet with enough force that I nearly stumbled.
"So, you think so little of yourself that you'd sell your body for a roof over your head?"
"I need to pay my mom's hospital bills. The director said if I don't, I'll be taken to court. I'll have a criminal record, and I will never be able to get any job. I'll have nothing."
He tried to shake me of,f but I held on to his arm tightly.
"Fine, you don't have to —to do anything with me. Just loan me the money. I'll pay you back—bit by bit—it'll work. I'll do whatever it takes. I'll spend years paying you back if I have to. Just please—"
Something shifted in his expression, and I watched the anger fade, not into warmth, but into something softer. It felt like he was pitying me.
He took a step towards me and grabbed my jaw, forcing me to look up to him. Our eyes met, and I tried to lower mine, but his grip was too strong.
"This is how desperate you get with other men, too?"
I blinked. "What?"
"Do you throw yourself like this in front of anyone who might help you/'
"No," I whispered. "It's just you."
He stared at me, his eyes searching mine, before he took a step back, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to me.
"I have a meeting soon that I cannot miss. Plus, my emotions are invested elsewhere, so I cannot come to a conclusion about your situation right now.
"But…" he paused. "You can stay at my place tonight. Tomorrow morning, we'll discuss terms, because whether you like it or not, Ms Rivers, you're an accessory to a plan that almost killed me."
I nodded frantically. "Yes. Yes, of course. Thank you. Thank you so much—"
"My assistant will take care of you." He said one last thing to me and walked to the door, and just like that, he left.
I stood there for a moment, clutching his handkerchief, before I exhaled and dropped into a chair. The desperate expression melted from my face.
So that's why women feigned weakness. It really was the only thing that moved men's hearts.
But at least, I had a place to stay tonight. That was step one.
Tomorrow, I'd work on making it permanent.
I'd seen the way Hansel looked at me, even when he was angry and disgusted.
I'd seen the way his eyes roamed my body, lingering on my most intimate parts. Hansel was a man, and if I had to seduce him to survive, I would, after all I'd done, harder things and sacrificed more for less.
Now that my mom was gone, I had nothing left to lose and everything to gain.
The door opened again, and immediately, I slumped my shoulders, allowing them to shake to keep on feigning my pitiful state.
When I looked up, Mina stood in the doorway.
Her expression was malicious. Pure hatred gleamed in her eyes.
"Follow me," she said in a clipped tone.