Chapter 05

Stella opened the door to face Charles with one eyebrow raised. He took his sunglasses off to see her better. Both of them with serious faces.

"What do you mean to be your girlfriend?" she asked her arms across her chest. "You don't mean you've fallen inlo--"

"Of course not!" He immediately cut her off. "As you see, I'm a Castigado and--"

"What's a Castigado? Spanish for kings and queens?"

Charles couldn't help but look at her disapprovingly. Seriously, this girl still has no idea who he is? The last time they have spoken when he told her who he was, he thought she knew her mistake. But now look at this, this girl is frowning at him with a look of hatred.

"It's my last name," he answers. "Anyways, I am a billionaire and my image is very important. You and Vanessa stained it through that incident."

As Charles expected. When Vanessa is part of the conversation, Stella would cower away.

"What's Vanessa to you?"

Stella did not answer and instead continues to look down. There are only two answers, she was betrayed by Vanessa or she was part of Vanessa's plan. But it wasn't why he was there. He'll ask her about that the next time.

"I'm not here for that right now. As I said, I'm here to make a deal. Pretend to be my girlfriend and I'll compensate you instead of reporting you."

Stella didn't like it. Pretend to be this guy's girlfriend? No! She can't even stand his presence what more if he's her boyfriend. He reminds her of that night and it makes her feel disgusted with herself.

"No," she answers.

"But you have not heard what you will get out of this yet," he said. He looks away for a moment, showing off his perfect jawline and back to her. "I have an image to keep. You happen to open that door and you must be aware that your face is viral on social--"

"I don't use those stuff," she interrupted that earned a cold stare from Charles. "Okay! I'll let you finish."

"Anyways, so that's what happened. My image is ruined and I need you to fix it."

"How is me--"

"Simple. It will be the paparazzi's fault for invading our sweet vacation. I won't be named a playboy, a man whore, or whatever if you appear in the story and play as my long-time girlfriend."

"You want me to lie!" she shouts. "I don't like that. It's a freakin' no."

Stella was about to close the door when Charles moved forward his right foot blocking the door. She immediately throws a dirty glare at him.

"Move it!" she orders.

"You will be getting enough money to reach your dream. You can move away from this area and start anew in the city where you can breath fresh--"

"There's no fresh air in the city! The air there is the same here!"

"But at least you are living a non-problematic life! And you won't have to work two jobs!"

Stella's eyes went wide. How the hell did he know she was working two jobs? Her brows instantly furrowed.

"You had me investigated, didn't you? You had me followed?!"

"I had to do it so I could get to you," he replied honestly.

"Move your foot right now! I don't care about your money! And good for you, your damn image is ruined," she sassed. "Now, move it!"

Charles learned from his dad to never argue with an upset woman. So, he removed his foot and let her shut the door in his face. He let out a heavy sigh, looking down and up. He doesn't have much time. His grandfather would want to meet her soon.

Back in his car, he glance at Stella's apartment one last time and drove away. Well, he needs to let her cool off for a while and try again. He didn't know that was what he is up against. That girl was really stubborn as hell but it was good to see her again.

After a little while, Stella found the outside a little quiet now. So, she sticks her head out and looks side to side. Finally, he left. She sees it, he was not really serious at all. Good thing she didn't agree to it. That crazy guy! Now, where was she?

Stella walks around their area, hoping to find herself a morning job. It's not that she badly needed a job for a living, it's really just for saving. She wants to go somewhere far, in a province somewhere and own land where she could just farm and be peaceful. That was what she and her ex-boyfriend dreamed about but she guesses, his dreams changed.

Passing by a convenience store, she saw at the window that they were hiring cashiers. Her face immediately brightened rushing her way to enter the store. At the counter, she asked this middle-aged lady about the job posted on the window.

"Yes, it is still vacant, dear." It made her grin from ear to ear. "You can wait for our manager. She will come by this afternoon."

"Can I wait here?" She excitedly asked.

"Why yes, but it's only ten in the morning. Are you sure you are willing to wait?"

"Uhm... may I help you instead? I really don't have anything to do right now." She chuckles softly, looking down.

"Oh, if that is fine with you, dear. I'm sure the manager will hire you so I guess that's fine."

Stella felt really relieved. And so she asked the woman who she later knew was Emma what she could do to help.

Emma showed her how to operate and use the POS and how things are in that shop. Everything was doing good and Stella was stocking the racks when a group of ladies came in and gossiped.

Stella noticed that they were talking about her but she refused to get involved and did her thing. Just a moment later, one of the ladies approached her so suddenly.

"Hey, you're that girl from the photo right with Charles Castigado?"

She looks at the lady intently. Was that guy a damn celebrity? How could it affect her like this? Her heart was pounding on the inside. Should she lie?

"She's my girlfriend." Stella stiffened for a moment hearing that deep voice and she turned around to see Charles. He walk beside her and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Please delete the photo in your phone or I'll smash it."

The lady who was as shocked as Stella immediately did what she was told to do. With a shaking voice, she said sorry and hurried back to her friends.

Stella on the other hand just realized what Charles meant. She gazes at him with a frown on her forehead and moves away.

"You made it worse!" she yells.

"No, that's exactly what I'm telling you. It will be worse."

"I could have just lied!"

"You could have lied," he repeated with a smirk. "Do you really want to work here and encounter something like that again?"

"It's better than your offer," she replied.

"Many will come here to pester you. It isn't going to be just that."

"You followed me here. You're just like them."

"No. It's just pure coincidence that I went to get a drink but saw you so I stayed a little."

"My answer is no. No matter what, it's a no." And she went back to stocking the racks.

Charles did not say anything and instead just stood beside her. What can he do to make her say yes? He really thought hard.

"Do you know that they also need a stockman to accompany a cashier?" he asked which made her turn to him with a fierce stare. "If you take this job, I'll have to take the job too and that's us together."