Blair has no choice, and she accepts Axel's invitation for dinner. They sat opposite each other on one of the benches with a beautiful view of the river at night. Blair felt a little safe because she wasn't alone. Several other people were also sitting, enjoying the view of the river at night.
The corner of Blair's eyes continued to be wary of her surroundings. She found two men dressed in all black who had knocked Blair out of fright. They stood not far from where Axel was.
"Who are they?" Blair asked. "Your hitman?"
"They're just my assistants," Axel said calmly. He opened the food bag and handed Blair a sandwich. "Sorry if they scared you earlier."
Blair gritted her jaw. She still clearly remembers how two men pointed daggers at her in the rest area for witnessing a murder. At this time, Axel's two assistants also reminded Blair of the two criminals.
"You can't fool me, Mr. Barney. Tell me, what is your aim?"
Axel didn't seem to hear Blair's words. "Are you okay with this? I had the tuna and chicken sandwich. Which do you like more?"
Blair was annoyed. However, she was never picky about food. Living on the streets taught her many things, especially about food. Whatever the food's shape and taste, she will accept it and eat it with pleasure.
She was starving and wanted a quick bite of the sandwich. But again, Blair restrained herself and bit her slowly. She didn't want to lose her manners.
For some reason, Blair was worried about her current appearance. Whereas a few seconds ago, she thought Axel was a psychopath who might be ready to take her life and the organs in her body.
"Why does a doctor need two bodyguards?" Blair asked suddenly.
Axel immediately choked. He quickly looked for a drink and took a quick sip of the orange juice.
"Why do you think they are my bodyguards?" replied Axel.
"I'm not stupid, Mr. Barney. They don't look like your co-workers or doctor's assistants, much less your brother. So let's get straight to the point. What do you want from me?"
Axel put down his sandwich. "You can't just walk away, Miss. As you said, you still owe me. That's why you have to pay for it." This time Axel's tone changed from pleading to begging.
Blair stood with her back to Axel for a moment. The girl shuddered and got trapped.
"I promised to pay off my debt within two months, but you don't believe--"
"How can I believe your words? As you said before, we can trust no one in this world. How can I keep your promise? I don't even know you. I want you to come with me to pay off your debts!"
"What?"
This time Blair was utterly helpless. She had thought it would end like this. She knew Axel would want her body to pay off her debts. Blair touched her belly slowly without Axel knowing. She squeezed it shakily.
"I have no choice, do I? I beg you to endure tonight." Blair whispered those words to the fetus in her belly.
"How do you want me to pay for it?"
Blair said the offer with great trepidation. She hoped a man like Axel, who looked prosperous and dignified, wouldn't humiliate himself by screwing a dingy homeless man like herself just for fun.
"There are a lot of beautiful and expensive prostitutes out there. Why do you have to have fun with a tramp like me?"
Axel laughed. "That is indeed an interesting joke, Miss. Tell me, what's your name?"
Blair was surprised. She had never mentioned a name at all.
"Ranty," said Blair. "My name is Ranty Olsen. You can call me Ranty."
"Ranty? It's a beautiful name," said Axel.
He has to believe that's my real name, Blair thought.
"And what is a young girl like you doing wandering around at night on the outskirts of this city? I'm sure you're not a native here. How old are you?"
"Twenty!" Blair answered quickly and nervously without looking into Axel's blue eyes. "I'm just on vacation." Blair focused her attention on the sandwich in her hand. Blair hoped that Axel wouldn't suspect her answer.
"You look quite young for a 20-year-old girl," Axel said. "You traveled alone?"
"Do you need any guarantees or proof that I won't run?" Blair asked. "I only need two months. Unfortunately, I don't have a single identity in my current body. I lost my things when I left the house. You probably won't believe I'll run away without paying my debt. But trust me, I'm not that kind of person. If you let me go tonight—"
"Why should I let you go tonight?" Axel hastily cut off Blair's words. "You treat me like a criminal. Why don't we make that happen?"
Blair made a misstep. She thought she had offended Axel. She shouldn't have angered the man who would have narrowed his chances of getting out tonight.
"Listen to me, Ranty. Trust is something costly. And we start from something wrong. I hope this is the right moment to dissolve the misunderstanding and rebuild our trust from scratch."
Axel took out his leather wallet and took a business card from it. He handed the business card to the table and shoved it toward Blair.
"I thought I had your business card before. You don't have to give it a second time," Blair said, glancing at the business card.
Axel didn't answer.
Blair's eyes fell on the business card, and she snatched it up. Blair examined a black business card with silver ink written on it; looks very elegant and luxurious.
"You tricked me? Did you lie to me about being a doctor? Do you have a lot of business cards in your wallet? Who are you, Axel Barney?"
"Like I said when we first met. I used to be a doctor. But now I'm no longer a doctor. I left that profession long ago since my father died and left the company's affairs to me."
"So you are?"
"As it is written on the business card you are currently holding. I'm the owner of Barney's Entertainment. I have some large agencies that oversee artists and work in the entertainment field."
"Then what do you mean by showing all this to me?"
"I want to build trust and establish a good relationship with you again. I want to clear up the misunderstanding between us."
"Yes, I know you are a rich and all-encompassing man. I wouldn't be surprised if the two bodyguards over there are a part of your life. But, sadly, there is nothing I can share about myself with you. As you know, I'm just an ordinary young girl who travels."
"I never spend money for free. Therefore, I want to help you pay off your debt to me. I want to offer you some help."
"And how exactly are you going to help me?"
"Come with me and work for me to pay off your debts. When you pay off your debt, you can go wherever you like. It is not coercion. I'm just trying to offer you a solution."
Blair gulped. The last thing she thought about was getting a decent life to raise her baby. If this job were one of the best paths for her and could free her from the misery of living on the streets, Blair wouldn't have turned her down.
"But, what work should I do?"
"Give me your life!"
"What?" Blair shouted in great surprise. She wanted to make sure that what she heard was not wrong.Axel was still sitting comfortably in his chair. He put one foot on top of the other while leaning back confidently."You can stay with me," Axel said very calmly and confidently."Are you crazy?"Blair gulped and stared at Axel in disbelief."How can he say inviting strangers into the house so casually?" thought Blair."Do you actually want something from me? I believe the demand to pay the debt is just an excuse to ask for something more from me. What is your real aim?"Blair was absolutely terrified. She was not ready to hear the confession of the rich man in front of her. Blair didn't want to get involved with anyone right now, let alone influential people."I can live on the streets and survive for myself and the baby in my belly. I can do anything; sing, play music, or whatever. I'm sure I can survive like the rest of the homeless. They have even lived on the streets for a dozen y
"Carlos, let her go."Axel ordered his two men to get out of the way and let Blair go. Blair, ready to fight, finally just quietly walked away from Axel. Before leaving, Blair glanced at Axel and nodded her thanks."Ranty, wait!" said Axel. He seemed very reluctant to let Blair go that night. "Please reconsider my offer. Save my business card if you ever change your mind or need help. Feel free to contact me whenever you need it.""Well, I'll definitely contact you when I have enough money to pay off those debts, for sure."Axel looked grim, looking at Blair's back as she walked away. The two bodyguards stood near Axel and mumbled something."Should we keep an eye on that girl like before, Boss?""Not. Tonight leaves her alone. I'm afraid she'll be suspicious and even more distrustful if she finds out that you keep following her."It was really late at night. Blair had no more chance to find a bed tonight. She returned to the station. Blair had time to pick up used cardboard from the
"Get out of here, you damn bum!" shouted the train attendant at the next station.The man pushed Blair off the train because she couldn't show the ticket or pay the fare.Blair walked away, shaking violently. She hugged herself with her arms crossed over her chest. Blair lowered her head to avoid the scornful gazes and scorn of the people at the station."I was lucky they didn't take me to the police station. I might be thrown in jail or sent to social services if that happens. Then they'll know I'm a pregnant teen dan homeless."Blair stood behind the massive pylon supporting the underground platform. She leaned against the pole, and her body slumped to the floor. Blair crouched down, hugging her knees. She was literally sobbing like crazy."What should I do from here? This city is very unsafe for me. The man kept chasing me. I have to go to Washington, DC, soon, but what can I do without money? I've lost the savings, the backpack, and the old blanket. I can't possibly survive tonigh
Blair actually stopped. Her body froze and didn't move at all. While one foot had stepped onto the bus stand."Miss, wait!" reprimanded the officer.Blair didn't dare turn around or look away. The officer walked over to her and bent down to pick something up behind Blair. He handed it over to Blair."This is your ID that fell. You should be more careful. Without this badge, you won't be able to attend Doctor Axel Barney's seminar today.""Lucky!" thought Blair.Blair lowered her head as she accepted the badge from the officer. She thanked him before getting on the bus and mingling with the other students.Blair crumpled the badge and quickly tucked it into her trouser pocket."I'm sorry," thought Blair. "Whoever among you loses this badge, I am forced to borrow it. I really need it to go in and meet Axel today."Blair sat in the very back corner where no one was. She tried to avoid contact with people on the bus. The bus drove to a hotel where the seminar was to be held.The bus carry
"What's going on here?"The two men guarding the ballroom's entrance and Blair turned together in the direction of the voice. Axel Barney stood there, accompanied by his two handsome bodyguards."Mr. Barney?" said one of the receptionists. "I've asked this girl to leave, but she refuses and insists on waiting for you here.""You don't have to worry, Mr. Barney. We will take care of it," said another officer. "We apologize for the disturbance.""What do you think you're doing?" Axel hissed at the two officers. "This girl is my guest. I was waiting for her arrival. You've been rude to my guests."The two officers stuttered and stared at each other in disbelief. They immediately lowered their heads to apologize repeatedly to Axel and Blair.Axel turned to Blair and approached the girl."What is it?" Axel's tone turned soft in an instant when he faced Blair. "Did something happen? Did they hurt you?"Blair was relieved to have met Axel. She shook her head and said, "I'm fine."Blair glanc
"You want to kidnap me?" Blair shouted."Kidnapping you?" Axel repeated Blair's words in disbelief. "You came to me yourself. You got into my car willingly and consciously. Now you're saying that I kidnapped you?"Blair was at a loss for words. She was too young to deal with a situation like this. She had no idea that Axel--a grown man she almost trusted, was so good at manipulating and twisting words."Or is it just me feeling that Axel is being toyed with?" thought Blair once more. "Gosh, I am still young and have no experience living in this world. I miss my mom at a time like this. She must have been able to give me advice and open my eyes to what was going on."After that, they didn't talk to each other. Axel focused on driving, and Blair fell silent, thinking about her plans. The car stopped at a luxurious-looking hotel in the center of the city. Axel got out of the car and opened the door for Blair.Blair had thought several times before that she would run away as soon as the c
"Ranty, are you okay?" shouted Axel once again.Blair panicked in the bathroom. She paced around, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon. Blair thought Axel could just barge in and do something to her."Wait!" Blair thought for a moment. She turned to look at herself in the enormous mirror above the sink. "Why should I panic?"Blair approached the door and answered Axel's question. "Yes, Mr. Barney. I'm fine. I made a bit of a mess by accidentally dropping some toiletries.""Oh, okay. I'll leave a clean towel at the bathroom door. I thought I forgot to give it to you."Blair pressed her ear against the door and heard Axel's footsteps walking away. She breathed a sigh of relief."If I run away now, then I won't have the chance to go to Washington DC like I originally planned. I just need to get out there with that guy and convince him to lend me one more help."Blair inhaled the air freshener scent in the bathroom and felt a serenity she rarely had. Blair remembers hardly
"Yes, this is a contract agreement for you to stay with me until your debts are paid off!""But, you're saying… this is an employment contract, and you're going to deduct my income while working with you? You want to frame me?""Read carefully on the next point. Yes, indirectly, you will indeed work for me. And your job is to live beside me. I'll pay you for all that."Blair seemed to be losing steam."This is scarier than anything I've ever imagined about Axel Barney." Blair is increasingly convinced that Axel is a psychopath with a particular disorder."Put your sign now or…."Axel lowered his head and brought his face closer to Blair. The girl had to pull her head back to keep her distance from Axel."Or what?" Blair asked nervously.Axel grinned and was very scary. "Or I will hand you over to the assassins currently hunting you!""You're threatening me?" Blair stood up straight. Axel just stared at the girl flatly.Without thinking, Blair quickly put her signature on the agreement