CHAPTER 5: THE PROPOSAL

"You weren't supposed to eat from the stand, and even if you do, you need to pay for it."

"I will pay for it; I just need to wait until I receive my money, and then I will pay."

"Are you trying to get me sacked? If you were going to eat the burger, you were supposed to pay," Sam said, sounding like I stole the burger.

"I told you I would pay. I just need to get my money, and I will."

"Get your money? When I'm sacked?" she asked with so much anger in her eyes. She was causing a scene as people started taking an interest in our conversation.

"I will pay for the burger; there is no need to be all aggressive." I looked up to see a guy standing in front of me.

He handed his credit card to Sam, which she took and glared at him. I didn't know what to say; before I could say thank you to the guy, he was gone.

“You are so d*mn lucky,” Sam said as she brushed past me.

I was trying as much as possible to hold back my anger. The rest of the day went in a rather terrible direction for me.

Immediately after I signed off work, I went to meet my boss for my payment. I knocked slightly on the door to alert him to my presence before stepping in.

“Oh, Lilly, how may I help you?” Is he really asking me that? I was trying to maintain my cool. I have been doing it for over seven years now, but it is becoming more difficult.

“Today is my payday, sir.”

“Oh, pardon me, I nearly forgot that you are to be paid for your work,” he said, laughing like an idiot.

Actually, he is a complete idiot who uses people to get what he wants and then dumps them off the street.

He dropped an envelope on the table, which I took and counted the money he left inside. He only gave me half my payment, just like he did last month.

"Sir, my money is not complete; this is not what we agreed that I would be paid,” I said, still trying to hold myself back.

“I know, but I just wanted to pay you that much since it seems like you don't need the money.”

His statement left me confused. What the heck does he mean by I don't need it?

“I don't understand, sir.”

“I think you actually do. All your payments have been going to your stupid mum and her stupid kids while you are the one suffering and earning the money.”

“I really don't care, sir; I just want to stay out of her trouble.”

“Even if it means that she will keep taking what belongs to you? Lilly, I know your foster father; he would never leave his wealth in the hands of that greedy pig. He clearly wants you to run the farm and the ranch for him, but instead, you let that woman get her hands on it.”

"Sir, I just want my money,” I told him, pretending like I didn't understand what he was saying.

“And I said I'm not giving it to you. Learn how to stand up and fight for what belongs to you.”

It was clear to me that he was trying to piss me off, and God help me because it was working.

I turned around and left the shop, slamming the door like it was the cause of my problems. I screamed once I was outside.

I didn't give a f*ck that it had people staring at me like I was some psychopath. I was still breathing hard, trying to catch my breath, when I felt a movement behind me.

I turned immediately in fear, thinking that whoever was behind me wanted to attack me. On turning around, I saw the guy from the shop. The one who paid for my burger. I calmed down a little once I saw it was him. What does he want?

“Hi, I'm sorry if I startled you; I didn't mean to,” he apologized.

“It's okay. And I wanted to say thank you. You really saved me in there.”

“Nah, it's really nothing. You look like you are not in a very good mood this evening; why don't we go grab something to eat, my treat?”

I wanted to scream at him and tell him to leave me alone, but I couldn't because my stomach was already begging me to not turn down the offer.

“Sure. Where are we going?”

“I think there is a restaurant down the street.” I nodded as I followed him down to the restaurant.

We didn't say much to each other until we arrived and placed our orders. The guy in front of me is very handsome. Any girl would wish to have someone like him around them, except for me. I just wanted to have him pay for my dinner because I know Jane will kill me once I hand over this incomplete salary to her.

“By the way, my name is Alex,” he said, extending his hand for a handshake, which I shook before saying my name out loud.

“Lilly, I am Lilly,” I replied before I started shoveling the food inside my mouth like I had been starved for centuries.

“Hey, Lilly, eat slowly or you are going to choke.”

“I need to start heading back, or, ja, I mean, my mum is going to kill me,” I simply replied and continued eating.

I was surprised when I saw that he hadn't even touched his food, whereas I had finished mine and was still craving more.

“Aren't you going to eat your food?" I asked, hoping he would say yes and offer it to me.

“You can have it if you want to,” he said. It was like he read my mind or something. I took the food immediately without rejecting his offer. He looks wealthy, and I'm sure he can afford any food of his choice.

“I have a business proposal for you.” I was surprised when he said he had a business proposal for me. What can I possibly do in someone’s business at the moment, if not clean the floor and dust the table?

“What type of business proposal are you talking about?”

“The type that will get you everything you have been asking for?” I stared at him for a while before shoving the last spoon of my food into my mouth.

“And what do you possibly know that I have been asking for?” I asked him as I set the plates aside.

“I know you are tired of living in this hell. I know you want a breakthrough, but it is not going to come to you unless you take action.”

I could tell he had a lot to say, but I wasn't ready to know where this conversation was heading.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Alex, for the food and for paying for my burger, but I have to go,” I said as I stood up to leave, and then he said something.

“Lillian Anthony.”

I froze immediately. I heard him say my full name. No one has called me that in eleven years. Who is he? How come he knows who I am? Am I in trouble? Instead of going back to know how he knows who I am and what he wants from me, I chose to run and hide like a coward. I didn't look back and continued walking as fast as my legs could carry me.

I wasn't surprised when I collided with someone since I had my head down and my mind was running a million miles.

I looked up to know who I was supposed to say my apologies to, but I saw the same guy standing in front of me.

“What do you want?” I asked, taking a few steps away from him.

“I am not the bad guy here, Lilly. I just want to help you.”

“What can you possibly do for me? Bring my parents back to life?"

“That I cannot do, but I know I can help you find your brother, get your father's company back, and also get revenge on the people who murdered your parents.”

I wanted to believe him, but I couldn't. What if he was sent by Uncle Phillip?

“And do you possibly think I will trust you?”

“I am not asking you to trust me; I'm asking you to stop being a coward. This is my business card. I will be expecting a call from you."

He said that and dropped the card next to me. He turned and left. I didn't know I was holding my breath until he was gone.

I picked up the card and stared at it as I felt hot tears running down my face.