4

LESLIE'S POV

One Hundred Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars?

Where did he expect me to see that amount of money from? I have never seen a million dollars in my life. Hell, I haven't even seen five hundred thousand dollars. Yet, he expected me to pay this ridiculous amount?

He was really as ruthless as they claimed he was.

“Tell me, Leslie, what do you think about this wonderful gift?” Liliana chuckled behind me and I glanced at her. “Why don't you go ahead and start looking for money, huh? You have very limited time. You will be summoned to court next week.”

“You have finally put yourself in trouble, you stupid girl,” Mother laughed. “This is your karma for coming from such an immoral woman.”

I looked at all of the people that I called my family, hoping to see the tiniest bit of sympathy on their faces but they were all hardened against me.

“Father,” I say to the one person who has always been indifferent towards me. Maybe this time would be different. Maybe this time, he would—

“There is nothing I can do for you, Leslie. This is beyond my power,” Father says before I could even plead with him. “I am afraid you have to sort this out on your own.”

“Then…then.” I scrambled for words. “Can I get his number so I can beg?”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Liliana laughed. “Do you think Saint Baxter is someone you just talk to whenever you wish? Even if Dad had his contact information, I wouldn't let him give it to you. You have to sort yourself out. After all, you got yourself in this mess.”

“Please,” I sobbed. “Help me, please.”

“This makes my heart brim with so much joy,” Liliana laughed and stood up. “I'm going out, mum and Dad. I will be back before midnight.” She walked over to me and crouched to whisper in my ear. “I am going on your date with your beloved Adam. He can't wait to see me.”

My hands clenched on the floor. As if I wasn't already going through enough.

She stood up and strutted away, the difference in our identity so clear. She was the renowned, legitimate daughter of the Webster family. She had everything going well for her. Her career was only on the rise, the line of suitors longing for her hand for marriage could fill the whole of Belleview.

And there was me. Despite being the older sister, I was not even worth the slippers on her feet and now I have incurred a debt I would spend the rest of my life paying.

“It is almost like you don't know the urgency of the situation. Get your ass up and go figure out how to sort this out. If you end up implicating us one way or the other, I will kill you myself.” Mum sneered.

I stood up with shaky legs and struggled up the stairs. I wanted to sleep and never wake up. I wanted this to be a nightmare that I could wake up from.

~∆~

I bit my nails as I stood in front of the Baxter Empire building the next morning. I raised my head and stared up at the number of floors the building had.

Which one of them could possibly belong to Saint Baxter?

After a while, I stopped staring to avoid looking like a weirdo. Even though I knew there was an 80 percent chance that I would be turned back, I still went into the building to try my luck.

I approached what looked like a countertop and there was a lady behind it reading through some sort of document.

“Hi, good morning.” I smiled at the lady.

She looked up at me and eyed me warily. I had put on my best dress this morning but I guess it still didn't meet the standards of this place.

“How can I help you?” She didn't look like she wanted to help me.

“I would like to see Mr Baxter please. Saint Baxter.” I said, starting to fidget.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No.” I knew it.

“Then you can't see him. By the way, why do you look so familiar?” She peered closely at my face. “Wait, aren't you the girl that kissed our CEO?”

Shit. I instantly turned and hurried out of the place while the lady shouted behind me but I didn't stop.

How could I have forgotten that my face was plastered on the front page of every major news media outlet? I was at least grateful that paparazzi were not camping outside here. I would have exposed myself to their attacks.

Thankfully, I had a small handkerchief with me so I used it to cover the lower part of my face. Giving up was not an option so I camped outside the building.

Saint Baxter would definitely come outside but the day trickled by slowly and I started to get dizzy from the hunger and heat.

I had to go back home in disappointment.

The same cycle continued for the next two days. I would wake up, go to Baxter empire and wait for Saint Baxter to show up. It was starting to look stupid but that was all I could do.

Even my savings were running out.

However, a miracle happened on the fourth day. I was starting to doze off where I was sitting when I heard a commotion. I snapped awake and rose to my feet to check.

My eyes widened when I saw the familiar man leaving the building, a lot of bodyguards behind him.

I ran towards the commotion, not caring about myself. “Mr Baxter, please I want to see you,” I screamed. “Please just twenty minutes, no ten minutes will do.”

The bodyguards blocked me before I reached him and pushed me back but I already attracted his attention.

I jumped and waved my hands at him. “Please, do you remember me? Please, just give me ten minutes. Please.”

He smirked at me, shook his head and turned away. I watched horror struck as he entered his car and drove away, his bodyguards entering another car behind him.

No. I couldn't give up like this.

“Taxi,” I wave down at a passing one. Thankfully it stopped and I entered. “Please, follow those two cars. I will pay you handsomely, I promise.”

My poor savings.

My legs shook with apprehension as I kept my eyes on the car I was following. I couldn't sit still so I prayed.

Twenty minutes later, both of the cars pulled up at an high end restaurant, the kind that was patronized only by the cream of the crop. The taxi stopped a few feet away from them.

I jumped out of the taxi and gave the driver his pay including a huge tip.

“Mr Baxter,” I shouted as I ran towards them. “Please, just hear me out.”

His bodyguards blocked me again and I was about to cry from frustration.

“It's okay.” A melodious velvety voice flowed over and my skin instantly developed goosebumps. “Let her come here.”

I almost wept for joy.

The bodyguards parted ways and I flew to his side immediately. “Thank you so much for agreeing to see me, Mr Baxter. I have been wanting to meet you for a while.”

“Same here,” he smirked and a shiver travelled up my spine. “We have a lot to talk about, don't we?”