Left at the Service Area

With New Year's approaching, Derek Caldwell was the blind date my aunt had set me up with. When she heard he had not managed to buy a ticket home, my mother insisted that I give him a ride.

The moment Derek got into my car, his eyes darted around the interior. His face wore the smug look of someone who had already decided he was superior.

"You bought this car on a loan, didn't you? I know how girls like you choose cars. You only care if it looks nice. You never think about value for money.

"In the future, don't buy such expensive cars."

He stunned me right out of the gate.

What did the car I bought have to do with him?

Still, I did not want him to misunderstand, so I explained.

"I paid for it in full. I also have no plans to sell it, so I raised the budget a little."

I thought that would finally shut him up.

Instead, the words "paid in full" set him off like I had stepped on a land mine.

"See? You women really don't understand anything. Paying in full is even worse!

"The market is in a downturn right now. Paying in full means you still lose money!"

He chewed gum as he spoke, flecks of spit flying through the air.

"Buying a house or a car is a major decision. There has to be a man in the family for things like that!"

The moment he finished speaking, anger shot straight into my eyes.

Where had this rude piece of trash come from?

"Mr. Caldwell, since you are a man, why don't you have a car of your own?

"This is my car. Am I supposed to listen to you about it?"

Derek looked completely matter-of-fact.

"My car was borrowed by someone else. Besides, I don't even care for this one.

"Once we get married, your car will be my car. That means what you're spending now is money that will belong to me in the future. Of course I have a right to manage it."

"So by that logic, your things will be mine in the future too?"

"Absolutely not!"

Derek crossed his legs, his mouth greasy from the snacks he had been eating.

"When you marry into my family, what's yours is mine, and what's mine belongs to the Caldwells."

Looking at him, I was so disgusted I could not even eat.

Fine.

Let me bleed you a little.

"Oh no. We're out of gas. Looks like we can't leave today."

Derek immediately panicked.

"What do you mean, out of gas? Then fill it up!"

I slowly took a sip of water.

"But I don't have any money. I have to use my company's fuel vouchers. We can leave tomorrow."

My mom had said his family had some kind of big year-end family gathering today. If he did not make it back today, he would miss out on the money.

So I wanted to see just how anxious he really was.

I turned the car around.

Derek grabbed the steering wheel at once.

"No! I have to get home today. Can't you just not use the vouchers?"

"I don't have money. I spent it all paying for the car in full. Didn't you say the economy is bad? Times are hard for me too."

My words choked him for a long moment before he finally gritted his teeth.

"Then I'll lend it to you."

That was exactly what I had been waiting for.

I drove straight to a gas station.

"Fill it all the way up, please. I've got a big boss in the car. He's very generous, so don't hold back."

The young woman at the pump immediately showered Derek with attention.

"Wow, boss, you're amazing.

"What kind of big business do you do?"

Derek was practically floating from the praise.

"Oh, just a little of this and that. I do all right."

Ten minutes later, she came back with the bill.

"Sir, the tank is full. Will you be paying by card or mobile wallet?"

Derek stared at the thousand-plus total and froze.

By then, I had vanished.