Chapter Five

Thea paused , turning slowly to face Seth.

“What?”

Seth covered the distance between them, each stride towards her felt like a trap.

“You heard me. I hate having to repeat myself.”

She stared at him blankly and a bitter laugh escaped her lips.

"Marry you? You think you can just buy me, just like that? You practically ruined my life, and now you expect me to become your wife?"

She might have lost everything, but her dignity wasn't for sale! Seth tilted his head, his blue eyes unreadable, yet holding a glint of something Thea couldn't decipher.

"Everyone has a price, Miss Balmero. It's simply a matter of finding the right currency." His voice was low, utterly devoid of emotion, as if he were discussing the stock market rather than a life-altering proposal.

“What?” The words left her mouth in almost a whisper, her face marked with belief as she stared at the man in front of her.

Did he just say such horrible things from that mouth of his?!

"Given your current predicament, I believe my offer is quite generous. A mutually beneficial arrangement, you might say."

"Mutually beneficial?" Thea scoffed, incredulous. "You stand there, perfectly composed, while my entire life has been blown to pieces because of what happened last night! My fiancé dumped me, my family disowned me, and I'm being publicly shamed as a cheat! And you, the cause of it all, offer me a business deal?!"

He shrugged, a dismissive gesture that ignited a fresh surge of rage in Thea.

"Accidents happen. Your personal misfortunes do not concern me. My offer is purely a solution, to your current... challenges." His gaze lingered on her, as if she were nothing more than a problem to be solved.

That was it. The sheer nonchalance pushed Thea past her breaking point.

She picked up a glass of wine from the shivering center table, its deep red liquid swirling in the glass. With a swift, angry motion, she splashed its contents across his impassive face. The wine clung to his jet-black hair and dripped down his chiseled jaw but his expression remained unchanged. Unfazed.

"I'm done here!" Thea snapped. She has never felt so angry and humiliated in her whole life!

She spun on her heel, striding towards the exit, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her face. She pushed through the heavy doors, the distant hum of the luxurious club fading behind her..

Seth remained still, the wine dripping from his face onto the polished floor.

Dante hurried into the room, glancing back at the entrance as though wondering what made Thea storm out looking so angry.

“Sir?” He called, on seeing the red liquid on his bosses face and torso.

Seth didn't move, didn't wipe it away. His gaze, however, tracked Thea as she walked away, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

Dante grabs a towel with shaky hands and hands it over to Seth. “What should I do sir? Should I have someone fetch her and…”

“Most women wouldn't hesitate to take my offer. She just left.” He said, grabbing the towel from Dante.

“I'm sure I can get her to agree, sir. She just lost everything, she's going to need a bit more time to process her situation.” Dante offered.

She had stormed out, leaving him, a man accustomed to getting his way, covered in wine and facing an unexpected refusal.

A subtle smile, not of amusement but of intrigue, touched his lips as he wipes himself clean of the wine.

“Follow her. I want to know where she's headed and I need reports every hour.” Seth hands the towel back to Dante.

“Yes sir.”

♡♡

The ride back to Daisy's cafe felt like an eternity. Each turn of the wheel seemed to remind her of her ordeal and the reality of it all.

She's no longer a Balmero. She's just a commercial now with no home or money to her name.

Thea, still seething from her encounter with Seth, could barely have a reasonable thought together. She just needed to be somewhere safe, somewhere familiar.

The cab pulled over at Daisy's cafe and Thea stepped out of the car. She glanced at her purse, the last note she had in her name was sitting there. She sighs and hands it over to the driver before walking into the cafe.

“Thank goodness! I was worried sick! I thought something horrible had happened!” Daisy said, hurrying towards Thea, her hands holding herself in concern.

Thea smiled faintly, one that didn't reach her eyes and Daisy could tell something horrible happened.

“Let's go to my office.”

Daisy led Thea to her office through the back of the counter. Her office was on the furthest end of the hall, far away from the kitchen. She sat Thea down on a red sofa, a present from Thea on the day her cafe opened for business.

“It was her. Posy drugged me.”

“I knew it! Goodness, that bloody witch!”

“And she got it all on video…me and …that man having sex..and showed it to my step mum and Dad….and Rune's family.”

Daisy gasped in horror, her grip around Thea tightened. “My goodness…Thea, I'm so sorry…”

Thea shook her head. “Dad disowned me and the man who caused all this…mess asked for me and told me to marry him! He…he instituted that I could be bought!”

“What? I can't believe this is happening." Daisy murmured, shaking her head. "That monster! And your family... oh, Thea."

"I have nowhere to go." Thea whispered, tears in her eyes.

Daisy, without hesitation, gestured at her cozy apartment above the cafe. "Nonsense! You're staying with me, no questions asked. We'll figure this out, together. You're my family now."

"But... I can't just live off you," Thea protested, even as a wave of relief washed over her. The thought of being utterly alone in the world terrified her.

"Is there... is there any way I could work here? Even just washing dishes, anything."

“No, Thea. Come on..”

“Please. I need to do something to keep my mind off things. If I stay alone, I might lose the last bit of sanity I have. I just need to save enough to money for a trip back to my mum in Gend. Please.”

Daisy's expression softened. "Okay. We're always busy, and a familiar face behind the counter would be a welcome sight. But don't you dare think you're 'just washing dishes.' You'll be learning the ropes, handling customers, maybe even helping with inventory."

Thea smiled, a painful look in her eyes. “Thank you.” She whispered as Daisy pulled her in a hug, patting her gently.

“You'll be fine. You'll be alright.” Daisy whispered.

….

Thea found herself waking up each morning to the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee, her expensive business suits now replaced by an apron.

It was different from what she was used to but it was surprisingly peaceful. Daisy's staff were the most accommodating, showing her the ropes.

She found solace in the repetitive motions of wiping tables, serving lattes, and, surprisingly, the genuine smiles and easy conversations of the customers.

It was a world away from the scrutinizing eyes and face level pleasantries of the elite society she had always known. Here, in the cafe, people were just... people.

Her first few days were a blur of learning the ropes and trying to shake off the habits of an heiress. She fumbled with the espresso machine, spilled a few orders, and occasionally caught herself instinctively reaching for a non-existent maid to clear a table.

But she learned and got better with time and Daisy was supportive through it all, encouraging her as always.

The cafe door chimed one chilly and cloudy afternoon, announcing new customers.

Thea looked up from polishing the counter, a polite smile ready on her lips, only for it to freeze in place. Standing in the doorway was Yolanda Sterling, Rune's sister. Right behind her were her equally privileged friends.

Thea swallowed as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. She took a look around, desperate to have someone else to deal with Yolanda but she was the only one in sight.

Yolanda, with her perfectly curled blonde hair, designer handbag clutched in one manicured hand, and a smirk, surveyed the cafe as if it were a dirty alleyway in a forgotten corner of Zean city.

Thea's stomach churned. She knew this moment was inevitable. News traveled fast within the elite circles of their capital city, especially news as scandalous as hers.

She braced herself, knowing what was coming.

“Waiter…” Yolanda's eyes finally land on Thea. She scoffs, eyeing her in disbelief. She clearly couldn't believe her own two eyes.

"Well, well, well," Yolanda mocked.