C6 ~Half A Million Dollars For Anything~

Fanny was unhesitant, after sliding out the credit card. His eyes gleamed and his jaw sparkled.

A beam of smiles clouded his face before he flashed the credit card at me.

Instantly my avarice increased at the sight of the credit card, and I winked nervously, wished he would gift me the card without conditions.

“This is a credit card for half a million dollars. It is for you,” he sounded, with an emphatic chuckle that sounded from him.

I was abandoned to doubt and argument within me. I gave a half-smile before a lopsided grin. My cheeks couldn’t stop curving. My hands fidgeted. I swallowed hard and winked more than a million times. This must be a dream! I scratched my eyes and confirmed that reality was actually smiling at me. It wasn’t a dream after all. A credit card for half a million dollars all for me! Fortune has fallen down to me. Mom, wherever you are start girding your loins to recover, because not only will I sort out your medical bills, also our family status is about to change for good. No more poverty; I thought, smiling cheek to cheek at the entire Fanny’s.

While lost in the shallowness of my thought, I went on my knees, shut my eyes and started rendering all manner of appreciation. I eulogized Fanny Luis and felt within my head that I had emptied my praises.

“Oh thank you, so much, Sir! This is just an answered prayer. What would I have done without you? You are indeed known in Rio Hondo for your generosity. You are the savior of the poor. I can’t describe my joy over what you just did but I want you to know that the God of the poor will pay you in hundred folds. You will continually be the richest man in Rio Hondo…” my voice hung over the sitting room amidst tears.

I was yet speaking when Fanny interjected, “May I know what you do for a living, dear? He demanded still holding unto the credit card. At the time his mouth that had curved into a smile had given way for his hardened expression.

That question spiked my heart in such a trice that I wondered from where came the sweat that trickled from my armpit.

Was I ruffled or what?

I exhaled fearfully once I gazed upon his sullen countenance. “I am a poor vegetable seller,” I replied coldly and bowed my head in shame. “Poor vegetable seller”, he retorted with a grotty scowl hanging on his face, “How do you intend to pay back half a million dollars by selling cheap, dirty vegetables, uh?”

Those words by the billionaire tingled me so badly, that I searched for saliva to swallow down my throat. My excitement had over shadowed my thinking faculty that I forgot I was going to repay the loan.

What even came over me to think that I would be able to pay back half a million dollars by selling vegetables, even if I sell all the vegetable in the world, and given more than a century, I didn’t think I would be able to repay back that money; it was just too much for poor Melissa to repay.

“Speak up, young lady!” he barked and his jaw set before he narrowed his eyes at me.

At that, the girls and the maiden were staring at me with bated breath, save Eva, who gave me a morbid stare.

I flinched and my excitement was nowhere to be found within me. Reality left my head hovering.

“I…I…” I stuttered, smacked my lips and said yet further, “I am eager to be your servant or be your slave for life as repayment for that money. Please. I don’t mind being enslaved to you as a maid without salary, Sir,” I uttered, still bowed my head.

“No, no,” he jerked his head in disapproval, “I am surrounded by maidens, security and slaves. I have no need for them anymore. Listen up, young girl, I can’t risk my half a million dollars, my hard earned money on the altar of generosity. You have to figure out ways to repay me or I will figure it out for you,” his voice beamed at me.

Quickly I shook my head, “I am ready for anything Sir, anything sir,” I repeated, still niggled by the fact that the money wasn’t yet mine.

Did I actually hear myself? Anything? Hmmm.

“Security,” Fanny snapped, “Bring out my adorable son, Brian,” he commanded and held a huge smile. The smile would have been contagious if not for the situation at hand.

I bowed my head as I was still on my knees, lost in my imagination of what he intended to do, when the rustling sound of chains being dragged on the floor ravaged the entire place. Soon after the party of security dashed out to fetch his son, I heard voices.

“Out! Out! Now!”

That was the shrieking yell of men, who seemed to be struggling with something and yelling at someone.

“Out! Out! Now I said!”

“Please don’t whip him! Drag him out gently,” Fanny commanded yet further.

The yell came again, and I raised my head wondering what was happening. I thought the billionaire ordered the security to bring out Brian, his adorable son, so what was keeping them and what on earth would make Fanny give out such orders if his son was sane.

Suddenly one of the securities ran out and whispered in the ears of Fanny.

“If he refuses to wear his cloths, then whip him and drag him out!” the billionaire beamed and shot his reddened, angry eyes at Brian’s chamber before returning his gaze on me.

Kate raised a furrowed brow before protesting, “But father that will not be nice. I suggest they take it easy on him and not whip him. Brian will wear his cloths,” she said and almost became all tears.

Those words tinkled in my ear. Whip? He refuses to wear clothes? Why would he refuse to wear his cloths? Why would they whip him? And who is actually this Brian.

Those questions dazed me so much that I couldn’t wait to see what the billionaire was up to.