Chapter 6 I WAS DESPERATE

Ava's POV:

Did she have to introduce herself as my sister? I was no longer pleased to call her my best friend or sister, she was a backstabbing, cunning bitch, a snake, or something even more deadly.

"Hi, I'm Jackson, Ava's..." Jackson said with a small pause.

"Ava's friend." He completed his statement.

The stranger didn't say anything, instead, he nodded his head.

I could tell that Lydia and Jackson were displeased by this but I was glad.

"So, when did you and Ava start dating?" Lydia asked the stranger and my eyes widened. She wanted to know all the details.

"A week ago," I spoke up immediately.

"Oh," Lydia mumbled and nodded her head.

"Does Ava have a job?" Lydia asked him again and I shook my head. She couldn't even comport herself. It was obvious she was in a competition with me and I never realized it.

"Yes, I do, I work in his company," I responded.

"He has a company?" Lydia and Jackson chorused in shock.

"Yes, I do." The handsome stranger finally spoke up.

He dipped his hands into his pocket and brought out a business card, which he handed to Jackson.

"Baby, let's go." He said to me and my eyes widened. I had to play along. Lydia and Jackson might not stop interrogating him if we didn't leave.

Lydia and Jackson looked stunned as they scanned the business card and it made me wonder what was written on it.

I was a bit sad that I couldn't order my coffee and cake anymore but I had to follow this stranger out to make the drama more believable.

I followed him to his car parked right outside the café building.

The cafe had transparent windows so I could see that Lydia and Jackson were still looking at us.

The handsome stranger opened the door for me so I could get in and I did.

He entered, ignited the engine, and drove off.

"Thank you very much," I said, and he smiled.

I would have melted at his smile if I wasn't listening to what he said next.

"I only did it because you promised to do something for me in return." He said to me and I nodded. For a moment, I thought he would no longer ask for a payback.

"Oh right, sure."

"So, what do you want?" I asked him and he smirked.

"Be my girlfriend." He said to me and my eyes widened in shock.

I couldn't help but wonder if he was crazy.

Did I ask a mentally unstable man to act as my boyfriend? I wondered.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked in confusion.

"Listen, you're not even my type, but you owe me and that's what I want as payment."

"I helped you, and you offered to pay me. This is the payment I need, and I'm not open to any negotiations."

My heart pounded fast when I realized that the little lie I had told had landed me in deeper trouble.

"That's not going to happen... you can't be serious. Just in case you are, my response is 'No'." I said immediately.

"What?" He seemed surprised and that baffled me.

"Do you think you can just go around making outrageous demands? I don't know you from anywhere."

"But you do, we met at the Café."

"What have I gotten myself into?" I cursed under my breath.

"It would be a contract, not a real relationship. So, you have nothing to worry about."

"Really? I don't care whether it's fake or not." I insisted.

"I know you owe me, but because I'm generous, I'll give you some money when you agree," he said and I scoffed.

I'll give you the job you lied about having." He added and I hissed loudly.

"Enough, drop me off," I said.

"Stop the damn car, I need to get down."

"Haha! I'm sorry that's impossible, I can't let you go," he said as he increased his speed.

"What do you mean you can't let me go?" I asked, feeling a bit scared already.

"We're going to my parents' house right now." He said to me and I snapped.

"Are you crazy?" I yelled loudly.

"You kidnapped me, that's a crime," I said in fear.

"No, I didn't kidnap you, witnesses could see that you got into my car willingly." He said to me and I knew he had a point.

"Do you even know who I am?" He asked and I realized that I didn't know who he was.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm Leon McClain and if you keep refusing, I can make you disappear from the face of this earth." His voice was cold.

"I can make you disappear from this place with just a phone call." He looked at me with eyes that made me shudder.

That was when I realized I was in big trouble. I shouldn't have lied. I shouldn't have played that little revenge game. But it was too late to regret my actions.

"I don't care if you're Leon McClain or Elon Musk, let me out now," I yelled at him and he scoffed. I was trying to hide how scared I was. I thought that would make him change his mind.

When I saw he wasn't saying anything, I changed my tone.

"You're famous and influential, you can have anyone do that for you even for free. Please let me out." I pleaded with him but he still ignored me.

"I helped you, so why don't you just help me?" he demanded, his hands gripping the steering wheel tighter.

We sped through the roads and my breaths were heavy, but this stranger was relentless.

He expertly maneuvered through winding coastal roads and my heart raced in tandem with the engine.

The car weaved through the dense foliage. It felt as if we were driving into a forest.

The atmosphere grew tense and the tension in the car intensified.

A sudden rain shower added to the chaos, making the narrow roads slick. The tyres screeched as he skillfully navigated the slippery terrain.

I gripped the door handle, my knuckles turning white.

"Answer me, young lady," he screamed again.

"Please stop, let me go. I won't tell anyone about this," I screamed but instead, he pushed the accelerator to its limits, the car darting through the rain-soaked curves.

"Where are you taking me?' I managed to ask, my voice was barely audible over the rush of wind and the pounding of my heart.

After narrowly escaping death, the only thing on my mind was moving on from the betrayal of my family and ex-boyfriend, but my little revenge plan had backfired. Now I'm forced to be with a stranger and on his terms.

Why must I pay such a steep price for a small favour?