"You bastard, you son of a b*tch! Get up!"
Pearl Dillard screamed angrily, her hands slåpping, shaking and jolting the young man awake who in return stared at her with wide eyes, clearly expressing his shock at this moment.
She snarled seeing his shocked expression. "How dare you, Nathan?"
Nathaniel Barnes stared into her almond eyes, speechless.
Pearl pulled him up from the soft mattress and pushed him, his back slamming against the wall.
"You took advantage of my helpless situation Nathan. How could you do such a thing to an innocent woman? How on earth did I even find myself here?"
She turned to him, her eyes filled with intense fury. She snapped.
"If you hadn't brought me here, then probably we wouldn't be in this phase. I wouldn't be shouting and I wouldn't be crying." She suddenly sobbed, causing Nathan's heart to soften.
"But I didn't hurt you—?"
"So you actually did it?" Pearl suddenly asked, her voice low.
However Nathan rushed in…
"Have you forgotten what happened last night? Did you forget that you were the one to find me and not the other way around?"
Pearl blinked.
"I beg your pardon? I would never do that! A cheap, poor and clumsy man would never be my type of man."
Nathan sneered. "Do not judge me by my status. As an ordinary man, I have good taste so I wouldn't settle for a woman who begs a man in the middle of the night."
Pearl was suddenly so angry at his comment.
"What did you say? Do you know who I am? Do you know that my father is the owner of the Statehouse Empire? And do you also know that I own like 65% of the shares in that Empire, so technically I'm the MD. I have my pride. I also have my rights which technically means that you have no authority whatsoever tø downgrade me in such condescending manner."
Nathan cursed and muttered. "I did not ask you to give me a brief summary of your family history. You were the one who asked for my help, remember?"
Pearl freezes as she ponders.
"I did?"
Then she remembered that last night hadn't been the best experience for her so far— she had been to a club with someone she called her friend and she got drugged by that same friend — for some reason.
It was difficult to find out why, it was also difficult to know her intentions because immediately after, she left the club — leaving her all by herself.
Pearl tried her best to conceal the frustration she is currently feeling.
She also remembered meeting a man at night and asking for his help. The only thing she did not remember is how she had asked him for help.
Now, she realized that she had actually brought herself to him. It hadn't been the other way round — so it wouldn't matter whether he had done something to her or not, as long as it had been her decision, she couldn't say anything. But how can she not say anything? The man is just too poor. She did not want to settle with a poor man who's karma is written around abject poverty.
She stared at Nathaniel strangely, ôbserving his handsome features, the way his hair is disheveled, those auburn eyes, his muscular build... He had his charm as a young man, but still…
Pearl shook her head. There are other wealthy, handsome men out there, waiting for her— not him.
Clearing her throat, she shifted from him and offered a smile.
"Fine, I was mistaken." Pearl grabbed her purse and opened it.
Nathan was curious so he watched her with keen interest.
But then, Pearl brought out a few dollar notes and counted them, making Nathaniel's brows furrow.
"One hundred, two hundred…"
She added three dollar notes to the one she's counted. "Five hundred."
She looked up at Ñathan and smiled.
She added another three.
"Eight hundred."
Pearl nodded in sátisfaction, shoving the rest in her purse, she handed over the rest. "This is eight hundred døllars. Tø shut you up! No one must hear of this night, I mean no one at all. I'm sure that you've never earned up to this amount in your lifetime. Aren't you just a meager road-side baker?"
Nathan stared at Pearl with a strange expression on his face. She immediately mistook that look and frowned.
"You want more?"
She immediately added more dollar notes. "There, one thousand. This should be huge sum of money to you!"
Nathan muttered. "You're still looking down on me, Pearl. And what's with this statement, a road-side baker? Who told you that I am one?"
Pearl laughed. "Didn't you come to deliver some baked food for someone at the club? I saw what you delivered."
Nathan made a comeback. "That was me trying to repay a favor I owe."
Nathan immediately added. "I even have a car, did you not see it?"
Pearl laughed even more. "That old van?"
This time, Nathan is truly offended.
"I don't need your money. You aren't doing me any favor. I am supposed to be doing the favor."
Pearl gõt angry.
"Look at who I'm trying to lift from grass to grace."
Nathan scowled.
"And with a useless one thousand dollars? That's not how to do things Pearl. You need to learn mannerism."
Pearl's anger skyrocketed.
"Let me remind you— you must have forgotten — I am my own boss! I have money and you're looking to be blessed by me."
She ratted out even more.
"Look—" Nathan could sense bitchiness in that tone.
"I may have asked for your help. But I didn't do it deliberately. I was drugged, so do not forget that. Take my help now or you'd probably not eat the next day."
Nathan angrily leaned forward, his body towering over her. But Pearl pushed him back. "You will never dominate! You're just some trash who seeks attention and of course you're putting on rags— anyone could tell at a single glance."
She swayed slightly and waved the thousand dollars.
"But if you accept this, you'd be able to get a couple of good clothes. At least, look modest."
Nathan angrily pinned her to the bed— a harsh and sudden reality, dawning on Pearl that they were still alone in a room and that if nothing had happened last night, it could still happen this morning. She also realized that if Nathan wanted to force himself unto her then she would not be able to resist him. So angering him is not an option.
She gulped.
"For the last time, I don't need your f*cking money. If I ever want a cloth, thën I'd get it with my own money."
Pearl couldn't help her bad character. "How arrogant!"
But Nathaniel snòrted.
"Yes, take it that way or simply leave it. I won't take any money from you because I think that you need it more than I do."
Flustered, Pearl struggled and Nathan slowly pulled himself away from her and helped her sit up — but all of a sudden, his gaze snapped towards her.
Something was wrong.
He couldn't help but notice the way her face was pale, her sharp and rough in-take of breath, her cheeks, sleek with cold sweat and the dotted marks that seem to have appeared mysteriously on that pretty face.
He leaned forward, his face drawing closer and their noses touched — the world around them suddenly slowed down;
however, whatever they had going was rudely interrupted as Nathan's hands caressed her cheeks.
The next minute, he was pushed roughly and a sudden surprise— a hard slap, landing upon Nathaniel's cheeks, rattling his cheek bone, leaving a palm print. The pain sent electric-shocks down his brain and it was no different from the wørd, excruciating.
Pearl sneered, "how brazen!"
Nathan was stumped.