Her smile grows wider. She pulls out ten big-denomination bills, each marked with a huge 1000, and says:
"You can buy dinner for yourself. So how about you cut the crap and follow me."
I know this is a trap.I know I'm going to get in trouble.
But that smile… those eyes. And those ten bills would fit perfectly into my empty wallet.
"Big sister, may I know your name?" I ask, already grabbing the money.
"Ruby. Now let's not waste time. Follow me."
As I walk behind her, I text the only person shameless—brave, I mean—enough to cause a scene if everything goes to hell.
Hey, old man. A hotty with way too much money just dragged me into a condominium. If I don't text back, break in and call the cops before I lose a kidney.
I shove the phone back into my pocket.
Inside, it feels like I've stepped into Pain & Gain. Security everywhere. Men whose arms look thicker than my legs, all in immaculate dark-blue uniforms. A private park. A pool. A gym better than any public one I've seen.
I follow her into the elevator.
My shoes don't belong here.Neither do my "sexy" pants.
The elevator climbs in silence. I can't help myself.
"Hey, miss… just so you know, I don't drink water. I drink alcohol. I smoke a lot. Doctors say I have gastritis. And my grandparents have heart problems."
She looks at me and smiles again.
"So… you have kidney problems?"
"Yes, yes, madam. They could be grilled and fed to dogs, honestly. I doubt they taste good. Dogs might get sick."
She bursts out laughing.
"Well, I'm sorry for your parents then. So young and already with kidney problems… that explains it, hmm?"
She studies me for a second.
"It's hard to find someone with clean eyes. Someone straightforward. When I saw yours downstairs, I thought you were a good-hearted boy."
She tilts her head, amused.
"But it looks like you're a modern-life eunuch."
A pause. Then, with a smile:
"Still… it works fine."
Eunuch? Your father is a eunuch. Rude woman.
I stay quiet. Maybe it's the luxury messing with my head, but only now do I really look at her. Perfect lips. Big eyes. A sharp, elegant nose. Beneath that expensive outfit—
Yeah. I can guess. Pink pussy. Full combo.
We enter her place. It smells exactly like you'd imagine Aphrodite's chamber would smell—too feminine, too much. I force my thoughts back into place.
She grabs a package and hands it to me.
"This is all you have to do. Deliver this. I'll send you the address."
She winks.
"You can keep your kidneys this time."
"Lady," I say, trying to sound calm, "am I going to be okay if I do this? And… what's inside?"
Her smile disappears.
"No. You can't ask that."
She looks straight at me.
"You have, let's say, a sixty-percent chance of coming back. If you refuse, I'll have the men downstairs break your limbs and throw you in the river."
She shrugs.
"That, I can guarantee."
I put on my bravest face.
"You misunderstood me, big sister. I was just asking if I need to take extra care with the package."
"Nope. Just deliver it. Fast."
I nod.
"If there's nothing else… I'll take my leave, big sis."
I puff out my chest as I leave the room. From her point of view, I probably look like I'm about to have a stroke. I keep the façade as I close the door. Cameras are still watching.
Just walk. Don't run. Don't look back.
I reach the main entrance, get on the scooter, and move—far and fast.
Eyes follow me. Big, burly men. Some stare with mockery. Others with something worse.
"Is that the buffoon who's lined up ...?" someone mutters.
Oh God.Please help me. Jehovah. Vishnu. Buddha. Someone. Anyone. Or Hecate—just make sure I cross the river safely.
I don't even realize how far I've gone until the front gates are suddenly behind me.
That's when my jelly legs give up.
I fall.
My face slams into the road.
Now I'm FUBAR.
Adrenaline slams into my nervous system, flooding everything, squeezing my heart until it goes insane. One single thought takes over:
Run.Far.Run fast.
I do have the money.That crazy bitch Ruby gave it to me.
I could leave. Disappear.No deliveries. No kitchens. No scooters.Maybe a new name.Maybe I'm Brad Pitt now.
Bip.
My phone vibrates.
I look at the screen.
An address.And a short, cute little message attached to it:
"Don't get any funny ideas, or I'll make sure you wish you could drown yourself in the river <3."