Chapter 2 Have I Caught Your Attention?
1052words
Carlos had known about her plan, but she had never imagined that he would tell anyone her secret or use it against her. Now that she thought about it, though - Hadn’t the whole thing been Carlos’ idea all along?
Flashback
“You could climb onto Nathan’s bed,” Carlos had suggested. “Make it look like you’ve had sex. Once the evidence is clear, the Guardianship Order will no longer be legal, and the case regarding your inheritance will be reopened.
“Crystal,” he pleaded, “This is the only option. You have to pretend to have sex with him. I know that you’re not a frivolous girl, but you have to do this!”
She had always trusted Carlos, so she had done as she was told.
Flashback Ends
Crystal forced herself to recover from the shock. She clenched her teeth and said, word for word, “Mr. Foster, that’s so kind of you. Should I say ‘thank you?”
“You don’t have to,” Carlos replied cheerily. “After all...” he looked at Joyce. “... we’re practically family!”
Crystal began to tremble slightly, but she took a deep breath and clenched her fists hard for fear of being noticed, and her pointed nails sank into the palms of her hand. “I can’t STAND you!” she hissed as she turned away from him and walked back to the Mercedes.
Suddenly, a brand-new limited-edition silver-gray Maybach stopped by the Mercedes. A driver in a formal suit came down from the Maybach and respectfully handed a key ring to Nathan. Nathan just finished the conversation with the traffic police and walked to Crystal from distance. He was totally unaware of what happened just now and said to Crystal in an emotionless tone, “Get in the car.”
On seeing the Maybach, Joyce shouted at Crystal, “Tut, tut, tut. My dear sister, your mother, was so generous. Her lover drives a Maybach and wears private-customized clothes. I can see why she left everything to him!”
Crystal refused to acknowledge that. She opened the door to the Maybach, got in quickly. By then, Nathan had taken his seat behind the wheel. He turned to her and found her painful expression, “Boyfriend?”
Crystal denied it coldly, adding, “He’s just a rat, a breeding pig!”
“He has terrible taste in women,” Nathan exclaimed. “That girl was nothing but a dirty slut.”
“You’ll get no argument from me on that,” Crystal agreed, “Not only does he have bad taste in women, but he also has poor business sense.”
“What does that mean?” Nathan asked casually.
Crystal explained. “Look at you, for example. You know how to package yourself with nice clothes and cars, so you can get everything from my mom. But Carlos doesn’t realize that and found the wrong client, so he can never be a successful businessman - but I am sure none of this is new to you, Mr. Davis! Obviously, you have been successful, likely in business and with women. Am I right?”
“Well, you aren’t wrong,” Nathan replied, and then he laughed out loud. “What about you, have I caught your attention?”
“What does it matter?” Crystal replied. “I’m just a poor orphan. You can get nothing from me.” Crystal paused and sneered. “Mr. Davis, don’t waste your time on unprofitable people.”
“Is that really how you see yourself?” Nathan asked, “Crystal Smith, don’t underestimate yourself!”
Crystal observed Nathan’s expression and found he didn’t tease her, she said, “I don’t get it. Millions of other girls are better looking than I am, smarter, and with more money to their name. Surely you see that!”
Nathan laughed, and then he said, “You are so young, no wonder you don’t see your own potential. “
Impatiently, Crystal cut short his words, “Save it. Just tell me what you want from me.”
Nathan raised his lips, “Marry Me.” Crystal was so caught off guard by his words that she began to cough, and her cough began to choke her so severely that her face turned beet red. She could barely breathe. Tears streamed down her face, and when she bent over at the waist, her forehead hit the dashboard.
Nathan pulled over as soon as he was able, and he turned to her with a concerned expression. As he rubbed her back, he said, “There, there. Take it easy. Are you okay?”
Crystal pushed Nathan’s hand away and glared at him. “What did you just say?”
“You aren’t happy with the Guardianship Order,” Nathan explained. “That is obvious. I also know that you have left evidence showing that we had slept together yesterday. I was no longer a legal custodian now.”
Crystal was astonished that Nathan had already perceived her plan. And she was even more dumbfounded that he proposed a marriage to her!
“So, why not marry me?” Seeing Crystal was silent, Nathan continued, “If we did that, then you could also have an equal share of my property, as well as your mother’s inheritance, of course, which you could use to slap your ex-boyfriend and half-sister in the face. Who would turn down such a deal!”
Crystal suddenly realized that Carlos was trying hard to get her to sleep with Nathan just for the money, otherwise he would not have pushed the woman he loved into someone else’s bed. Thinking of Carlos, Crystal felt unlimited bitterness and anger.
“I would,” Crystal blurted out. “I would!”
I can forget Carlos - she thought - but how would I know if Nathan’s property is clean enough for my tastes? Or if he is an honest person…
Crystal hadn’t known Nathan for long, nor did she know much about the relationship that he’d had with her mother. His offer seemed sincere, but her gut was telling her that he was playing some tricks. And if that was true, then the only reason her mother had left everything to him was that he must have somehow pulled the wool over her eyes. And if that is true, how many other women have been deceived by this exceedingly handsome face?
Crystal was uneasy, and she could not find a reason for Nathan to suddenly think so much of her. Should she trust him?
