3: Marry Me

“I'm so sorry. So sorry... I,” In her haste, Lenora attempted to stand up, but as her hair caught on his button, she screamed. “Aw!”

She cast an apologetic glance at him while struggling to undo the hair. However, she had to open his button to do that, without thinking, she did so and became even more flustered when her hand brushed against the fair smooth skin underneath the dirty coat he had on.

The beggar cleared his throat causing her head to snap to his. Her face flushed with embarrassment. Quickly removing her hair, she stood away from his body. "Again, thank you."

He said, reaching to take up her purse, "You should watch where you are going pretty missy."

For some unknown reason, Lenora found herself blushing at that. Pretty? 

Some onlookers noticed her and started reaching for their phones just before he handed her the bag. “Are you Miss Lenora?”

“What? Lenora Paige?”

"Are you certain that she is the one? Given her attire, I nearly didn't recognize her.”

“Oh my God, how is it that she would so blatantly appear at this time?”

“A whore with no shame!”

Lenora cursed when she remembered her scarf had slipped off when she fell.

She began to become alarmed as she noticed the little crowd forming around her. However, the next minute, the beggar took off his jacket and covered her head with it, stunning Lenora. 

Her body stiffened further when he wrapped his hands around her waist. Not from anything but the fact that he touched her torn wounded back. “Come on.”

The jacket was stinking so badly that for a moment, she couldn't breathe but as if her body was under his control, it began moving after his deep manly voice fell on her ears.

Still, in a daze, Lenora let him lead her to a safer place. An absolute stranger!

They reached a quiet street shortly after, where she removed her jacket to give him. She handed him a black card after digging through her bag without saying a word. “Here. I appreciate your assistance so much. Use the million in this to take care of yourself.”

Like everyone else, Lenora anticipated that he would accept the card with joy — as any beggar would. The latter, on the other hand, gaped angrily at her.

“What?”

“I don't want your money. I saved you twice and you molested me on the streets, yet you give me a million as compensation?”

Lenora blinked in shock as she tried to gather her thoughts after being rendered speechless. Molested? Her hands hardly touched him! “Ugh... That...” she cleared her throat, “I'm sorry Mr...”

“Preston.”

“Mr Preston, I'm sorry and thank you for saving me,” she muttered perfunctorily, putting the card back in her purse, after all, she was no longer the heiress of the Gonzalez family. They had cast her out just like her mom so why reject money that was rejected?

  Preston tried to clamp his hands down on hers when she turned to leave but she swiftly dodge and continued on her way. In as much as she was grateful for his help, she hated strangers touching her.

After walking for a bit, she soon realised she had no idea  where she was. The streets looked the same and since she was new to the area, she had an impression that she was lost.

Of course, she wasn't ready to go ask anyone for directions, not with the scandal on the Internet. Instead, she took a quiet street while checking her bag for her phone. Huh? Where is it? I remember putting it here.

She unknowingly walked passed a group of guys who are known to be gangsters. They all became silent as she walked by pinning their eyes on her. 

Lenora took notice of it and tightened her fist while quickening her stride. She wanted nothing more than to leave that vicinity quickly. However, luck wasn't on her side as she bumped into two males in front. “Oh, what do we have here?”

“I'm so sorry.” she hastily said and tried to walk away but one of them took hold of her hand. 

“Sweetheart, there's no need to leave so quickly when you're here. Hasn't anyone told you this street is off-limits? What? Lost? I can help you find your way dear.  In bed.”

A bark of laughter rang out in the area as the men gathered around her. 

Slap!

Lenora ripped her hands off his and smacked him, causing a loud echo across the area. Wrong move. She knows that but she can't stand being insulted. 

Instantly, the men fell silent. She...did she just hit their boss?

"I will leave now," she said as she tried to move away from him, but unpredictably his hands sprang up, catching her and slamming her head to the ground. 

“Fierce. I like it, but did I permit you to do so? Hold her down!”

For a moment, she couldn't hear anything, her vision blurred, and the only thing she could do was gasp in pain. Even though she has some skills in fighting, there was no way she could fight them all, as men, their strength was simultaneously higher than hers!

“Yes, boss!” four men grabbed hold of Lenora before she regained her baring.

Pulling out a knife, he tore the shirt off her body snapping her out of the muddled state. “Y-you... What are you doing? Let go of me quickly! Do you know who I am?” 

Fear flashed in her eyes when she noticed all the men staring at her exposed chest. She was so ashamed because she wasn't putting on anything underneath! And to make matters worse, her shackled hands prevented her from covering herself. She was left vulnerable and could only trash on the ground! This was even more embarrassing than having her pictures up on the Internet.

“Beautiful isn't she? How about we all have a taste of this wildcat?” his hand trailed from her flat tummy going up. Just as he was about to grab her breast, a knife flew in the air slashing his wrist, earning a grunt from him. "Who is it? Who dare to...”

His voice trailed when he saw the person. All those who noticed him froze and quickly let go of Lenora who in turn rushed to cover herself. 

“I- it's not what you think! I can explain...” their boss stuttered at the sight of the beggar. When he got no reply, he cursed and ran away with the rest of the gang on his tail. 

Glancing up, Lenora's lips trembled. It's him, again! Preston, the beggar! “You...”

He took that same jacket off, came forward and draped it over her shoulders. 

“Thank you.”

Preston turned a flashlight saying, “You left this with me.”

“Oh.” she blinked upon seeing her phone.

“Come, let's get you treated, my place isn't far from here,” he said, handing the phone to her while walking away. 

Lenora touched her tremble, seeing the blood, she didn't reject the offer but hugged the stinking jacket to herself and rushed after him.

        ........

“Aw!” A hiss escaped her as cleaned her wound with a cheap but neat cloth using water. 

“Sorry, missy, it's all I have.”

She assumed that when he stated "his place," he meant at least an old house, but no, it was far from that. It was a place worst than a slum. The area smelled like hell, rats were going about and he... he has an old torn box spread on the ground, one that he uses as a bed. 

For someone who has never been to such a place in her life, it was a nightmare for Lenora, but she made an effort to ignore the smelly area, while concentrating on him.

Thanks to the light reflecting from the pole on the street, she was able to make out his features. He had plain look, with freckles and big pimples over his face. His hair looked like they haven't been washed in ages. His ragged clothes were ripped apart and looked too dirty like he's been sleeping in pits. Well, he has... In one word, he looked ugly!

The only thing great in his body was his height and eyes. He had a mystic set of blue eyes, one that was rarely seen by anyone. They were Azure to be precise. 

Subconsciously, she reached out to touch them, but the man quickly seized her hands and stopped her. “Trying to molest me the second time?”

“Huh?” she blinked.

“You're the first woman privilege of touching my body, you need to take responsibility!”

Shocked, Lenora stared at him. Of course, she was the first woman to touch him, who would want to sleep with a beggar? 

Her usual self will try to pay him off with the money but instead, she blurted, “Marry me.”

“What?” It was Preston's turn to blink in shock.

“Marry me, Preston and I'll make you a billionaire.” she grinned as a crazy idea formed in her head. 

Do the Gonzalez think they could cast her out after everything she had done and she'd leave just like her mom? Never! She's different from her mother, she wouldn't go down without a fight!

Maybe she's crazy for proposing to a beggar and she may regret her decision when this is over but who cares? 

What did they usually call her again, crazy? Rude and spoilt heiress? Oh, I'll definitely show them how spoilt I can be. She never considered herself marry at the age of twenty since she was sure that all men are trash. They are only interested in her because of her wealth.

His eyes lit up, “I... Are you serious? I've got nothing to offer.”

Lenora patted his shoulders, “You, you'll offer me yourself.”

His lips started to play a lazy grin, revealing his hideous brown teeth. Almost squeezing her into a tight hug, Preston drew her into his arms right away. “Wifey. Thank you so much. I will marry you!”

Lenora grimaced at the pain in her back whilst holding her breath. She might have chosen to wed a beggar, but she wasn't yet ready to get physical with a complete stranger.

“Preston, let go! You're smothering me..”

He quickly released her go, checking to make sure he hadn't touched her head wound before giving her a dreamy look and saying, "Oh, sorry Pretty, Missy”

“The name is Lenora,” said Nora as she elegantly smoothened a hand over her shirt.

“Lenora.” the name rolled out in his tongue as if he was testing how it sounded making Nora's heart skip. Why did it sound so good in his mouth?

“Wifey, when should we go get a marriage certificate?” he said jumping excitedly like a kid who has just found his lollipop.

Lenora's mind went blank. “Uhh...” she wasn't planning on getting married immediately after getting engaged!

Before she speaks, he cut her off, “Wifey, I'll be moving into your place? I've got nowhere to stay.”

Lenora became even more speechless. Should I be regretting my decision now?

“Preston, I also don't have a place to stay. Here.” she thrust the card into my hand. “Use this to lodge a hotel room and get some necessary items. I have things to take care of this week so we'll meet in a week for an annual gathering. After the event, we'd get married, what do you think?”

After he released her, Lenora secretly shifted backwards not trusting his grabby hands. She then grabbed her business card and handed it to him, “Call me in a week.” with that she ordered an Uber with her phone which came back sooner and then she left.

Naturally, she missed seeing a posh black automobile that pulled up beside Preston nor a man rush towards him and bow. “Sir, it's time to return home.” 

“Why should I return?” he muttered in a deep baritone voice that was completely different from the man who stood before Lenora some minutes back. 

“Y-you...!” the guard's lip twitched in anger. “You!

Preston interrupted him by saying, “Find out everything I need to know about Lenora Paige Gonzalez before tomorrow, she's my wife.” 

“I...”

Before he could speak, Preston turned on his heels and began walking away from the slum area causing the latter to panic even more. “Sir! The car is over here! Damn it!” If they found out he made Preston walk, he would undoubtedly lose his job, ahh!

Preston, on the other hand, kept moving away while grinning foolishly. He was anxious to squander his wife's money.