3

Elise

With the help of my phone navigator, I was able to get to the address without much hassle. However, the area was secluded to my liking.  It was dark and quite. If someone murdered a person, no one will be able to tell. I tried not let the quiteness and darkness get to me as I furthered my way towards the shop with the 'Devine Automibe' written at the top. The transparent door was conciously locked that I almost thought the place is vacant until it was abruptly opened. An elderly man's face surfaces.

"Um ... Hello" I commenced not sure of how to start the conversation.

"Hello. How may I help you ?" the man asked. Looking at the clothes he was wearing, you'd know he's just managing his life.

"Actually my car got hit by someone earlier and he gave me a card to bring my car for fixing" I explained handing him the card . He accessed the card and a smile follows which I found kinda weird .

"Come in" was what he said before turning around inside . My brows furrowed in confusion Nevertheless, I followed him. I almost choked at the unusual weird smell that was formulating in the room. Everywhere was dirty and full of grease.

"Have a seat please"  He pointed towards an old brown couch. I don't know whether it was white turned brown. At first , I wanted to decline but then, my legs might give up from standing for so long. So , I sat down with a sigh

"What will I get you? Coffee or-"

"I'm fine" I cut him off.

"Okay. Excuse me. I will be right back" He profound after a short silence was maintained . Before I could open my mouth to answer him, he sauntered  away through a door. While waiting for him, I access the surrounding.  The room is plain. There are literally few furnitures here and there.

Within a minute or so, the man walked out with a white paper In his hands. He took the empty couch that was beside me.

"Elijah is on his way. He's- " He didn't get to complete his sentence when the entrance door was slid open. Came in the guy behind my car's damage.

"You!" l exclaimed rising to a standing position as I point my index finger at him. He was still in the same  clothes as earlier.

"Do you two know each other?" the man asked.

"He was the one who hit my car and called me crazy" I uttered my voice rising. The anger that subsided before made it's way back again. He showed not even a slightest bit of remorse. Instead his mouth curved out into a smirk.

"Thought you weren't coming" He said after a while as he marched towards the empty space that was beside the man.

"You did the damage so you have to take responsibility that's why I'm here" I  remarked sitting back down. He went on to remove his jacket and I could swear I saw his packs through the slim white shirt that hung to his body due to sweat.

"You made the right choice" he said.

"What do you mean I made the right choice . It's a  must"

"It's not a must since we're doing it 50/50"

"Wait...What ?" I'm now convinced he's not okay in the head.

"Elijah, you-"

"I will explain everything to you later father" so the man is his father. But he's nothing like him

"Okay. Excuse me" I watched as he disappeared to the room he ventured into earlier before I focused my attention to him

"Elijah or whatever you call yourself. I'm not paying a dime here. You caused the damage so you have to take full responsibility. And if you decide not to do that , then I will have to involve the police. Because that car is very important to me than you imagined"

Since he called me a crazy person, maybe behaving like one will bring him back to his senses.

50/50 ? To hell with that.

His eyes went calculative for a while before he adjust his sitting position intertwining his hands.

"Are you trying to put yourself in trouble Miss..."

"Elise" I completed for him

"And I don't see fighting for my right as putting myself in trouble"

"If you're even thinking of how I can do that , I have connections and there's the surveillance camera. I'm sure it captured everything" A small smile made its way out of me seeing the expression on his face. He thought he'd use his meaningness words on me.

"What do want now?" I wanted to burst out with laughter at his words. He's accepting defeat already when I've not dropped the bomb yet.

"I want my car to be back to the way it was before"

"Ofcourse it'll. That's our job" An unexpected chuckle erupts from me.

"I don't think you get what I mean" I said folding my arms across my chest . It is my chance to make him agree to my demands.

"As you know, fixing the side light and the crack will not be enough. I want it to be painted. Everything to to be new. Like I bought new one" His eyes slightly grew wide. I'm sure he's not expecting that from me . But who care. He said I'm a  crazy woman.  I'm showing him my craziness.

"Miss Elise, painting your car isn't part of the compensation. The only thing I will be focused on is the crack and the side light"

"The crack has alreadly damage the painting. You can't expect me to drive in a half done car " I exclaimed flunging my hands in the air. I heard him sigh out .

" I think I just got myself involved into a big trouble "

You have not seen trouble  yet. I wanted to say but kept quite as I watched him flipping the  papers that was brought out by his father. He scanned through it for a while his eye brows creasing at some point. I wonder what was making him do that.

"Do you know that the cost to fix your car is quite expensive right?" He said his eyes still on the paper.

"Is it necessary for me to know?" I question back

"Alright then your car will be fixed to a brand new as you want"  I didn't try to stop the smite that way it's way out of me.

"How long will it take?" I needed to know. I cannot leave my  car for too long in their hands and the fact that I'm using it. And I don't want to use Mom's car it will be a discussion for another day.

"24 hours"

"Just 24 hours?"

"Yes. You can leave your address. By tomorrow evening , your car will be with you" I nodded my head in answer that sounds okay with me

"Here" He passed me piece of paper and I  scribbled down our  house address passing the paper back to him.

"Okay. It's settled then. I will be expecting my car tommorrow evening" I rose up to a standing position adjusting my dress that was almost squeezed. I was about to slid open the door when his words stopped me.

" Can I ask you a question?" He said my brows knit in question. Nevertheless, I nodded.

"Are you naturally like this?"

"Like what?"  I asked my brows creasing more.

  "Rude" As the words left his lips, it made a light chuckte out of me.

"It depends on how I'm being treated. You called me a crazy woman and I gave you the taste of Craziness"

"I See. By the way, I was nice meeting you Miss Elise" He said. For the first time , he smiled and it looked good on him.

"It was nice meeting you too Mr. Elijah" with that , I slid the door open and  walked my way out.

"Shit! How do I get a taxi in this quite area" I muttered out. And I didn't bring any money with me.

"I've called an uber for you. It should be here anytime soon" I heard Elijah's voice behind me.

Before his words could register in my head, a white car stopped in front of me.

Okay , It renders me speechless.

"Thank you" I uttered opening the door. I spared him a glance as the car began driving. His arms were folded across his chest. I rested my head back as I omit  out a sigh. Maybe he's not that bad. But then it doesn't change the fact that he was rude to me at first. Had I not stood my ground, he would have left me to fix the car myself. I don't think we will meet again after this. I don't pray to meet him anywhere else.

In the next twenty four hours my car will be fixed . Just that thought brought me some relief. I know how hard I've worked to buy the car. A months of saving. Just twenty four hours. And then everything will be back to normal.