9| Give Me Your Life

Blair has no choice, and she accepts Axel's invitation for dinner. They sat opposite each other on one of the benches with a beautiful view of the river at night. Blair felt a little safe because she wasn't alone. Several other people were also sitting, enjoying the view of the river at night.

The corner of Blair's eyes continued to be wary of her surroundings. She found two men dressed in all black who had knocked Blair out of fright. They stood not far from where Axel was.

"Who are they?" Blair asked. "Your hitman?"

"They're just my assistants," Axel said calmly. He opened the food bag and handed Blair a sandwich. "Sorry if they scared you earlier."

Blair gritted her jaw. She still clearly remembers how two men pointed daggers at her in the rest area for witnessing a murder. At this time, Axel's two assistants also reminded Blair of the two criminals.

"You can't fool me, Mr. Barney. Tell me, what is your aim?"

Axel didn't seem to hear Blair's words. "Are you okay with this? I had the tuna and chicken sandwich. Which do you like more?"

Blair was annoyed. However, she was never picky about food. Living on the streets taught her many things, especially about food. Whatever the food's shape and taste, she will accept it and eat it with pleasure.

She was starving and wanted a quick bite of the sandwich. But again, Blair restrained herself and bit her slowly. She didn't want to lose her manners.

For some reason, Blair was worried about her current appearance. Whereas a few seconds ago, she thought Axel was a psychopath who might be ready to take her life and the organs in her body.

"Why does a doctor need two bodyguards?" Blair asked suddenly.

Axel immediately choked. He quickly looked for a drink and took a quick sip of the orange juice.

"Why do you think they are my bodyguards?" replied Axel.

"I'm not stupid, Mr. Barney. They don't look like your co-workers or doctor's assistants, much less your brother. So let's get straight to the point. What do you want from me?"

Axel put down his sandwich. "You can't just walk away, Miss. As you said, you still owe me. That's why you have to pay for it." This time Axel's tone changed from pleading to begging.

Blair stood with her back to Axel for a moment. The girl shuddered and got trapped.

"I promised to pay off my debt within two months, but you don't believe--"

"How can I believe your words? As you said before, we can trust no one in this world. How can I keep your promise? I don't even know you. I want you to come with me to pay off your debts!"

"What?"

This time Blair was utterly helpless. She had thought it would end like this. She knew Axel would want her body to pay off her debts. Blair touched her belly slowly without Axel knowing. She squeezed it shakily.

"I have no choice, do I? I beg you to endure tonight." Blair whispered those words to the fetus in her belly.

"How do you want me to pay for it?"

Blair said the offer with great trepidation. She hoped a man like Axel, who looked prosperous and dignified, wouldn't humiliate himself by screwing a dingy homeless man like herself just for fun.

"There are a lot of beautiful and expensive prostitutes out there. Why do you have to have fun with a tramp like me?"

Axel laughed. "That is indeed an interesting joke, Miss. Tell me, what's your name?"

Blair was surprised. She had never mentioned a name at all.

"Ranty," said Blair. "My name is Ranty Olsen. You can call me Ranty."

"Ranty? It's a beautiful name," said Axel.

He has to believe that's my real name, Blair thought.

"And what is a young girl like you doing wandering around at night on the outskirts of this city? I'm sure you're not a native here. How old are you?"

"Twenty!" Blair answered quickly and nervously without looking into Axel's blue eyes. "I'm just on vacation." Blair focused her attention on the sandwich in her hand. Blair hoped that Axel wouldn't suspect her answer.

"You look quite young for a 20-year-old girl," Axel said. "You traveled alone?"

"Do you need any guarantees or proof that I won't run?" Blair asked. "I only need two months. Unfortunately, I don't have a single identity in my current body. I lost my things when I left the house. You probably won't believe I'll run away without paying my debt. But trust me, I'm not that kind of person. If you let me go tonight—"

"Why should I let you go tonight?" Axel hastily cut off Blair's words. "You treat me like a criminal. Why don't we make that happen?"

Blair made a misstep. She thought she had offended Axel. She shouldn't have angered the man who would have narrowed his chances of getting out tonight.

"Listen to me, Ranty. Trust is something costly. And we start from something wrong. I hope this is the right moment to dissolve the misunderstanding and rebuild our trust from scratch."

Axel took out his leather wallet and took a business card from it. He handed the business card to the table and shoved it toward Blair.

"I thought I had your business card before. You don't have to give it a second time," Blair said, glancing at the business card.

Axel didn't answer.

Blair's eyes fell on the business card, and she snatched it up. Blair examined a black business card with silver ink written on it; looks very elegant and luxurious.

"You tricked me? Did you lie to me about being a doctor? Do you have a lot of business cards in your wallet? Who are you, Axel Barney?"

"Like I said when we first met. I used to be a doctor. But now I'm no longer a doctor. I left that profession long ago since my father died and left the company's affairs to me."

"So you are?"

"As it is written on the business card you are currently holding. I'm the owner of Barney's Entertainment. I have some large agencies that oversee artists and work in the entertainment field."

"Then what do you mean by showing all this to me?"

"I want to build trust and establish a good relationship with you again. I want to clear up the misunderstanding between us."

"Yes, I know you are a rich and all-encompassing man. I wouldn't be surprised if the two bodyguards over there are a part of your life. But, sadly, there is nothing I can share about myself with you. As you know, I'm just an ordinary young girl who travels."

"I never spend money for free. Therefore, I want to help you pay off your debt to me. I want to offer you some help."

"And how exactly are you going to help me?"

"Come with me and work for me to pay off your debts. When you pay off your debt, you can go wherever you like. It is not coercion. I'm just trying to offer you a solution."

Blair gulped. The last thing she thought about was getting a decent life to raise her baby. If this job were one of the best paths for her and could free her from the misery of living on the streets, Blair wouldn't have turned her down.

"But, what work should I do?"

"Give me your life!"