CHAPTER 2

Amelia

"Hey, brother. Having trouble with your car?" I knew calling him brother was enough to set him off since it would alert him that I did know that it's not his car but he was surprisingly calm and he stopped fidgeting with the handle of the car long enough to give me a look over.

He gave me a brash "fuck off" before continuing, deciding I wasn't a threat or important enough for him to leave what he was doing to attend to.

"You didn't reply me, you know that? That's rude." I said, wanting to piss him off enough to get him to let go of the handle before my plans of saving the car is over. Although, I had no idea what I wanted to do, I had to stall for as long as possible while viewing my options. I hoped whomever owned the car came out quickly; that would save me a lot of strength.

"What are you doing? That doesn't look like the key to your car. Is it lost? I can help you find it if you tell me where you think you dropped it. I don't think it's safe to use tools like that for this kind of expensive car.

You're going to damage both the paint job and the handle. Here, let me help you". I moved towards him to collect the tool from him and he brought out a knife from his pocket. 

"Woah. I'm only trying to help". I said, still inching towards him. I don't know where I'm getting this bravado from but I know it's false. I just can't leave and let him steal the car.

"Stop where you are. Don't move a step further or I'll cut you in a place where you'd be dead before anyone could rescue you". He said, holding the knife tighter. He was right. Not a lot of people were around and the ones who were minded their business which meant that no one was looking in our direction.

This also meant that he could kill me and get away with it since it's a knife. He looked buff enough to cover my mouth to prevent me from making a sound. I really had to think fast before he ended my life. 

"I guess it's not your car then. Why do you want to steal it? Cars like this one usually have security systems, don't you know? And by the amount of time you've wasted, you don't really know your way around it or you'd have been done before I got to you. You're an amateur and it's obvious". I said, giving off an air of knowing what I was saying.

He cocked his head to the side, confused. " What do you mean? If you hadn't interrupted with your nosiness, I would have been done by now." I knew he was only minutes away from finishing his job and it didn't look like the owner of the car was coming anytime soon.

"Well, I'm an expert at this job and I can tell you that you wouldn't have gotten away with it." I was bluffing but he didn't know this. I quickly threw in some words about cars that I knew, telling him one thing or the other would have gone wrong if he had continued like that.

He looked at me with a different kind of light, believing that I knew what I was talking about. I quickly threw a bait at him. "Why don't you let me help you? I won't ask you for money or anything. I'll just show you the ropes. Practice for me, learning for you. Good trade, is it not?"

I could tell he was debating it and I knew I had to sway him " Or, I could just leave and let you get caught trying to steal here." That sealed it up and I saw him ease back up. I didn't know thieves could be this trusting. He really was an amateur because someone who had been stealing for a while would have called my bluff, killed me and gotten away with taking the car away. 

I gestured towards the knife and he put it away before moving back a little to allow me access to the car. I inspected the handle; he hadn't done much damage to it which showed that he hadn't been at it for long before I came to him.

I asked him to move back a little and he did. I'd have to have a little bit of space for what I had decided to do and his crowding me would be a hindrance. I told him I needed to inspect properly before we proceeded and he nodded eagerly, ready to learn from me.

I pretended to reach into my bag for some tool and after feeling the weight of my bag and confirming how heavy it was, I swung it in his direction, hitting him squarely in the face. While he was momentarily blinded, I kicked him where the sun doesn't shine and he doubled up in pain. 

His shouts must have gotten the attention of the people around because it wasn't long before we had a small crowd around us. I refused to tell anyone anything and instead simply asked that someone hold him down for me while we waited for the owner of the car. 

Someone identified the car and volunteered to go and get the owner while we waited. The thief was still unconscious but where my bag hit him was beginning to bruise. I looked at it with satisfaction.

My day might have not been entirely productive but the fact that I saved someone's car from being stolen was enough to make me forget the stress I went through beforehand. 

After waiting a little over ten minutes, we saw the person who went to call the owner come back with someone. The crowd had mostly dispersed now since it was taking too long and they had places to be. Only people who wanted to see how it ended remained and of course, I and the thief. 

Behind the person who went to call the car owner was a very handsome man whose expression was enough to cut through steel. His facial expression became even more murderous as he took steps forward. When he got to the car and us, he stopped and looked around quizzically. 

I stepped forward quickly so I could explain what happened. "Hi, I'm Amelia" I held out a hand but he refused to shake it. I dropped my hand back to my side, embarrassed that a lot of people saw that. I forged on, regardless, refusing to be deterred. I just wanted to say my piece and leave it there. What happened after was none of my business. I was just exhausted at that point and wanted to go home to rest. 

"Your car was almost stolen by this man." I pointed to the thief who was beginning to gain consciousness, "I stopped him from stealing it and knocked him out. Then, we waited here for you. We didn't call the police because we don't know what you would want to do to him.

Since it's attempted theft, you might want to let him go or maybe sue him for damages or something like that but I don't think you'll be getting a good sum of money from him". I said, rambling. I usually do that when I'm stressed out and about to pass out and at that point, all I wanted was food and sleep. 

The man's facial expression had turned to one of doubt ever since I said I knocked him out. More like he didn't believe me or that I was trying to take credit for what someone else had done.

"Ok". That was all he said. His voice was very rich and smooth and you could tell that this man was one of those people who woke and slept in money. Ok? That's all he was going to say? Not that I was expecting some sort of reward. Well, maybe only a little, but the least he could have said was thank you.

I stared in disbelief as I watched him walk away to make a call. Did I use up all of my remaining strength for someone like him? An ungrateful person like him?

Wow. Amelia. Wow.

This has to be the most disappointing thing that has happened today.

I shook my head and picked up my bag to walk away. The guy that went to call him walked up to me and told me the thank you instead, since he saw the way I was treated. I could only nod in return before moving my dejected body in the direction of my home. I couldn't even get something to eat anymore. 

What happened kept replaying in my head and I couldn't help but wonder if that was how rude he was to everyone. And looking at him, it may be. I'd never met someone who was such a rude snob, even with the rich clients I had. I should have just let the guy steal the car instead of being a good person.

I couldn't even reply to the greetings of my neighbours because of how weak I was. I barely had the strength to open the door before I fell to the couch. After recuperating a little, I stood up and took off my clothes then got in the shower to wash myself. After bathing, I ate the last of the food I had, reminding myself to go to the market tomorrow.

I was preparing to sleep when a knock sounded on the door. I wasn't expecting anyone, so who could that be?

The face of that rich snub flashed in my mind's eye for some reason and I cussed under my breath and I stood up from my bed.