05. The Devil

POPPY:

As I continued staring at Sebastian Holding, something was telling me he did not even love Olivia Green. Whenever he spoke of her, there was no warmth or any feelings in his eyes. It remained unchanged. Distant. Cold. Menacing.

I felt sorry for that woman. It was plain that he was using her for whatever reason he had. Sometimes, rich people would agree to contract marriage for the benefit of both families. 

I wondered if Miss Olivia Green loved this man? 

That’s no longer your concern. Whether they both loved each other or not, you are out of that, Poppy. You need money more than this man. And you will get it. 

As long as Mr. Holding would willingly pay me, everything was good. I did not care whether he truly loved Miss Olivia or not.

I would always be after the money he would pay in my bank account. Imagine the bills I could pay and the investment I could have with that amount. 

"I want to be honest with you, Mr. Holding. I am only after your money."

He was not at least offended by my statement. Instead, he looked satisfied with what I said. 

I held my hand, waiting for him to shake it. “Whatever your alibi or reasons for winning back Miss Olivia are no longer my concern. As long as I will help both of you reconcile, right? If I succeed, I will have my money.”

Sebastian nodded. “Precisely.”

“Okay. I want the money within this day.”

His lips curled in disgust. “How brazen of you to do the demands.”

"Mr. Holding. I thought you don't want anyone wasting your time. Is it wrong to get to the point?" I raised one eyebrow at him. “This is a proposal, Mr. Holding.”

He stared at me for a moment, then his eyes made up his decision. 

“Fine. Give me your bank account and I will ask my secretary to wire the money to your account.” He stood. “Prepare yourself. Whatever you are doing for the whole month or year, clear it. Whenever I want you, you should be there. Your focus should be on me. After all, I paid a hefty sum for this to work well on my side.”

Something which I still did not understand or won't try to understand at all. 

Not trusting that I could pull it off with success, I only nodded. “I will do everything I can, Mr. Holding. It's a pleasure to do some business with you.”

"Do not fail me, woman."

"Mr. Holding, I promised you won't be wasting your money on me."

—--------------

After talking to Sebastian, I helped him walk to the doorway. Outside, my neighbors were still on high alert status.

I was starting to get worried for Mr. Holding. For a little. 

Who wouldn't?

Starting now, Mr. Holding will be my beloved client. Nothing harm must befall him or I will be kissing my half million dollars goodbye.

I gave a thumbs-up sign to my extra-protective neighbors secretly convincing them that I was fine and there was nothing to be worried about. I was unscathed and this man did not do anything to me.

Sebastian’s guard was right beside the doorway, his eyes continuously scanning the surroundings. 

My gaze went to the bulge on his side. A gun plus his menacing look was enough to scare anyone away. But of course, my extra-protective neighbors were not included. 

"Do not forget about our agreement. I will be coming here tomorrow."

"Understood. You don't have to remind me again. You can call me, Mr. Holding. You have my number."

A muscle in his forehead ticked. "I do not want to waste my time explaining the things we will do again nor waste my time calling someone on the phone. I will get you."

Secretly, I rolled my eyes. 

His constant saying I was wasting his time was starting to get on my nerves. 

Take a breath, Poppy. You need him. 

“I am not dumb, Mr. Holding. You can go now.”

"I know you obtained one of the highest honors when you graduated from college."

I raised my eyebrows but no longer commented on that. 

With a slight push, Sebastian was already outside my house. His bodyguard was about to say something after what I did, but Mr. Holding held his hand, stopping his bodyguard from doing anything.

The bodyguard's body was tense. 

Joey, another neighbor of mine who was an ex-marine, peered at his window and I gave him a thumbs-up sign, reassuring him that nothing had happened inside against my will.

“Prepare, Miss Brooks.”

“Yeah. Go now.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “Are you driving me away? I will go on my own accord.”

I looked at my fingernails. “Yes, I did, Mr. Holding.”

“I do not like anyone bossing me around. It should be the other way around. I am the boss.”

“Yeah. Yeah. Whatever.”

Sebastian turned his back, glanced back at me, and without saying anything further, went into his car, leaving me nothing with dust.

When his car was no longer in sight, that was the only time I sighed in relief.

My neighbors were already running towards me, their eyebrows furrowed with concern. 

“You okay, girl?” Joey asked. He looked like a giant as he stood beside me. 

I chuckled. “Yes, yes. Thank you so much for your concern, but I am okay.”

They scanned my body as if they were checking for any wounds. 

“That bastard did not hurt you at all?”

Bastard.

Mr. Holding will throw a fit if he learned someone called him a bastard. 

“No. He behaved. He knew I had all of you if he happened to do something worse. Rest easy. However, I do appreciate all of your concerns.”

"Good. Good." And they slowly went back to their houses. "If that man visited you again and hurt you, you have our back."

I waved my hands at them while smiling sweetly. 

Yeah. They will kick Sebastian's butt if he does not honor our agreement. 

For now, I will wait for my half million dollars and think about what I will buy with it. 

Sebastian Holding may act like a devil, but he was an angel in disguise. At least for me.