Too Late For Regrets

Not only did I look down on her, but I also fully intended to complain about her when I got back so that Mrs. Jackson could deal with that idiot herself.

Refusing to waste another second arguing with that pair of clowns, I turned around, ready to leave. However, Leo suddenly reached out and snatched the watch from my hands.

“You piece of trash! You want to leave? Fine, but the watch stays!”

I thought, ‘Wow. So we’re just robbing people in broad daylight now?’

I grabbed his arm and twisted hard. He let out a yelp of pain and dropped the watch, which landed back in my hand.

“If I don’t want something, I’ll toss it, but no one takes what’s mine.”

Leo turned to Selena pitifully. “Ms. Jackson, he just attacked me! Are you really going to let a trash like him get away with this?”

Without even thinking, I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. “If I hear that word ‘trash’ from your mouth one more time, I’ll make sure you never speak again.”

Some people just wouldn’t learn until they had been taught the hard way.

He looked stunned, holding his cheek, and then scurried behind Selena like a beaten dog, sighing. Selena, clearly distressed, touched his swollen cheek and glared at me with rage.

“How dare you lay a hand on my man? I’m going to teach you a lesson you won’t forget!”

She turned to the bodyguards behind her and barked out an order, “Get him! Take this lunatic down!”

I could handle myself in a fight, but I wasn’t a superhero. The trained bodyguards had me pinned to the ground within seconds.

That was when Leo strutted over and slapped me across the face, twice. My cheeks swelled up instantly, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth.

Flexing his wrist, he sneered, “You hit me once, so now I’m going to make you pay a hundred times over.”

People around us started whispering, casting sympathetic looks my way.

“A hundred slaps? His face will be ruined.”

“What a shame. He’s a pretty good-looking guy. Soon, he’s going to look like a monster.”

“I told him not to mess with Mr. Woodalf, but did he listen? Now he’s getting what he asked for.”

I knew better than to resist. Leo seemed crazy enough to actually disfigure me, and I didn’t want to test how far he’d go.

“Fine!” I gasped. “Take the watch. I’ll give it to you as a gift.”

However, he hit me again and spat, “You really are pathetic. But a watch isn’t enough to cool me down.”

Biting through the pain, I said, “I’ll pay you whatever you want. Just let me go.”

He smirked. “Alright then. Give me a hundred million dollars, and I’ll let you off the hook.”

“I can do that,” I replied without hesitation. “I’ll call someone right now to bring it.”

Selena scoffed beside him. “You’re such a terrible liar. How many people in this city have a hundred million in cash? Who do you think you’re fooling?”

I held back my anger. “Give me ten minutes. If the money doesn’t arrive by then, do whatever you want to me.”

“Fine. Ten minutes it is.”

Leo started the timer on his phone and raised his voice to the crowd, “Everyone heard that! If he doesn’t get a hundred million dollars here in ten minutes, I’ll strip him down in front of everyone as punishment.”

People erupted in cheers and jeers.

When I finally got my phone back, I quickly called my mom.

“Hey, Xavier! How’s the blind date going? Is she your type?”

Hearing her voice almost made me break down. My throat tightened, and I choked out the words, “Mom, your precious son just got beaten up.”

“What?” Her tone changed instantly. “Who the hell touched my son? Do they have a death wish?”

I rushed to explain everything that had just happened.

“He said if I can’t get a hundred million to him in ten minutes, he’ll destroy my face and strip me down in the middle of the street…”

My mom’s voice roared through the phone. “This is unbelievable! Hold on, Xavier. I’m sending someone right now!”

After I hung up, I finally felt a bit of relief. Once her people arrived, I’d be fine.

Meanwhile, Leo stared at his phone, watching the seconds tick away. When there were only ten seconds left, he looked at me with smug satisfaction.

“Time’s almost up. Be a good boy and take your clothes off yourself.”

Just as he said that, dozens of heavy-duty trucks rolled up and screeched to a stop at the entrance of the mall.

The lead driver jumped out and shouted, “One hundred million dollars in cash, delivered as requested!”