Chapter 5 Owing Others

• Startled by his cry, Mrs. Palmer assured, "What is it? Does it hurt? Just bear with it a little."
• "It's okay. You can continue," Chadwick said through gritted teeth, pretending to be strong.
• "Alright, it's done. Remember to avoid contact with water for the next few days, and it will be best to change the dressing every day. After that, there shouldn't be any big problems," Mrs. Palmer said after she finished dressing his wound.
• "Have you eaten? Get him a set of cutleries and a plate, Mrs. Palmer," Samantha said leisurely after Chadwick's wound was attended to.
• "What happened? Are you feeling guilty and thinking to use this small favor so that I won't hate you anymore? I'm telling you, that's impossible. As the saying goes, 'keep your determination despite being in poverty and don't submit to a tyrant'. Also, 'don't eat the food offered in contempt'. So, listen, I won't eat anything from your house!" he announced resolutely.
• "Mrs. Palmer, go and rest in the room for a while if you're finished with dinner. There's something I would like to speak with him about in private," Samantha said to Mrs. Palmer with a smile, completely ignoring Chadwick.
• "Alright, ma'am." After that, Mrs. Palmer retired to her room.
• Then, Samantha turned to face him, "Are you really not eating?"
• "No, I'll owe you a favor if I take your food. I'm here today to get even with you. How am I supposed to tell you off if I take your food?" Chadwick said firmly, but his attitude was already not as harsh as when he first walked through the door.
• "That's up to you. I'll tell Mrs. Palmer to throw away the food if you're not eating," the woman said calmly.
• "Don't do that. It will be a shame to throw it out. You're such a wastrel." He immediately picked up the fork as he spoke and started eating. He was genuinely hungry and was drooling for a long time after seeing the food on the table. In the morning, after he woke up, he had breakfast outside and was busy for the entire day. At lunchtime, he didn't have time to eat and took care of his lunch with some bread from a convenience store and a bottle of water. At this time of the day now, of course, he was hungry, and his stomach had been growling for a while.
• While he ate, he started to complain, still filled with disgruntlement. "I just want to ask you, why do you have to make the company fire me? Why are you so wicked, and what do you have to gain if I'm dismissed? Although my tone of voice wasn't so pleasant today, you don't have to get me fired over such a small thing. We didn't cross each other's path today and before, either."
• The woman had finished her meal a while ago and asked calmly as she sat opposite him, "Is this job essential to you?"
• "Are you for real? Whose job wouldn't be important to them? Without a job, I would have no salary. How am I supposed to live without a stable income? Do you think everyone is just like you, living in a luxury house, driving an expensive car, and having money to spend until the end of your life even if you don't work?"
• "Are you in need of money?" she continued her line of inquiry.
• "Can you please stop asking senseless questions? Is there anyone who doesn't need money? Would anyone think that they have too much money?"
• "How much do you make in a month?"
• "Why are you asking this?" Chadwick looked at Samantha warily.
• "Why? Are you afraid that I have ideas on that little bit of money that you have?"
• "A little more than 5,000, but I can make more than 6,000 sometimes when it gets hectic and approximately 5,000 when it's not. I'm sure you wouldn't think much of this itty bitty money!"
• "Are you married?"
• "No, I'm single and have just enough to survive."
• "How old are you this year?"
• Finally, he couldn't hold it any longer. "Are you doing a household survey?"
• "What's wrong? Is your age a secret?"
• "I'm a man, and I'm twenty-eight this year. I merely used a little medication and ate a meal from your house. Do you have to do a background check because of this?" he grumbled.
• "How about this? I'm to blame that you lost your job after I complained about you today. I'm sorry, but coincidentally, I have had some issues recently and want to hire someone to work for me. Start working for me tomorrow. What do you think?" she asked dispassionately.
• "Work for you?"
• She nodded and replied, "Yes!"
• "What a wonderful thought. You must be dreaming if you think that I'll work for you. Anyone that works for a woman like you will live at least ten years shorter, and I'm not worthy to serve a person like you."
• However, she didn't seem to be angry at his words. "You earn 5,000 in the delivery company every month, but I'm offering you 10,000 every month for about two working days a week. Whether you want to take this job or not is up to you. If you don't want to do it, just leave by yourself after you finish eating."
• "How much did you say? 10,000?" Chadwick asked, wide-eyed.
• "Yes, if you do a good job, we can still negotiate your salary in the future."
• "Only two working days in a week?"
• "At this point, it's one day a week. More precisely put, it's about three hours a week."
• "Are you lying to me? How could there be such an amazing job in this world?"
• "So, are you taking the offer or not?" Samantha urged impatiently.
• "Are you hiring me to make counterfeits? Let me tell you. No matter how much money you offer me, I won't do anything illegal."
• In the end, she couldn't help but glare at him and said directly, "Do you think I look like someone who is involved in illegal deeds?"
• "I can't be so sure about that. After all, it's not like I can read minds. Nor do I know you before today."
• "You… Whatever. Just go if you don't want to accept it. Or else, I'll call the property security to kick you out." At long last, she lost her temper.
• "Please don't. I'll do it. I didn't say that I'm not agreeing to it, but you have to tell me what the job is."
• "You'll find out in time."
• "Well, the conditions you said are good, but you didn't tell me what the job is. So why do I feel a little uneasy inside?" At this point, he was more than a little confused about the turn of events.
• "Didn't I already tell you that the job is not against the law? I just need someone to help me take care of some personal problems. However, you have to promise me a few things. Firstly, you have to come whenever I call you. So, anytime I call you, you have to come over," Samantha said directly.
• "I have to come even if it's midnight?"
• "That's for sure. Listen carefully. Firstly, always be on call. As long as I need something, you have to be there immediately. Secondly, you have to keep it a secret. Besides the both of us, no one else is supposed to know. Thirdly, you cannot have another job, and you can only work for me." Samantha had listed all of her conditions in one go.
• After listening to all of it, Chadwick gawked at her and stood up suddenly, saying, "Okay, this is ridiculous. I'm a full-grown man and won't be your gigolo."
• Stunned, Samantha was speechless for a few seconds. As soon as the meaning of his words sank into her, her hands were trembling in anger as she pointed at the door. "Go. Leave right now."
• Chadwich was also startled when he saw that she had gotten so furious. Then, he rubbed the back of his head and asked, "Aren't you asking me to be your gigolo?"
• "Are you good-looking enough for that?" she snapped rudely.
• "Not really. I-It's just… inevitable that some people have some special interests. Maybe you like men like me," Chadwick muttered.
• "I can't be bothered to waste my time on you. Look, if you're taking the job, meet me at the neighborhood entrance at 8.30 a.m tomorrow. If you're not taking it, I'll look for someone else. Alright, you can leave now," Samantha said tartly.
• "Hang on!"
• "What is it?"
• "I'll have another serving."
• "Whatever. You can stuff your face full." After that, she got up and went to the second floor.
• Chadwick filled up his plate with food by himself and had two more portions without showing any restraint. He even found napkins in her house to wipe his mouth. Then, he grabbed a mint and left her home slowly while sucking on it.
• When he was cycling back home on his bicycle, he suddenly felt that the situation was a little ridiculous. Didn't he come here to get even with Samantha? Why did he abruptly end up having dinner at her place and even started working for her out of the blue? As for the puzzling job she offered, he actually didn't take it to heart too much as he didn't think there would be anything such as easy money. Only working a few hours a week and 10,000 a month; there was no such job in this world. It was either illegal or a joke. Despite that, he didn't turn it down. No matter what, he would check it out tomorrow because he was in desperate need of money and couldn't do without a job.