Chapter 4 Asking for Help—Lowering One's Stance
"Look, Mr. Brown, it's not impossible, but you gotta agree first," Thalia said, seriously considering the proposition.
A striptease? Compared to inheriting billions, what was that even worth?
William sneered and let go of her.
Thalia was known for her eloquence in Emerald City; William wouldn't fall for her tricks.
"Mr. Brown, don't leave! We can negotiate. If a striptease isn't enough, I can offer something else."
William pulled off his wristband, ready to leave the golf course. Thalia, with her sharp eyes, spotted Chase and quickly caught up, linking her arm with William's.
"Thalia?"
"Chase, what a coincidence!"
Chase's expression darkened as he noticed Thalia's arm around William. "Thalia, you know Mr. Brown?"
Thalia feigned surprise. "Oh, I forgot to introduce you. He's my boyfriend."
Chase was taken aback, realizing that Thalia was acting first.
"Another boyfriend?"
Thalia cursed Chase in her mind. What did he mean by that?
"Thalia, Mr. Brown is one of the most talented young men in Emerald City. You should treat him well! Don't be fickle like before, changing partners every few days." As Chase spoke, his gaze fell on William, as if warning him that Thalia was quite the heartbreaker.
Thalia wasn't angry. She leaned her chin on William's shoulder, looking at Chase. "Don't worry! If I change boyfriends, I won't need to split any inheritance."
Not like you, a fool who married three women, each costing you millions.
"Chase, you go ahead. We're leaving." Thalia held onto William's arm until they reached the lounge.
"Can you let go now?" William said coldly.
"You're no fun." Thalia pouted.
William was both amused and annoyed. She was all sweet when she needed him, but then kicked him to the curb afterward.
"Then Ms. Smith, you find someone more fun to handle your case!" William didn't even bother changing out of his sportswear. He grabbed his clothes and left.
Thalia followed him to the parking lot. "You really won't consider taking my case? Name your price."
"Mr. Brown, money is money, whether it's mine or someone else's. Or do you like me and can't stand being around me?"
William laughed. "Do you know why I won't take your case?"
"Why?"
"Because you're a handful."
Thalia was unfazed. "Am I? If I were that difficult, how could we be so harmonious in bed?"
"What? You two are together?"
"The news is true?" Daniel thought William was blind, completely blind.
"Shut up," they both said in unison.
Daniel was speechless.
William got in his car, but Thalia stopped him from closing the door, holding onto it and looking at him. "Look, I'm sincerely asking for your help. Can't you just help me this once?"
When Thalia asked people for help, she always gave off an arrogant and entitled vibe.
William looked at Thalia, memories of their school days flashing through his mind.
Almost fell for her again. It was her face that got him last night; otherwise, how could she have kicked him out?
"Thalia, someone dumped manure on this car. Are you sure you want to keep holding on?"
Thalia was speechless.
William quickly shut the door and sped off.
"Ms. Smith, that's not how you ask for help. You have to lower your pride!" Daniel was secretly pleased. Even commoners like them could have a princess beg.
Suddenly, several motorcycles roared out of the corner, heading straight for Thalia.
Thalia quickly dodged. The motorcycles skidded, making a perfect arc, and charged at her again.
Thalia retreated behind a car, popped the trunk, and pulled out a baseball bat, swinging it at one of the bikers.
"This is a lawful society!" Daniel rushed over to help Thalia. "Did you piss someone off?"
Thalia scoffed. "Piss someone off? Do I look that restless to you?"
"Guess which one of them is my dad's illegitimate kid?"
Daniel thought, 'I'd rather not guess. My life is important.'
The bikers left, leaving the two rookies to fend for themselves.
William couldn't stop thinking about Thalia. He hadn't driven far when he noticed no cars following him. Lowering the window, he glanced in the rearview mirror.
The sound of motorcycles skidding reached his ears.
William turned the car around, and when he arrived, he saw four or five motorcycles surrounding Thalia and Daniel. He floored the gas, knocking two of them aside.
He got out, taking the baseball bat from Thalia.
"This is my self-defense weapon." Thalia snapped.
"With your build, do you even need one?" William said, swinging the bat at a man's shoulder.
Thalia watched William's moves, wide-eyed.
William definitely looked cool.
Even cooler when he was fighting silently.
Much cooler than when he was moving his hips in bed.
While she and Daniel had been dodging for ages, William took care of the bikers in just a few minutes.
"Take off the helmets," William said, tapping them with the bat.
William glanced at Thalia, who shook her head. She didn't recognize any of them.
A while later, the police arrived and took the men away. By the time they finished giving statements at the station, it was nearly eleven.
"It's late. How about a midnight snack? My treat, as a thank you for saving me, Mr. Brown."
William drove, Thalia hanging onto the back of his seat.
"Sounds good, I'm starving," Daniel agreed immediately.
"Those men were sent by your dad's illegitimate children?" William asked as he drove.
Thalia leaned back in her seat, nodding.
She looked at her injured arm. "My dad has twelve illegitimate kids outside, and five legitimate ones at home. He's dying now, with no written or verbal will. Everyone's showing their true colors, fighting for the inheritance."
"One less person means less competition. Who wouldn't want a bigger share?"
Hayden, a top fifty wealthiest person, what did that mean? Split among fifteen people, each would get billions.
The media had turned Hayden's youthful escapades into books.
Thalia thought to herself, she couldn't just sit and wait.
"When I get back, I'll seduce Chase, get him to join forces with me to deal with those twelve illegitimate kids first."
William glanced at her. "As a lawyer, let me remind you, that's illegal."
"Doesn't matter. Everyone in your company thinks I'm your girlfriend now. If I break the law, so do you."
William was speechless.
"Mr. Brown, don't you think I'm pitiful? I'm so pitiful, and you won't help me?" Thalia clung to the back of William's seat. "If you don't help me, when I'm so poor I can't afford food, I'll bring my mom to beg at your company's entrance."
"Let your wealthy clients see your heartlessness."
"Ms. Smith, rest assured, beggars can't enter my building."
"Then I'll hold a banner at the door."
"Thalia," William was getting a headache. Thalia was too noisy. "Get out or shut up, your choice."