"We‐well, there are some problems..."
Sara said hesitantly, tapping her index fingers in front of her. Her gaze cast downwards.
"Like I said, I will take all the financial responsibility. Doesn’t matter how many family members you have."
"That’s not it..."
Sara said quietly. Arthur tilted his head, unable to understand where the problem was when the thought struck him.
What is Sara going to introduce him to her family? Sponsor? Doesn’t that sound like a nicer way to say sugar daddy?
He realised his mistake. His expression hardened. He put down the glass, leaned on the table involuntarily.
"Miss Anastasia, I get what you’re worried about. You don’t have to worry. You can introduce me as your boyfriend."
"Wha— no! That’s not it! It’s— it’s—."
"It’s?"
Hearing Sara’s response, Arthur became confused. What else could be stopping her from accepting his offer?
Arthur did not push and gave Sara a bit of time to think. She seemed to have sorted out her thoughts, she took a deep breath, looked Arthur directly into the eyes, her gaze filled with quiet determination, and opened her mouth.
"The thing is Mr. Gillion, I really like your offer but I don’t think you should sponsor me."
"Oh? And may I know the reason? Because that doesn’t seem to be a rejection."
"...Well, my father is alcoholic so if you come to live in with me, as my boyfriend, he will certainly try to exploit yo—"
"Khurgm— puahahahaha~! That’s it? Haha. I thought it would be some incomprehensibly large problem. Hahaha. Offf~. Goodness Miss Anastasia, you do know how to keep people at edge. Anyway, that is not a problem. If that is out of the way, I believe there is nothing else stopping you from accepting?"
Sara stared at Arthur in disbelief. Did she say something funny to get this reaction? She was telling this man that there is a dangerous man in her house who could exploit him off his wealth and he laughed it off?
But then she remembered he casually gave her $13,397.23 because the decimals are annoying to him.
’Is he really some son of a super rich family and with some hidden circumstances?’
Sara couldn’t help but re-think her hypothesis. When he first presented his conditions, she was convinced that he was just trying to get her to agree, get into her house and do something unholy to her.
But that explanation collapsed when he casually handed her an enormous amount of money. She still felt that he was just after her beauty but she couldn’t ignore the fact that he hadn’t looked at her with a lustful gaze all this time.
His gaze was more like that of a ...capitalist? That’s the feeling she got from him. He was viewing her as an investment. For what purpose, she has no idea. She has no idea why she felt that way either. But the more they conversed, the more that feeling solidified.
And seeing his attitude towards money, which is completely different from hers, her reasoning made sense.
And those bizarre questions in the evening today, now that she thought about it, we’re probes. He was probing into her character and circumstances before approving her. Meaning something she possessed met his criteria.
’I would be easy to control...’
She reached a conclusion that makes more sense. Sara wasn’t stupid. His first demand from her was to not ask questions. Meaning whatever she sees, she must not question. And she isn’t an ungrateful person who would snitch.
Basically, whoever this person is, had thought it through before approaching her. And is willing to not only support her financially but also bet on her character.
But that also begs another question, what if this person is some evil man? There is also a possibility that he is out here on a test to prove himself. She has read that kind of thing in novels after all.
But her siblings safety was at risk, did she have it in her to take such risk?
"Alright. I agree, but you must guarantee that my family must never be hurt because of you."
Sara said firmly. Arthur raised an eyebrow. Finding her way of wording her response interesting.
’Hmm. What made her respond like that? ... Does she think that someone is after my life? Hoho? Isn’t that very novel.’
After thinking for a bit, Arthur reached a reasonable point. He needs to be careful of what the other person thinks to make sure he unintentionally does something that contradicts others’ understanding of him.
’So basically, Miss Anastasia thinks I’m from some rich family and people of rival families or those who want me dead are after me? Or does she think I’m out here to take some test? Hmm. Whatever the case, it must be of these two. But I will think about it later. And assure her that I’m here to take some test by my "family" later on if she thinks otherwise.’
Arthur smiled a little. He suddenly recalled how he was homeless just yesterday, thinking of taking his own life and today, he was trying to o role play a rich heir. The irony wasn’t lost on him.
"Haha. Life is unpredictable indeed. But alright. I will assure you of that. Now. Since we both agree, let us sign the contract stating clearing of our duties and responsibilities."
Saying that, Arthur reached his bag and pulled out two papers and a pen and started writing something.
After a while, he was done, Arthur just added a new clause in the contract he had prepared beforehand. He wasn’t a person with shallow safety measurements.
Even if his job was to Simp and according to archetypes of simp he is familiar with, simps are supposed to get scammed by women and never know they were and still spend on that own, he wasn’t like that.
He will surely be angered to death if Sara one day decided to just pull the rags and ditch for no reason.
He can’t have that.
He presented two copies to Sara, both identical. One will stay with him and another with her.
Sara gazed at the copies, a bit stunned. Never had she ever expected this man to be this through.
"What? Did you really think we, strangers who just met today, are just going to exchange verbal agreement and move on? Since that is the case, you can stop recording now."
Arthur said teasingly. He had been aware Sara had been recording from the start. He didn’t say anything because she can do anything that makes her feel safe enough to listen.
Hearing Arthur, Sara felt her face burn in embarrassment but her mask shielded it. She stopped recording. She didn’t try to hide it since the ball was already out of the bag.
She took the pen and papers, seriously reading through both of them while Arthur paid the bill. After a while, Sara took a deep breath and sighed.
Arthur views both of them and hands her one. After that, they exited the cafe.