Chapter 57 - Save Me
Leo opened Instagram, baffled.
The newest post was from Chloe.
A mirror selfie. Chloe making a heart with one hand.
Caption: Finally meeting my baby.
The post had been up for ten minutes. Not a single like or comment.
Chloe used to be so popular. The moment she posted, people would flood in with likes and comments. Now, nothing.
Leo went back to the group chat and sent: [Boring.]
Ryder: [Luna was right (thumbs up)]
"?"
Leo instinctively glanced at Luna.
She was staring intently at the screen, completely unaware of what had happened.
He looked down and typed: [What did she say about me?]
Ryder: [That you're a cold prince.]
Leo: [...Get lost.]
-
On the other side.
Chloe took a deep breath and pushed the car door open.
In front of her was a fairly upscale hotel chain.
The rideshare left quickly.
Friday night. The streets were busy, neon lights blazing.
Chloe stood at the hotel entrance. The lobby inside was brightly lit. She felt a sudden timidity. All the excitement in her heart receded like the tide, settling into calm.
Do I really want to go in?
Stay in a room with a grown man?
Is he really not a scammer?
The thoughts flashed through her mind, then Chloe pushed them down.
No.
He's not a scammer.
He can't be a scammer.
Tonight she'd get her ninety thousand back.
With that thought, Chloe exhaled and relaxed again.
She smoothed the dress she'd worn all day, walked into the hotel, and gave the room number Top Donor had sent her.
The room was on the ninth floor.
Chloe took the elevator up to the ninth floor. After finding the room, she stood at the door, hesitating, biting her lip.
Finally, she knocked resolutely.
"Coming."
Someone answered from inside. A man's voice.
Before Chloe could decide whether the voice was pleasant or not, the door opened from within.
The scent of men's cologne hit her nose first.
Chloe instinctively curved her lips and looked up. The moment she saw who it was, her smile froze.
The man looked thirty or forty. A buzz cut, a burly build, a tight black T-shirt. Dark circles under his eyes, a ring of stubble on his face.
Seeing Chloe, he grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Baby, I've been waiting for you."
Chloe felt dizzy. She opened her phone in disbelief and checked the room number Top Donor had sent again.
Confirmed. She had the right room.
The man seemed amused by her. He dug his phone out of his pocket and typed.
Chloe's phone buzzed.
Top Donor: [Baby, I'm standing right in front of you.]
"..."
Chloe's face went deathly pale.
She swayed, her brain screaming. She stared at the man. "You lied to me..."
The man clicked his tongue, annoyed. "What did I lie about?"
Chloe pressed her lips together. "Didn't you say you were only twenty-eight?"
The man scratched his head, looking a bit guilty. "Baby, I was afraid you'd look down on me... so I lied."
The more he talked, the more justified he sounded. "If you hadn't asked my age, why would I have lied?"
Chloe was so furious her vision went black.
Looking at his nauseating face, she wanted nothing more than to smash her bag into it. But she thought of the ninety thousand...
She bit her lip. "Can you take me to the bank now?"
The man's gaze swept over her, lewd and light, from head to toe, missing nothing.
"Sure."
Before Chloe could even smile at the confirmation, the man added slowly, "But I haven't had dinner yet. I'm starving."
Chloe took a deep breath. "Then go eat."
The man smiled. "I want baby to eat with me."
The word "baby" made goosebumps rise all over Chloe's body. "Where do you want to eat?"
"Let's order delivery. Eat in the room." The man stepped aside, leaving a gap.
Chloe's face was white. "How about we eat at the restaurant downstairs?"
"Aw." The man reached out and wrapped an arm around Chloe's thin shoulders. "Baby, eat with me in the room. After we eat, we'll go to the bank and I'll transfer you the money."
He had a body odor mixed with the men's cologne. A stench and a perfume tangled together, utterly nauseating.
Chloe endured it for a long time before she could swallow it down.
She thought, as long as she got through one meal with this scammer and got her ninety thousand back, she'd go home immediately.
Then block and delete this person.
No more ties, ever.
The room was a single-bed room. A black suitcase sat on the floor, open, clothes piled inside in a mess.
The bed was a mess too.
The man smiled at Chloe. "Let me use the bathroom first."
Chloe bit her lip and nodded.
Watching him go into the bathroom, she clenched her hands uneasily, wanting to take the chance and run.
But then her ninety thousand would be gone.
Chloe agonized for a long time, until the toilet flushed.
She quickly sent the room and hotel name to Leo.
SleepyCeCe: [Save me.]
After the message went out, the bathroom door opened.
The man smiled at her and leaned in. "Baby."
Chloe looked at his hands. Clean, not a drop of water. She held back her disgust. "Did you just not wash your hands?"
The man raised an eyebrow. "So particular?"
Chloe took a deep breath, holding back the urge to scream. "I'm a bit of a germaphobe."
"So hard to please." Leaving that, the man went back into the bathroom.
Chloe bit her lip, a flicker of disgust crossing her face. She quickly glanced at her phone.
Leo hadn't replied yet.
-
Leo set down his chopsticks. "I'm full."
"Me too." Luna set down her chopsticks. "Want to play a game?"
Leo reached for his phone. "What game?"
"Whatever you want. I'm fine with anything." Luna said, taking a sip of water.
Leo opened his phone, about to say something, until he saw Chloe's latest message.
Seeing his expression change, Luna raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
Leo wanted to say something, then swallowed it. He stood up. "I'm going out for a bit. We'll play tomorrow."
Luna pulled a tissue and wiped her mouth. "Don't go yet."
The boy paused, turning back to look at her.
Luna seemed to read his mind. "Did Chloe message you?"
"...Yeah." Leo said. "She seems to be in danger."