Fifty Shades of Desperate

Chapter 1:

"I just feel so bad for him Kate." I take another sip of my beer as I sit on the bar stool at fifties.

"My dad loves his shop; he can't lose that place…" Kate puts her arm around my shoulder as I down more beer.

"Ray is a smart guy Ana… he'll figure something out, find some way to get the money."

"What if he can't Kate? God I wish I could help him." I sigh. "My dad has always been there for me, even though he isn't my biological father he has always been there. I hate seeing him lose something he cares so much about and I can't help him. "

When Ray got the letter last week that if he didn't come up with $6,000 to pay off the bills he's been behind on at the shop, my heart ached for him. Business has not been good at all, and to be honest it doesn't look like it's going to pick up anytime soon.

"Give it time Ana, like I said before Ray will work something out." Her phone beeps then and she looks at it and smiles. "Derek texted me he wants me to head over to his place. Want me to go home with you first?" She puts money on the bar for her beer and starts putting on her jacket ready to leave.

"No it's okay. I'm just gonna hang out here a little while longer. I'll take a cab home."

"You sure Ana? I don't mind making a detour with you."

"Yes Kate, go." I get up and hug her. "Don't leave that man of yours waiting." I shove her, taking my spot back on the stool.

"I'll see you in the morning Steele. Don't drink too much!" she yells as she walks out the door.

I signal the bartender to get me another beer. Never really been a fan of beer, but it's cheap so I'm putting up with the foul taste. I wouldn't even be drinking this much if it wasn't Friday and I didn't have work tomorrow. I have the whole weekend basically to myself since Kate is usually at Derek's. They have been seeing each other for the past two weeks, but they both insist they are just friends. Those two really just need to make it exclusive already…

"Excuse me?" a guy sitting two stools beside me grabs my attention. "May I?" he gestures towards the bowl of nuts beside me.

"Sure go ahead." I push it towards him.

I should be eating some of those. I've already had about three beers and haven't really eaten today. Oh well, I have other things to worry about.

"ugh." I groan leaning my face on my hand. Trying to work out ways to help my dad come up with the money has failed. I don't make nearly that much working at SIP. I have money saved, but it's not even close to what he needs.

"Rough day?" I slowly drag my head up to look towards the voice. It's the guy next to me again. I take a good look at him now. He's an older man, probably in his late fifties. Salt and pepper hair with blue eyes. He looks like he is still in pretty decent shape for his age. He's wearing a suit with his tie loosened and jacket hanging on his seat. He's actually kind of handsome in a way… if you're into older men.

"Rough week" I grumble to him.

"Sorry about your dad." I look at him confused.

"I was kind of listening to you and your friend." He smiles apologetically. "Sit at a bar by yourself and occasionally your ears start to wander."

"Not really a fan of eavesdropping, but thanks."

I give him a small smile; going back to drinking my beer.

"So, what are you doing here alone?" I ask him. I'm not really one to talk to random strangers, but he looks lonely and I've had a few.

"Looking for someone, figured I'd take a break and have a drink."

"Ah, I see."

"How long has your dad had his shop?" he asks me "If you don't mind me asking" He reaches for more peanuts as he looks at me for an answer.

"About 9-10 years" I tell him. All those years he's dedicated to that place just see it taken from him. I down the last of my beer probably should ask for another…

"Wow, that's a pretty long time. I understand how he must be feeling. It hurts when you put your all into something and see it taken away, just like that." He downs his drink that looks to be bourbon.

"This has happened to you before?" I ask him curiously

A frown sets on his face and he looks away from me. "Something like that."

I can hear a feeling in his voice. Hurt? Anger...

"Who were you looking for?"

He looks back at me "I wasn't entirely sure to be honest… just a girl" he answers

I give the signal once more and the bartender arrives with number four.

"Thanks" I tell her

I look back towards the man, reaching for the peanuts. "Do you think you will find her?"

He drinks some more bourbon and then smiles at me. "I sure hope so…"

We talk some more and he asks what I do for living. I tell him how I'm an editor at SIP, well assistant to an editor but I'm trying to work my way up. It turns out he is actually pretty wealthy, owns his own timber company. The bourbon has got him talking a lot and he tells me how he is divorced. Apparently, his wife cheated on him for a younger guy and he seems pretty torn up about it. He asks more questions about my dad and if we have any plans on getting the money. Unfortunately, we have none.

"I would really like to help you and your father" he says

I look at him quizzically. "Why?" I ask. "You don't even know me"

"I don't have to. I'm a pretty inquisitive man, and good at reading people on occasion. I can see you are a genuine person who desperately wants a way to help her father. I have the money and the means to do so."

"Yes, but I don't know you. I couldn't let you help me just because you enjoyed my company."

He chuckles. "I'm a wealthy man; it would be nothing to me."

"You're a drunken man." I tell him pointing at the 7th cup of bourbon he's drunk since I've been talking to him.

"I wouldn't feel comfortable and I wouldn't be able to pay you back. I wouldn't even ask my friends for help. My father would never take the money." Ray would probably have difficulty taking it from myself. This must be out of his mind offering to give a stranger $6,000.

"I assure you that I am not drunk, I'm serious about helping you." He moves over to the stool next to me. "As far as paying me back, don't worry about it. It won't make a dent in my account." I move over in my stool not wanting to be too close to him.

"Like I said before I wouldn't feel comfortable, and I don't need charity."

"This isn't charity. Think of it more as a friend doing another friend favor"

A favor? Most people who offer favors what something in return. I start getting a little weird about this guy. He must want something from me.

"What do you want?" I ask him trying to cut the crap. "No one in their right mind would give someone they just met money unless they want something as well. So what is it for you? If it's sex I can assure that it isn't going to happen." I can feel the anger building in me. I reach in my pocket and slam the money for my drinks down on the counter as I go to put on my jacket.

He raises his hands up in front of him apologetically. "I am sorry if I offended you. That was not my intentions. Please sit back down."

I eye him angrily as I take my spot back at the stool. "What do you want?" I ask him again. I wasn't giving him any more of my time without an answer.

"I will tell you that I am not looking to pay you for sex, I honestly would like to help you and your father. As I have said I have enjoyed your company. However, I cannot say that I wouldn't mind a favor from you as well." He pauses looking for my reaction. Probably, wondering if I was gonna snap again. I put on my poker face messaging him to continue.

"I have told you how I am recently divorced. My wife and I were married for many years before we split. I found out of her infidelities when I noticed she had taken a decent size amount of money from our account. Turns out she gave it to her boy toy, helped him start a business."

"What does this have to do with me?" I ask him not really caring for the gory details of this strangers divorce.

"Well, I will tell you." He drinks his bourbon. "You see, since that money was given it turns out the boy has become quite wealthy… even more so than myself. I would be lying if I said I have no resentment towards the fellow. He took my money and destroyed my marriage after all."

I have a feeling where this is going. I saw the flicker of anger is his eyes as he last spoke.

"You want revenge don't you?" I say. I can see it, it's written all over his face.

"Not revenge necessarily, but I would like to receive my fair share of what my money allowed him to achieve." He grins at me "This is where that favor would come into play. I want your help in obtaining this money from him."

I look at him like he is insane. Something about what he is asking me seems criminal. I just don't feel like I can trust this guy. The more he goes on the more the weird vibe from earlier resurfaces. This man has trouble with a capital "T" written all over his face.

"I'm sorry, but I don't feel need to involve myself in your personal vendetta. I appreciate your offer, but I will not steal from anyone or play a part in it."

"I do not wish to steal from him. He will give the money to me. All I want is your help to reach him."

"How I am supposed to do that? I just don't see how I fit in this! I don't think I can help you."

He starts to answer, but his phone goes off then and he checks it. He quickly reaches inside his pocket to get his wallet.

"I must leave now, business calls." He throws money on the counter. "Please consider my offer. Sleep on it; take a few days to think it over. Not too long though, I'm a very busy man and your father's shop is on a deadline."

He looks at me pointedly and pulls a small white card from his wallet.

"Here's my business card, think it over and let me know." He puts on his suit jacket and starts to walk out. "Have a nice night, Ana." He smiles and then disappears through the door.

How does he know my name? Oh, yea… eavesdropping.

This whole encounter just doesn't sit right with me. I look back to where he was sitting and playback our whole conversation. I wouldn't have expected my night to end this way that's for sure. I didn't know this guy at all, and what he was asking just seems wrong. I contemplate ripping up the card and tossing it. No way I was gonna help this guy get "revenge!" He's a stranger and a shady one at that.

Then, I think about Ray and his shop. Man, does he love that place. Besides me that shop is his life and he's so torn apart right now. If I help this guy then I can help my dad and he won't lose anything. He can continue doing what he loves and all his hard work would be worth something. I pick up the small card on the counter and read it:

Linc Lincoln

CEO Lincoln Timbers

Office: (206)-527-8974

Should I do it and help him? Better yet… can I do it?

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