Chapter 136: Brewing Trouble all around
Chapter - 136
Amanda's heart quickened its pace as she stepped cautiously opened the door a smidge and peeked in, her gaze swept across the doorway, trying to see if the sound was coming from inside.
But as she sneaked inside her apartment, the fear and anxiety in her eyes was replaced by shock.
There he was, lounging on her couch like he owned the place, a mischievous grin on his face. Amanda furrowed her brows, holding an umbrella in her hand, more out of habit than necessity. "Rick? What are you doing here? I thought you had class."
She had just spoken to Rick an hour ago, and he was supposed to be at college. However, the sight that greeted her was far from the expected.
Rick's eyes widened dramatically at the sight of Amanda, and he quickly jumped to his feet. "Whoa, whoa, hold up! What's the deal with the umbrella? It is the notorious umbrella-wielding bandit. Are you robbing me?" he exclaimed, feigning fear.
Amanda blinked, utterly confused, "Umbrella-wielding bandit? Are you high or something?"
Rick threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Don't hurt me! I surrender all my belongings!"
Amanda stared at him, utterly perplexed. "What? No, Rick, I'm not robbing you. Why would I rob you with an umbrella?"
Rick pointed at the umbrella as if it were a dangerous weapon. "I've seen movies, Amanda. Criminals use all sorts of things. Umbrellas, canes, you name it!"
Amanda couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. "Rick, you're being ridiculous. I just came back from the hospital. What are you doing here anyway?"
Rick grinned mischievously, adopting an over-the-top scared expression. "I was hiding from the menacing umbrella-wielding bandit! But now that you're here, you caught me."
Rolling her eyes, Amanda decided to play along. "Alright, criminal mastermind, what have you got to offer in exchange for your safety?"
He began rifling through his pockets. Rick dramatically reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled bill. "Here, take my money. I'm giving you all my valuables! Take the dollar. Just spare me, oh mighty bandit!"
Amanda burst into laughter, taking the bill from his hand. "Oh, great. A whole dollar. I'm rich now."
Amanda couldn't help but join in the theatrics, pretending to inspect her newfound treasures with exaggerated seriousness. "Hmm, not bad, not bad. But I think I'll need more."
Rick grinned mischievously, getting into character. "What do you want, my lady? Food, money, my car, or perhaps the most precious of all, yours truly?"
Amanda burst into laughter again, doubling over. "Your car? Umm... That is not so exciting. But you? Hmm...
Now that's an offer I find tempting."
Rick struck a pose, hand over his heart. "Consider me all yours, oh mighty bandit. Just let me live to tell the tale."
"C'mon Rick. Now seriously. Why are you here?" Amanda asked.
Rick flashed a charming grin, leaning in forward, "Well, you know, college can be overrated. And spending time with my favorite little girl is way more appealing."
Amanda scoffed, crossing her arms. "Little girl? Seriously? I'm not your little anything, Rick."
"And..." Amanda's eyebrows shot up at Rick's explanation, skepticism evident in her expression. "You skipped college just to spend time with me? Seriously, Rick?"
Rick chuckled, undeterred by Amanda's objection. He reached out, placing his hand on her cheek and rubbing it gently with his thumb.
Amanda's heart raced as Rick's hand gently cupped her cheek, sending a tingling sensation through her entire body.
"Rick!" She couldn't help but let out a soft moan, his touch causing her to momentarily lose herself in the moment. Her eyes closed, savoring the feeling of his fingers against her skin.
"Rick, what did you...?" Amanda began, her voice trailing off as she realized she couldn't quite articulate her thoughts. The touch of Rick's hand had left her momentarily stunned.
Rick continued to rub her cheeks, his tone teasing. "There, there, my little girl. No need to get all worked up. Just enjoy the moment."
Just as the intensity of the moment peaked, Rick pulled away abruptly, leaving Amanda with a mix of reluctance and confusion. She opened her eyes, searching Rick's face for an explanation. His mischievous grin only added to her perplexity.
"What the... Rick?" she exclaimed, a mix of frustration and anticipation in her voice.
Rick chuckled, enjoying the effect he had on Amanda. "Relax, Amanda. No need to get all worked up. I'm just here to hang out, not dive into you too deep," he said with a sly smirk, his eyes dancing with mischief.
Amanda blushed furiously, realizing the implications of Rick's words. She playfully hit him on the chest, trying to push him away. "Rick, seriously? You can't just mess with people like that!"
But Rick, being Rick, wasn't about to let the opportunity for some playful banter slip away. He caught her hand mid-air and pulled her closer, causing her to crash into his chest. Amanda looked up at him, her eyes narrowing with a mix of annoyance and curiosity.
Rick grinned down at her, his tone teasing. "Hey, no harm in a little fun, right?"
"Besides, I made some food for you. Let's eat and chat." Rick said as he wrapped his arm around Amanda.
Amanda raised an eyebrow, her initial frustration giving way to curiosity. "Food? What kind of surprise is that?"
Rick smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Just trust me on this one. It's a taste sensation."
"And if you you need something more, let me know,"Rick smirked as he teased Amanda, "I can spice things up a bit for you, you know?"
Amanda smirked, her playful side resurfacing. "Spice things up? Is that what you call it?"
Amanda sighed, still slightly flustered from the unexpected encounter. "You're impossible, Rick. Fine, let's eat, but keep your hands to yourself."
Rick chuckled, leading Amanda towards the kitchen. "No promises," he replied with a wink, "You know, the company of a charming individual. Nothing for sure what you might end up doing to a handsome guy such as me."
Amanda smirked, unable to resist Rick's charm even when he was being cheeky. "Charming, huh? More like a pain in the ass."
Rick laughed, taking a sip of his drink. "You love it, though. Admit it."
Amanda couldn't deny the truth in his words. "Maybe a little," she conceded, a small smile playing on her lips.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A man stood on the narrow landing of the apartment building, peering through the dimly lit corridor at the door of an apartment. His fingers tapped on the railing as he fumbled for his phone in his pocket.
After a moment of hesitation, the man pulled out his phone, swiped to unlock, and dialed a number. The phone rang a few times before a gruff voice answered on the other end.
"You better have a good reason for calling me," the voice growled.
The man cleared his throat, "The girl just went into her apartment."
There was a pause on the other end, and then an irritated sigh. "And? What's the big deal? Why are you bothering me?"
The man glanced at the apartment door and lowered his voice, "I thought you should know."
The voice on the other side sounded impatient, "Was she alone?"
The man took a deep breath, "I have been following her for over a week. She rarely leaves her place except for work and the hospital. And except for those working at the hospital, she does not meet with anyone?"
There was a moment of silence, then the person on the other end began to pant heavily, breathing like a wounded animal. "Alone, huh?"
"Tell me. Was there any guy with her?" the voice demanded, the tension rising.
"No guy," man replied.
"Fuck! Fucking Fuck Shit"The person on the other end erupted in anger, "Damn it."
The man stayed silent for a while as he let the person on the other side went his anger. After the person was done cursing for a while, the man spoke up again.
The man asked, "Do you want me to bring her over to you? I could grab her if you want."
"Don't you fucking dare to order me," The person on the other side exploded, "Don't you think! Just do what I told you to do and don't run your damn brain! Got it?"
And the person abruptly ended the call, leaving the man staring at his phone. He sighed, feeling the weight of the situation, and turned his attention back to the apartment door.
On the other end of the line, the person tossed his phone aside. He was in a dark, dimly lit room, the only source of light emanating from a half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table. With frustration etched on his face, he took a swig from the bottle and turned his attention to the figure lying on the bed.
The room smelled of stale cigarettes and strong perfume. A girl, naked, disheveled and bruised, lay there as the person took another gulp of alcohol. With a sudden burst of rage, he slapped her hard on her naked buttocks.
"Ahh" The girl cried out, a mix of pain and pleasure, the sound filling the room.
"Damn it, man," he muttered under his breath. The girl, seemingly unfazed, looked up at him with a twisted smile.
"Enjoying yourself, huh?" he sneered, taking another swig from the bottle.
She chuckled softly, "You know I do. C'mon, punish me harder."
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