Liliana looked at me and continued, "I never liked you from the beginning. The man I, Liliana, want could never be an ordinary person like you."
"Now leave! Stop embarrassing yourself here." She shouted at me.
I hold back my anger as I said, "Liliana, let me clarify a fact. It was your grandfather who begged me to get engaged to you."
I spoke firmly, "Secondly, I truly tried to nurture our relationship, but over the past three years... you’ve turned a blind eye to my efforts. Relationships are a two-way street. You never broke into my heart either. I can’t say I love you; I was merely honoring a promise to your grandfather."
"Your efforts?" Liliana scoffed. "You mean you accompany my grandfather to farm, drink and play chess with him to please him and then let him manipulate my feelings?"
She said impatiently, "Alright, you say you contributed—fine, that’s your contribution. I know you want to save face, so whatever you say, it is what it is. You can pretend you never liked me. Okay, now leave."
If it weren’t for that watch, I wouldn’t have wasted my time here. "You and Charlie are together now. Let’s not discuss our relationship—this isn’t about you and me anymore." I turned my gaze to Charlie. "You threw my watch into the lake. I’ll have it appraised and you’ll compensate me accordingly."
"I’m giving you a favor, huh?" Charlie’s expression grew colder. "You’re a piece of trash whose entire outfit doesn’t even cost five hundred dollars and you're trying to extort money from me?"
"Didn’t you say you bought a world-famous watch worth fifteen thousand? As long as you can provide receipts and invoices, I’ll compensate you—not just fifteen thousand, but three hundred million. But let’s be honest. If you can’t provide those things..."
Charlie paused, grabbed a paper cup, filled it halfway with wine and spat into it. He then had his colleagues do the same until the cup was halfway full. He glared at me. "If you can’t show a receipt or anything to prove the watch’s value, drink this. Do you dare?"
"Okay," I replied, pulling out my phone. I wasn’t affected by Liliana and Charlie being together, but that watch held deep significance.
I had paid a high price for it because of someone and it was that person’s wish that I gave it to Liliana.
Now that Liliana and I were no longer together, I naturally had to take it back. Charlie had to compensate me for the damage.
Seeing me make the call, Charlie sneered, "You’re good at pretending. Who do you think he’s calling? I don’t even see him dialing."
"Charlie, I think there should be a time limit. Without one, this drink will become stale."
After I ended the call, Charlie spoke again, "When will your people arrive?"
"One hour at most."
"I’ll give you two hours. Whether your people arrive or not, drink this glass."
"Okay," I agreed easily. "If I provide all the invoices and receipts, you’ll pay what you owe."
"Don’t worry, just show me the invoice and receipt for your watch and I’ll give you ten bucks."
While we waited, Charlie and Liliana played games with their colleagues. I was, of course, excluded. Charlie had just delivered an ultimatum.
When the time came, not only would I have to drink that vile cup, I’d likely be fired as well.
Then a rumbling echoed across the sky. I glanced at the time. Only forty minutes had passed since my call.
I looked up at the rapidly approaching helicopter. Everyone’s eyes turned toward it and as it landed nearby, it drew even more attention.
