Compensate With Yourself

************

CHAPTER 16

"You sure are a magnet for trouble," Arsenio let out with a somewhat displeased look on his face. "Every time we meet, you are always in need of help."

"Well, it would not have been the case if you had just let drown to death that night," Scarlett blurted out in anger.

When Arsenio shot her a look, Scarlett realised what she had just said. That was no way to speak to someone who has saved your life several times.

"I'm sorry," she apologised. "But it's not my fault trouble comes my way. And even if we meet whenever I need help, you don't have to rub it in. You should not be haughty about saving someone, you know."

Ryker was enjoying the little show being displayed in front of him. Up until now, he has not seen anyone complaining about Arsenio's behaviour.

Not only that, this girl is barely scared of him. She talks back while trying to be polite. It was something new among every other boring day of people being scared of Arsenio.

And he was liking it.

"Is that the thank you, I get for saving you more than once?" Arsenio's eyes dimmed as he stared down at her.

"Well, you didn't let me say it before calling a magnet for trouble," Scarlet bit back and pouted.

Sighing, she adjusted her cross-body bag and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. "Anyway, thank you for not allowing me to die... Again. I would not want to waste your time so I'll be leaving first."

With that being said, she nodded at Ryker before turning her heels to leave.

"Where do you think you are going?" Arsenio's question caused Scarlett's feet to come to a stop.

"I'm going home where I can't attract any trouble," Scarlett responded as she slightly tilted her head to the left.

"Do you think you can just say thank you and leave like that? You used me thre- twice and you want to leave without compensation?" Arsenio questioned.

He did not want to be like the person Kayden thought he was but he found himself going back on his words. Helping people and asking for a price in return.

But he felt that if he was to let her go at that moment he would not see her again. And now he was very kin on finding whatever connection they have that is bringing them together.

Meeting once can be by chance, even though he did not think it was that situation in their case. Twice was a coincidence. But the third time may either be an enemy action or a pattern of fate.

Their paths were meant to meet. Scarlett turned fully to face him.

"What do you want? Money? You are obviously way richer than me. Apart from that, which I don't even have enough, there is nothing else I can compensate you with. You have it all," Scarlett said.

"Then how about you compensate with yourself?"

Ryker choked on his own saliva upon hearing Arsenio's words.

'What, in the name of compensation is going on here?' He screamed internally.

Meanwhile, Scarlett was beyond shocked by his words. Her eyes were wide open as she looked at him as if he had grown two heads out of nowhere.

"Since you are poorer and have nothing valuable I can collect, then you will have to pay with your services... To me," Arsenio made his words clear.

Scarlett gasped and stepped back. Her hands flew in a criss-cross manner on her chest.

"Y-You... Have you no shame?" She stuttered a question.

Arsenio frowned at her actions and words. He did not find anything wrong with what he had just said. Right?

"Ah! Ahem. Miss, what he means is that you will work for him for compensation. Not to service him with your... Ahem, body," Ryker awkwardly explained in Arsenio's.

"Wait... You think I want your 'service' in that way?" Arsenio finally understood what was going on.

Scarlett who had thought wrongly cleared her throat and smiled apologetically. "Ah, I-I thought h-he..."

"Tch. Don't think too highly of yourself, human. You are not my type," Arsenio scoffed while eyeing her from top to bottom.

His eyes held no form of admiration or lust as other men in the past. Instead, it held dissatisfaction. Scarlett's smile suddenly turned stiff at his insult.

"Well, you are not my type either," Scarlett glared at his back while he walked away.

'Aish! He is my type. Who am I kidding?' She chided herself.

Arsenio was just like the description of the male lead from the romance stories she reads. Tall, well-built and hot. Blessed with the face of a god and hair that calls to have fingers brush through them.

He may be every girl's novel dream man, but he is currently an egoistic man to Scarlett.

Ryker cleared his throat to gain her attention. When he did, he offered her a gentle smile and an apology.

"I'm sorry for that. Uhm, here is Mr Stone's business card. Contact us when you are ready to start compensa– I mean working," Ryker quickly corrected himself.

Scarlett received the business and stared down at it. A black card with the name of the company and Arsenio's name and contact information was written in stylish gold lettering.

"And by the way, don't let his words get to you. You are a beautiful lady. Have a nice day," he complimented before rushing off to the car parked a few feet away.

Scarlett blushed a bit on hearing his compliment. "Thank... you."

Ryker was already gone before she could thank him. She smiled and carefully placed the business card into her bag.

Although her day was life-threatening and a bit annoying, she got a compliment.

Meanwhile, Ryker quickly got into the car, in the front passenger seat. Before he could say a word, he got a scolding from Arsenio.

"You were supposed to give her the business card not make her blush."