A Favor

Flora really hadn't expected George to choose such a cheap car. The red beetle cost less than $16,000. With George's current identity, he should at least choose a high class car that matched his status. He saw her doubt and explained. "I'm sure. I'm still in school, so I don't want to draw too much attention. Everything is about keeping a low profile."

Flora nodded in understanding. She clapped her hands and sent someone to find the keys to the beetle. Not even five minutes later, one of the men handed George the keys.

"Uh, thank you." George said, taking the keys. Then he thought of something. "How much does this car cost?"

"Don't worry about it, George. You can just drive it away. The business is under the Williams Family. The Williams Family rely on the Rudd family. We take care of each other." Flora said respectfully.

Her words put him at ease. Before he left, she reminded him. "George, I hope that you can make a quick decision about revealing your identity. The sooner you do it, the more advantageous it will be for you to return."

He panicked and said, "I got it. You can go ahead and leave. I- I- I'll call you when I have a chance to think it over."

Flora could see that he was conflicted. She shook her head helplessly and turned around to get in her car without saying anything else. The decision was up to him and his family. So she couldn't say anything against it.

George watched her drive off into the distance before he left dejectedly. He still wanted to trick Flora and give himself a few more days of leisure, but neither of their families would listen.

George couldn't help but sigh and say to himself, "Ugh, it looks like we won't be able to escape this time."

George was the first son born to the Rudd Family patriarch. When he had turned 18, he had been exiled from the family to gain experience in the real world.

He drove his new red beetle back to the school. When he returned to his room and found it empty, he decided to take a nap, but then the phone rang. The number was unfamiliar, but it looked like it came from the same school. Every freshman at the university was given a cell phone to use. And all of the numbers were basically the same, except for the last four digits. "Who could it be?"

George answered the phone and said, "Hello? Who is this?"

"Is this George?" The person on the other end asked. "This is Mary, Alice's roommate. Do you remember when we ate at Palace Garden?" She asked cautiously.

He had no choice, but to let her come. Her cousin had wanted her to find some chump to be her fake boyfriend. He wasn't even six feet tall, but Mary thought George had been quite suitable.

George blinked rapidly and said, "I remember. Who could forget such a beautiful woman?"

Mary laughed, forgetting what she had called to say. "It's been a few days since we've seen each other, George, I'd love to see you again."

He knew he could get the truth out of her if he distracted her with compliments. "Why did you call me Mary? Is there something you need?" He asked.

Mary knew that the request had to come from her, not Alice. Or else, George would immediately hang up. "Can you go to Moster's now?" She asks nervously. "I can't tell you why yet. Just come, please. George, I'm begging you."

George's heart was moved by her pleading tone. He agreed without thinking.

"Be there in half an hour, please." Mary said before hanging up the phone. Mary had to be secretive. After all, begging George for help would make things awkward if he didn't agree. She would have to trick her other target into coming over too. She didn't want to do that, but it was an emergency. She felt sorry for George. What was more? It wasn't really fair to ask George to be her cousin's fake boyfriend. Honestly, her cousin wasn't the most attractive woman. "So why did you ask him to come?" Mary asked herself.

George was also a bit curious about why Mary had asked him to meet her. Located at the intersection of Scholar Street and Finchley Road, Moster's coffee shop was one of the most popular hangouts around the university. The average student could practically live off the food and other goods sold there.

As soon as George walked into the coffee shop, Mary waved at him and called, "Over here."

She was dressed beautifully in a white fairy dress and delicate shoes. Her long hair hung loose over her shoulders, and several bracelets covered her delicate arms. She was sitting at a table next to a large plant, holding a cup of coffee.

"Why did you need me to come in such a hurry?" George asked. But as he looked at her sitting peacefully in the coffee shop, he wondered if this was just another trap.

Mary hadn't expected George to be wearing a new set of clothes. It didn't matter if they were brand names or not. They made him look especially handsome. She was shocked at how it made her feel about him. She lost herself for a moment, gazing at the confident set of his eyebrows, his straight back and his tall figure. Then she blinked and blurted.

"I'm sorry for the short notice. I really have no other choice. It's just that my cousin urgently needs a boyfriend. She's been out of university and working for a few years now. You're the most suitable person I know. So please be my cousin's boyfriend."

"What?" George was stunned.

Was Mary really asking him to date her cousin. He was still a university student, but Mary's cousin was already out in the working world. She probably had way more experience than he did. Even if she wasn't that much older than him, why would she ever want him as a boyfriend? He had a reputation as a popper and no woman would want to be with a poor man.