Chapter 3. The big offer

Helena was surprised when her gaze met with a man who looked like he was in his early forties. He had a cream color shirt on and brown trousers. He looked cool and wore a straight look.

" Are you the person that have been calling me?" Helena asked.

"Yes, my name is Walter Smith but you can call me Walt," The man said as he extended his hand for a handshake.

Helena glanced at his stretched-out hands and shook her head. " No need" She muttered. " I am here because you will not stop disturbing my phone," Helena said trying to wear a straight face but his response to her caught her.

" No Helena, I will tell you why you are here," Walt said as his two hands found their way into his brown trousers pocket and he turned his gaze to the tarred road.

" You are here because I mentioned that there is something in this for you to gain. I am certain that if I had not said that you wouldn't come" He said.

" Whatever, just so you know, I do not have all the time to spend here with you" She replied.

" Of course, I know more than you think." He remarked.

Helena tiggre her look when he said that and asked him in a low voice " What was that supposed to mean?"

" Helena I mean that I know much more about you than you think I do" He replied.

" What do you think you know about me? You think because you know my full name, that is everything?" She asked with a tone of anger gradually building up in her throat.

" No, it is not just that. I also know that you are a sophomore and that you have a sick mother in the hospital whose treatment has not yet commenced because you have not been able to make a good deposit for her" The man said.

" Who are you?" Helena asked.

" I think this is the part where I politely invite you into the bar so that we can have a proper conversation like twenty-first century evolved human beings," Walt said and without waiting for a response from Helena turned around and began to walk towards the entrance of the bar.

Helena felt goosebumps on her skin as she watched him walking into a bar, not having any more choice at that moment she followed suit.

Walter led her to a table and pulled out a seat for her. Helena who was still feeling tensed did not move her gaze from him. She sat still on the chair with her two hands under the desk as she stared blankly at him.

Walter Invited the waiter and asked him to get them a drink. Helena was silent and just when the waiter left she asked Walter " What now?"

Walt opened the briefcase that was right beside his seat and brought out an envelope. He stretched the envelope over to Helena and said to her in a low voice. 

" This is a contract we are going to sign. I want you to go through it and make sure you understand it properly before we sign them" He said. 

Helena took out the file from the envelope and began to read through it. 

" How can a piece of art be worth this amount, nine hundred million dollars, That is about a billion" Helena exclaimed when she saw the price of the artifact on the file. 

" That is a rare piece of art and it is the only one of its kind. The material with which it was made can never be found on the surface of this earth and if we can get our hands on that artifact I guarantee you that our lives will change for the best " Walter said. 

" We? I'm sorry I do not understand you" Helena exclaimed. 

" Just read up Helena, there is so much that you have not read," Walter said. 

Helena moved her gaze slowly away from him as she fixed them back on the fill that was opened before her. It was at that moment that she saw what their agreement was about. 

She leaned closer and read it out loud to Walter's hearing " Gets close to the billionaire's heir and steal from him the only piece of art that would change our lives forever" She read out loud. 

" I am sorry, you mean you want me to steal?" She asked in a loud voice. 

" Helena bring your voice down. It is not as bad as you make it sound, okay? All you have to do is get close to the billionaire's heir and find your way to where the artwork is" Walter said. 

" And do what then, steal it?" Helena asked. 

" That is the only thing you are required to do and everything would change," Walter said in a convincing tone. 

Helena shook her head in disagreement and said to him in a deep voice " You want me to steal from someone for you. I cannot believe this is the reason I came out here to see you. You say you know so much about me and what do you think of me, a thief?" Helena asked

" No Helena you are not getting this right at all. If you will just calm down and let me explain it to you, I do not think of you as a thief. I think you are very beautiful and you are the only one who we could collectively agree was good enough to go on this mission" Walter said. 

" We again." Helena remarked "I see you're not working on this alone. Now I need you to go back to whoever your gang is and tell them that you picked the wrong person because I am never going to do this" Helena said as she stood up from her chair briskly and turned to leave. 

"What if we pay off your mother's medical bills, clear up the debt you owe in college and also make sure that you get a good stream of income, will you still walk away?" Walter asked. 

Helena stopped and stood at the spot without turning around, she was shocked at what he said.