When she finished, Nathan handed her the money.
She beamed brightly.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Why are you so happy?” Nathan asked, curiosity softening his tone.
“Today has been amazing,” she replied, her smile lighting up her face. “God has been helping me. I’ve sold almost all the bags my aunt told me to sell.”
Nathan’s chest tightened at the sincerity in her voice. Her joy was contagious, bright enough to soften even a hardened man.
“How many more bags do you have?” he asked.
“Twelve more,” she replied.
“I’ll pay for all of them,” Nathan said slowly. “But I have a job for you.”
Catherine’s eyes widened.
“A job? What kind of job, sir?”
“It’s simple,” Nathan explained. “I want you to pretend to be my fiancée at my mother’s fiftieth birthday. I’ll pay you handsomely.”
Catherine blinked, suspicion flickering in her eyes.
“How much is ‘handsomely’?”
“Five hundred thousand naira,” he said calmly.
Her mouth fell open.
“No, sir. I can’t.”
Nathan frowned.
“Why not?”
“You are a ritualist,” she said firmly, stepping back, her voice final. “I will not fall victim to you.”
She turned to leave, but Nathan called after her.
“Wait, please wait. I promise you, I’m not a ritualist. I’m just a businessman.”
Catherine hesitated, doubt battling fear in her mind.
He handed her a card.
“Take this. Call me, please.”
She stared at it for a long moment. She knew she wouldn’t call him.
Quietly, she slipped it into her bag and resumed her hawking.
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