Unexpected Ties

"How about it, Tina Moreno? As long as you're willing to sleep with me, I'll give you a million dollars immediately!"

In the dimly lit corner of the bustling bar, nestled amidst the cacophony of laughter and clinking glasses, a trio occupied a booth. Amidst them, a lone figure, Hugo Chavez, exuded an air of opulence that seemed to overshadow the flickering candlelight. His form was draped in lavish attire, a testament to his extravagant taste.

With a commanding presence, Hugo reclined in his seat, a cigar held casually between his fingers, tendrils of smoke curling upward like ethereal serpents. Across from him sat Tina Moreno, her expression veiled behind a facade of indifference, though the faint twitch of her lips betrayed a subtle discomfort at the encroaching fumes.

The dynamic of the trio was palpable; Hugo, the self-assured orchestrator of the scene, his gaze lingering on Tina with a mixture of amusement and challenge. Meanwhile, the two girls flanking him remained silent, their subtle gestures and exchanged glances speaking volumes of their allegiance to their enigmatic companion.

As the night wore on, amidst the pulsating rhythm of the bar's soundtrack, the tension within the booth seemed to thicken, each member of the trio locked in a silent battle of wills, their unspoken words echoing louder than the surrounding din.

Tina forced a smile as she tightened her fists, enduring the humiliation. "Hugo, I understand a million bucks isn't chump change, but could you please lend it to me? I swear, once I'm out of school, I'll pay you back pronto!"

Hugo fixed his gaze on Tina, his smirk wicked. "Lend? Ha. Tina, to my family, that's just pocket change. I don't need it back. What I want is you."

For years, he had pursued her with the tenacity of a hunter stalking his prey, each encounter leaving him hungrier, more desperate for her affection. Yet, despite his relentless pursuit, Tina remained just out of reach, a mirage shimmering in the desert of his desires.

But now, fate had dealt him a hand he couldn't ignore. As he watched her, a golden opportunity presented itself, a chance too perfect to be coincidence. It was as if the universe itself conspired to bring them together, to finally bridge the chasm between them.

Impatience gnawed at him, urging him to seize the moment before it slipped away like sand through his fingers. How could he resist the allure of this opportunity, this tantalizing glimpse of what could be? The answer was simple: he couldn't.

"Hugo!" Tina straightened up, her eyes brimming with emotion.

But the thought of her father, awaiting money for his medical bills, and the ridicule she'd faced in recent days left Tina at her wit's end!

Hugo was her last hope.

Tina pleaded, "Hugo, please don't toy with me at a time like this..."

"Hehe... Hugo, she's still refusing you? Just look at her! What right does she have to hesitate? Many others are after you, yet you won't even give yourself to them."

Seated beside Hugo was another girl named Lionel. At that moment, she clung to Hugo's arm, glaring fiercely at Tina with jealousy and resentment.

How?

How had Tina garnered Hugo's favor so effortlessly?

Hugo's expression darkened. "You're really that averse to sleeping with me, huh? Fine, I'll give you two options. One, spend ten nights with me and I'll pay you a hundred grand a night! Two..."

Hugo's gaze shifted not far away, a mocking grin on his face. "Or, spend one night with that man over there and I'll give you a million bucks! Tina, what's your choice?"

Tina's face drained of color as she followed Hugo's gesture. She spotted a young, light brown-haired man seated at the bar.

His hair was greasy, falling over his large black-rimmed glasses.

Dressed in an old gray t-shirt, tattered jeans, and slippers, his appearance was shabby and unkempt.

Biting her lip, Tina mulled over the choice her uncle had presented her.

Marry a fifty-year-old man...

Or sell herself for a million dollars right here?

The answer seemed glaringly obvious.

The tougher decision lay between Hugo's ten nights or a night with that stranger.

Hugo wasn't just pressuring her, he was humiliating her to the extreme!

"Hugo, do you really mean what you just said?"

Hugo's demeanor shifted slightly.

Would she truly opt for a stranger who resembled a beggar?

Lionel swiftly produced a hotel key card, offering it to Tina. "Tina, I had this ready for Hugo and me. Why don't I lend it to you instead?"

Tina took a deep breath, locking eyes with Hugo, seeking affirmation.

Hugo remained impassive. "If you're willing to sell, you don't need to use your own money to sell your body."

Accepting the key card from Lionel, Tina made her way to the bar counter.

"Hi, sir! Are you alone?"

Tina settled beside the unassuming man.

He turned to her, surprise flickering in his eyes.

"Are you... talking to me?"

Despite being in a predominantly European environment, Tina's striking beauty was unmistakable.

Just a glance from her could leave an indelible impression.

Hence, he was taken aback that someone like her would approach a nondescript man like him.

"Of course, I'm talking to you. Care to buy me a drink?"

He signaled the bartender for a glass of whiskey.

Tina downed it in one gulp, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand before casually dangling the key card before him.

"Sir, care for a treat?"

Disbelief filled the man's eyes. Was this a romantic proposition?

"Ma'am, are you serious?"

She was breathtakingly beautiful. Why would she even consider him?

Tina grinned. "Sir, it's just a one-night stand. I'm not kidding."

He lowered his head, adjusting his glasses. "Hard to refuse an offer from a beauty."

Standing up, he reached for Tina's hand, pulling her away from the bar.

Hugo seethed, watching the scene unfold before him.

Lionel cursed under her breath, "What a tramp!"

Deep down, Hugo was profoundly disappointed. He'd only meant to test her. Little did he anticipate Tina would actually sell herself for the million!

As Tina disappeared from the bar with the unassuming man, Hugo's jaw clenched with frustration. He hadn't expected her to take the offer seriously. Lionel's disdainful gaze followed Tina, her lips curled in contempt. Yet, amidst the pulsing music and swirling chatter of the bar, one question lingered, hanging heavy in the air like a storm on the horizon: What would become of Tina Moreno after this fateful decision?