Chapter 7 A Hundredfold Repayment
"Can you eat by yourself?" she asked, signaling to the bowl of soup with her eyes.
Although it was indeed difficult for him to eat on his own, Gabriel didn't want to risk upsetting her and being asked to leave, so he nodded, "I can."
"Then help yourself."
With that, Jessica turned and hurried out the door.
Outside, she made a call to the nearby police department to enquire if there had been any reports of missing persons recently in Xyleria. The officer on the other end laughed and said, "We get reports of missing people every day. In a sprawling location like Xyleria, dozens, if not hundreds, of missing person reports are filed every day. "
"Could you check if there's a person named Spencer Johnson? Is he within your search parameter, and has anyone reported him missing?" Jessica looked at the two words on the paper and spoke earnestly on her cell phone. She enunciated slowly to make sure the officer understood.
There was silence on the police end as if someone were searching through computer files. After a moment, the reply came through, "We have no record of that person."
Jessica hung up the phone, still staring at the two beautifully written words, half doubtful as she walked back.
So, was this name not his real name but just one he chose at random?
When Jessica pushed open her front door and entered the bedroom, she saw that the man had already finished the soup and was sitting on the bed, apparently trying to stand up but clearly struggling.
"Do you really not remember anything?" she asked, observing him closely.
Gabriel looked at her, his eyes calm, "There's no need for me to lie."
"But aren't you too calm? Not remembering anything, aren't you even a bit panicked?"
Gabriel's brow twitched. "What if I start to cry like a madman right now or create a scene? Would you kick me out?"
Jessica's expression was icy, "Yes."
"So, as a patient who's having trouble even getting out of bed, no matter what happens, the only thing is to maintain the status quo until I recover," Gabriel said, turning his face to look at Jessica as she stood by the door. "Losing composure would just get me thrown out into the streets with my injuries, and even though I can't remember anything, I understand that much about weighing my options."
Jessica was speechless.
She snapped back to reality, "What did you just say? You want to continue staying here?"
Gabriel locked eyes with her: "I'll be quiet and won't disturb you. I'll leave once I'm healed."
"That's not possible. It's just my daughter and me here; I can't have a strange man staying in my house! You were unconscious before, but now that you're awake, it's absolutely not happening!"
"Think of it as if I'm renting this bed from you. Once I find my family, you'll be repaid a hundredfold."
Jessica scoffed with disbelief, "Do I look like I need money?"
The man glanced at the old apartment’s window and said flatly, "You do."
Jessica's eye twinkling with a frustration.
She had fled her country years ago, taking out a high-interest loan. Working and studying abroad, she struggled to live and support her child. Even after two years in the entertainment industry, navigating through numerous dramas and the web of deception, breaking into leading roles is challenging, especially for lesser-known female supporting actresses with low pay.
After returning to the States, she bought a modest apartment in a quaint neighborhood on the outskirts of Xyleria, a city known for its astronomical real estate prices. However, she truly didn't have much money left and was still saddled with a mortgage.
Thinking of his expensive-looking suit, she figured his promise of a generous repayment might actually hold water. Even with no memory, a rich man going missing would surely have people searching for him, and it was only a matter of time before he'd be taken home.
Realistically, sleeping on the couch wasn't the end of the world, and if push came to shove, she could always squeeze into her daughter Danielle's smaller bed.
"The bed in my house costs $200 a day. Ten days is two thousand times a hundred for repayment. Are you sure?" she asked.
The man's injured hand rested on the bed as he looked at her, "Certain."
There was something about the way he spoke and looked at her that strangely inspired confidence; his words seemed reliable.
Jessica nodded. "Then you can continue sleeping. Oh, and there are also the medical expenses for your treatment."
"A hundredfold."
Jessica gestured an emphatic 'OK' with her hand and decisively began to clear her belongings from around the bed, moving her clothes and personal items out of the room.
Watching her swift and decisive movements, Gabriel remained silent until Jessica took away the white teddy bear Danielle adored most from the bedside. Then he said, "Your daughter is very cute."
Cradling the fluffy teddy bear, Jessica continued to pack up, saying, "Yeah, she got her cuteness and good looks from me, too. But I have no idea how she got her bossy and stubborn little temper. At preschool, she's got a bunch of little admirers, but she always acts too cool to ignore them."
Gabriel glanced around the main bedroom, seemingly unable to find a single item that belonged to a man.
"Your daughter's father…" he began.
"Passed away," Jessica replied without a second thought, using those two words to effortlessly answer the question, just as she had done over the years.
There was no surprise in Gabriel's eyes; he gave her a brief look.
"By the way, you're only supposed to stay on this bed. I'm going to charge rent for anywhere else," Jessica said as she pointed towards the bathroom, "But considering basic human decency, I won't charge for the bathroom and washroom."
Gabriel appeared contemplative. "What about the kitchen? Do you charge for that?"
Jessica was puzzled. "What for? You're going to cook?"
The man's lips curled into a faint, indifferent smile. "I need to eat. Could I have another bowl of that soup from earlier?"
"One bowl wasn't enough for you?"
"Would one bowl be enough if you hadn't eaten anything for five whole days?"
Jessica promptly dropped what she was holding onto the floor and turned to head into the kitchen. “A hundred dollars a day.” She commented.
