Chapter 163
The host gave me directions on where to collect the prize money in cash before he turned back to his audience.
I followed his directions that led me to a metal door in the end of a dim lit corridor.
Rolling my eyes at the cliché setting, I knocked twice before a voice called out, granting me permission to enter.
Inside the room was a man sitting on an office chair behind a mahogany desk. His hair was thinning and from where I was standing by the door, he was wearing a navy blue button up.
He gave me a brief assessing look over the rims of his glasses before looking back down at the pile of papers that were scattered on his desk.
"It's not every year we get a female fighter as a winner." He mused aloud as he continued fussing over his papers.
Judging from the expensive looking watch on his wrist, I took an educated guess and assumed he was someone important.
Better not piss him off then, Case.
"I'm Richard. I run this place." He introduced himself, giving his papers a quick once-over before finally taking off his glasses, folding it up and setting it on top of his desk.
"Pixie," I gave him a tight smile that I'm sure resembled a grimace more than anything else.
I didn't mean to be rude but this place wasn't really popular for its hospitality. My head was pounding and all I wanted to do was take that money and go get some sleep.
For some reason, Richard's lips quirked up into an amused smile after I introduced myself.
Once his smile worked its way into a grin, I started to become more wary.
Was this guy okay?
"You're quite the famous one, aren't you?" Richard chuckled, his voice suspiciously hinted at a ridiculous amount of excitement.
"Well who would've thought," Richard mumbled as he looked at me with a newfound fascination.
"What do you mean?" I narrowed myself, tensing up.
"You hear all sorts of news in this industry. Wanted by a lot of people, I see." Richard smiled, a gleam in his eyes.
I frowned at him, not quite understanding what he was trying to say.
"I can definitely see why Quentin is so intrigued by you. You're quite the girl. Brother killed and now targeted by the driver that killed him and a few others. But they did say that the diamonds can only be in its most beautiful state after being cut and polished."
The crease on my forehead disappeared as I finally understood what he was talking about and I took a small step back. Fear grew in me at how much this man knew about me. I've never seen him my whole life but he knew a lot about me; more than I'd like.
"Who are you?" I asked, swallowing hard.
"Oh, you don't worry. I'm not one of them. I'm just a business man." The man smiled, gesturing to the papers on his desk.
"Alas, I can't really say that what I do is very legal but I try to stay away from any that would get my hands dirty."
"What else do you know about me?" I didn't know whether I should feel mortified or amazed. Was I that famous in the street- fighting world?
"You tried to quit the competition but re-entered because you got on someone's bad side and got blackmailed." Richard shrugged. "Public knowledge."
Public knowledge?
"Apparently, the psychopath was asking around about you, rambling about how he needed to get his revenge on you. He basically scoured this entire place for someone who knew anything about you so that he could track you down and deliver his blackmail." Richard clarified with an amused grin.
"Since you're standing here, I guess that plan really backfired, huh?" Richard laughed.
I was gobsmacked. I never bothered to wonder how Cole found me. I just knew that he was dangerous and a grieving psychopath.
"Do you know who gave him the piece of information he needed to find me?" I asked Richard. I figured that maybe his good mood would make him more willing to help me out.
Maybe the same person who helped Cole can help me.
"Sorry, sweetheart, I've got nothing on that. I only know what I hear," Richard shrugged his shoulders.
I felt disappointment settle in as I held in my defeated sigh.
Way to raise my hopes up, Richard.
"Well, since you were blackmailed into this competition, I guess you wouldn't be interested in fighting for me anymore, would you?" Richard asked.
The second he mentioned the word fighting, I knew I wasn't going to agree to anything.
