Chapter 34: Nika bet with Ansel
Erica was led away by the police. Nika stopped watching her. He turned to look at Ansel. Nika felt fearful and surprised by Ansel’s unexpected way of dealing with Erica. Nika knew that Ansel wasn’t inherently cruel, but he had his limits of tolerance. Anyone who pushed Ansel to lose control would have to bear unforeseen consequences. And Erica, unaware of Ansel’s weakness, suffered the misfortune.
“Ansel, are you sure about that decision? She hasn’t committed any serious offenses.” Nika asked forcefully, “Furthermore, her hand is injured, and it seems to be your fault.”
“I don’t care. Let her sit in jail for a few days.”
“But isn’t that a bit too much?” Nika argued.
“I don’t want to hear any more bullshit from you. The lunch break is over. Hurry back to work. If not, I’ll deduct your pay.”
After speaking, Ansel left the scene. He felt uncomfortable and extremely embarrassed by the employees who were watching him.
…
As per Ansel’s request and the assessment from the police, Erica did not commit any serious offenses. Therefore, Erica was only held in a temporary holding cell, awaiting someone to come and post bail for her. Otherwise, she would be detained for 48 hours.
At this moment, after crying uncontrollably due to feeling frustrated and hurt, Erica has stopped, sitting huddled on the cold floor. Reflecting on what has happened. Erica is just extremely kind and enthusiastic. She has no other malicious intentions. Yet in Ansel’s thoughts and judgment, Erica is a bad person. I can’t blame Ansel entirely. Because Ansel has the right to doubt and not trust strangers, it seems that the issue is not due to Erica’s lack of effort or dedication. It could be attributed to Erica’s persuasive abilities or Ansel’s tendency to be overly suspicious. Is Erica really not reliable? Was it because of her poor, lowly appearance? If Erica dresses well and has an admirable job, will everything she says be believable? Erica really couldn’t explain it; maybe her deduction was correct, but it could also be wrong. Too tired to find the answer, Erica just fell asleep without realizing it.
Meanwhile, at company AB, the commotion at the restaurant had passed two hours ago. It seemed like it had come to a complete resolution, and, for many, it would fade into oblivion. But it turns out that’s not the case. Some people still harbored unease in their hearts and couldn’t stop thinking about the incident. It even haunted them to the point where they couldn’t focus on their work. One of those individuals is Nika. Nika is deeply tormented, feeling guilty for being silent instead of speaking up to help Erica. To be honest, he can’t stand it anymore; his conscience is constantly tormenting him because Trot behaves heartlessly. After careful consideration, Nika thinks Erica has no bad intentions. Nika also wanted to verify Erica’s warning. So Nika decided to go talk to Ansel.
“Ansel, try going to the hospital to check it out.”
“Are you crazy? Suddenly saying such absurd things.” Ansel berated, “Have you been infected with her insane thoughts?”
Anticipating Ansel’s potential overreaction, Nika chose not to persuade or plead with him. Instead, Nika swiftly switched to Plan B. With a deep understanding of Ansel’s character, Nika exploited Ansel’s vulnerabilities to launch a psychological attack.
“Then let’s bet.” Nika’s serious tone caught Ansel’s attention. “You will go to the hospital to have a mole on the back of your neck checked. If you are completely healthy, I will fulfill your three requests. However, if you have any health-related problems, you must increase your salary. and give me more business days.”
Upon hearing this, Ansel furrowed his brow, displaying a sense of skepticism. He had no idea what Nika’s intentions were. Ansel truly couldn’t decipher Nika’s motives just yet.
“How do you feel about it? Will you join the bet?” Nika asked Ansel with an expression of anticipation. Nika maintained a calm demeanor despite Ansel’s skeptical gaze, which looked a bit scary.
“Are you just bored and coming up with nonsense?” Ansel retorted mockingly. “There are still plenty of tasks for the company. I don’t have time to play games with you. Stop those frivolous thoughts and get back to completing the assigned work.”
After speaking, Ansel ignored Nika and turned back to look at the stack of papers in front of him.
“I’m challenging you, Ansel,” Nika taunted in a provocative tone. “Dare to join or not?
Ansel squinted his eyes as he looked at Nika. There was a peculiar look in his eyes, as if this Nika was someone different, not the Nika he knew.
“Give it a try and see what happens, or are you afraid of losing?” Nika employed a strategic move that triggered Ansel’s pride, causing Ansel to grimace and scowl.
“Nothing to lose, right? If you’re right, I’ll work twice as long without you paying me extra.” Nika offered another condition for Ansel’s persuasion. “There are a lot of benefits for you. So please agree to participate.”
Ansel stared intently at Nika’s serious expression. Ansel thought for a moment and realized that he really had nothing to lose. Furthermore, Ansel can use Nika’s abilities even more. In business, it is essential to grasp the benefits that one can gain. With that in mind, Ansel agreed.
“Alright then. Let’s do it tomorrow. For now, I still have to…” Ansel accepted the challenge and was about to refocus on his work. However, Nika interjected seriously, cutting him off.
“Right now.”
“Nika, don’t take it so seriously,” Ansel complained. “After all, it’s just a bet.”
“I prefer things to be quick, with results as soon as possible,” Nika replied with a stern expression. “Leave your position. Hurry up.”
It seems that soft talk doesn’t work for Ansel, who only likes bets and challenges. This is bad, right? Of course not; Ansel, also because of the benefits received, should join Nika’s bet. And it’s also possible that Ansel and Nika are close friends, so it’s easier for Nika to convince Ansel. On the other hand, Erica was a stranger to Ansel. No wonder Ansel hesitated and distrusted Erica.
Under Nika’s relentless insistence, Ansel finally had to follow Nika. To ensure fairness, Nika will go with Ansel to the hospital.
…
After going through the registration and examination processes for two hours, Ansel is currently sitting in the hallway with Nika, waiting for the results. Ansel has the option to receive the results via email, but Nika prefers that the doctor deliver the results directly. If the test results are unfavorable, Ansel can promptly seek medical advice from the doctor on appropriate treatment for the condition.
The atmosphere around them is tense and solemn. No one speaks; they are just sitting on the edge of their seats, appearing anxious. Perhaps they are busy with their own thoughts. Ansel hopes for a positive outcome, while Nika secretly hopes that his fears won’t be realized. If Erica is proven wrong, that’s a good thing. However, if Erica is right, Ansel will undoubtedly have urgent issues to address.
“Ansel Brown, the test results are in.”
A girl’s voice spoke up, breaking the silence that had filled Nika and Ansel.
Would that be good news? Or bad?