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Chapter_40
Vivienne stood still, the cool night air brushing against her skin as the tension in the air thickened. Charlotte’s earlier warning about the dangerous men had been valid, but Vivienne was resolute. Her calmness in the face of the standoff seemed to surprise everyone involved. The streetlights cast long shadows, adding an eerie backdrop to the confrontation that had unexpectedly turned into a negotiation.
David’s eyes narrowed as he watched Vivienne, assessing her. She was different from the others—there was a quiet strength in her that made him pause. She wasn’t just some ordinary person to be intimidated, and her suggestion of money had caught him off guard.
“Thirty grand, huh?” David repeated, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “That’s a good offer, I’ll give you that.” His crew murmured among themselves, glancing back and forth between their leader and Vivienne. Money had a way of making things more complicated—most people in their world operated on power, not cash, but this was a tempting offer.
Charlotte shot Vivienne a look, her expression a mixture of disbelief and frustration. “Vivienne, you really think you can buy them off?” she muttered under her breath, still too stunned to fully comprehend what was happening. She had expected a fight, or at least a show of strength, not an attempt to throw money at the problem.
Vivienne, however, was calm, her eyes steady as she locked gaze with David. “I’m offering you what I can. If you want thirty grand, then that’s fine. I’ll get it for you,” she said without hesitation, her voice unwavering. She was not about to back down.
David stared at her for a moment longer, considering the proposition. It was rare for someone like Vivienne to offer a sum that large so easily. Her confidence unsettled him. But his pride, too, played a role in the decision. If he accepted her offer, it might seem like a concession. But if he didn’t, he risked escalating things further—something that could cost him more than money.
“Alright,” David finally said, his tone begrudging, but with a hint of respect. “I’ll take your offer, but you’ll need to get it to me quickly. We’re not playing around here.”
Vivienne nodded, pulling out her phone. “I’ll wire it to you as soon as I can. Let me know where you want it sent.”
Charlotte watched her, still processing the turn of events. “I can’t believe this,” she muttered, shaking her head. “You’re actually paying them off? You don’t know who they are—what they’re capable of.”
Vivienne ignored her, turning back to David. “I’ll send the money,” she said, her tone final. “Just make sure you keep your end of the bargain.”
David grinned, his mood lightening now that the deal was made. “You got it, sweetheart.” He turned to his men and waved them off. “Let’s go, boys.”
As they started to disperse, Charlotte stepped closer to Vivienne, her expression a mixture of admiration and disbelief. “I didn’t expect you to do that. But you’re right—if it was about the money, you did the right thing. I just… I didn’t think it’d work.”
Vivienne shrugged, her demeanor unchanged. “Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to walk away from a fight,” she replied softly. “There’s no point in making it worse if it doesn’t need to be.”
Charlotte’s brow furrowed as she watched Vivienne, now more curious than ever about the woman standing in front of her. There was something about Vivienne that intrigued her—something that hinted at a life more complicated than she let on. She had thought she knew what kind of person Vivienne was, but the cool, collected way she handled the situation was a revelation.
“Thanks, Vivienne,” Charlotte said quietly, her voice softened with gratitude. “I owe you one. I’ll make sure the Redwood family knows what you did.”
Vivienne gave a small smile, her eyes flickering briefly toward the direction the thugs had gone. “You don’t owe me anything. But if you ever need anything else, just ask,” she replied, the offer hanging between them like a delicate thread.
As the tension finally dissipated, Vivienne felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had walked into a potentially dangerous situation and found a way out of it, using a method she hadn’t expected to resort to—money. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked.
With the street now clearing, Vivienne turned back toward her path home. She was nearly at the Redwood family’s doorstep, and Charlotte was already in the clear. The night felt cooler now, but the earlier warmth of the city lingered.
She took a deep breath, thinking about what had just happened. The encounter had been strange—unexpected—but in a way, it felt almost freeing. The city, the chaos, the complexity of it all was beginning to make sense in a way she hadn’t imagined.
Vivienne finally allowed herself a small, contented sigh as she continued her walk back home. Perhaps, just maybe, she was beginning to feel a little more connected to the world around her again.
