Chapter 7: Delaying Tactics

Chapter 7 - 7: Delaying Tactics"Let go, I'm not a hostess, I don't go out for services. If you're looking for one, there are plenty over by the bar."

"Little sister, don't be so stubborn. You're just playing innocent to get a good price. Name your price, whatever you say, I can afford it."

At this moment, Maya Spencer's wrist was tightly gripped by the man, leaving her unable to escape. She just wanted to find a place to sleep for the night, why was it so difficult?

She looked around, seemingly seeking help, but saw no hope.

If she could have foreseen tonight's events, she would have rather confided in Henry Reid and accepted his help than come to the bar, but it was too late now.

"How about this, little sister, we sit down and chat slowly, I'll have a drink, and you take off a piece of clothing. If you've stripped down and I'm not drunk, you'll come with me. If I get drunk, I'll let you go."

"Ha! A drink?" Maya laughed coldly at the man's words, thinking to herself, isn't this forcing her to give in? Including her socks and hair tie, she only had nine items on her; this was trying to make her streak.

Seeing Maya finally show some expression, the man leaned closer to her ear and said, "Why don't we go back to the hotel and take it slow? For each piece you remove, I'll give you ten thousand, and move on you for a thousand. What do you think? It's a good price, thanks to your lovely look."

Maya noticed the direction of the man's gaze, spotting two other men on the sofa, thinking to herself that if she went with him, she wouldn't come back, and even if there was money, she'd be dead before enjoying it.

She took another deep breath, pondering how to rid herself of the man.

Therefore, she said, "You drink a bottle of brandy, and I'll remove a piece of clothing. If I'm stripped but you're not drunk, I'll let you sleep with me for free."

Maya decided to take a risk to escape, thinking that based on her judgment, the man could handle at most two bottles, and that she would only have to get rid of two socks.

"Ha ha! The girl has guts, it's my first time playing like this, I'll play along."

When the man agreed readily, Maya's heart sank, feeling it might be trouble.

But at the moment, she had no other option, resorting to a delaying tactic.

So, as she followed the man, she discreetly dialed Henry Reid's number, hoping Henry would be smart enough to locate her phone and find her.

When Maya and the man reached the sofa, he ordered two bottles of brandy, intending that Maya would cave and undress after taking off her outer clothes and pants, thankful for his high tolerance.

Moments later, after the man finished a bottle, Maya took off her shoes and removed one sock.

Seeing her take off a sock, the man got enraged, feeling played by her.

"Bang!" Immediately followed by the sound of a glass shattering on the floor, Maya jumped in shock and turned to see the man frozen in place.

"Damn it, do you take me for a clown? I down a bottle, and you just remove a sock. Take off your clothes!"

"We agreed it would be items of clothing on me," Maya didn't want to compromise.

"Then start with the clothes," the man said, reaching to grab Maya's T-shirt.

In a panic, Maya slapped him across the face hard, enraging the man, who returned the slap with force that had her seeing stars.

As the man went for another slap, someone caught his wrist firmly.

The two men with him stood quickly from the sofa, but their courage wilted immediately upon standing.

"Third Young Master!"

"Third Young Master!"

Hearing these words, Maya looked up, expecting Henry. Instead, standing before her was Liam Spencer. He was also in this bar!

The man caught by Liam was terrified, his knees weak, and quickly explained, "This little girl was deceiving me. I was just teaching her a lesson."

Liam released the man's hand, turning to his attendant, "Elijah, this man's hands are troublesome, you know what to do."

"Please spare me, Third Young Master, please spare me! I really didn't know this lady was acquainted with the Third Young Master, please spare me."

Elijah looked at the man begging for mercy, then turned to Maya and asked, "Fifth Miss, how should we handle this man?"

Seeing Elijah defer to her on how to handle the man, Maya was elated, thinking she could finally vent her undeserved anger.

She gave the man a cold glance and said, "He hit me with his right hand. Chop it off. And he said he would 'move on me' for a thousand per move. Make sure he can't ever move again."

Hearing Maya's instructions, Elijah turned pale, not expecting such a ruthless answer from the young girl, revealing she's truly akin to Liam, lacking any mercy.

Liam was shocked to hear Maya's harsh punishment, having only intended to take a finger as a warning, yet Maya went even further.

The ruthless Maya had the man on his knees begging her for mercy, "Fifth Miss, please spare me, I thoughtless provoked someone I shouldn't have, you are kind, please forgive my small transgression."

Listening to the man's pleas, Maya half-closed her eyes, then turned to Elijah, "Elijah, I don't want to hear him speak anymore."

Maya meant for his tongue to be cut, but Elijah pretended not to understand, "I'll take him out immediately."

With that, the man was ushered out by Elijah's subordinates.

Silence loomed over the bar, eyes fixated on Maya, filled with fear.

Maya ignored all the attention, holding her backpack, returning to her chosen corner, and lay back on the sofa to sleep as if nothing had happened.

Watching Maya colder than himself, Liam felt both stifled and angered, as Maya was the first to dare ignore him.

On the sofa, Maya felt the pain in her backside and flipped over to lie on her stomach, relieved she could finally sleep peacefully.

Maya knew she had been ruthless this time, but if she wasn't, she'd be the one in trouble.

The next time she faced trouble, she may not be as lucky for Liam to intervene, so she needed to seize this rare intervention to ensure no one dared bully her, securing a safe haven when she was inevitably thrown out again.

"Ha, who knew my sister was such a heroine, sleeping anywhere," Liam said, pulling her up from the couch, uncaring where she slept, but her lack of gratitude annoyed him.