They Thought I Was a Nobody

Mom called me at my classified government position and asked me to come home. She said she'd arranged a marriage for me.

The woman was supposedly perfect in every way. Not only beautiful, but also the CEO of one of New York's most prominent corporations.

Because of my special security clearance, I couldn't fly commercial. My boss even lent me his personal vehicle to make a good impression.

I arrived at my fiance's company right on schedule and was about to back into a parking spot when a red Ferrari came speeding toward me.

I couldn't brake in time and crashed right into it.

The driver arrogantly rolled down his window and started cursing at me.

"Are you fucking blind? Do you even know how to drive?"

I suppressed my anger and shot back, "You're the one who stole my parking spot. How is this my fault?"

He looked at me with complete disdain.

"Your parking spot?"

"Listen up, you hick. I might as well tell youin New York, there's nothing the Johnson family can't handle. Got it?"

I froze for a few seconds, then pulled out my phone and called my fiance.

"I'm hearing from your company's people that the Johnson family runs New York. Is that true?"

If it weren't for my mom, I wouldn't have even bothered making this call.

Hitting my boss's car wasn't something money alone could fix.

If my future girlfriend showed some remorse, I might be able to sweep this under the rug.

"I'm busy. Make it quick." Her voice on the phone was impatient.

"Miss Molina, I think you should come down here yourself, or else"

Before I could finish, I heard the dial tone. She'd hung up on me.

I stood there stunned. Were all rich people this rude?

Seeing this, the guy who'd stolen my parking spot practically burst out laughing.

"And here I thought you were somebody. Turns out you're just full of shit."

"If I were you, I'd pay up now. Once Miss Molina finds out her car's been hit, you probably won't make it out of New York alive."

The guy saw I was barely in my twenties and driving an out-of-state plate. He didn't take me seriously at all.

"Sir, are you going to be reasonable about this or not?"

"You're the one who cut me off and stole my spot. I haven't even gone after you yet, and now you're trying to scam me?"

I pointed at the security camera overhead.

"There's footage right there. If you keep lying, I'll call the cops right now!"

When I mentioned the police, he only got more aggressive.

"Go ahead and call them, you hick. Even if the cops show up, you'll just end up paying more."

The more he talked, the more excited he got. The air reeked of alcohol.

I clenched my fists, my eyes narrowing.

"You don't want me calling the cops because you've been drinking, right?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, he shoved me hard.

"Whether I've been drinking is none of your damn business. Pay up!"

"If you try to weasel out of this, I'll make sure you never leave New York!"

I'd spent years at my unit with almost no contact with civilians. I had no idea how to deal with thugs like this.

Seeing his arrogance, my anger kept rising.

"You're the one who hit my car, and now you're trying to pin it on me. What's wrong with you?"

The crowd around us gasped.

"Holy shit, this Anthony guy's got balls. Talking to Jacobs like that? Does he have a death wish?"

"Most people would run from Miss Molina's car, and this guy actually crashed into it. He's got guts, I'll give him that."

"Just his bad luck. Of all people to piss off, it had to be JacobsMiss Molina's right-hand man!"

As the murmuring grew louder, Jacobs got even more smug.

"You hick, you actually dared to curse at me? You must be tired of living!"

His threats didn't faze me. In fact, I almost wanted to laugh.

"So you're Jacobs, the assistant. I suggest you watch your mouth."

"If you really piss me off, even your boss won't be able to handle the consequences."

"Fuck you!"

After cursing at me a few more times and still not feeling satisfied, he rolled up his sleeves and charged at me.

"What, New Yorkers throw punches when they can't win an argument?"

Jacobs swung at me several times but couldn't even touch my sleeve.

"Try dodging one more time, hick!"

"You think I won't call Miss Molina right now?"

Despite Jacobs's repeated provocations, I didn't fight back. I just kept evading.

Not because I was afraid of him, but because before I left my unit, my boss had warned me repeatedly:

"Everything you do represents our organization. Don't get into conflicts with civilians."

Besides, I don't really "fight." When I strike, it's to kill.

Seeing my silence, Jacobs thought I was scared and threw another punch at me.

At that critical moment, a voice roared from behind.

"Stop!"

"Jacobs, you're my personal assistant. How can you just brawl with people in the street?"

Molina, surrounded by bodyguards, walked quickly up to me.

"You're Anthony?"

I looked the woman over carefully. I had to admit, my mom had decent taste.

A crimson dress hugged her perfect figure.

If I had to find a flaw, it was that her eyes were ice-cold when she looked at me.

"Miss Molina, nice to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself."

"My name is Anthony. I'm from"

"No need!"

Before I could finish, Molina impatiently cut me off with a wave of her hand.

"We're not compatible. Go back where you came from."

For a moment, I thought I'd heard wrong.

I'd driven from my unit to New Yorkover ten hours straightwithout even stopping for water.

And the first thing she says to me is to leave? Was she playing me for a fool?

At that thought, my temper flared.

"You must be the girlfriend my mom found for me. Molina, right?"

"You won't even let me finish talking before telling me to leave. That's pretty rude, don't you think?"

After hearing me out, Molina's expression changed immediately.

"Rude?"

"Anthony, why don't you turn around and look at that building behind you. Do you really think you're worthy of me?"

She glanced at me from head to toe.

"I don't know what my father was thinking, trying to marry me off to a loser like you."

As soon as she said that, the crowd erupted again.

"What? This Anthony guy is Miss Molina's fianc? That's unbelievable!"

"A clueless hick like him should take a good look in the mirror and see if he's worthy."

"Miss Molina is every man's dream in New York. I'm the first to object to this marriage."

As the chatter grew louder, I was completely baffled.

When did I ever say I wanted to marry her?

Even if I did want to, I'd need approval from my superiors first.

"Fine, fine, I'm a loser. Happy now?"

"Since Miss Molina isn't interested, can I at least get the dowry back?"

"My mom specifically told me on the phoneif this doesn't work out, make sure to get the gift money back."

Actually, my mom never said that. I just couldn't stand Molina's attitude.

The moment I finished speaking, Jacobs jumped in.

"You hick, who the hell do you think you're looking down on?"

"Miss Molina is New York's youngest billionaire. You think she needs your pocket change?"

Watching this scene unfold, I finally understood what a real lapdog looked like.

"Jacobs, I just want my stuff back. What does that have to do with whether she's a billionaire?"

Molina's face flushed red with anger.

"It's just eighty thousand dollars. Here, I'll give it back."

She pulled out her phone and transferred the money on the spot.

"I'm sending you a hundred thousand. Keep the extra for gas money."

I smirked and gave her a slight smile.

"Well, thank you so much, Miss Molina."

Just as I turned to leave, Jacobs suddenly shouted.

"Hey, hick! Stop right there!"

I paused and slowly turned around.

"What? Does Jacobs want to invite me to dinner?"

Jacobs gave me a sinister smile, then whispered something in Molina's ear.

The next second, New York's so-called youngest billionaire exploded in anger.

"Anthony! You dared to crash my car?"

From Jacobs's expression, I could tell he'd been badmouthing me to Molina.

He really had the art of manipulation down to a science.

Based on how Molina had treated me earlier, I knew explaining wouldn't help. I didn't bother wasting my breath.

"Just tell me how much you want. I'll pay you."

Molina seemed surprised that I'd admit it so readily. Her eyes flickered with confusion.

"Pay? Can you even afford it?"

"This Ferrari was my eighteenth birthday present from my father. Only three exist in the world, and this is the only one in the country."

"A single scratch is worth more than your life. What are you going to pay with?"

I raised an eyebrow, my lips curving into a faint smile.

"Miss Molina, just name your price. Whether I can afford it is my problem."

"Ten million!"

Before I could respond, Jacobs jumped in again.

"The entire front end is caved in. We can't fix it hereit'll have to go back to Italy to the original factory."

The onlookers gasped.

Even the car's owner, Molina, looked surprised.

"Jacobs, this car only cost just over ten million when I got it. Fixing a bumper doesn't cost that much, does it?"

Jacobs immediately waved his hand dismissively.

"No, no, Miss Molina. You're not seeing the full picture."

"This car was a birthday gift from your father. Its sentimental value is priceless, wouldn't you say?"

"Making him pay only ten million is us being generous."

After hearing Jacobs's reasoning, Molina thought it made sense and lowered her head to consider.

"Fine! Ten million it is. No problem!"

I didn't give her time to think. I agreed on the spot.