"My help? I don't really know him, he means nothing to me. I don't understand." Sherry said as calmly as she could.
"Come on, pumpkin! A little bird told me that you have been very interested in him ever since he came. I know everything here, you should know that already. You naughty, naughty girl!" Negan said and tilted his head looking at her closely.
Another test.
"I… we… me and Dwight met him earlier - very briefly - like D. told you I'm sure. I felt obliged to say something to him. I wouldn't call that "very interested". Your little bird was obviously mistaken." Sherry replied indifferently.
"Really?" Negan said weighing Lucille in his hands.
Sherry swallowed when she noticed a little stain of dried blood in the bat.
"Really."
Moment of silence.
Negan stared at her with a serious face. Then he - unexpectedly - burst out laughing.
"You should have seen your face! Guilty as a child with a cookie jar! I don't blame you my sweetest. I bet his rough charm drives all women crazy. Makes your panties wet so to speak. Let's hope it works the other way around."
Sherry frowned.
"The other way around?"
"Ding ding ding! Yes! This redneck… is a guy… who doesn't really care about himself at the moment. We can hit him, kick him, starve him. He doesn't care. Maybe he blames himself for the death of his friend… that puny asian guy… or something equally ridiculous. Lucille really liked that guy I must say! However… the only moment I saw Mr. Dixon to react somehow was when his friends were threatened. He is clearly a man who truly, deeply cares about the others. It would be too messy to bring one of them here I suppose… besides that group needs peace now.. otherwise they can't provide us the things we need." Negan said thoughtfully.
Then he looked at Sherry sharply.
"So… we just have to make him care about someone here. And that someone is you, sweetheart! You already know each other, you have shown him that you care. You even have shared memories! So… show him compassion. Take care of him. Make friends with him. Lure him to shower, the man literally stinks. Hell, fuck him if that's what it takes! The shortest way to man's heart is through his penis, that's what I always say. And when you've done all this… When he starts to trust you and wants to protect you and save you… That's exactly the right time." Negan declared pompously.
Sherry felt like her blood was freezing in her veins.
"The right time for what?" She managed to say.
"To threaten your beautiful little brain with Lucille! At that point Daryl will do anything - anything - to stop that. I won't really harm you dear, but he doesn't need to know that. He will kiss my boots in order to save you. I can be noble and let you live… by my side of course. After that he will be mine forever just like Dwight is now. I can use you as a leverage whenever I need him to do something for me. Brilliant, is it not?"
Sherry felt sick.
"I don't think he finds me attractive at all. Our rendezvous in the woods didn't end up so well. He doesn't speak to me…" She tried to explain.
"Stop it right there. You my dear have … assets… men just can't resist. You have…"
Negan looked at her from head to toe and raised his bat.
He touched her buttocks lightly with Lucille. Even the lightest touch made Sherry shiver.
"...great ass. And…"
Negan gave her a grin and moved the bat to her breasts. Again very lightly.
"...even better rack."
Then he moved the bat one more time and touched her crotch gently with it.
"Not to mention … the best… beaver… ever!"
He took a step back and waved his bat playfully in the air.
"Daryl is just a man… and I bet he hasn't been with a woman in ages. Intimacy is just what he needs now. You will see."
Sherry swallowed. I can't do it. Not to Daryl. The last time was bad enough.
"No."
Negan froze.
Then he turned to look at her with a serious face. He wasn't playing games anymore.
"Who are you?" He asked mercilessly.
Sherry had no choice.
"Negan."
"That's the spirit! And what will you do next?"
One more test.
"Seduce Daryl Dixon." Sherry replied weakly.
She didn't recognize her own voice when she spoke.
Negan smiled warmly now.
"Good girl! It wasn't really that hard, right? You will deliver his next sandwich. Put some decent meat in it, will you! Lord knows he will need his strength."
"And remember… You have to be plausible in his eyes in every way. So nothing personal but… let's give him a chance to feel sorry for you."
And just like that Negan waved his hand and hit her.
Not very hard, but hard enough to break her lower lip.
Sherry could taste her own blood.
