Outside's so hot, you can crack an egg on the sidewalk to cook it!
Red Light Escape by Boogermeister
Chapter 7- Chance It
"STARRK! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!" Ichigo screeched angrily as she stormed into the office, startling the woman and Starrk alike. "I cursed out and ranted about this man and you didn't tell me that he's some kind of millionaire? What the hell is this about, Starrk?" Starrk glanced apogetically at the woman, who nodded back before leaving the office.
"I'll give you a call . . . ." he said to her before looking at Ichigo, who appeared irritated yet anxious about her discovery moments ago. ". . . . I take it that Grimmjow told about what he does for a living, right?" he frowned lightly.
"Come on, Starrk, how come you couldn't tell me about it?" she scoffed as she crossed her arms. "You're friends with a man who owns several magazines and has millions upon millions of dollars under his belt, yet he comes here almost every night to mess with me like it's no big deal?"
"I've told you that you should have ask him, it's not my business that he's rich," he sighed.
"Starrk . . . . that man could've given me $10,000 or even a $100,000 on the spot if he wanted to, but he didn't. Instead, I got the damn two dollars from him as a way saying that he doesn't have to."
"Well, you did say that you don't want to be 'brought' by any man, no matter how much wealth he has," Starrk pointed out, and Ichigo shut her mouth. That much was true. "Ichigo, Grimmjow may be wealthy but he's still the same guy I knew for years, even after his tragic problems in the past. He could be like any other customers and try to bait you with expensive nonsenses. And believe me, I'm a bit annoyed about some of my girls dating those type of men."
"Then . . . . I just feel a little confused about him," she frowned. "I mean, one time, he paid me a thousand bucks just so we could talk to each other, even when I didn't want to."
"Maybe that's it . . . . he likes those who resists him, something about them being more desirable at each chance," Starrk muttered, as Lobo decided to lie on his side by his master's feet. "He had told me about women dating him only for his money and influence, and he dumped them whenever they had gotten too demanding. So maybe that's why he's interested in you, because you don't really like him."
"I . . . . tch, I wish that it doesn't have to be me," Ichigo muttered, but her tone wasn't very convincing even to herself. "But . . . . I'm already working hard to get by so I can support Tensa. Now that he's around, I just don't know . . . . Even if he did have a point about me finding a better home, it's too hard to find one without enough money."
"Then . . . . accept whatever money he gives you, even if it's just two dollars," sighed Starrk. "That's Grimmjow, he likes to joke around when something caught his eyes. And right now, it's you." Ichigo blinked at that but was still frowning. Grimmjow appeared uninsulted when she acted rude to him before, so why stop now she found out about his social status? Especially when she let him hold Tensa for a while, since the toodler would scream his head off if Renji even attempted to do it. As a matter of fact, she could only put a tiny speck of trust to those that can try to get along with Tensa.
". . . . I'll think about it, Starrk, if I wish to open up to Grimmjow more," she murmured.
Meanwhile, Renji was still speechless as he stared at the blunet, who quietly played with Tensa on his lap. He didn't know what to say, only to keep relaying the memory of him twisting Grimmjow's arm for acting too casual with Ichigo. If he had known that the man before him was a multi-millionaire, he would've been snuffed off the face of the earth if he had wanted to in retaliation. Or maybe the fact that he didn't was making the red-head feel agitated, as if he was being mocked at. And then the other incident when Grimmjow stopped the drunk molester before he could was another blow to his ego, since it was his job to stop it.
"Hmm . . . . you keep yanking at my tie, and you're gonna choke me," smirked Grimmjow as he pulled the tie away from Tensa's grasp.
"Buh, Geh-Geh . . . ." pouted Tensa, continuing to touch the silky material of his dress shirt. The feel was different to him, since he was used to the cotton/polyester fabric of his clothes and blankets. "Sha . . . . shaah?" he mumbled, patting against his hard chest.
"Huh? You're trying to say shirt?" he smirked lightly, and the toddler glanced up at him and giggled. He smirked again before glancing at the disgruntled red-head sitting next to him. "What's scrunched up in your panties, monkey?"
"Shut up, I just . . . . I don't see why Ichigo thought it was a good idea to let you hold her kid, that's all," frowned Renji.
"Oh, I think I know what's going on with you," he smirked. "I had a feeling about this since you tried to act like a big man that time. So . . . . you really believe that Ichigo will ever like you or something?" Renji's eyes slightly widened at his question but glared away.
"As a friend, she likes me," he grumbled.
"But not as a boyfriend," stated Grimmjow and the other man narrowed his eyes at him. "I'm not saying it, you are. And now what? She doesn't wanna date you?"
"She swore off dating . . . . she wouldn't say, but I think it has to do with Tensa's father that she doesn't wanna go any farther than being friends," he muttered.
"Ah . . . . you sure that she simply didn't wanna date you, specifically?" he questioned with a light smirk. Renji glared at him and scoffed in disbelief, but the blunet was undeterred by his reaction.
"And what makes you think that she would date you just because you're some rich guy?" he scoffed. "All the wealth you got won't make her like you, you know."
"Oh, and how would you know? How much do you know about her, monkey guy?" he questioned, watching the other man falter a little.
"I've known her for several months, longer than you have," he said.
"I said how much, not how long, there's a difference in that," he sneered. "But even in that amount of time, you don't know any more than a fact that she works here to support her kid since she had no one else to help her." Renji just glared away, and both of them knew that Grimmjow was right. But the businessman understood her problems, even if he hadn't experienced poverty before. "Anyway, even if you think that I could get Ichigo to like me because I got money, that's the last thing I wanna do."
"Tch, like I'd believe that," scoffed Renji.
"Oh, if that's true, then why Ichigo let me hold her kid instead of you doing it?" he challenged. "Go ahead, hold the kid if you want her to go lovey-dovey on you."
". . . . I can't, he doesn't like me for some reason," he grumbled, and Grimmjow smirked a little.
"Maybe that's why she wouldn't date you, they always say that kids who hates their parents' date then the parent won't date them again," he said.
"You know, just because you're super rich and happen to be Starrk's friend, it doesn't mean that I won't kick your ass," Renji frowned as he glared at him.
"I'd to see you try since I already kicked yours," sneered Grimmjow.
"You-"
"Grimmjow . . . ." Three sets of eyes turned to see Ichigo coming back, her stiff expression concealed her face as she glanced at Grimmjow. "Um . . . . thank you for holding Tensa for a second," she mumbled as she took the toddler into her arms.
"No problem, though I heard your reaction at first all the way from Starrk's office," smirked the blunet.
"Yeah . . . ."
"Well, you've never bothered to ask me about my job so I understand," he shrugged. "I thought you would ask when I gave you that thousand dollars."
"A thousand dollars? When did that happen?" Renji questioned in disbelief.
"Not now, Renji . . . ." frowned Ichigo. "But . . . . I just assumed that I didn't have to ask you about yourself since I couldn't let you ask about me, it would seem unfair." Grimmjow just nodded and stood up, fixing his suit since Tensa was playing with his tie.
"Well, now you know . . . . is there any way I can know about you, Ichigo?" he asked.
"No . . . . at least not right now, I'm still defensive about you," she muttered. The blunet just shrugged, putting up a light smirk as he gazed at her.
"You smiled at me before, I can make you smile again sooner or later," he smirked, turning to leave. "I'll see you soon, Ichigo. I gotta catch up on my work . . . ." Ichigo said nothing, as she watched the man leave the empty club. What an odd man. Then again with so much money, one can't help but act a little eccentric. Tensa pouted when Grimmjow left and whined.
"Geh-Geh . . . . ." he frowned as he stared at the opened door.
"Grimmjow's gone, Tensa," sighed Ichigo. "Say bye-bye to him."
"Nuh . . . ." he pouted, tucking his head under his mother's chin. Ichigo blinked in mild surprise and frowned. Tensa rarely opened up to strangers on the first day, he was usually shy around new people and would squirm away whenever being touched. That explained why Tensa was still wary about Renji to this day.
"Ichigo . . . . do you really wanna be around that guy?" muttered Renji, catching her attention. "It's just that . . . . I don't like him, there's something about him that seems a bit sketchy."
"Oh, a rich man spending too much time here to mess with me seems sketchy," frowned Ichigo.
"Exactly."
"Please, Renji, you're only annoyed by him because he's interested in me only," she frowned. "If it were any other girl, you'd probably give no shit about it." Renji just glanced away, and she huffed softly. "I'm right about that, and you know it. Listen . . . . if this is about you being jealous of him then there's no need to. It's not like I'd like to date him."
"Who knows? I don't like that guy and that's just my opinion," frowned Renji. Tensa mumbled tiredly then yawned as he rubbed his eyes. His mother noticed his fatigue and sighed, sitting down on the stool as she shifted his body carefully.
"Guess it's almost time for your nap . . . ." she sighed. She then patted at his bottom to feel if he needed a change but suddenly felt something else in his back pocket. "What is this . . . .?" she frowned lightly. She tucked two fingers into the tiny pocket and fished out what felt like folded paper. Ichigo blinked as she finally got it and saw it up close. It was a piece of paper, but she also saw the greyish-green coloring of what looked like money. "Huh . . . .?"
"What is it, Ichigo?" muttered the red-head.
". . . . How and when did this happen?" she frowned, unfolding the papers. It revealed two 100 dollar bills and the note saying a few words.
'Sorry for messing with you'
"Damn . . . ." she frowned lightly, while Renji scowled at the sight of the hard money.
"Told you so," he frowned. "Using your kid to make you like him."
"No, to say that he's sorry . . . ." Ichigo glanced up at the opened door and frowned lightly. His wealth wasn't enough to appease her into liking him, but his straightforwardness and honestly was something to be interested in. Still . . . . "Oddly enough, he's a good guy," she mumbled to herself.
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She hadn't seen Grimmjow for the next few nights, but Ichigo wasn't actually concerned about it as she worked. The new stripper, Mila Rose aka 'Feisty Reina', had already found a frenemy with Rangiku and they both bickered over trivial stuff. From what Ichigo had known, was that the newcomer was Tia's roommate and needed the extra money to secure their apartment. She wished she was lucky enough to have a roommate, playfully thinking that Tensa was young to find a job. "Ichigo, what're you thinking about? You were making faces again," smiled Orihime, catching her friend's attention.
"Really? Like what?" she frowned.
"You were smiling a little, maybe it's about Tensa," she giggled lightly, though her make-up was still intact as she changed her costume.
"Kinda . . . . I think I should get him a new bed but I'm not sure if it could fit right, considering how small my room is," sighed Ichigo.
"Yeah but compared to yours, my apartment's like a closet." Ichigo just put up a small smile for Orihime. Her friend was fortunate enough to act optimistic despite of her past downfalls. Her older brother took custody of her when she was three, from their abusive parents, only to lose him in a car accident when she was twelve. From then on, Orihime had told her after reuniting, she was shifted from foster home to foster home, some worse than the last before finally becoming an adult. But even then she was struggling on her own until she found work as a waitress at first at Lilynette's.
"Actually, I was scared at first from being stared at, but it soon I was practically numb to it," she had joked about stripping when Ichigo accepted the job then. But the word 'numb' seemed so depressing to hear, but Orihime was still perky, cheerful girl she knew and she envied that sometimes. But she was right, most of the time she had felt numb from the leering stares of the perverted patrons. "What is it this time, Ichigo?" Orihime muttered and Ichigo blinked out of her thoughts again. "This time you're frowning . . . ."
"Ah, it's nothing . . . ." she mumbled.
"You're thinking about that blue-haired man, right . . . .?" Tia calmly inquired, barely blinking an eye as Mila and Rangiku bickered about lip gloss.
"No . . . ." she frowned lightly, but now she was. Considering that he was a president of a huge publishing company, he couldn't always come around here all the time. Sighing, she walked out of the dressing room and stepped into the bar, frowning to herself at the sight of discarded trash around the tables. Just as she began working, she saw the same person she was thinking about a moment ago and blinked as Grimmjow walked up to her. ". . . . Don't you have work to do or something, Grimmjow?" she frowned lightly.
"Yeah, but I got enough time to kill," he smirked. "I take it that you found the surprise in your kid's pants, right?"
"Yeah, a dirty diaper," she answered sarcastically, collecting the trash onto her tray.
"Come on, you know what I mean," he sighed.
"I know . . . ." Ichigo took a quick glance at him, and once again she didn't sense any form of ulterior motive from him. "I still dunno why you're only interested in me but it doesn't mean that I don't want you to go away . . . . for now."
"Ah, you're breaking down on me?" Grimmjow smirked.
"If you keep coming here to tip me, then I'd appreciate that since I still need the money," she pointed out. "I'm not gonna use that thousand dollars you gave me, not until I figure out . . . . a way to find a better apartment." Grimmjow would have smiled about her relented answer but didn't when he noticed her sad frown.
". . . . What caused you to change your mind? Since you were downright against my suggestion-"
"Pieces of drywall fell out recently, and Tensa attempted to eat it," she mumbled sadly. "Good thing I stopped him just in time before he even tried to crawl over there. But . . . . as usual, that bastard of a landlord won't do shit for me."
"I see . . . ." nodded Grimmjow, reaching out to pat at her shoulder but paused in his action as he cleared his throat. "Is there any other way . . . . you can find for now. Maybe one of your friends could . . . . I dunno, take you in if shit like that continues."
". . . . I'm not sure if Orihime has enough room for the both of us," she muttered. "Doesn't matter, I can't do anything for now. But it shouldn't concern you," she added, when she noticed that Grimmjow was about to say something. "Anyway . . . . unless you really wanna stay, I'm not stripping tonight."
"'Then when?" he asked quietly.
"Tomorrow night."
"All right . . . . but I'm still staying around now until you decide to have that talk with me," he sighed as he sat down by the clean table. Ichigo just frowned but continued with her work. She still didn't understand why he wanted to know about her, then again she found herself conversing to him about her problems with the apartment. Also . . . . she was somewhat interested in his personal life back, and the only thing she knew of him was that he was rich and owned a publishing company but was an orphan when he was just a teen. She wondered how did that happen and how was he able to get back on his feet from the tragedy.
Maybe he was keeping it to himself, and she didn't blame him. After her mother died, one of her younger sisters simply became 'muted' with emotions, but mostly expelled anger and irritation at some points . . . . But that form of emotions often erupted during her pregnancy and the first several months with the baby. She knew . . . . she knew that her little sister hated her for her decision, despite of the reassurance from the rest of the family. Shaking the bad thoughts out of her mind, she threw away the trash before waiting on the other patrons from an agitated distance.
All the while, she could sense Grimmjow's stare on her as she worked. But for some reason, she couldn't feel any sense of annoyance about it. Maybe it had to do with him being without family for more or less ten years, being alone for that long can make a person to need for a friend. But the businessman had Starrk and that cousin of his Nel, but . . . . what if it wasn't enough for him? Does he have a crush on her or something? She frowned at that; that would make him a second man to like her after Renji. But the man was nice enough and went out of his way to play with Tensa when he didn't have to.
Renji had tried when Tensa first saw him, but the toddler was too wary of his appearance and hid behind his mother. Even when attempting to hold him, Tensa cried instantly and scratched at his face before Renji have had enough and gave him back to Ichigo. But the red-head was still too stubborn to accept rejection about dating, and by the day she was getting annoyed by his persistence.
"Hey, sweet cheek, how about a lap dance for some extra money?" leered one drunkard, and Ichigo gave him a heated glare.
"Fuck off," she growled.
"Aw, don't be like that-"
THWACK!
Grimmjow smirked in surprise when Ichigo suddenly punched out the man the moment he raised his hand to attempt to grasp at her. The man fell to the floor from the unexpected assualt but glared up at her as he wiped the blood off his lips. Ichigo was unnerved by his glare, despite that the man stood up, as did a couple of his friends from a nearby table. That was then Grimmjow got to his feet and his eyes narrowed dangerously; three grown men against a young woman was too unfair in his book.
"Ya fucking bitch! Ya think ya can get away with that, ya slut?" seethed the bruised man.
"And what're you gonna do about it?" gritted Ichigo. "As far as I'm concerned, you attempted to touch me when it's obviously against the rule. I was in the right of defending myself."
"Oh? But you think ya can do it against all of us?" sneered the man as he stepped closer.
"You think you're a man, cornering a woman like that?" growled Grimmjow as he suddenly stepped in front of Ichigo, who blinked in slight surprise. The drunk moved back from his glare but scoffed at the sight of him.
"What're ya, her pimp or something, pretty boy?" he scoffed.
"Aw, you think I'm pretty?" he smirked humorlessly. "Thanks for the compliment, but this is my friend's place and if you wanna pick a fight do it somewhere else and not here."
"And what if I don't want to, ya pile of shit?" Grimmjow glanced at the two cronies behind the drunk and just smirked, though he wished that red-haired monkey was nearby to help him out.
"Grimmjow, don't even try . . . ." Ichigo warned but the look in his eyes meant serious business.
"I'll give you fuckers a second chance," he smirked through his clenched teeth. "Leave now or else . . . ."
"Or else what?" gritted the man.
"You have to answer to me." Grimmjow and Ichigo blinked to see Chad, already subduing the two men as he was holding them by the scruff of their collars. The drunk man nearly blanched at the sight of his knocked out friends before staring back at Grimmjow, who smirked again at the sight of his panicked expression.
"So what was that about me being a pile of shit?" he sneered. Without another word, the man suddenly took off, leaving his friends in the security's hold. "Tch, good thing that I didn't have to punch out another idiot like last time . . . ." he scoffed softly.
"Hey . . . . thanks for defending Ichigo," Chad nodded.
"Oh, it's no problem," sighed Grimmjow. Chad simply nodded before hauling the other men away, while the blunet scratched through his hair. "Damn, Starrk's gotta hire more security or something since that monkey's not doing it right."
"You're right about that . . . ." mumbled Ichigo before the man glanced down at her. "Guess I should thank you again for helping, huh . . . .?"
"You're not gonna smile like the last time, Ichigo?" smiled Grimmjow, but she shook her head.
"If Chad thanked you for helping me then I should too," she sighed. "But should I owe you back for doing it?"
"Actually . . . ."
"It will not be a date, if that's what you want," she frowned.
"No, no, but . . . . how about a day out with you and your kid?" he suggested. Ichigo blinked and scrunched up her eyebrows at the otherwise friendly request. It sounded like a date but it couldn't be since it would involve Tensa. Staring at his eyes, which showed nothing to deceive her, she took a deep breath and sighed.
". . . . I think . . . . I can take your offer, Grimmjow," she finally answered. She stared at her his reaction but Grimmjow simply smiled in relief.
"Good, you're free during the day on the weekends, right?" he asked.
"Sure," she said.
"Great, this Saturday at noon," he smiled. "And I promise you . . . . no funny business, all right?" Ichigo just nodded. Grimmjow simply smirked and turned to finally leave. "Sooner or later, I'll get you to open up . . . ."
Ichigo glanced at his dwindling figure and frowned. For some reason, she didn't want to think about him now.
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Dah . . . .!
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