It was a cold winter snowstorm in the woods of Oregon state and Maxine was inhaling bursts of cherry vapor between sips of a mocha latte inside a locally owned shop in the middle of nowhere. It was a stop for drifters and travelers like herself, Short brown hair settled to her chin under a pink woolen cap. Square glasses fixed her terrible vision and kept her eyes in the same direction. A purple scarf hid her neck and a thick flannel shirt tucked under her blue jeans. She sighed and put down the newspaper she'd been reading. It stressed her out too much to look at. She had enough of her own worries to deal with. She had no plans after school, and a lot of debt.
She thought she'd be alone until the storm passed, but someone opened the glass door with the cold stinging breeze of the storm. He wasn't a local. He was a stranger with a young face and confidant smile. He was well dressed with a suit and tie. He had clean hair and skin. He seemed calm and undaunted by the storm like a viking of old.
He was immediately attractive, and anger inducing to Maxine. On the one hand he was striking and handsome. On the other, he seemed all too perfect and powerful. He had a sharp nose and a strong jaw. He struck her as arrogant in his features. He walked as if he didn't care what others thought, because he knew he was better. He was a lion in the presence of sheep.
He made his order at the register and made his way to her table with a black coffee. She cursed and tried not to notice. Out of all the tables he picked the one with her. What did he want?
"Hello, is that your car outside?" He asked with a friendly tone.
"Yea, what about it?" She was short with him and found it hard to look him in the eye as he stood high above her.
"It looks like two of your tires are blown."
"I'll call a friend to pick me up after the storm passes."
"I can give you a ride." He shrugged.
"No thank you." She shook her head suspiciously.
"That's fair. You only just got to know me." He sat in front of her. "My name is Edgar. Edgar Whin"
"Maxine." She dared to glance into his angelic eyes for a moment. It felt like he was burning into her with amber iris's too bright to be mortal. She looked away.
"No need to be shy." He smiled. "I'm just passing through and thought I'd stop for a few hours and wait the storm out. You must be a local."
"Why do you think that?"
"You dress like one. I may be presumptuous."
"I grew up around here actually."
"You look like a student."
She didn't like how smart he was. "Yep." She sipped her drink loudly. "What about you? Why are you here?" She tried to make small talk.
"Do you mind if I tell you a secret?" He leaned in close. She rose an eyebrow. This man was strange, but nothing about him seemed deceptive. Every second she spent with him made her feel like she was falling for his charms. She felt like he was casting a spell on her and every moment she went deeper into it. He didn't wait for her response, "I am something of a Taoist. Do you know what that means?"
"I've heard of Taoism." She didn't think he looked the part for that kind of culture.
"I believe God, or perhaps, the universe, works in synchronous ways. I believe that one should live like they breath. You don't think about it, you let it happen. Let life take you and drift you places. God has a plan. When you resist, that is when life tears you apart. I decided at a young age not to hold onto anything too tightly. Everything comes and goes like the wind. You should do what your heart tells you."
"That's-" Maxine smiled. He seemed so happy, and it seemed like a great way to live. "Dangerous." She tried to think of a counter argument.
"Sometimes. I've had to fight before. My life has been in jeopardy. I've lost millions of dollars, gone into terrible debt. But I've also saved lives. Taken people out of poverty. I've gained millions. And all the while I was happy." Maxine felt the sense of wonder coming from Edgar. "And my secret is that simple. I do what my heart tells me. So many people think themselves into corners and never try anything. They never take any leaps of faith."
"So, is this you trying to get me into your car?" Maxine asked. It was starting to work. His charisma was infectious.
"I thought it was at first." He admitted. "But now I have another desire."
"And what is that?" She was almost afraid to ask.
"How much money would I have to pay you to have sex with me?" He asked.
Maxine took a second to let the words register. She chuckled. "W-What?"
"I'm serious." He smiled. "You are a beautiful girl. I don't think it is a coincidence that we met here. And, correct me if I am wrong, but you look like you are stressed about money."
Maxine hesitated. "Not just money." How was he so smart? And rich? And handsome? She grit her teeth in resistance, realizing the kind of game he was playing. "Besides, I'm not that kind of girl."
"What about a hundred dollars?" She choked on her coffee. "What could I get for that?"
"N-Nothing!" She tried to clean up the mess she made. She was suddenly starting to feel very warm and very offended. "I- I'm not for sale!"
"I don't care too much for money." Edgar shook his head. "Price is not an issue. If you feel the same way, I guess I have nothing to bargan with. But tell me, how much debt are you in?"
Maxine fidgeted. She should just tell him to go away. That this was creepy. "Five thousand dollars."
"I'll give you ten." He shrugged. She felt her heart beating fast. That kind of money would be enough to pay off all her bills and then some. She could buy that new computer she always wanted.
