Mafia Lord's Mute Sweetheart

Chapter 67: Chapter 67 A prince of scammers

She blocked the number.

She pressed the button with a sense of satisfaction, watching the number disappear from her call log. She even gave a little nod of approval at herself, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Hehe! Problem solved.

She hugged her phone to her chest for a moment, feeling proud of herself. Then she called Annie.

Annie answered on the second ring.

"Hey, baby! I was just thinking about you! How are you? Did you eat? Did you sleep? Are you wearing something cute? Tell me everything. I need details. I am starved for details."

Daisy smiled. Annie’s voice was like a warm blanket, comforting and familiar. She typed quickly on her phone and sent a message.

I am okay. But I have a problem. Someone has been calling me. An unknown number. Over and over again. I did not answer because I was scared. I blocked them.

Annie read the message. Her voice changed, becoming serious. "Good. That was the right thing to do. You should never answer unknown numbers. My friend Sarah got scammed last month. Some guy called her pretending to be from her bank. He sounded so professional, so convincing. She gave him her account details. And you know what happened?"

Daisy typed. What happened?

"Her account was emptied. Everything was gone. All her savings. She had to move back in with her parents. It was a nightmare. She still gets anxiety when her phone rings. She changed her number twice."

Daisy’s eyes widened. She typed quickly. That is terrible. I am glad I blocked them.

"Me too. You did the right thing. Never trust unknown numbers. They are all scammers. Every single one of them. I even got a call once from someone pretending to be a prince. A prince! Can you believe it? He said he needed my help to transfer money out of his country. I told him I would help him if he transferred me a million dollars first."

Daisy laughed silently, her shoulders shaking. She typed. What did he say?

"He hung up. Can you imagine? The audacity. He said he was a prince, but he could not even handle a little negotiation. Some prince. Probably a fake prince. A prince of scammers."

Daisy laughed harder. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She had not laughed like this in days. She hugged her pillow and kicked her feet slightly.

She typed. You are so funny, Annie.

"I know. It is my greatest talent. That and making amazing coffee. Speaking of which, when are you coming to visit me? I miss you. I want to see your face, not just your messages. I want to hug you. I want to squeeze your cheeks."

Annie was at her parents’ house. She wanted to meet Daisy, but she knew how difficult it was for Daisy to get out because of her evil mother-in-law and good-for-nothing cheater husband.

Daisy’s smile softened. She typed. Soon. I promise. I have been busy with... things.

"Things? What kind of things? Mysterious things? Exciting things? Things I need to know about? Daisy, you cannot just say ’things’ and leave me hanging. I am your best friend. I am entitled to all the things."

Daisy hesitated. She had not told Annie about the mascot. Actually, she had never told anyone. It was her secret, her little escape from the world. But Annie was her best friend. She could trust her.

She typed slowly, her fingers moving with care.

I have been going to the beach. I rented a mascot costume. A teddy bear. I dance and wave and make children happy. I collect donations. It makes me feel... free.

There was a pause. Then Annie screamed.

"Daisy! That is amazing! A teddy bear! Oh my god, I need to see this. I need to come and watch you. I need to take pictures. This is the best thing I have ever heard. You are a secret teddy bear. That is the cutest thing in the entire world."

Daisy’s cheeks flushed with pleasure. She typed.

You are too loud. I can feel your voice through the phone.

"Good. You deserve loud. You deserve all the loud. You have been quiet for too long. You need more loud in your life. I am going to be your loud."

Daisy smiled.

"Tell me everything," Annie demanded. "When did you start? Why a teddy bear? Do you have a name? Do the children love you? Do the parents give you money? Do you do tricks? Have you fallen over? I need to know everything."

Daisy typed quickly, her fingers flying across the screen.

I started a few days ago. I chose a teddy bear because children love teddy bears. I do not have a name, but the children call me Fluffy. And yes, they love me. They hug me and tug my paws and ask me to dance. It makes me so happy. Parents give me coins and bills. I have made a little money. And yes, I fell over once. A little boy pulled my paw too hard. I landed on my back. The children laughed so much.

Annie was laughing so hard she could barely speak. "Oh my god, Daisy. I wish I had seen that. A teddy bear falling over. That is the funniest thing I have ever heard."

Daisy typed.

It was embarrassing but also funny. I laughed too. Inside the costume, no one could see me.

"That is the best part. No one can see you. You can be whoever you want. You can be a teddy bear. You can be silly. You can be free."

Daisy’s eyes glistened. She typed.

Thank you, Annie. That means a lot.

"Of course it does. I’m your best friend. It’s my job to be proud of you. Now tell me about the children. What do they do? Do they say funny things?"

Daisy smiled and typed.

A little girl told me I was her best friend. She hugged my leg and did not let go for five minutes. Her mother had to pull her away. Another little boy asked if I was a real bear. I nodded. He asked if I ate honey. I shrugged. He said he would bring me honey tomorrow.

Annie gasped. "That is the cutest thing I have ever heard. A child bringing honey to a teddy bear. That is pure innocence right there."

Daisy typed.

I almost cried inside the costume.

"You are such a softie, Daisy. I love it."

Daisy’s heart warmed.