The clink of fine china and the murmur of posh accents set the tone as Finley, Bruno, and I sat in a cafe that screamed,I’m worth more than your car.
I took a sip of my iced tea, the condensation beading on the glass. “It’s a long story,” I said with a sigh, glancing sidelong at Bruno. The man sat silently at the neighboring table, his gaze fixed on us like a watchful gargoyle.
Finley followed my gaze, his eyebrows knitting together. “Dude, what’s with the muscle? You get mixed up in some shady business?” A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Or did you finally join the mob?”
I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress a chuckle at his antics. Leave it to Fin to make light of even the darkest situations. “I wish it were that simple,” I muttered, taking another sip to buy myself a moment.
Finley shot me a look that saidspill it. So I did—like a slot machine hitting jackpot, I spilled every detail about the mess I was tangled up in. He listened, his face going through an entire season of emotions as I recounted my encounters with Matt, thedebt Sean had dumped on me, and the proposal that had me caught between a rock and a very hard place.
I kept my cards close to my chest about Herbert though; some hands are just too painful to lay out on the table.
Finley’s face was a picture of shock as my story unfolded. “Dude,” he said after I finished, his voice barely above a whisper. “You gotta watch out for Sean. That guy’s always been shifty. And now you’re in deep with casino bigwigs? This is next-level crazy.” He paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. “Maybe I can help with the debt?”
I scoffed. Like he had the cash. I knew he was just as strapped as I was, but Fin was Fin. He’d sell his own soul to save me in a heartbeat. That was just the kind of guy he was. And honestly, I’d do the same for him, just like I was about to for Mia and my own dreams. The stakes were higher than ever, and the thought of failure gnawed at my insides, but I couldn’t back down now. Not when everything I cared about was on the line.
“No way am I dragging you into this mess,” I said firmly. “It’s my problem to fix.”
“But how much are we talking here?” he asked, curiosity lighting up those mischief-sparkling eyes.
I leaned in closer, lowering my voice despite Bruno’s presence. “Two million,” I confessed.
Finley choked on his drink, coughing as he tried to regain composure. “Two million?” he sputtered. “You’ll have to work till you’re dead to pay that off!”
“Yeah,” I said with a wry smile. “I’m well aware. But don’t worry about it—I’ve got some irons in the fire.”
Finley shook his head, his expression serious for once. “Just… be careful, Andy.” He glanced at Bruno before lowering his voice even further. “And if this Matt guy is making you uncomfortable?—”
I held up a hand, stopping him mid-sentence. “Let’s just enjoy our ridiculously overpriced lunch, okay?” I gave him a reassuring smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “I can handle Matt Caine.”
Finley grinned at me over his dessert, a sliver of something too fancy to pronounce. “Thanks for this, Andy. Seriously. Even if it’s only because you’re under duress from Mr. Moneybags,” he teased, nudging my arm.
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re welcome, Fin. Just don’t get used to it.”
He winked before glancing at his watch. “Gotta run. My shift starts in fifteen. Don’t want to keep the guests waiting for their spotless luxury.”
As he darted off, I couldn’t help but admire his resilience. Here we were, both juggling more than we could handle, yet somehow keeping our heads above water.
Pushing away the last crumbs of my dessert, I stood and stretched, catching Bruno’s watchful gaze. “Lead the way, big guy,” I said with a wink.
Back in the penthouse, I sank into the plush chair and opened my laptop, diving into lines of code like they held the answers to life itself. The clock ticked away ominously as I lost myself in the flow of programming. Every so often, I’d glance at the time, dread pooling in my stomach at the thought of Matt’s return.
By late afternoon, my nerves were stretched thinner than spaghetti in boiling water. The sound of the door opening made me jump out of my skin.
Matt sauntered in with a smirk. I tried to focus on my screen as if he were a mere figment of my imagination.
“Well, hello there,” he purred, moving closer until the heat of his body washed over me. “Did my little pet have fun on his stroll around the hotel grounds today? Make any new puppy friends?”
My jaw clenched as I realized Bruno must have ratted me out about meeting Finley. “He’s not just some random pup,” I bit out. “Finley’s my best friend, and if you think you can keep me from seeing him, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Matt chuckled, that deep rumble sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. “Is that so?” One finger traced along my jawline as he leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. “Perhaps I’ll consider allowing your little playmate up here for regular visits… if you give me a suitable answer to my proposal.”
I swallowed hard, my pulse thundering in my ears as every rational thought fled my mind. Trapped between the couch and his sculpted body, I was painfully aware of how easily he could devour me whole.
Fine, if Matt wanted an answer, I’d give him one he wouldn’t forget.
Having lived a life where every day felt like trudging through mud had given me more than my share of grit. Matt’s overbearing presence, however, was a different beast altogether. With a surge of reckless courage, I leaned in and crushed my lips against his.
Matt froze for a beat, his surprise palpable, but he recovered quickly.
