“Money is unimportant. I have more than enough and I consider it my job to provide for my family.” He spoke flatly and with a finality, as if the discussion was over.
Tasha had barely started. “I’m not your family. Look, I am grateful for the legal team you are bank rolling to sort Pippa and the injunctions, but that is more than generous enough. I really can manage.”
“You are my family, well not technically, but that’s semantics. You are my girlfriend and so much more, so I’m happy to share everything with you, including my home and we will resolve the technicality. The legal team are a necessity so no need for gratitude. Your safety and happiness really are my priority.” He pulled her closer, his hold becoming tighter. “And you shouldn’t have tomanage. I don’t want you tomanageand I actually doubt how much longer you canmanagefor with your father’s never-ending attempts to bleed you dry, baby.”
“But the money and the credit card and the obsession with me charging everything. Then there’s the whole issue of paying off my credit card. It’s all unnecessary. It makes me uncomfortable—like you’re buying me like some cheap prostitute.” There it was. She’d said it out loud, her real fear. That she was again being acquired, used as some kind of currency or pay off, not that she really believed he felt that way about her, not like her father and Liam had.
Jim scowled at her final comment but softened his expression as he responded. “Tasha, I need to know that no matter what happens, wherever you are that you have access to a reasonable amount of cash and a credit card that has no risk of being declined. So they stay, end of story, but I will make the concession of cancelling the direct payment into your account each month on the condition that you accept a larger one-off payment. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable and if you ever compare yourself to a hooker again I will not be responsible for my actions,” he said, only angry at her prostitute comparison.
“What sort of larger one-off payment are you talking about because I really don’t want money off you each month?” She was somehow unsure how her objection had become an acceptance of a larger single payment.
“I dunno, but knowing you are going to flip out if I suggest a figure that’s too high, let’s say two hundred thousand, for now.”
“What?” She looked up at him in total disbelief and amazement that he was talking such a large amount.
“Unless you want more,” he replied, running a finger up and down her spine triggering a series of tingles through her whole body.
“No, I don’t want more.” She pouted.
“So, we’re agreed. We could make it pounds. That might be better for you.” Tasha made no response, unsure just what to say at that point. “If you would rather, we can tie it in to the pre-nup, a signing on fee if you like.”
“What? You are crazy, absolutely nuts.” She was horrified at the idea and the fact that he was undoubtedly serious in his suggestion.
“That’s not nice, baby. You don’t want me for my money, so the pre-nup will not be an issue and you will be the first of my wives to have a signing on fee.”
“Correction, you are an absolute fucking lunatic!” She immediately felt a warm sting across her behind as soon as the last word was out.
“I have missed being close enough to tame your mouth,” he told her. “Now, rather than shouting and swearing, listen. The purpose of you having my credit card is twofold I suppose; first it means I am providing for you and as most of the things you buy will be for my benefit, I should pay for it. Secondly, it allows me to monitor where you are and when,” he admitted candidly.
“My clothes and shoes are not for your benefit and I don’t appreciate my movements being monitored,” she complained, her own annoyance rising, although she couldn’t fault the honesty of his admission.
“Doesn’t matter whether you like it or not, it’s for my peace of mind not yours, but is entirely for your safety. You are very naïve if you believe that your clothes and shoes are not for my benefit. Try telling that to your little dress over there or your sparkly shoes I had you keep on while I fucked you,” he said, matter of fact.
“Except I paid for the shoes,” she said triumphantly.
“Yes, even though you had agreed to charge them.” His look of irritation was accompanied by his hand rubbing across her behind. She braced herself, expecting another smack to land and was disappointed when it didn’t. With an arched brow and a small smile Jim spoke again, “Any more thoughts on money?”
“No,” she answered with an accompanying shake of her head. Was there any point in trying to discuss anything with this man or at least trying to get a compromise from him?
“So, I will cancel the regular payment and have the one-off fee transferred into your account next week, possibly as part of a pre-nup. You will continue to use the credit card and I will continue to pay the bill and monitor your movements, agreed?”
“Yes, except we are not getting married so there will be no pre-nup for me to sign on to, oh, and it’s comments like signing on fees that make me feel as though this is a professional arrangement.” She thought she had been very clever in her wording to avoid the word prostitute or hooker, but made no attempt to disguise her irked tone.
“Of course we’re getting married, but we will discuss it at a later time. Forget the signing on comment, you’re right, it was crass and offensive. I apologise because we are definitely personal, not professional, baby, so the payment is a one-off and unrelated to anything.” He paused, seeming to have more to say but his expression suggested he was deep in thought. “I don’t ever want you to feel as though anything I do is for any reason other than love.” He paused again. “There is nothing cheap about you, honey. There is nothing and no-one I value higher. You believe that, right?”
“Yes,” she murmured, realising nothing had changed, not really, but somehow she’d agreed to it all and his last words, their meaning and the sentiment behind them along with the sincerity in his voice had completely dissolved any negative feelings towards him.
“How’s your ass?” He changed topic as he gently stroked and kneaded it.
She smiled. “A little warmer than it has been for a couple of weeks.”
“Good. It will be getting warmer once we’ve worked through our lists.” He grinned at her making her grin back. “What time does the gallery thing start?”
“Half past seven, but I thought we could get there about half eight.”
“We should go for dinner first, but that still gives us plenty of time to work through your list.” With an arched brow he rubbed her ass again.
She giggled at his easy demeanour.
