Fury rises within me. I’m clearly never beating the dictionary allegations, but I answer, nonetheless. “Heat energy flows from a hot body to a cold body.”
“And according to you, what’s the cold body in this scenario?”
“The coffee cup.”
He steps back, wearing a satisfied smile. “You can thank me for warming it up.”
I deadpan. Did this man just use the laws of physics to inadvertently call himself hot?
Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
I’m trying my absolute hardest to collect myself, but it’s a challenge. Something about this Nate guy that makes me want toscream!
“I’d argue you made it colder,” I reason, trying to meet him with that same smugness.
He points at the cup, lookingawfullypleased with himself. “There’s steam rising out of the spout.”
Cocky. Pompous. Conceited. There aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe this man.
“Why are you here?” I walk to the other end of the kitchen to escape his negative energy. “And how did you find me?”
He ignores the most pressing question and decides to focus on the first.
“I have a proposition.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t take propositions from people like you.”
Nate remains straight-faced and seemingly unfazed. “It’s unusual, but I need you to hear me out.”
I shoot him the side-eye, not liking how he’s taking his sweet time—and, as a result,mine.
“Cut to the chase already.”
My lips hover over the rim of the coffee cup, its rising steam filling the air with the most delicious aroma. I’m preparing myself to take my first small sip when—
“Fake an engagement with me for the next six months, and I’ll cover the cost of your PhD.”
My teeth clash against the cup, and an abundance of scalding liquid burns my lip. I flinch at the contact, the sting lingering long after I’ve set my drink down.
“You’re kidding me!” I almost laugh.
Emphasis onalmost.
April Fool’s Day was five months ago. These kinds of jokes are not welcome in September.
“Unfortunately, or fortunately—depending on how you see it—I’m not joking. You need me as much as I need you. I know about the grant your PI lost and the limited funding in your lab. I know firsthand how expensive science and research are. You won’t achieve your full potential if your situation doesn’t improve.”
His words are calm. Affirmative. And by the look on his face, he knows he hit the spot.
But how did he find this out in the first place? And what does he mean by he knows firsthand how expensive research is? My mind is spinning in circles, turning in roller-coaster-worthy loops. Endless questions cross my mind before I settle on the same conclusion.
I shake my head at my momentary lapse in judgment. “No.” I can’t genuinely be considering this. “Absolutely not.”
“Vivienne.” His tone is a desperate plea. “I hate to admit it, but I can’t do this without you. The news that came out about us—”
My eyes widen at the implication. “What news?”
Nate lets out a sigh, hand running down the stubble on his face. For some strange reason, he looks more like the man I met outside the coffee shop than the one from the fountain. It’s crazy how a little facial hair can transform someone’s appearance.
