1
VEDA
My hand trembled as I flicked open my banking app and noticed the sheer number of zeros following that first digit.
Never in my life had I seen such a large balance. I lifted my jaw back into place before looking back into the bluest eyes I'd ever seen.
"Half now… Then you produce results for me and I'll pay you in ten-percent increments for everything you give me, and when the job is complete and I finally show the board who my brother really is, you'll have the full million." Clayton Locke leans back in the booth under the harsh glow of the yellow bar light overhead.
My throat worked around the knot trying to choke me as I tried not to vomit. All of this was happening so fast.
I only met this man last night—well, talked to him, really. He'd been in this bar several times before and never said a word to me other than his drink order and to pay.
Then Regan had to open her big mouth about drunk men not tipping well.
I licked my lip and sucked in a deep breath that expanded my chest cavity, easing some of the stress of the moment. "This is… I mean…" Yes, I gave him my bank routing information because he was very convincing.
I almost thought maybe I was getting scammed, but I took the leap because who wouldn't?
A million dollars just to seduce someone's brother?
I'm not a hooker.
Please don't get me wrong. But this man was so serious about this and my college tuition was mounting to the point it made it hard to keep the lights on at times.
Working as a bartender paid the bills because I got decent tips.
But transitioning into a base pay that was half of what I made at The Pub meant not being able to afford rent, and working both jobs at once felt overwhelming.
"Yes, it's a lot of money for a woman like you." I hated the way he said that, like I was a disease or something because I wasn't rich. It was the saving grace in this strange interlude between us.
Men like Clayton were all the same, sleazy, degrading, and judgmental.
I assumed his brother would be no different, and probably pretty easy to seduce if he was a drunk like Clayton told me.
I sucked in a breath again to keep myself from snapping at him. "All I have to do is get him to sleep with me and record it?" A twinge of guilt pinched the back of my neck as I said it aloud.
Until the number appeared in my account, I really thought this was some sort of practical joke or something, but this got really real, really fast.
Clayton spun the empty whiskey tumbler on the table between us and cocked his head sideways for a second while lifting one eyebrow. "I guess maybe I can throw in something extra if you make it look like he's sexually harassing you." A devilish smirk stretched across his face as he leaned forward. "Get him to play into some dominant boss kink or something and make it good."
I knew nothing about Asher Locke except that his commercials were on television during prime time, which meant he made a lot of money.
Advertising during prime time television was expensive, and judging by the suit and tie his brother, seated across from me now, wore, it meant even his board members were well compensated.
The half-million in my account was also more proof.
"This sounds really sketchy," I admitted as I locked my phone and sighed.
Regan still hustled the bar alone while I sat here making a deal with the devil.
I would've done anything for a million dollars, but suddenly, I was having second thoughts.
Destroying a man's career and reputation seemed sadistic and unethical.
Guilt threatened to make me change my mind and send this money right back where it came from.
But the idea of paying off my college debt, getting a better apartment that wasn't so crappy in a bad neighborhood, and finally being able to transition into the job I'd been hoping to obtain since graduation last spring—all of that made it hard to say no.
