“Yeah, of course.”
Anthony Voss:
Wow. You’ve wounded me, princess.
You were the one who went from angry to putty in less than ten seconds the moment I touched you.
Which one of us is really talking a big game?
Heat rushes to my face, but I force it down. I quickly type back a reply before Angela notices the look on my face.
Me:
I talk a big game because it’s what I’m trained to do. Especially for you.
Anthony Voss:
Did they train you to put your tongue over your bottom teeth when my thumb is in your mouth, or is that just experience?
Jesus fucking Christ.
Anthony Voss:
I won’t lie to you. I’m getting antsy.
Have you made a decision, or do I need to start thinking of other options?
My stomach does a full-on backflip.
I hate the idea of that the second I read it. I hate what it implies. I hate the thought of him looking for another woman, someone else to sleep with, someone else to get pregnant. There’s not a part of me that would ever consider telling him that, but dear God, I don’t want him to do any of that.
I want him to touch me again. I want what he put in that goddamn contract. And more than anything, I want the perks.
Angela comes back and sets my coffee in front of me, collapsing into her chair. She has a look of concern and worry permanently etched into her features. That’s when I know my answer, and it’s the easiest thing to decide.
Me:
You need to take a deep breath and chill out. It’s been a day.
I’ll sign it and get it to you tonight
“April?”
“Yeah?” I ask, my eyes flicking up to her as I shove my phone in my pocket.
“You okay?”
No, not even a little.“Fine,” I lie, forcing a smile. “I just have some work I need to finish tonight. Will you be okay if I take off a little early? I’ll stay for a coffee, but I’ve got to go after.”
She nods, sighing. “You’re always working.”
“Yeah, well,” I shrug. “Just try not to worry about the money stuff for now. I meant it when I said I’ll handle it.”
————
When I finally get to lie down on my own couch in my pajamas, it’s heaven. I have a trashy reality show on in the background, but now I feel like I can breathe. My laptop is on my chest, and the light from the screen is harsh, but I don’t care. My fingers hover before I finally clicksendon the press release I finished on the metro. Then, with slightly shaking hands, I open the updated contract Anthony sent me. Two million for the first payment, within forty-eight hours.
Angela needs it now.
