“Do you have some sort of side hustle or something?” he asked.
“Excuse me?”
“You know, to help you afford rent.”
I crossed my arms even tighter against my chest. What the hell was he implying? He should know I didn’t. Most of my time was spent here under his rule. I hardly had time for anything else.
“No, I don’t have aside hustle.”
He put his hands up in sarcastic defense, which just pissed me off even more. He thought this was funny.
“Look, if you think I’m doing some sort of under the table work…or somethingunsavory…”My voice dropped to a whisper at the last word, as I looked around as if anyone was there to hear.
He chuckled and shook his head.
“What’s so funny?” I asked coolly, studying his face for answers.
“It’s justyouare the last person I would think was doing anything unsavory. In fact, I’d bet my empire on the fact that you’ve probably never done anythingunsavoryin your life.”
“You don’t know me,” I said defensively, even though he was right.
“Okay, then tell me something you’ve done. Stolen a pack of gum when you were little? Gotten a B on your homework?” He grinned at me, seeing right through me. He was enjoying this.
“I’m not telling you anything,” I huffed.
“Because there’s nothing to tell,” he said with a cocky shrug. “You know, maybe youshould.Maybe that’s your problem.Live a little.”
I wondered what he thought this was, this thing between us. This was the craziest thing I had ever done, but I wasn’t about to admit that to him. I couldn’t give him that satisfaction.
“I don’t have a problem. I like my life just fine.” I tilted my chin up confidently.
“Uh-huh. Sure you do.” He took another sip of his drink, smiling into his glass. I hated how good he looked when he was smug. It wasn’t fair.
My eyes narrowed.
“Are you always this much of a jerk? Like, is this your thing?” I pointed my finger up and down at him.
“It’s one of my things.” He drummed his fingers on the back of the couch, dangerously close to my shoulder. His eyes fell to where we almost touched before finding mine again.
“What’s another one?” I asked.
“Pretty women like you who are easy to piss off.” He glanced away, looking into his drink he swirled in his hands.
He always had something smooth to say. Yet, I found myself wanting to know more about him, even though the more I learned seemed to infuriate me all while piquing my interest.
“There’s more to you,” I murmured softly.
“Than what?” He raised a brow, his gaze challenging mine.
“Than this whole billionaire persona you’ve got going on.”
“Sorry to disappoint, sweetheart.” His hand fell from the back of the sofa and trailed the lapel of his jacket I wore, his fingertips grazing my skin between my breasts before returning to the couch. I felt an ache at the absence of his touch.
He was trying to distract me from digging further. Someone who does that has something to hide. That was why he had such a cocky attitude. To push people away. No one could be this much of an asshole. He was trying to keep people from seeing who hereallywas, but I could see right through it.
Jeremiah had demons. I wondered what his dark secrets his past held to make him this way. Cold and unyielding. I remembered reading an article about how a large percentage of big-time CEO’s are psychopaths. Looking at him now, his eyes were dark with storms. I shuddered and stood up suddenly from the couch, aware that his jacket barely skimmed my upper thighs.
“I should go,” I said nervously.
