The phrase causes me to snort with amusement. “I barely survive day to day. No one’s claiming I’m smart.”
“Pity.” He tilts his head to the side, eyes wandering before they snap back to my face. “I went to school with your father, you know. He was a goddamn genius. Must’ve hurt to give birth to two loser kids.”
The blow lands and I can tell from his widening smirk he sees it. But when he speaks again, his voice is softer, the query out of left field. “How is Maddox?”
My eyes narrow, wondering if it’s a new trick, but his expression is sincere. “He’s even angrier than you are and far less skilled at hiding it.”
“Did he really burn that place with the people still in it?”
“Forty and no one will ever hear the truthful answer, not even you.”
He straightens, moving behind his desk again and bending to reach into the drawer. “Fifty, you and your brother go, and if my son ever tracks you down, you’ll keep our shared history private.”
Ah, yes. I wondered when that would pop into the conversation. “Shared history is such a fancy way to say you paid me to suck you off.”
I expect the phrase to jump him to another level of anger, but he takes it with no outward sign. “Do we have a deal?”
We would have had a deal back at twenty. I’m alarmed at how easily I got him to a larger figure, then the realisation socks home again. This is a lot of money tome. It’s a lot of money to anyone who lives where I live. Who was raised the way I was raised.
This is nothing to Blaine. Literally, nothing.
“I think I’m good for your son.” My voice is so small, he leans forward to hear it.
Memories crowd my head. Maddox holding my hand that first night, frowning at the contact like he’d never touched a girl before. From my vantage point now, I know he probably hadn’t.
Then it changes to this morning, as he made me come three times with a toy buried inside me and his attentive eyes fixed on me throughout, visually soaking up every drop of my arousal, my stimulation, my completion, the drowsy weight of my limbs afterwards as I came close to dozing before he spun the settings on his phone to begin the adventure all over again.
“A shop assistant called the bank rather than let you use his card, even though it lost him hundreds in commission. Even the lowliest shoe store clerk doesn’t think you’re right for my son. In a month’s time, neither will he.”
A month. It’s only been that long since we first met. A blip on the radar, a loving, heavenly blip that’s challenged and scared me and ultimately turned into something far more rewarding than I could dream.
I don’t want to go, my heart is miserable at the thought of never seeing Maddox again, but the choice is out of my hands. If I told him about this meeting, it might make him hate his dad but nothing more.
I’ve lived near rich men for long enough to learn if someone of Blaine’s means wants me gone, that’s what will happen. My preferences don’t matter.
In a softer voice, Blaine adds, “I’m doing you a favour. Once I explain about Ant, you won’t have a friendship. Not unless you’re willing to sacrifice your brother to be with Maddox. At least this way, you get paid for your time. Stay and you won’t have my son or the money, I’ll see to that.”
And I don’t have to look him in the eye to know he means it.
In this stifling room, I finally admit I’ve been falling in love with Maddox from the very first moment, but the man opposite me smothers any hope we can have a future.
When my fingers close around the stack of money, Blaine’s smirk changes into a wide shit-eating grin. He pats his thighs, flicking his fingers towards his zipper. “Why not give me a parting gift, for old times?”
I don’t bother to hide my shudder of revulsion. “Because you’re three times my age and your junk tastes rank?”
He’s around the desk, lifting and body slamming me face first against the wall before I register the change in position, gripping my hair like a leash. My cheek squashes against the frosted glass, pinned in place as he presses against me from behind.
I panic, feeling light-headed. My body shakes with loathing. I know better than to goad him but can’t help myself, it’s the only power I have left.
“There’s no need to be rude,” he whispers while grinding his hard cock against me. I close my eyes, wishing I could sew my stupid mouth shut. I could have declined politely and already been out the door.
“You know, your son told me I remind him of Addie.” My eyes open a sliver as I twist around to face him, gauging his reaction. “Is that why you want to fuck me?”
His fingers close around my throat, the thumb digging into my windpipe, making me wince. I fight against the urge to struggle, knowing movement might set him off, could make it worse.
Blaine’s exhalation is hot, condensing on the side of my cheek. He pushes away from the wall, turning slightly aside so I have a path to freedom. His hand pats my cheek, the gesture mocking, before he returns to his seat.
I collect the money, shoving half into my bag, the rest deep into my pocket.
