A long pause stretched out on the phone. I'd called her bluff. She didn’t think people like me apologized for anything. Little did she know I had no shame left. She was right, anyway. I was an ass.
“You didn’t deserve that kind of behavior,” I continued. “I won’t act that way again.”
I stood up, pacing the floor. “So, what time can I expect you tomorrow?”
“Oh, that had nothing to do with coming back.”
I paused in my walking. Clever fucking girl.
“An apology was the baseline," she said airily. "Now that that’s done, I think our business is concluded.”
I held my breath. Saying nothing usually led to something better than trying to fill space. But it was a risk in this instance.
The seconds ticked by. I looked at my screen. The call was still connected. My lips twisted. She was curious. I could almost hear her frustration tick. Just like that, I had footing again.
“Are you still there?” she finally asked.
“Are you finished?”
I heard a sharp intake of breath.
I was being cocky. The last gamble had paid off, but I needed to watch myself. I was still on the weak side of the negotiating stick.
“Am I finished?” I heard that fire in her voice again. I quite liked it. Loved it, actually.
“MisterMitchell. You’re stunned as me arse.”
Now I grinned fully, but once again struck it from my face and voice. “Fifty thousand.” I began walking again.
“Excuse me?”
I paced the length of the pool. “It’s not always about the money, Ms. Chalmers. But I’m sure you could figure out what to do with fifty thousand dollars.”
A few seconds passed. Finally, she said, “You’re not kidding, are you?” She couldn’t hide the incredulity in her voice.
“Do I sound like I kid?”
She blew a little huff of air out her lips, and for a moment, I could see them. Pillowy pink and cussing me out. Too good.
Not what this call was about.
“Mr. Harrington. Do you have any idea how obnoxious it is for you to even suggest that?”
“Everyone could find something to do with fifty thousand dollars.”
“Even you?”
“Probably.”
She scoffed. “You probably make that much scratching your ass in the morning.”
“To be fair, I only need to think about scratching my ass for those numbers to go up.”
“Unbelievable,” she said.
Was that a breath of laughter I’d heard in her voice? Maybe. Maybe not. I smiled, though, thinking of it. Then my eyes drifted up to the pool house. The smile dropped. This conversation was fun. Too fun. I reminded myself that playing with her wasn't why I wanted her over. I switched tacks. This time, to honesty.
“You won’t have to see me at all. But I can’t have anyone else here. I need…” I squatted down, then dropped onto my ass. I lay back on the hard deck and swallowed. “I need you, Winona.”
