She shook her head. “I can’t. But...” Her gaze slid away from me, toward the door, a tell that she was feeling trapped and her subconscious was looking for a way to escape. With a heavy sigh, she forced her eyes back to mine. “I’ll do it. I’ll take on his debt.”
Just like I knew she would.
A wave of something close to disappointment rolled through me. It had been so easy to lead her into this trap. I was almost sad it hadn’t taken longer. Next time I blackmailed someone, I should drag it out more, savor the kill.
“How do you plan to pay it off?” I asked.
“In installments?” she said.
“I have a better idea. Date me instead.”
8
Stella
“Date you?”
Date him?!
Had Theo lost his fucking mind?
I looked him over. He was dressed better than the first time we’d met: light khaki pants; a white linen shirt that I could tell was expensive from the weight of the fabric; a navy blue dinner jacket that matched his boat shoes. His hair was combed back and styled in a way that would have made me want to run my fingers through it if he were anyone else. Unbidden, that ridiculously catchy song from a few summers ago popped into my head:“Trust fund. Six five. Blue eyes.”
Theo looked like he belonged in this fancy restaurant, like he was used to nice things. Like our parents went to the same country club. It made me wonder who the hell he really was. Definitely a madman, but you wouldn’t know it from the way he studied me from across the table, those stupid, pretty eyes steady and calm.
He tipped his head in the barest of nods. “Date me.”
I just stared at him, because what the fuck? There was no way he was serious. Date the man, no, thecriminalwho’d done nothing but piss me off since his first email hit my inbox. The criminal who’d come into my shop to taunt me after he’d cost my brother his entire inheritance. The criminal I now owed three million dollars to. The criminal I’d—nope. Not going there. Not thinking about the way I’d dry-humped him while his tongue did delicious, lascivious things in my mouth. This was bad enough as it was without adding humiliation to the mix.
“Why?” I blurted, so confused that for a second, I forgot to be scared.
Theo shrugged. “Because I need new clients. Specifically, wealthy ones, and a great way to get them is to rub elbows with people from yoursocioeconomic class.”
Judging by his tone, there was an insult buried there, and I didn’t like it. “My socioeconomic class is the one of barely-above-water small business owners.”
He shook his head, a subtle smile playing about his lips. “The one you were born into, Stella.”
I shivered, hating the sound of my name on his lips. “The only people I see from that class are my parents, and there’s no way I’m introducing you to them.”
Despite his lingering grin, something malicious sparked in his eyes. “I’m not good enough to meet Mommy and Daddy?”
“No, you fucking asshole.”
I could tell the second the words were out of my mouth that it had been the wrong thing to say. Theo’s smile disappeared, replaced by something cold and malevolent. Something that finally made me realize the gravity of my situation. Until now, I’d been thinking of him as an obnoxious gym bro, because that’s how he’d presented himself. But this new darkness made me realize he’d acted that way on purpose, to lull me into complacency so I wouldn’t see the dagger hidden behind his back.
What had Blake said to me the other night? That Mr. Strickland always collected his debts. That he’d go to any extremes to do so. That he was ruthless. Morally bankrupt. Soulless.
Instead of insulting him, I should be ingratiating myself to him, getting on his good side so he wouldn’t feel the need to further prove what a bastard he really was. Apologizing for my last comment would be a good start, but no matter how hard I tried to force the words, they wouldn’t come. My stubbornness had reared its ugly head, going to war with my logic, and we were stuck in suspended silence.
“Unfortunately,” he said, “you’re not in a position to tell me ‘no.’ So, yes, you will introduce me to your parents and all their fancy friends. We’ll go to their parties together, their charity fundraisers. And while we’re there, I’ll discreetly gather new clients.”
Why?I wanted to demand. Why my brother, why me, why my parents and their “fancy friends”? This all felt like some sort of setup, like Theo had laid a trap for me that I’d blundered straight into. If it were one, I’d be an idiot to let on that I was suspicious of a greater scheme. Plus, it was doubtful he’d answer my questions anyway, so I kept them to myself, fighting a mix of rage and fear, feeling like a caged rat with nowhere to go. Because he was right. I couldn’t say no to him. Not without discovering the depths of his ruthlessness. And I wasn’t willing to risk my brother’s future just to slake my curiosity.
“How will dating you clear my debt?” I asked, glad my voice sounded steadier than I felt.
“By making me more money,” he said. “Your peers have deep pockets and generational ennui. My illegal games are just the thing to bring a little excitement back into their monotonous lives. Their debts will clear yours.”
“And I’m free once they spend three million dollars?”
