Chapter 5
Scarlett
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“Iwasn’t sure whatkind you meant-” Malcom sets a backpack at my feet before leaning down to kiss the top of my head “-so I got a little of everything. In hindsight, I should have just asked, but I had a sneaking suspicion you’d lie.”
Warily, I set my book beside me on the couch before unzipping the bag. “I need to be more careful what I say in the future, don’t I?”
He shifts between his feet. “I might have gotten a little carried away, I admit, but I figured better too much than not enough. And if any of it’s wrong, I can return or donate it. But I figured you have to be bored while I’m gone all day, so this might help.”
I pull out various handheld gaming systems, along with a stack of games. Once I free up some space in the bag, I’m able to withdraw the laptop, a wireless mouse tucked into the side pocket on the outside of the backpack.
“I’m pretty sure the contents of this bag could pay someone’s rent for a year back home.” Shaking my head in awe, I sift through the games, smiling as it’s clear that either he has good taste, or more likely, his personal shopper does. Flipping open the laptop, I manage to snatch the credit card before it clatters to the ground, passing it back to him. “Be more careful with this thing, people suck. If someone finds it, they won’t hesitate to bleed you dry.”
A weighted pause passes before we both start laughing at the terrible analogy and he gently pushes it back towards me. “I’m not familiar with online gaming, but don’t you need to buy it straight from the device you’re going to download it onto? Or for the-” he wavers a hand, searching for the right word “-extra packs?”
My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. “Expansion packs, yep. And other various add-on gear, but I wouldn’t feel right racking up charges on your card.”
His gaze flits to the card and back to my face, expression unreadable. Nervously, I glance down to see my name printed out in tiny silver letters on the sleek black card. Well,halfof my name. Before I can get a word in, he blurts, "Don't be mad, just hear me out!"
Pressing my lips together in a firm line, I gesture for him to proceed. Rushing out a breath, he takes up a seat beside me.
"Ultimately, the end game is for Archer, Evie, and I to work out a way vampires will be accepted back into society. But... we have no idea how long something like that might take, though you know full well it won't be overnight. Maybe not even in our lifetime. If something were to happen to me, I need to make sure you'll still be taken care of. So over the last few months, I needed to putsomethinginto motion so I could help you."
Exhaling a long breath through my nose, I relent, "And Scarlett Anderson is officially dead as far as government offices are concerned. If I were to pop up now, there'd be an investigation, and that's the wrong group of people we want controlling how information about vampires is released to the public since all of the agencies are run by ninety percent humans."
He tries to keep the pity from his face, but fails. "So these last few months I've been working on setting you up with a fake identity."
I raise an eyebrow. "A fake identity that already married you."
He gives me a repentant half-smile, pleading for understanding. "Only on paper to make everything easier. It means I was able to have your name added to my accounts, so even if I were to get hit by a car or stroke out in my sleep, you'd have the means to stay in the penthouse where you're safe and get anything you needed delivered. A precaution, that's all. It's not me pressuring you for anything you're not ready for, and fuck, even if youneveraccept this thing between us, your name will stay on the accounts so I know you'll be taken care of no matter what. It was simply... practical."
Pursing my lips, I mull it all over. He isn’twrong,but he was still hiding it until now because he knew I’d be upset by it.He could have left his own credit card in the computer, though. He was trying to open up a conversation about this now that things have been better between us, attempting to soften the blow with a backpack full of gifts. There really isn’t any good solution in this sort of uncharted territory, is there? And I can’t really bemadthat he’s trying to make sure I have access to money so I’m not screwed.
“How do I pay off the balance at the end of the month?”
Physically slumping in relief, he tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. “No need, the accountant handles all of that.”
Running my tongue over my teeth, I remind myself that this is a good thing. Sweet, even, because I see where he was coming from with arranging it. I’m not angry that fake me is already married to him, I’m on the verge of throwing up to think of how much more I owe him now. I can’t do anything to pull my own weight or pay him back, and no blow job is worth half of a multi-billion dollar corporation.
“Monthly budget, then? Card limit?” His gaze darts to the side guiltily, causing mine to close in defeat. “Okay.”Just because it’s more than I can comprehend doesn’t mean I need to spend it.“Thank you.”
