Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Sofia handed him a menu and stood behind me. “She looks just like you when you were in high school,” he noted.
“Stay the hell away from my little sister,” I barked.
“Catty. You’ve always been a fighter, Addie,” he chuckled.
“I'm glad I entertain you,” I grimaced.
“See, that’s the thing, Addie, you entertain the hell out of me and I don’t know why.” He peered at me like I had the answer.
“Trust me if I knew why, I would gladly change my personality to have you stop appearing in my life,” I said bitterly.
“See, a fighter,” he smiled pointing at me. “So is that why?” He asked putting the menu down and folded his arms. His muscular arms rippled through his long sleeve, light blue shirt which seemed a little too tight for him.
“What?” I asked.
“Why you’re working at Darren’s bar? Is it to pay for your sister to go to school?” He waited for my answer.
“You’re what?” Sofia shouted. “Addie, you’re not working another job are you?” she looked at me with her eyes wide. Damn! There was the fucking guilt I didn’t want her to feel.
“Go in the back,” I said calmly to her.
“Addie?” She challenged.
“Go in the back now,” I snapped, my eyes now zeroing in on Daimon as she left.
“What the fuck is your problem? What is it to you what I do? Why do you fucking care?” I screamed, questioning him. At that very moment, I was happy not one customer was in the place. He sat there, not moving an inch, as he watched me. “For fuck’s sake what do you want?” I gave up and asked.
“Sit.” He nudged his head to the seat in front of him. I sat down and waited. “I’ll pay for Sofia’s first semester, if you do me a favor,” he smiled softly.
“Which is?” I hissed.
“You hang out with me, whenever and however I want,” he said bluntly.
“What?” I asked incredulously.
“I'm in a bit of a predicament and I think your temperament is perfect for what I want,” he admitted.
“Which is what exactly?”
“Well, you act like you like me and we pretend we’re dating. You see, having a lot of money doesn’t allow you the freedom you think it does. Try as I might and you know how much of an asshole I can be, my father is insisting I marry Clara Stevens. You remember her, right?” he asked still watching my intently.
Of course, I remember her. She tormented me in high school. She claimed to love him beyond anything and that I was in the way. Clara’s family was big in real estate and owned most of the waterfront properties.
“Yes. She sounds faintly familiar,” I muttered.
“I'm glad you remember everyone but me,” he pretended to pout.
“You can’t be serious? You’re almost thirty-years-old,” I laughed. “Mommy and daddy get to choose who you marry?” I mocked.
“Yes actually or else I get cut off. The thing is I'm trying to break out on my own so I still need my father for now. Once I have what I need, I'm gone and my father trying to control me is over,” he bit out. “It’s only until my company gets off the ground, once it happens, they are gone and I'm gone from your life. Just say yes and I’ll make your life easier,” he said bluntly.
“And if I don’t? What then?” I asked knowing there was always a catch with him.
“You will or else I’ll make your life a living hell,” he said in a severe tone.
“I'm going to have to think about it.” I hated myself for even considering it, but the tips weren’t nearly enough to get my sister into Yale.
“Okay, let’s pretend you’re thinking about it,” he said in air quotes, “and then come to me tomorrow with your answer.” His barely there beard made his chiseled face seem like he was a model. Too bad he was Lucifer in designer clothing.
“Your cell,” he extended his hand. I reached in my back pocket and gave it to him. “What the hell is this?” he laughed.
“My cell phone,” I said proudly. I couldn’t afford a smart phone and there was no shame in it.
“It looks like the one you had in high school.” His smile disappeared as he looked over it.
“So?” I looked at him bitterly. He punched in his number and handed it back to me.
“Tomorrow,” he smiled.
“We’ll see,” I bit back.
“Sure, Addie. We’ll see.”
TOMORROW
Tomorrow was upon me. I spent the whole of last night thinking about what he said. I left my room and a sleeping Sofia and went to the bathroom. I began to sob quietly. The stress of everything was getting to me. I took the towel and bit down on it, afraid I might make a sound. Why? Why was everything so hard? I hated Daimon. I hated him and how miserable he made my life in high school. Now here he was again, ready to do the same thing to me as an adult. I kept crying, knowing he was right and that I would accept his proposition.