Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 32776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“Come again?”
“The mayor paid me for all my work—well, most of it,” I said. “I was working like ninety hours a week, and that was just for the image stuff. With what you’re asking for, it might be more.”
“Your payment is not spending time in prison for your extended track record of theft.”
“I’ll have to take my chances with a trial by jury then,” I said. “Or maybe we can work out a payment plan for like—the next twenty years?”
He blinked.
“Actually, since mortgages are like thirty years, can we use that time frame instead?”
“No. Have a seat, Miss Sterling.”
I didn’t move.
“Have. A. Seat.”
I finally lowered myself to the chaise and stared at the windows behind him.
“My eyes are over here, Miss Sterling,” he said. “Look at me.”
I slowly obliged, and as his eyes met mine, I was suddenly entranced and unable to focus on anything else.
“I’m not in the habit of paying people who are already in debt to me,” he said. “But since I’ve already made an exception in your case for punishment, I’ll make a second in this category as well.”
“Okay…”
“How much do you want me to pay you?”
“Enough to cover six months’ worth of expenses since I probably won’t be able to show any properties.”
“There’s no probably,” he said. “You’re banned from showing any of my listings for an entire year anyway, but I also need you to focus one hundred percent on me.”
“Okay, so…” I cleared my throat. “The same amount—six months of expenses.”
“Give me a number.” He leaned closer. “I don’t know how you live, so tell me what you cost…”
“You’re not buying me. You’re buying my work.”
“Same thing.” His lips curved into a smirk. “I still need a number.”
“I’ll need to calculate it first.”
“Can’t you do that on your phone?”
“Right.” I rummaged through my purse for it, still staring at him.
“Use it, Miss Sterling…”
“I’m trying to.”
As if he could tell his gaze was having a distracting effect on me, he walked away.
I let out a sigh of relief as I unlocked my screen.
Rent. Water. Electricity. Internet. Sewage. Phone bill. Netflix—oh no…I’m finally canceling them.
Seconds later, he handed me a chilled bottle of water before moving to a different couch.
I continued listing my expenses, feeling my eyes widen with every bill I added.
Groceries, coffee, and…How the hell have I been surviving?
“So?” He cleared his throat. “Do you have a number for me?”
A million dollars.
“Is that all?” he asked, and I realized I’d uttered that line aloud.
“I was still calculating,” I said. “I didn’t actually mean—Unless…Yes, a million dollars.”
“Okay,” he said, pulling a pen from his pocket. “One million dollars for six months of your time, and you’ll be at my beck and call as needed?”
Hell yes. “Yes.”
“Fair enough.” He scribbled something on a pad and slid it across the coffee table. “Write down your banking information and I’ll have my person handle it.”
“No, um…Can you do Cash App instead?”
“Cash what?” He stared at me like I’d started speaking another language.
“Okay, Venmo or PayPal then.” I pulled out a pen. “I’m not using a bank account right now—too many fees for low balances, and then certain companies always hit me with late penalties, you know?”
He gave me a blank stare.
“I have the same username for each one.” I reached for the pad. “I’m sure your person can figure it out.”
Shaking his head, he pulled out his phone and held it up to his ear.
“I need you to set up a bank account for a new employee today,” he said. “Can you also walk her through using one like a real adult before I make a significant deposit? Thank you.”
After hanging up, he stood and extended his hand to me.
“He’s on his way up to help you, and then one of my drivers will take you home,” he said. “I’ll call you when I’m ready for you to start.”
“I didn’t give you my phone number yet.”
“You didn’t need to,” he said, and a jolt of heat rushed through my body as his hand touched mine.
He slowly stepped back, his gaze dragging over me one last time before he finally turned away.
My heart raced in anticipation of getting paid, and minutes later one of his henchmen arrived with a briefcase.
“This won’t take longer than twenty minutes, Miss.” He smiled at me. “Let’s get this handled, shall we?”
THE AGENT
CHLOE
Later that evening
If the past eighty hours didn’t turn out to be a twisted fever dream, I was one of the luckiest girls on this planet.
No, the luckiest girl on this planet.
Point blank. Period.
I’d never been able to save more than one thousand dollars at a time, and I couldn’t fathom seeing Mr. Hudson’s offer sitting in an account just for me.
A million freakin’ dollars…
“We’ve arrived at your residence, Miss Sterling.” The driver’s voice interrupted my thoughts, and I realized he was holding the back door wide open.