Chapter 0115

Kent can’t help enjoying the way his stomach twists when he sees Fay like that, frozen in the chair

before him, her mouth slightly agape, her sapphire eyes wide with shock. A curl of her unruly red hair

has fallen lose of its messy ponytail and into her face. He presses his hands harder against the desk,

avoiding the ridiculous urge to reach forward and brush it behind her ear.

He knew she’d react like this, of course – he’d arranged it so she would. Yes, he made all of his

previous girlfriends sign NDA’s, and he’d treated their relationships in many ways as business

relationships. However, he’d never started the relationship that way. The fact was that he’d lost control

too many times with this girl – that disaster of an interrogation in the basement, punching that kid at the

stables –

Even kissing her last night – it had had the desired effect of showing her that he was in control, but

damn it, had he even meant for it to go that far? He had wanted to keep kissing her, had had to tear

himself away.

No, he had to get control back. Now. And he had learned that shock and embarrassment was one way

to knock Fay off her game. He won either way in this situation – if she refused him, he’d have put her in

her place. But, on the rare chance that she agreed to it…

Well. Two birds with one stone.

Fay was still staring at him, completely blindsided, as he leaned further forward across the desk. “It’s a

good deal Fay,” he assured her, holding her gaze. “Almost as good as the one I gave Fiona. You should

take it.”

His words wake her up then, a little pulse passing through her as she blinks and focuses on him.

Suddenly, rage lights her face and she crumples the contract in her hands. Kent can’t help the smirk

that quirks the corners of his lips. Frankly, he likes her all riled up.

“You pig,” she snarls, pushing her chair away from her as she jumps to her feet. “I would never be your

whore – never –“

“Not a whore, Fay,” Kent interrupts, standing up and crossing his arms, looking at her levelly. “It’s a

position with respect – just with some legal ties attached, and some financial incentives for you. I’ve

done this many times and the women with whom I’ve had previous contracts will tell you that it was a

generous arrangement -”

“Oh?” she bites back. “Would Fiona say that? Fiona, who showed up in my room at midnight with a

black eye? Would she call you generous?”

Kent lowers his brows at her, letting her know she’s on dangerous ground “Fiona betrayed me, Fay. I

would not suggest you follow her path.”

“Oh, I don’t think you have to worry about that,” she snaps, her eyes narrowed in rage. “I would never

be your girlfriend. Not in a million years.”

He smiles at her magnanimously, leaning forward and speaking in kind tones, like you would to a child.

“You’re upset, Fay. Why don’t you take some time to think it over? Really consider the offer.”

She says nothing, just glares at him like she’d like to rip his heart out before spinning and stalking from

the room.

________________________

I could kill him, I think, my teeth clenched, my lips pressed to a thin line. Absolutely murder him. My

eyes flick to the kitchen door as I storm towards the garage. For a second I think about all the sharp

knives in that kitchen that would help me do the job, but then I push the thought out of my mind. Kent

deserves a far worse death than that. Something medieval. Boiled alive in a vat of tar, or –

I slam into someone’s chest as I push through the door to the garage, someone trying to come into the

house just as I’m leaving it. I give a little shriek, pulled from my murderous thoughts and whipping my

head up to see –

My frown deepens when I see who is standing before me.

Jerome.

“Fay!” he gasps, reaching out his hands to steady me after almost knocking me over. “Are you okay?

What are you –“

“You’re an asshole too!” I shout, pushing his hands off my shoulders and impulsively shoving him in the

chest. He stumbles a few steps back, his face shocked.

“Wha – what?” he asks, his brows drawn together. “What did I –“

“You know what you did,” I snap, advancing on him and pointing an accusing finger in his face. “You

pretended to like me – you flirted with me, and this whole time you were sleeping with –“

“Fay!” Jerome hisses, looking around wildly and lunging forward to grab my arm. “Would you shut up?”

I press my lips shut, feeling suddenly guilty as I realize that in my rage I almost betrayed Daniel for the

second time today. Jerome is right – in this house, you never know who is listening. Still, it doesn’t

make him any less of a dick.

“Get off of me,” I demand, my teeth clenched as I shake his hand free. “And get me keys to one of the

cars!”

“What?” He asks, baffled.

“Fay,” Jerome’s voice is gentle after a moment of hesitation and I open my eyes to look at him.

Concern is written all over his face. “I’m so sorry, Fay – please –“

I can’t help the tears that slide down my face then, and I feel all of the strength go out of me. “Please,

Jerome,” I beg, shaking my head. “Just get me the keys – I need to get out of here –“

He hesitates, glancing towards the door, but then he nods. “All right, Fay,” he agrees, perhaps feeling

bad for wrapping me up in his lies. “Just – don’t run away forever. He’ll find you. Just -take the Prius,

and go somewhere and cool down.”

“Fine,” I mutter, brushing my hands across my cheeks to clear my tears. Jerome nods and goes over to

the metal case where the keys to all the cars are kept, unlocking it and handing met a set. “The purple

one, in the corner,” he says gently. “Can you…can you drive?”

He’s fine with it if I steal his car and leave without another word.

He knows I’ll be back.