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“If you weren’t a club owner, you’d probably make a good pimp, you know?”

“That wouldn’t be my career choice.”

“What would be?” I ask interested and take another gulp of my drink.

“Making great movies and asking you to be the lead actor.” The dirty connotation is unmistakable. I shouldn’t have mentioned the missing porn channel.

I grimace. “I love sex, but I wouldn’t want to make money off of it. Give it a few more days here, and I might be telling you a different story.”

“Two more days and you’ll have your fun.”

“Thanks. I owe you big time.”

“Yeah, you do. I’m most certainly not doing this for free. I mean, let’s face it, the 365 days are up. But I’ll help under one condition.”

“Which is?”

“I want you to fuck your roommate.”

My heart speeds up as Vicky’s image flashes before my eyes. “What if I don’t want to do that?”

“Then you’ll lose the bet. Remember we also agreed that I’d once get the chance to point to anyone and you’d have to fuck her. Well, I haven’t used that card yet. So here’s my condition: I want her to be the last on the list. It goes without saying that any women you might have in between don’t count. Including the dancer I’ll arrange for you to meet.” There’s a short pause, but the silence is ominous, heavy with the promise of bad news. “And Kade? I want proof.”

I let out a snort. “As if I’d ever cheat my way into winning a bet.”

“You never know. Remember the time we played cards and you kept on winning? I’ll just say, trust is earned.”

“That’s old news. I was twenty and in desperate need of quick money, seeing that I was going through a losing streak.”

“Who’s to say you’re honest now?” There is another pause. “You can come up with the kind of proof you want, as long as it’s believable.”

I close my eyes and take a breath. “What about my company? If I’m being kicked out of this place I could lose everything.”

“Then make sure you’re being discreet about it. No one needs to find out. You’ve always been very good at that.”

Until recently, when I slipped.

“I can take all the time I need?” I ask warily.

“Of course.”

This can’t be too hard.

A woman like her is in desperate need of romance and love, and I know exactly how to lavish attention on her. Besides, I can plan this carefully, make her want me with everything she’s got, and then strike on the last day, right before I leave this place.

“It shouldn’t be too difficult,” Cash says, reading my thoughts. “Most women dig bad boys. However, my gut feeling tells me that’s not what she needs. Patience is not your best virtue, so, me being your best friend and all, I suggest you play the friends card.” Short pause. “Do we have a deal?”

I let the thought sink in for a moment.

“It’s a deal. If she needs nice, I can be nice,” I say at last.