Page 35

Find a job.

Make sure Julian doesn’t try to stop me from volunteering.

He agreed to two days, but I saw his face when he agreed to it. It was very much anI’ll agree to get this fucking over withexpression.

“Can I have a tour?” I ask Julian when we’re in his office at the casino.

The room is tastefully designed with oak wood–paneled walls and hardwood that’s slightly darker, giving it a beautiful contrast. A desk large enough for three people sits in the middle of the room. The wet bar in the corner, a stone fireplace, and tufted cognac-brown leather furniture add to the elegance.

There are two doors, but not a single window.

We came in through a door from the outside. I can only assume the other one leads into the casino.

“No,” he says in irritation, walking behind the desk and punching a code into a drawer.

Him and his codes.

I hope he owns stock in whatever company he buys them from.

He’s probably their biggest customer.

The drawer unlocks, and he takes out two menus.

“We have a few restaurants in the casino,” he says, holding them out to me. “Pick what you want, and I’ll have it delivered to you here.”

I snag the menus on my walk to the couch and plop down. “I want you to eat lunch with me.”

“Gen, I don’tlunch. Save that for you and your girlfriends.”

“As your future baby mama, I demand you have lunch with me. No lunch, no uterus rental.” I shrug. “I didn’t make the rules. I just follow them.”

“Unfortunately for you, I don’t give a fuck about rules.” He withdraws a phone from the drawer before relocking it.

“Fine. I’ll go downstairs and eat alone then.”

“No, you won’t.” His tone is expressionless, bored almost, as if he knows he’ll win this argument. He always does with people.

Too bad I’m not justpeople.

I’m a pain in the ass.

“Then, tell whoever my bodyguard is to come here and eat with me,” I argue. “If you don’t want to share a meal with me, find me another man who will.”

His deep eyes narrow at me. “No one else is coming to my office.”

I shrug, pretending to read the menu.

“My day is full of meetings,” he adds.

“When’s the first one?”