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“No.”

“I kidnapped YOU. I’m in this already whether you like it or not.”

“Do you think I...your brother would want you in this life? You’re not a bad person, Olivia. This is not the life for you,” he says like he knows me.

“There are things about me you don’t know. Things I’ve done,” I lie. Honestly, I’ve had a relatively drama-free existence up until a week ago when I got this crazy idea. Now, I’m having threats to my business, and my favorite juice bar employee is trying to set me up with the guy I have chained in my basement.

“Can’t be worse than holding someone hostage.”

Why does it feel like he’s holding all the cards when he’s the one in chains?

“Let’s change the subject,” I say, done with this conversation.

“Okay. Tell me what was wrong yesterday.”

“I don’t want to talk about that.”

He says nothing, sipping slowly on the coffee. Staring at me. Damn it, I hate awkward silences.

Eventually, I sigh, and his dimple surfaces under the scruff of three days with no shaving. It only encourages me to talk.

“It’s probably silly to you, my business.”

“Why would it be silly?”

“It’s online.”

“Explain,” he demands softly.

“I have a channel, which is like a video—”

“I understand what a channel is.”

“Okay, sometimes people don’t know.” I hold my hands up in surrender.

“Older people, you mean.”

I blush. I mean he is older, but not old, as in he can’t understand what an online presence is. I remember trying to explain it to Gran before she passed, and she just thought I wasscamming people.

“I didn’t mean that you’re old. You’re just older than me, and I can’t imagine your line of work would require you to watch many fitness videos.”

“You’d be surprised, but go on.”

Okay, that’s ambiguous.

“I create exercise routines, film them, and post them online. I have a subscriber list of around 400,000 people. The videos are popular, fun, and meant to be for everyone. I try to do inclusive exercises so that if you’re not fully mobile, there’s an option for you, too.”

“That doesn’t sound silly at all, Olivia.” His eyes are fixed on mine.

I smile awkwardly.

I don’t need his approval. I don’t need his approval.

“Well, there are some other people that are also in this line of work. One in particular is not very nice or kind. Her videos are all about aesthetics, appealing to a male audience, which isn’t in itself a problem, but, well...she fat-shames people.”

“And no doubt her videos aren’t as popular as yours.”

“No, although she is growing. It's not like she’s not doing well. She’s built up a good following of around 100,000 but she’s been doing it longer than me so I think it annoys her that I have more subscribers.”