Page 7 of Bribed by the Billionaire Bad Boy

“I just wanted to talk to you after I heard you this morning and discovered you were in my class. I’d not expected you to respond with the actual lines at all. I was being arrogant.” He flutters his fingers, merrily. “Making an impression.”

At least he can admit his arrogance. I’m not sure if knowing his own arrogance makes it more or less tolerable, though.

“You’ve blown my expectations out of the water, and I’m convinced.”

I swallow. “Of what?”

“That we’re alike.”

A laugh bursts out of me. “Oh really?”

“You think just anyone could memorize the whole first half of the script in the time we did? You think anyone is capable of responding as in character as you did, at a moment’s notice? Even just now, how many seconds did it take you to calculate how much I was offering? You didn’t even flinch.”

“How many seconds did it take me to do basic math?” I deadpan, wincing. Because he is delusional and off about pretty much everything.

I’m not anything special like him if he really did memorize the whole first half of that script in a single class period. No, I’ve had far longer to memorize that whole stupid thing.

Obviously I have.

After all, I’m the one who wrote it.

Lex

~~~~~~~~~~~~

She, Calypso, is far more interesting than my brief, distant brush with her this morning could have possibly suggested. I peer down at her kneeling in the grass and sending me what I can only assume is her worst evil eye.

It isn’t even all that bad, practically a pout.

One thing remains clear.

Sheisa genius.

And not just a genius at pretending like me.

“No,” she states, offering me the money again.

I still don’t take it.

“I don’t know what kind of fancy rich person drugs you’re on, but no. I’m not going to accept whateverthisis. I don’t like the way you’re looking at me like I’m some kind of exotic creature.”

She is kind of like an exotic creature, isn’t she? Maybe a cute sugar glider with the way she dove after that money just now.

I stuff my hands in my pockets. “What’s holding you back? Pride?”

Calypso snorts. “Right. No. I don’t really have the luxury of that.”

“Then you really aren’t interested in this job offer? No matter how you look at it, the rehearsal time will overlap with class. I’d be paying you to do your courses. You’d gain free time and lose nothing.”

“I am not getting on a stage in front of a thousand people.”

Severalthousand, actually. But that detail will be wholly unhelpful in this moment. “In that case, get on a stage in front of a class who has just now already seen your secret skill, and if you really can’t perform opening night, I can teach you how to make your voice sound like you’re dying from illness.” As I say so, Imorph my tone into the rough, weak sound of a man struggling for his final breath. Clearing my throat like nothing happened, I shrug. “Understudy fills in. Can’t exactly ask you to make up opening night or penalize you for catching the flu.”

She stares at me, and it seems almost like she’s convinced, before she shakes her head, and the blaze of red that keeps flaring to life in her cheeks comes again. “I still don’t understand why you’re doing this. It has to be a prank.”

“I’m a rich jerk with unique interests. Be grateful they aren’t as lewd as they could be.” I hold back a laugh when her eyes widen, and even I can admit I’m teasing her now. I continue, “If you’re so concerned about this being a prank, I’ll have a contract drawn up before we have to audition Friday. We can get it notarized at the bank down the street after class Wednesday. I’ll give you until then to decide and leave you with my down payment as a bonus for taking up your time now.”

Her focus lands on the bills in her hand, and I can’t for the life of me understand why she is still on the ground. Even if there is something adorable about the baffled way she can’t exactly bring herself to stand.