Page 83 of Bribed by the Billionaire Bad Boy

He sighs. “Okay. I think that’s enough. You should take that check on the basis of my being a jerk. And then you should listen to me.”

Why is he forcing this dang check down my throat? “Why areyou forcing this on me?”

“Because,” he says, “you do need that money, but I don’t want to be business partners anymore, and I don’t want to wait until May to tell you that. Youwantto do the play, Calypso. I know that. You embrace Harriet like you’ve known her for years, and you’ve had so much fun acting with Rebecca and me these past months. I don’t even have to worry about you continuing with the play. What I do have to worry about is kissing you while under the weight of contractual obligation.”

My breath snatches in my throat, and my eyes open, staring down at my lap, at the severance agreement, at the crisp check.

“That’s a little strange, isn’t it? Even for us,” he says.

This is because of what I said when he left my house before break? My cheeks flush. What is he…saying? I pull my gaze up, barely, just glancing at him while a stray tear falls down my cheek.

He reaches for my face, tips it up, and swipes the tear away with his thumb. “Now we can be friends, right?”

Friends?

“That…” My brows knit. “That’swhat this is about?”

“Yep.” He pulls his hand away. “Be my bud.”

I blink at him, fury rushing in to replace the fear and pain. “You seriously are going through all this trouble to befriends?”

“I thought it’d be funny. But then you started crying.”

I close the folder and hit him with it. “You’re right. I deserve this for the emotional roller coaster you just caused.”

He grins, like that was his plan all along, and I hit him again.

“What the heck,Alexander.”

Alexander, for the first time I’m flying.

“You can’t just do this to me. I thought—”

He steals the folder away from me and moves it out of reach. “That I was tired of my little sugar glider? Never. Don’t you know adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment?”

I scoff. “I amnota pet.”

He pats my head. “No? My mistake.”

Swatting his hand away, I frown as he manages to flick one of my braids. “You’re just terrible, you know that? My people are important to me. I only have two friends.”

He brightens. “See? Barely friends and already you’re saying sweet things like that.”

My eyes narrow. “Rebecca andmy mom.”

“Ouch. You know how to cut me deep, sugar. Comments like that. Ignoring me all break.” His green eyes heat, instantly beguiling. “All I had to keep me company on long, cold nights was the memory of you in my bed, tucked warm against me.”

Blood rushes to my face, and I apparently forgot how shameless he can be over break.

He chuckles, and it’s deep—almost dark villain princedeep. “Don’t worry. I’ll behave even without a contract between us. Unless, of course, you don’t want me to.” His finger lifts to skate down my cheek, and my whole body flutters in response.

“Must you be so indiscriminately flirtatious?” I manage a breath the moment he pulls away. “Every girl you talk to is going to fall in love.”

He pulls his seat belt on and tosses me the folder again, putting the car in drive and watching the road as he pulls out. “Really? ’Cause you’re the only girl I talk to, and you’ve yet to tell me you’re in love.”

Because he’s likethis. What chance does someone like me even have? “Because I’mnot,” I bluster, the lie sour on my tongue.

Is it always an act?