Chapter 74
Maya's POV:
I woke up yawning and shuffled into the living room, only to freeze when a voice called out from the couch.
"Morning."
I'd almost forgotten Adam spent the night here.
He was still sprawled on the sofa—or trying to. The thing was way too small for him. His long legs hung over the armrest, one foot nearly touching the floor. He couldn't have slept well.
Amy appeared in the hallway, wrapped in her blanket like a tiny burrito. When she spotted Adam, her face lit up.
"Mr. Sterling! You slept here?"
Adam sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. "Yeah. Because I didn't have a bed."
He glanced at me.
I looked away and headed for the bathroom.
When I came out, I went straight to the kitchen to start breakfast. Adam followed.
I was cracking eggs into a bowl when he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. His chin rested on my shoulder.
"Do you have a spare toothbrush?" he murmured. "And maybe a towel?"
I went stiff. I wasn't used to this—this casual intimacy, like we were still together.
I shoved his chest. "Get out."
He let go, grinning.
I dug through the hall closet and found a new toothbrush and hand towel. I shoved them at him without meeting his eyes.
"Thanks." He took them, still smiling, and disappeared into the bathroom.
I went back to the kitchen.
Amy was in a great mood all morning. She kept running in and out of the kitchen, chattering like a little bird. I watched her and knew exactly why she was so happy.
Adam was here.
---
After breakfast, I finally worked up the nerve to ask.
"Adam... can you do me a favor?"
He raised an eyebrow. "That's rare. What is it?"
"Can you watch Amy today? I have... something I need to do."
His expression went cold. "What kind of something?"
I didn't answer.
"You're not going on a date, are you?"
"No."
"Maya—"
"I'm not," I snapped. "If you don't want to help, I'll just drop her off at—"
"I'll do it." He cut me off. "I'll take her back to my place. I'll bring her home tonight."
I blinked. "Thank you. I really—"
"On one condition." Adam's voice turned firm.
I tensed. "What?"
"Send me your Venmo."
"What? Why?"
"The car compensation. A hundred and twenty thousand. You're taking it."
"Send me your payment link, or I'm not taking Amy."
I stared at him. "You're blackmailing me?"
"Call it whatever you want." His expression didn't change. "Deal or no deal?"
Amy tugged on his jacket. "Mr. Sterling, are we going now?"
He glanced down at her, then back at me. Waiting.
I clenched my fists. Unbelievable.
"Fine." I yanked out my phone and pulled up my Venmo. "But this is ridiculous."
"Noted."
I sent him the link.
A few seconds later, my phone buzzed.
+$120,000
I stared at the screen, my breath catching.
One hundred and twenty thousand dollars.
My entire savings account didn't even have twelve thousand. Hell, my bank account had never seen a number like this in my life.
"Holy shit," I whispered.
"Come on, Amy. Let's go." Then he left, Amy's hand in his, before I could say another word.
---
I got up and started cleaning. I scrubbed the bathroom, vacuumed the living room, wiped down the kitchen counters, and mopped the floors. By the time I finished, it was almost noon.
My phone rang.
"Maya!" Chloe's voice was bright. "What are you doing for lunch? I'm thinking about crashing at your place for free food."
I smiled. "Let's go out. My treat."
"Your treat?" She sounded suspicious. "Did you rob a bank?"
"Kind of." I laughed. "I'll explain when I see you."
"Wait—where's Amy?"
"Adam took her."
There was a pause.
"So you're home alone?"
"Yeah."
"Oh my God. Yes." Chloe's voice turned gleeful. "Get dressed. We're going out for seafood. I hate eating at fancy restaurants alone, but two people? That's a whole vibe."
---
Chloe picked me up twenty minutes later in her BMW. I climbed into the passenger seat, and she immediately raised an eyebrow.
"Okay. Spill. Why are you suddenly flush with cash?"
"Adam got me a hundred and twenty thousand in compensation for the car accident."
Chloe nearly drove off the road.
"What?!" She gaped at me. "A hundred and twenty grand?! For a Toyota?!"
"I know."
"Jesus Christ." She laughed. "That man is insane. Rich people are something else."
I leaned back in my seat, grinning. "Yeah. They really are."
---
We went to a seafood restaurant Chloe found online. The reviews were great, and the food didn't disappoint. We ordered lobster rolls, clam chowder, fried calamari, and a seafood tower that cost more than my weekly grocery budget.
I didn't care.
After lunch, we hit the mall. Chloe dragged me into store after store, and I ended up buying two outfits for myself—both on clearance.
Then we went to the kids' department.
I bought Amy three new outfits without even checking the price tags.
Chloe shook her head, laughing. "You spent twenty minutes debating whether to buy yourself a $15 shirt, but you just dropped $200 on kids' clothes without blinking."
I shrugged. "When you have a kid, you'll understand."
"Yeah, no thanks." Chloe made a face. "I'd rather keep my money and my freedom. One person, zero responsibilities. That's the dream."
I didn't argue. Everyone had their own path.
---
By the time we got back to the car, I was exhausted.
"Let's go home," I said, sinking into the seat. "I'm dead."
"Go home? Hell no." Chloe grinned and turned the car in the opposite direction. "We're going out."
"Chloe—"
"Trust me."
---
She drove us to a bar in the Seaport District.
I stared at the neon sign above the door. "Why are we here?"
"To drink." Chloe grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. "Come on."
"I don't drink."
"I know. I'll drink. You can just... I don't know. Find a hot guy or something."
The bar was loud. Music blasted from the speakers, and people were packed shoulder to shoulder, laughing and shouting over the noise.
I hated it immediately.
But Chloe was already pulling me toward the bar, ordering tequila shots like it was her birthday.
---
Half an hour later, Chloe was deep in conversation with some guy in a leather jacket. He had dark hair, a nice smile, and was clearly into her.
I sat a few stools down, nursing a Coke and wishing I were home.
Then I saw it.
The guy reached for Chloe's arm.
I shot to my feet.
"Hey." I stepped between them, blocking his path. "Where are you taking her?"