“Oh, I was serious alright. It’s just that with all your talk of not being a gold digger, I thought it would have been rejected yet again.”
“It’s not like that. I have to think of the greater good, and what this renovation will do for the students. I don’t consider that gold digging. The money isn’t for me.”
“So, you’re more of a martyr then? A sacrificial lamb?”
She shrugged.
I felt as if a gaping hole had opened up deep inside me. This was the last thing I had expected to hear. And as much as she tried to justify it, the bottom line was that she was willing to give herself and time in exchange for my money. It was a devastating blow to me, coupled with everything else that had come to light less than twenty-four hours ago. I leaned forward. “I have to say, I was not expecting you to have such a change of heart so soon.”
“I guess I weighed the greater good and had to make a decision to forget about how I feel personally.”
“You make it sound as though being with me is the worst thing in the world,” I responded dryly.
“Not the worst thing in the world, but with things the way they are between us, it is a bit… awkward.”
“It wasn’t awkward when I was eating you out and having you cream all over my tongue last Friday, was it?” I asked sarcastically.
Her breath came out in an annoyed rush. “Do you always have to be so crass?”
“Do you always have to be so pretentious?” I raised my eyebrows. “Come on, Sapphire. We both know that the sex between us is always fucking phenomenal. So don’t act as though you didn’t enjoy every second of what we did.”
“That’s not the point is it? You’re getting what you want. So what is the problem?”
“I didn’t say there was a problem. I’m saying don’t pretend I’m the only one who wants this.”
“But you are,” she insisted stubbornly.
“So why are you here then?”
“Because I need the money.”
“So, money in exchange for your presence in my bed. It sounds just like what it is if you ask me.”
I watched her cheeks burn and I felt not one iota of guilt at her humiliation.
Her chin lifted. “I have a few requests, though.”
“Requests?” I arched an eyebrow.
“Yes. For starters, can we keep this between us, please? I don’t want any of our family or friends to think we have rekindled our relationship or that we have a future together.”
“What else?”
“This is not an indefinite arrangement. It ends when the renovation is complete.”
“When will that be?”
“We’ve just gone on summer break and work has already begun. We’re aiming to have it done before the new school year begins.”
I smiled. “Basically, a summer fling.”
“If you want to call it that.”
“Anything else?” My voice was polite. I did not show how absolutely triumphant I felt.
She shook her head.
“Okay. Your conditions are acceptable. I have one of my own…”