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Oh ht now?

As he spoke, esture of sha it behind my ears, I looked back across the table at Grey The soft a in Chef Claude’s reflected in his nor them with a cinnamon-like hue

“Maddie?” he said, as I stared at him, wordless “Are we okay? We understand each other?”

His words snapped me out of my trance and I nodded “Yes Thank you, Grey”

He s the check “Don’t et soive you so you the full areed on”

Feeling as if this ood a chance as any to show him some appreciation, I politely refused “I couldn’t, Grey Really Not after what you’ve offered I wouldn't feel right about it”

As he signed the check, he shook his head Without looking up at me, he replied, “Don’t be ridiculous Maddie I insist and I won’t take ‘‘no’ for an answer”

In desperate need of the cash, I decided to take Grey up on his offer and ten minutes later, I stood in the foyer of his suite while he disappeared into the bedrooet his checkbook As he walked away, the hard soles of his loafers clopped along the floor offering the only sound in an otherwise quiet moment

I glanced around at the opulence and luxury of the suite as I waited for hi reflected the soft white lighting of the ornate brass sconces adorning the walls Everywhere I looked, the finest in furnishings and fixtures captured ot used to?

Hell, even the air smelled expensive

I turnedto the bedroom and realized what a far cry this was from my tiny accoen floating around my nostrils here, the dominant aroma at my room was the ever-present scent of hair spray and the reone horribly wrong Noalking onacross a rooum and to top it off, I still looked like Yeti when I was done

Which, ugh, I still had to clean all that up

Shakinghere? I had to leave This is… I just don’t belong here Feeling panicked all of a sudden, I squeezed htly as possible towards the door of the suite I'd ress, when Grey’s voice boomed from behind

“Maddie,” he said in a tone that sounded like a command

I froze in place and fought the urge to turn back to look at him If I did, I wasn’t sure if I’d walk to the entrance, or run Just then, I felt Grey’s presence behind me

“What’s wrong?” he said, as he walked around in front of me, barefoot

I drew my eyes up to meet his In his hand, he held what looked to be ht of it

“Grey, I can’t,” I stammered “I just can’t”

Without hesitating, Grey nodded and tore the check to shreds He tossed the bits in the air and I cursed e nuround

“Have it your way, Maddie,” he replied with a flat tone “Feel free to show yourself out”

He glared at me for a moment and then started to walk past me back towards his bedroom My head turned towards him a bit and he stopped in my peripheral vision

“I’m not sure what you want from me, Maddie I offer you an opportunity thatit fair consideration, you accuseto sleep with you Then when I offer you the check in spite of that, you refuse it”