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Payton shakes her head, her eyes narrowing “No That’s unfair You said all I had to do was live with—”

“That was for college tuition,” I cut her off

“What do you mean?” Her voice breaks as she speaks

“There are other incidentals There are other things you’ll need Do you truly think you’re going to live in ? News flash, princess, I’ to have to work for it”

Her mouth drops open, and her eyes are as wide as saucers

She looks confused and defeated at the same time

It’s a cute look on her

Does itthis?

Probably, but I don’t care

With a twist of her jaw, she recovers Rather quickly, as I expected her to be in shock a little longer, but nope Instead, she narrows those big blue eyes and scoffs at me

“I am not a prostitute,” she replies sharply

I continue to s to further piss her off The way I stalk forward has her on edge I circle her, watching her stiffen

“I will not sleep with you to pay for my food,” she adds, her nostrils flared

“Calm yourself You look like you’re about to have a brain aneurys into her ear “You are the last thing I’d ever want Unliketo me”

“Then why am I here?”

I continue walking again until I’ in front of her, an easy foot away “You are here because I deem this to be the place that you deserve to be”

“So, I’ hell”

“Ding Ding Ding You finally understand I could easily give you the inheritance But I won’t” I shrug,it pisses her off more “It’s not about the money It’s about you”

“What did I ever—”

“I don’t have time to listen to you complain, princess,” I interrupt “There are rules to the house that need explaining”

She glares at , or in this case, not wearing “Can I at least put on clothes?”

“No”

“But you just said—”

“I knohat I said, but et dressed” I pause “Well, at two grand a minute, I suppose it doesn’t esture toward her closet “Go ahead”

She doesn’t budge Her eyes sparkle as if she is playing at so

“Very well” She smiles

A coy smile

What are you up to, Payton?

“Speak,” she prods when the silence lingers for too long

And with that, she drops the towel