“Hmm,” he said, smiling from the corner of his mouth. “If you aren’t careful, you are going to make me think you’re using me for my brains.”
“Well, of course I am,” I said matter-of-factly. “I would be an idiot not to, wouldn’t I? But if it took you this long to figure that out, your brain is obviously not all that I thought it to be.”
He looked affronted for a split-second before catching my eyes, which must have been twinkling with the mirth that I felt, because we both burst out laughing.
“This, right here, Aria. This is why I am so smitten. You are fucking extraordinary.”
Smitten? He was gripped by me? That sounded oddly like saying he was, I don’t know, in love with me, didn’t it? Why didn’t he just say that? I did not let it show on my face. Nor did I let it show even a hint of the profound joy that I was currently feeling. Instead, I nodded simply, bidding for time so that when I spoke I would say something sensible and wise, instead of squeaking.
“You got awfully quiet, did I offend you?” He asked, looking concerned.
“No, not at all,” I jumped to say immediately. “I was just thinking of how to thank you for your compliment.”
“Have you figured out a way, then?” he asked smiling.
“Oh, I can think of many, but we have both exhausted ourselves enough so that will obviously have to wait. But don’t worry; you will be handsomely rewarded for your flattery.”
“It’s not idle flattery. I really mean those things.” After looking like he was deeply considering whether to speak these next set of words, he added, “Sometimes I wish I didn’t. You frustrate me so much, you haven’t the slightest idea. Nobody in my living memory has made me feel the roller coaster of emotions you put me through and I hate it, but I can’t help be drawn to you.” He gently ran his fingers through the small of my back. “I don’t think you know this, but you are a really special girl.”
I rolled my eyes, even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “Sure.” I chuckled. “I am so special, I go to college and work on an hourly wage and have regular people friends. Yep, I am so special.”
“That’s one of the things that makes you so special. You think of yourself as ordinary, even though you are the most exquisite girl – woman – that I have ever met.”
I snorted involuntarily and tried to turn it into a cough. “If I am so very exquisite, then, why don’t you help me with my homework?” I said that mostly to change the topic, as his increased description of my merits was starting to make me feel uncomfortable, especially since I had no clue what the appropriate response was.
“What do I get in return?” he teased.
“An
opportunity to spend time with me, of course.” I giggled. “I mean, that is obviously worth a lot to you. Word on the street is that you are paying tens of thousands of dollars just for that.”
He grunted and said, “Don’t bring that up right now.”
“Sorry.” I shrugged. “Only joking. And you don’t really have to help—”
“No, I want to help with your paper,” he cut me off. “But I do have one condition.”
I turned around to look at him so that we were no longer spooning, and surveyed his face, feeling slightly nervous. What could he possibly want now?
“What is it?” I asked carefully.
“I would like to meet your mother.”
Immediately, I burst out laughing. “You are really funny, Zayden. But seriously, what can I do for you?”
“Why is that funny?” He raised both his eyebrows. “I am serious. I would like to meet your mom.”
“That is the worst idea you have ever had,” I said with a smile. “Right after the first worst idea of making me this contract.” As his face began to look dismal, I hastily added, “I am joking around. Seriously though, it’s not a very good idea. Maybe we should wait a little bit longer before—”
“Don’t you think I have the right to get to know the person for whose medical bills I am investing so much money?” He looked annoyed now. He was right, after all. He did deserve to know whom he was making these payments for. If I argued with him, I wouldn’t get the help I needed with my paper, and we’d just spend time arguing back and forth. Plus, I could always tell my mom that Zayden was simply someone I worked with, rather than letting her find out that I was sleeping with my boss.
“Just tell me when and where and I’ll arrange for it,” I said, giving up. “Now, we have a paper to write.”
---
When I woke up the next morning, the world was suddenly a different place. I felt as though I had awoken from a fantasy so deeply etched into my subconscious that I didn’t even know it existed. Groggily, I turned around on the bed and reached for Zayden, but he wasn’t there. From the sound of the shower running I could tell he was in the bathroom.
I looked around the room and took a deep breath. As of last night, I was in a real relationship with my boss. The thought sent a shiver of excitement and happiness through my entire body. I was going out with Zayden Sinclair. I was going out with handsome, incredible Zayden Sinclair, who every girl between the ages of 18 and 70 would give up an arm and a leg to spend just an evening with. How had this happened? How had I not only managed to attract the attention of such an incredible man, but also make him fall for me? He had said he was smitten, hadn’t he? I only realized how hard I had been grinning when my cheeks started hurting. It was too good to be true.