Chapter 16
Sergei guides the sleek Maybach with expert precision, bringing it to a smooth halt in front of the towering high-rise where Max resides at the top. Its dark limestone cladding and tinted glass exterior loom above the street, casting a long shadow over the surrounding area.
Lila grips the edge of the buttery leather seat, her knuckles white with tension. Anxiety churns in her chest and gut, surging into overdrive and leaving her nauseous. Skipping a meal earlier might be the only thing saving her from vomiting in the meticulously maintained car.
She waits for him, fidgeting with her phone, her thumb working the loose silicone case on and off in a restless rhythm. His words from the night before still loop relentlessly in her mind:
“I understand you more than you know.”
She hasn’t been able to decipher what he meant, but it feels like a threat. What else could it be? It’s impossible to guess what festers in the mind of someone so clearly unhinged.
Finally, Max emerges from the building, his tall, lean frame sharply outlined against the polished exterior.
He wears a crisp white dress shirt with a stiff collar, slightly open at the neck, beneath a gunmetal slim-fit blazer that cuts an imposing silhouette.
Dark trousers fall flawlessly over wholecut Oxford shoes, and a silver watch glints subtly at his wrist as he descends the front steps with effortless authority.
Suddenly, she feels painfully underdressed in her slightly fraying cardigan and yet another one of Claire’s dresses.
His middle-aged chauffeur swiftly exits the car to attend to his duties, opening the door for Max with practiced efficiency. Max’s hardened expression softens when his gaze meets hers, and a slow smile spreads across his face.
“You look beautiful,” he says, slipping into the car and removing his jacket. He takes her hand and presses a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “As always.”
“Thanks, you too,” she mumbles awkwardly. In the rearview mirror, she catches sight of his enormous bodyguard sliding into the front passenger seat, meeting her gaze with a strange, unreadable look.
As the car pulls away, the partition rolls up, enclosing them in a cocoon of privacy in the backseat.
Her heart pounds against her ribs as she steals a glance at him from the corner of her eye.
Max’s unpredictable nature makes her feel as though she’s navigating a minefield of uncertainty whenever she’s near him.
She remembers how he had Sergei drop her off directly in front of her apartment building the night before.
Tossing and turning in bed, she wrestled with the dilemma of Max’s proposal.
And now, here she sits beside him, separated only by the rear console, feeling the weight of his anticipation thick in the air.
There’s no doubt he expects to hear her answer—soon.
The intensity of his gaze sends butterflies fluttering deep in her stomach. To calm her nerves, she reaches for her phone in her lap and pretends to scroll, hoping it will distract her from the heavy silence pressing in around them.
But before she can even find an app, he snatches the phone from her hand.
“Hey!” she exclaims, startled.
“Want to play a game?” he asks casually, leaning back against the seat. A devious glint in his eyes betrays his relaxed tone.
Despite the lightness of his question, her unease grows. She watches nervously as he tucks her phone into the inner pocket of his blazer, the bright yellow case swallowed from view once he drapes the blazer across his long legs.
“Not really… What game?” she asks hesitantly.
“Come on, it’ll be fun. What if there’s a cash incentive?” he says, excitement flickering in his dark eyes. Before she can respond, he adds, “Make this date a good one, Lila, and I’ll give you a million dollars. You won’t even have to worry about our arrangement.”
“That’s the game?”
“Yeah.”
“Um, what do you mean by ‘good’?”
He leans in slightly, a shadow crossing his face. “I think you know.”
She knows in her heart, without a doubt, that he wants her to submit, to be more agreeable—and now, with her phone out of the way, more attentive, she supposes.
“And if… if it’s not good?”
“Then you lose, and you must tell me yes to our arrangement.”
A million dollars…
“That’s a whole lotta money,” she says, her voice barely her own, her mind reeling at the thought of such a sum.
The corner of his lips twitches as he tries to suppress a smile, but his eyes betray him, sparkling with restrained amusement. Is it because that amount means nothing to him? Or is there something else?
From her light research on the company he works for and his family that owns it, she knows he comes from insane wealth. The difference between a millionaire and a billionaire is about a billion… and Lila is nowhere close to being a millionaire.
“Well… It’s a lot to me,” she mumbles defensively.
“It’s definitely nothing to scoff at, Lila.”
As she weighs her options, a flurry of ideas sweeps through her mind.
She imagines buying a modest condo and making the space truly her own.
Perhaps she could finally adopt a puppy, one that will love her unconditionally.
Growing up, she was never allowed one because of her uncle’s supposed allergies, even though he was rarely home.
She pictures a place with lofty ceilings and expansive windows that flood the living room with natural light, perfect for painting and reading.
She isn’t sure how much a million dollars would get her in Manhattan, but it would at least be a starting point.
“Okay. Deal.”
“Are you sure, Lila? Remember, you have to say yes if you lose.”
“I literally just said OKAY!” she snaps, unable to conceal her annoyance.
Shit.
“Wait, wait. I’m sorry. Can it start now?”
“Yes,” he chuckles, amusement sparkling in his eyes at her agreement.
His devilishly handsome face makes her heart twist with a strange mix of curiosity and caution.
She can’t shake the feeling that there’s a catch, but she decides not to ask.
After all, he just dangled a million bucks in front of her. How could she say no to that?
“Right now,” he murmurs next to her.
She should’ve asked for the rules and parameters, but it’s too late now. With a million dollars on the line, she figures she can stomach his company for a few hours. She doesn’t have much experience with dating, having only had one boyfriend, but she has another trump card up her sleeve…
Her experiences at The Velvet Stag have more than prepared her for this task.
She’s spent countless hours honing her social skills and perfecting the art of keeping drunk, entitled patrons content.
The need for a stable roof over her head was all the motivation she needed to claw her way out of her shy shell and learn how to sell herself.
She’s good at playing the part to get what she needs.
Aside from the occasional mishap caused by her natural clumsiness, she’s never received a single complaint about her service.
This can be her golden ticket out.
Moreover, she can’t imagine him doing anything more heinous than what he already inflicted upon her. Despite his twisted nature, she can’t help but wonder if this ‘game’ is just his way of getting whatever it is out of his system for her.
One perfect date to end everything once and for all.
“You’re sitting so far away,” he says, pulling her from her thoughts.
With great hesitation, she scoots closer, only as much as the rear console allows.
Without warning, his hands wrap around her and lift her over the console, settling her onto his lap.
He holds her firmly, pressing her against his shoulder.
Draping his blazer over their legs, he cocoons them in its softness and warmth.
“Good girl,” he murmurs, the words sending a blush to her cheeks.
Her fingers fidget nervously beneath her sleeves.
Jake had, on rare occasions, jokingly called her a “good woman,” but with Max, it feels distinctly different.
She can’t shake the sense that he’s treating her like a trainable pet, rewarding her with praise for being compliant.
The more she dwells on the thought, the more indignant she feels.
Still, as much as it grates on her, she swallows her pride and decides to play along.
Just for today.
“What are your hobbies, Lila?”
She instantly thinks back to when he asked if she liked arts and crafts. Was he making fun of her again?
“I… dabble in a lot of things,” she says vaguely.
“Mm. Like what?”
“I like reading.”
“Reading?” His smile curves slightly. “I like reading, too. What’s the last book you read?”
Lila’s cheeks heat. “Uh… I don’t remember what it was called.”
He tilts his head, eyes dancing with amusement. “Really? That forgettable?”
She fidgets. “I mean… it’s something random online… I ignored the title.”
“What was it about, then?” he presses, clearly enjoying her discomfort.
She glances out the window, desperate for any book she’s read recently that doesn’t have a weird title or plot, but her mind comes up blank.
Shit.
His grin deepens as realization flickers in his eyes. “Let me guess. Spicy?”
Her head snaps around. “Wha—no!” she blurts.
He laughs softly, clearly entertained. “Tell you what… I’ll lend you one of mine, and you lend me one of yours. I want to see what kind of things you’re into.”
“I—I can’t. Mine are all digital,” she mumbles.
He raises an eyebrow, amused by her flailing. “Sure…”
“I mean it!” she insists. “And… you first. Give me the one you’ve been reading, and then maybe I’ll think about it.”
He leans in a little, eyes warm. “Deal. But only if it’s a fair trade, Lila. I want something that speaks to your soul. And don’t worry about it being digital. I think I can afford to buy another book.”
All she can do is cover her face with her hands, mortified. She hadn’t expected to be knocked off her feet so quickly and so easily.