Page 23 of Enchanting the CEO

I wanted details, but decided not to push. Despite knowing Celia for close to two years, I didn't really know anything about her family situation aside from the fact that their mother had been sick. Celia wasn't one to share personal details.

I couldn't explain my infatuation with Diane. It wasn't my usual approach, and despite my grandmother's best intentions, I only casually dated, nothing more. Once, a few years back, I had a so-called girlfriend for about two months before we moved on, but I’d never been serious about anyone.

Why my sudden interest in Diane?

Just then, the guy returned with the car and stepped out of it. "Rides good. I'm taking it."

"Perfect," Diane said.

Despite her confident answer, I saw her shoulders relax a little in relief. Clearly she needed that money. Was she that cash-strapped?

"All right."

She didn’t seem like she needed my involvement anymore, and I didn't want to be overbearing. So as they exchanged documents, I made to step back inside the house. But then I heard the dude say, "Why don’t you throw in a perk and go for a beer with me or something?"

What the fuck?

"I don't think so."

"Oh, come on. Don't be like that. You’re getting paid well enough for this."

"What the fuck?" she exclaimed.

I turned around and walked straight back to him. "Give her the money, take the car, and fucking leave."

"Who are you to have any say in this?"

"Fuck off," I sneered. I was having none of this. This guy needed to get the hell out of here.

Diane crossed her arms over her chest, looking down at her feet. Then she glanced back up at him. After he gave her the money, she immediately shoved it into her pocket.

"Fine, whatever," the guy said, cowering quickly.

“You got the keys. The rest of the documents are on the passenger seat, as you probably saw.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He got into the car.

The second he drove off, she let out a huge breath. Then she turned to me. "Mischief managed."

"Hmm?"

"Not a Harry Potter fan?"

"I've seen some of the movies," I said.

"Never mind. Anyway, thanks for making that moron finally leave." She shook her head. “I’ll never get over the fact that when a woman tells a guy no, he just thinks she means maybe. But when another guy tells him to fuck off, he takes it seriously."

"I've never thought about it like that."

"Probably because you’ve never had to." She waved it off. "It doesn't matter. I've got the money and got rid of the car. Now I can focus on making my space all cozy. And as a thank-you for helping me today, I’d like to cook dinner tonight for both of us after I unpack—if you don't have plans, that is."

"You don't have to do that. I can order something."

She shook her head vehemently. "No. You helped me with my boxes and that idiot, and I want to return the favor by cooking something delicious."

"All right. I won't say no."

"And thanks a lot for being here. He was a creep, and I should have realized that online when he asked all of those dumb questions. Here I thought he just wanted to lower the price."

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