Page 35 of The Perfect Bargain

His face softened, a flicker of sadness in his eyes. “Lily, you don’t have to do this. You don’t have to sell yourself.”

“I don’t have a choice,” I replied, the reality of my situation crashing down on me.

James reached for his phone, his jaw set in determination. “What’s your bank account number?”

“Why?” I asked, confusion mixing with fear.

“Just tell me,” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I hesitated, then relented, giving him the information. Within moments, his phone buzzed with a confirmation. He turned the screen towards me, showing a transfer of $100,000 to my account.

“James, what have you done?” I gasped, my eyes wide with shock.

“I’ve given you a way out,” he said simply. “Now you can stop. Now you can be with me and only me.”

Fear gripped my heart. This was too much, too fast. “I can’t do this,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I can’t be what you want.”

His eyes softened, but the intensity remained. “Lily, you don’t understand. I need you. I can’t lose you.”

“I need to go,” I said, panic rising in my chest. I scrambled out of bed, grabbing my clothes.

“Lily, wait,” he pleaded, reaching for me. “Don’t go. Not like this.”

“I can’t,” I repeated, my voice breaking. “I need space. I need to think.”

He let his hand drop, pain flashing across his face. “I’ll let you go this time, but know this, Lily. I won’t give up on us. I can’t.”

I dressed quickly, my heart in turmoil. As I reached the door, I turned back to see him watching me, his eyes filled with a mix of longing and determination. “Goodbye, James,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“Goodbye, Lily,” he replied, his voice carrying a promise. “For now.”

I left the suite, my mind racing. James’s obsession was terrifying, but part of me couldn’t deny the allure of his intensity. As I stepped into the cool night air, I knew I had to make a choice. And whatever I decided, it would change everything.

I was tossing and turning, unable to sleep, my mind filled with thoughts of James. It had been a week since I left him, a week of unanswered texts and ignored calls. I was trying to distance myself, but every fiber of my being yearned for him.

A creak echoed through the silence, and my heart leapt into my throat. I sat up, my pulse racing as I scanned the room. The door to my bedroom slowly opened, and James stepped inside, his eyes locking onto mine.

“James,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “What are you doing here?”

He closed the door behind him, his gaze never leaving me. “I needed to see you,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “I can’t stand being away from you.”

“You need to leave,” I insisted, trying to keep my voice steady. “My father’s asleep in the next room.”

He shook his head, stepping closer. “I don’t care, Lily. I need you.”

“James, this is insane,” I hissed, panic rising in my chest. “You can’t just break into my house.”

“I had to,” he replied, his tone desperate. “It’s been a week, and you’ve been ignoring me. I can’t take it anymore.”

I felt a surge of conflicting emotions—anger, fear, longing. “You need to go,” I repeated, my voice wavering.

He moved closer, his presence overwhelming. “I can’t, Lily. Not until we talk.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. “Fine,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “We’ll talk.”

James’s eyes softened, and he reached out to cup my cheek. The warmth of his touch sent shivers down my spine. “Thank you,” he murmured, his thumb brushing over my skin.

“Just talk,” I reiterated, trying to ignore the heat pooling in my core.

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