Page 28 of Grumpy Billionaire Bad Boy

"I didn't tell you what I wanted."

"Oh. I, um, I just guessed." Archer opens one of the boxes he brought in with a knife and pulls out a shoe box I could never mistake. "Here. These are for you."

"You bought meChristian Louboutins?"

"It's not what you think." He flips the lid to reveal a pair of stark white tennis shoes with red bottoms.

"You got me sneakers?"

"Well, the ones you came here in were worse for wear, and you only bought yourself heels when you went out the other day. I figured you could use something more practical."

"What's in the other box? Did you get yourself a matching pair?"

"No." He gives the box his attention, carefully opening it and pulling out two satchels. "I didn't know if you'd want brown or black, so I got both." Archer reveals twoSaint Laurent crossbody leather bags with gold chains.

"I'm confused." I stare at the items and then at him. "Why would you do this?"

"Why would I do what?"

"Buy me, like, seven grand worth of stuff. You've known me four days and I've done nothing but annoy the hell out of you."

Archer shrugs, his plain black t-shirt bunching over his tattooed biceps. "It's just money, it's not a big deal. You needed a purse, I said I'd get you one, and now I did. And the shoes, I mean, you needed shoes, and I know you like brand name things, so I thought these would work."

"Are you saying I'm materialistic?"

Archer runs his hand over his jaw. "You love to put words in my mouth, don't you?"

"That wasn't a disagreement."

"I did not say you were materialistic, London. I am simply giving you something you need. That is all. Don't make it into something it's not. Just say thank you. Actually, no, don't even do that, I didn't do it for a thank-you." Archer huffs and storms away, dragging his computer chair out and sitting on it with a bit too much force.

I stand there for a long moment, grab his coffee, and walk it over to his desk. "Thank you, Archer. For the coffee, the shoes, and the purses. It was very thoughtful of you."

He snatches his coffee and takes a swig before setting it down on the coaster he keeps near his mouse pad. "You're welcome."

A smile creeps across my face. "Did we just diffuse our first argument?"

"That wasn't an argument."

"Look at you arguing about whether it was an argument."

"London, I need to get some work done."

"Okay, fine, but first, you're not going to get out of telling me who that was in the hallway."

Archer exhales dramatically and faces me. "That was Camille, our neighbor. Satisfied?"

"I'll be satisfied when you give her my name for a potential sublet of her apartment."

"You're joking."

I throw my arm up. "Why would I be joking? It's perfect. We both get some privacy, and you can still keep an eye on me. What's not to love?"

"We are not going to be neighbors." Archer returns his attention to his computer, typing away at who knows fucking what.

Since I've been here, Archer has gotten these screen covers that prevent anyone who isn't directly looking at the screen from being able to see anything he's doing.

"We can't be neighbors, but we can be roommates? How does that make any sense?"

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