Page 129 of Sweet Dominion

I sighed and put my focus back on Chloe, who was clutching that black card like it was the key to her freedom.

I put my open hand in front of me. “Give it to me.”

Chloe inched back. “Come on, Moni. This is like. . .the East’s tradition, and I’m not trying to be disrespectful.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Perhaps, we can come to a simple compromise.” Lei gave me a smile. “Moni, you can provide us with Chloe’s monthly spending limit. Then, she can keep the card and you feel comfortable.”

Chloe exhaled loudly. “But Moni’s going to be cheap as hell.”

I shot her an annoyed look. “No, I’m not. I like that compromise. First, you don’t even pull that card out unless I know and most of the time you keep it in the house. And as far as the limit, let’s say $1,000 a month. That’smorethan fair.”

Lei frowned, clearly unimpressed. “That’s nothing.”

Chloe’s eyes widened and she nervously giggled, clearly caught between wanting to please me and not wanting to lose out on Lei’s generosity. “I’m with Lei then. . . sure. . .that’s nothing.”

Jo crossed her arms over her chest. “How are you going to say that’s nothing, when I bet you don’t even have a dollar on you.”

"Shut up, Jo.” Chloe glanced at Lei. “What do you think is good?”

Lei considered that and then responded, “$10,000 a month makes sense to me for maybe the movies with her friends, clothes, a computer—”

“$10,000 a month? She is 17,” I interjected firmly, “andIwill get her a laptop. There is nothing Chloe should be spending $10,000 a month on unless it’s saving for her college education.”

Chloe groaned dramatically, throwing her hands up in the air. “Oh my God, Moni! Why are you all up inmygift?”

Jo, standing nearby, couldn’t hold back her laughter.

The whole situation was starting to feel absurd, but I knew I had to stay firm. Chloe didn’t need to be running aroundwith unlimited access to an elite credit card, especially not at seventeen.

I could see her getting in all types of trouble.

But, Lei, ever the negotiating Mountain Master nodded thoughtfully and then countered, “How about we say $2,500 a month and we open a college fund for her that you control? The remaining part of my original 10k a month can go to that fund.”

I sighed, recognizing it as a reasonable compromise. “That works.”

"Yay.” Chloe giggled and twirled with her new card. “Money. Money. Money. And I’m serious. Like. . .where is the mall at? Does the East have one?”

Smirking, Duck nodded. “We have two small ones.”

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Chloe put the card in her mini skirt’s pocket.

I snapped my fingers. “That will be in my control until I think you are completely responsible.”

“What?” Chloe pouted. “You didn’t take Jo’s keys.”

I glared at her. “Girl. . .”

Chloe glanced at Lei as if asking for help.

Lei shrugged. “Moni’s rules aretherules.”

Well. . .he might not have won over Jo completely, but he had Chloe right in his pocket.

Chloe frowned and gave me the card. “Don’t be using my card, Moni.”

“You keep talking to me like that and you won’t be able to use the card.”

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