Page 37 of Take Me Under

“I might not need romance, but I also don’t do casual sex, Anton.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. I never thought you were a woman who took a man to bed with little regard.” I paused and stepped back, angling my head with curiosity. “Serena, tell me why you came to New York looking for investors. What do you need the money for?”

Her expression shifted, like she’d been expecting the question but wasn’t quite ready to answer. She let out a small sigh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“I need funding for the dig I’ve been working in Rome. It’s a project that started with my father. I made a promise to him before he died and now… Well, it’s complicated. We’re excavating a site that might have connections to Cleopatra’s final days. The problem is, my team and I are running out of resources, and I’ve sunk a sizable chunk of my personal savings into the dig just to keep it going.”

I considered the contents of the leather-bound journal I’d been looking at earlier, and the grid maps it contained suddenly made more sense. Rather than let on that I had it in my possession, I only nodded, encouraging her to continue.

“I have enough money to cover my apartment rent in Rome until the end of the month. After that, my lease is up, and I’ll most likely have to move. I’ll need to try selling more of my handblown glass pieces to a gallery in Florence. If all goes well, I’ll keep a roof over my head, but it would never be enough to fund a full dig. The permits alone cost a small fortune.”

She looked at me, as if gauging my reaction. I was quiet for a moment, absorbing everything she’d just laid out.

“Where is your apartment in Rome?” I asked, deliberately prodding for the information so she couldn’t disappear on me again.

“Trastevere,” she replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “The flat is small but comfortable, tucked away on a narrow street. You can hear church bells in the morning, and there is a market just around the corner. It’s become my home away from home—at least through the end of the month.”

Her smile faded, as if her new reality was just sinking in. She was holding onto more than just an apartment. It seemed more like a dream—a dream that was slowly slipping away.

“This is important to you.”

“Yes, it is.”

I narrowed my gaze, coming to a decision.

“Give me one month,” I said, taking an impulsive risk.

She looked at me with confusion. “What’s in one month?”

“It’s when I’ll give you whatever funding you need for your project.”

She blinked, her face awash with disbelief.

“Anton, I appreciate the offer. Really, I do. This morning, I was fully ready to pitch my case to you, but I’ve come to realize that it wouldn’t make sense. Subconsciously, I think that may be why I left your place without notice. Funding for archeological digs typically comes from research grants offered by universities, governments, or private institutions—all of whom have a vested interest. You don’t check any of those boxes and asking you for the money would make me feel like a fraud.”

“You don’t have to ask. I’m going to give it to you.”

“But why? What’s in it for you?”

“I told you I wasn’t a nice guy, Serena. I don’t do anything without there being a benefit to me—especially when it comes to my money. There are strings attached to it.”

“What kind of strings?”

She bit down on her lower lip, something I’d come torecognize as her tell. She did it when she was nervous. I studied her face, memorizing every detail so that I could get a true measure of her reaction to what I was about to offer.

“I said I wanted a month—I meant one month with you. I’m willing to come to Italy if that’s what you’d prefer. For the most part, I can manage my business from anywhere in the world. During that time, I want to get to know you better. I want your mind and your body, and after thirty days, I’ll provide you with whatever money you need.”

“You c-can’t—” she sputtered, her words halting as her eyes widened. She shook her head in disbelief. “You can’t treat my body like a Wall Street transaction or a commodity to be traded.”

“Are you saying you don’t want the money?”

“I’m saying that I’m not going to trade sexual favors in order to get the funding I need.”

I shrugged, having already known she would refuse my offer—for now. The corners of my mouth turned up in a half smile. I was amused by her ever-changing facial expressions. They were a mix of shock, horror, and disbelief. But there were also flickers of curiosity and desire that betrayed her indignation. It made my cock twitch.

“That would be your loss, princess. But I may have an alternative option.”

Her brows pushed together with a frown as she waited for me to pull the other ace from my sleeve.

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