Page 72 of The Grumpy Billionaire

“You know me from the outside looking in.”

“Disagree,” he says.

“I’m sorry. I know how this song ends. The song of us dating.”

“How can you know how it ends when we haven’t written it yet?”

“Because I’ve sung it a few times before.”

“Are we talking about that asshole in Madison? That Jonathan character?”

“How do you know about Jonathan?”

“Charlie told me. And I’ll remind you that I am most certainly not Jonathan.”

Miserably, I gaze out at the scaffolding of the building across the street. Two stories of chock-a-block wood and metal against grand old bank.

“I know you’re not those guys.”You’re so much more. More perfect. More dangerous.

“Well?”

“Hugo, this is my decision. You can’t argue somebody into being in a relationship. I’ve told you I won’t date you. This is what I’ve told you.”

He makes his rumble of frustration.

I wrap my arms around myself. It’s hard not to kiss him right now. I’d kiss him and then I’d say, “Never mind! Go get my gift and let’s eat!”

I could still do that.

Maybe I need to quit this job. Maybe Mia’s Meow Squad place where she used to work has more hours for me. Or I could get something in a restaurant. I could be more aggressive about landing freelance jobs.

The idea of not seeing Hugo, though—I hate it. I can’t not see him.

“Where does that leave us? Banging in the elevator?” Hugo says. “Secretly groping each other in the office like fugitives?”

I sigh. Some of the most exciting experiences of my life.

“Some lurid and tawdry, no-strings office affair?” he continues. “That can’t be what you want.”

Wait.

I narrow my eyes, pondering.A no-strings office affair.

Could that work? What if we don’t get involved in each other’s lives or go to each other’s homes, is it possible that will prevent us from progressing to the disgust-at-Stella’s-glaring-imperfections stage? It’s hard to be annoyed at a person’s flaws when she’s riding your face or sucking your cock.

No strings. Lurid and tawdry. Is that possible with us?

But why wouldn’t it be? Why throw the baby out with the bathwater?

The more I think about it, the more I like this idea. Though sometimes I lie to myself when I really, really want something that isn’t good for me. Am I doing that now? I study the building across the street, pondering hard.

“A lurid and tawdry, no-strings office affair.”

“What about it?”

“I’d be up for that.”

“What are you talking about?”

---