Page 85 of Scarlett and the Big Bad Billionaire
“No thank you,” I said politely.
She blinked and cocked her head to the side as if wondering whether there was water in her ears.
“No?”
“No. Thank you. I appreciate it, but it’s not necessary.”
She swam to the steps in the shallow end. “But… how can you tell me I should expand my business—which is just baked treats—and then flat-out refuse to even consider expanding your amazing program? Especially when I’m offering you the money that could make it possible?”
“I’m not opposed to expanding the program,” I said. “In fact, I’vebeenconsidering it.”
I’d spent alotof time thinking about it actually.
Though I felt a strong sense of loyalty toward Wilder and the other guys at Viridian, I honestly spent way more time thinking about my “side gigs”—the detention center program and my work as Inksy, which paid for it—than I did my full-time job.
Scarlett wasn’t aware of any of this of course.
“So, it’s money you’re opposed to,” she said.
I smiled. “I’m not opposed to money—you just don’t need to give me any of Victoria’s. Give it to another program or charity. There are so many that are worthwhile.”
She got out of the pool and grabbed a towel, covering up that body I could never get enough of.
“You know Vivi would want you to have it,” she said as she dried off. “If that’s what the problem is.”
My smile widened. She was a persistent one when she got an idea in her head. “There isn’t a problem. Can we just drop it?”
She didn’t drop it.
“Is this about pride or something? You don’t want to take charity?” she guessed. “Because if that’s the case, you should think of all the incarcerated kids who don’t have access to something like this.”
“I am thinking of the kids. It’snotabout pride. The program is fully funded.”
“Oh.” She pulled the red robe back on and cinched it at the waist. It made her look like a slice of delicious red velvet cake, soft and sweet and oh so tempting.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a bite. I was already fully dressed again—in the clothes I’d been wearing all day. I needed to go home and shower and change before work in the morning.
“If you do expand the program, you’re going toneedmore money,” Scarlett reasoned. “What are you planning to do? Hold fundraisers?”
She smirked. “Or what? You’ve got a rich grandma, too?”
I walked over to her, kissing her wet forehead and then her nosy little nose. “No and no. Don’t worry about it. I told you there are no money problems. Can’t you just accept that?”
“Sure I can. If you want us to stay strangers. I thought you wanted to be closer.”
“Yes.” I bent to kiss her mouth. “I do. I’m sorry.”
The kiss only lasted a few seconds before she broke it and made eye contact again. She stretched up on her toes and locked her fingers around my neck
“I don’t understand why you’re being so weird about this. Changing kids’ lives through art is important to you, and I’m only trying to help.”
“Look, we’ve got a private donor, okay? He wants to remain anonymous.”
I was fighting not to sound irritated. Scarlett’s questions were innocent. She was being kind and generous, but she was also getting very close to my secret.
As she’d pointed out earlier, my job at Viridian paid well, but it didn’t paythatwell. Navy SEALs didn’t exactly make big bucks either. So how could I explain the funding of my arts program?
“I see,” she said. “And this ‘private donor’ is willing to supply any and all funds the program might need as it expands?”
