TEN
1390 Words
“What if I say yes? How much for one night, Miss Clemente?”
I froze and stared at him in disbelief. I expected him to laugh it off and to say he was joking… but he didn’t. His eyes stayed cold and serious, it was fixed on me as if he were genuinely waiting for an answer.
I swallowed hard. My heart was racing but after a few seconds, I forced myself to breathe. Calm down. I lifted my gaze to meet his gaze and gave him a small deliberate smile.
“How much can you offer, then?” I challenged him once again.
He looked genuinely taken aback. I knew he’d expected me to stand up, storm over, and slap him for even asking… but that wasn’t me.
“Are you serious?” he asked, clearly confused.
I leaned back in my chair, crossed my legs, and raised an eyebrow.
“Do I look like I’m joking, Lieutenant Fontanilla? I’m not that cheap. Why would I sleep with just anyone for free? Life’s expensive these days.”
“So you’re admitting you sell your body for money?” His brows lifted slightly as he licked his lower lip. He watched me closely like he was waiting to see me crack.
“Did I ever say I’ve done it?” I shot back.
He clicked his tongue and reached for his drink.
“Then why are you so aggressive now? The way you talk… it’s like you’ve experienced it already.”
I rolled my eyes. How exactly was I supposed to talk? I was nervous as hell. I just wasn’t letting him see it. This was the first time we’d ever spoken like this, face to face, stripped of pretenses.
“That’s for you to guess,” I said coolly. “Do I look like a slut to you?”
He went still.
He didn’t finish pouring his drink. Slowly, his eyes lifted to meet mine. I felt a chill run through me under that sharp, unsettling stare, but I raised my eyebrow anyway, refusing to back down.
After a moment, he scoffed.
“I guess I don’t have the right to judge.”
He looked away.
I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or irritated. I wanted to know what he really thought of me.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “So what is it? Do you still want me to testify against my father… or are you just going to pay me?”
He snapped his head toward me, lips parting.
“Are you f—ing serious?”
I groaned and rolled my eyes again.
“How many times do I have to say it? I’m not joking. Do I look like I am?”
“There are a lot of men here,” he said as he scanned the room before looking back at me. His jaw tightened. “Why me?”
I hesitated. What was I even supposed to say?
Before I could answer, he loosened his tie and cleared his throat, cutting me off.
“Don’t try to seduce me.”
I arched a brow.
“Excuse me?”
He looked away and took a drink. When I finally processed what he said, I couldn’t help it. I laughed softly.
“There’s nothing funny about that,” he muttered.
My smile only widened. I rested my chin on my palm and leaned closer.
“I’m not doing anything, Lieutenant. Trust me, if I did, you wouldn’t be talking right now.”
“Don’t test my patience,” he warned.
I laughed again.
“Am I? Or are you just thinking about my offer?”
“Shut up,” he snapped, downing another drink.
I straightened and poured myself another shot, a small, dangerous smile forming as the liquid filled the glass.
“Just admit it. There’s nothing wrong with—”
“I have a girlfriend.”
That did it.
I burst out laughing, slapping my thigh as if he’d just told the best joke of the night. When I finally stopped, I shook my head at him.
“You took her back?” I asked between laughs.
His expression darkened. He was clearly offended.
“What are you talking about?”
I grabbed my shot glass and drained it before meeting his eyes again.
“I can’t believe you’re that foolish. Why would you let someone back into your life after they betrayed you? That doesn’t sit right with me.”
His stare grew darker. I shrugged. I am completely unfazed. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe I just wanted to knock some sense into him.
“How do you know?” he asked quietly.
I smiled faintly and shrugged.
“I thought everyone knew. You kept it a secret? Why protect someone who doesn’t deserve it?”
His brow creased deeper but I held his gaze.
“I guess it’s unfair to expect you to be smart in love when you’re already smart everywhere else. Life doesn’t work that way, huh?”
“Where did you hear that?” he demanded. “Did you talk to my uncle—”
“No,” I cut in immediately. “I just know things. I may not look like it but I’m not easy to deal with. People talk. Secrets slip.”
I yawned and crossed my arms.
“Well? Are you going to answer? Time’s ticking.”
He scoffed.
“You’re drunk.”
“Oh, please. I’m perfectly clear-headed.”
“Fine,” he said irritably. “If my uncle were here instead of me, would you still do this just for money?”
I chuckled.
“Your uncle has a wife. Don’t compare me to your ex. I won’t be a mistress and I’m not a cheater. And technically? You’re single now.”
He didn’t answer.
I smiled thinly.
“And before you accuse me of stalking, you used to live in the same neighborhood as your ex-girlfriend. Brielle Clarkson. That’s her name, right? We live in the same neighborhood now.”
He looked away and drank.
I stood up with a sharp breath.
“Looks like you’re not interested. We’ll talk about my father’s case another time, when your uncle’s here and you’re in a better mood. I don’t want your emotions clouding your judgment.”
I stepped past him…
… and he grabbed my wrist.
I stopped, a small triumphant smile forming before I turned back.
“Is there a problem?” I asked lightly. “Anything else you want to discuss?”
He exhaled sharply.
“How much for one night?”
My breath hitched. My chest rose and fell rapidly, but after a moment, I recovered. I smiled sweetly.
“We can talk about the details later. You’re rich, aren’t you? The real question is, are you willing to spend on me, or are you cheap?”
“Is nine hundred dollars enough?”
My eyes widened.
“W-What?”
This time, he didn’t look away. His gaze locked onto mine, intense and unflinching.
“Is that enough? Or should I add more?”
My jaw slackened.
“Is that for the night or—”
“One night,” he cut in. “But I want something in return.”
My brows knitted together. My heart was pounding, especially with his hand still gripping my wrist.
“What is it?” I asked softly.
He took a deep breath. His eyes were empty when they met mine.
“Can you get her out of my head?”
I didn’t answer right away.
“Just for one night?” I asked carefully. “Do you want to forget that she cheated… or do you want to forget her completely?”
“The second,” he said without hesitation. “I don’t want her in my mind anymore. Can you… replace her?”
I swallowed. Could I really do that? Years of memories… how could one night erase that?
Even just for a night?
I took a deep breath and met his gaze. His jaw tightened.
“Try me,” I whispered.
“Hm?”
“Let me try to replace her tonight,” I said softly. “And understand this. I don’t just want to replace her, Dylan. I want to be better than her.”
- Writer
