第4章

I regretted those words the moment they came out of my mouth.

He was my boss, my creditor, and the heir to Prescott Group. He was the last person I could afford to offend.

Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut?

Nathan didn't even flinch. He simply looked at me.

"Done?"

I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

"Then get back to work."

He turned and walked back to his desk.

"I'm doubling your quota for this month."

I almost passed out.

Double? He's trying to kill me!

"That's not fair!"

I protested.

"I'm your boss."

He didn't even look up.

"If you don't hit your target, I'll dock your pay every month until you've saved enough to replace my boxers."

I trembled with anger.

Capitalist! Bloodsucker! Tyrant!

I wanted to throw him onto the floor and rip another pair of his pants.

But I didn't dare. I swallowed my anger and quietly slipped out of his office.

The next two weeks were hell.

Double the quota meant double the work.

I was the first one at the office every morning and the last to leave every night.

No weekends. No breaks.

I lost so much weight that my cheeks looked hollow. I looked half-dead.

Meanwhile, my roommate-slash-boss Nathan was having the time of his life.

He left work on time every day, came home, and made dinner.

By the time I dragged myself home after midnight, he'd already washed the dishes, mopped the floor, and even ironed the clothes I needed for work the next day.

I'd sit at the table eating the supper he'd cooked for me, not knowing how to feel about him.

Is this guy a demon or an angel?

Or a demon pretending to be an angel? Or is he just crazy?

On the last night of the month, I finally closed my final deal and got the contract signed.

I'd beaten my quota.

I collapsed into the back seat of a cab, too tired to move.

When I got home, Nathan was still awake.

He was sitting on the couch, with a glass of warm milk waiting on the coffee table.

"Hey, just got home?"

He glanced at me.

"Yeah."

I tossed my bag by the door, kicked off my heels, and dropped onto the couch.

"Drink this."

He pushed the milk toward me.

I grabbed it and drank it in one go. The warm milk settled in my stomach, and I finally felt a little more alive.

"Nathan."

I looked at him.

"I hit my quota this month."

"Hmm."

He hummed softly.

"So... about what I owe you for your boxers..."

I carefully watched his face.

"Can we call it even?"

He looked at me.

"What do you think?"

My heart sank. Of course he won't agree.

"What if I beat my quota every month from now on? Then can we call it even?"

I quickly did the math in my head. If he agreed, I could clear my debt and earn a nice bonus at the same time.

"You think I care about your sales numbers?"

He asked.

I had no comeback. He was the heir to Prescott Group. Of course my sales numbers meant nothing to him.

"Then what do you want?"

I was getting desperate.

"Just tell me. Money or my life!"

He fell silent. Then he leaned closer. His face was so close that I could clearly see his dark eyes behind his glasses.

"I want you."

My mind went blank.

W-what?

Me?

What does that mean? He wants to sleep with me?

"A-are you joking?"

I stammered, my face burning.

"I'm not joking."

He looked completely serious. He wasn't joking at all.

"Claire, be my girlfriend."