Can I get an advance?

He didn't pick up the first time. Biting my nails, I tried his number again. I expected it to go unanswered like the first time when he finally took the call. 

“Hello," came an irritated voice from the other end. 

I gulped. “Um… hi.”

“Alina, is that you?” He whispered. The irritation I'd heard when he first picked up the phone was gone.

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. “Yes.” I sat on the bed and faced the door. 

There was a prolonged silence from his side before he spoke up. “Why did you call?”

“I…” I swallowed. “Is… Is...” I rubbed my hand on the back of my neck. Fuck, I didn't know it would be this difficult to get the words out despite my determination. 

“What is it?” His voice was still gentle. It was almost as if he were speaking to a child. “Tell me.”

I closed my eyes and drew in a breath. “Is the offer still available?” I gripped the phone hard, praying it was still open. At the moment, I was desperate. 

“The contract?”

“Yes. Is it still open? Do you still need—”

“Yes. It's available if you're willing to sign it.”

I exhaled in relief. Thanks to the goddess. “I am.”

“Great. So, when are we— um… when should I be expecting you?”

“I…” I rubbed my hand on the back of my neck once more and gulped. “I have a request.”

“What is it?”

I bit my lower lip. “Can I get an advance from you?” 

I knew I probably wouldn't get what I wanted. I mean, who would give out 30 million to a practical stranger when we hadn't even started the agreed 3 months yet? It's 30 million, not 30 Grand, for Goddess's sake. Only a fool would give that amount out, and I knew Raphael was no fool.

“An advance? Why?”

“I…” I puffed out a breath. “I'm married.”

I heard a curse from the other end. Oddly enough, it felt like two Rapheals spoke at once. 

“Wait, a damn minute. Are you married? Like, married to an alpha?” His voice was deeper this time. It wasn't that gentle tone he used earlier. 

“Yes, but I want an out. I need the advance so I could file for a divorce.”

The silence this time was lengthier than the last. “So, how much are we talking about?” came his gentle voice. 

Could I be imagining it?

“30 million.”

“Okay.”

My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “O… Okay?”

“Yes. I'll give you the thirty million as an advance. I'll have it wired to whatever account you give me within the hour.”

My fingers went numb around the phone. “You can't be serious. You don't even know me. I could take the money and—”

“And what? Run?” He laughed. “I know you wouldn't. You don't strike me as one who would do something so reckless.”

My throat tightened. 

“But there's a condition,” he continued. “If I'm giving you an advance before we make it official, we make it four months, not three. And you'll have to live with me until the end of those four months.”

I gulped. “You want me to live with you?”

“Yes.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I can't. I don't even know you. I don't know where you live, what you do, and what you—” What you want from me. “Three months was already too much. I don't even know what the contract entails. And now you want me to move in with you for four?”

“Four months,” he repeated. “Under my roof and my protection. You'll have your room and your space. I won't touch you without your consent, Alina. That I can promise you.”

I snorted at that. “Promise?" 

Raphael was quiet for a moment before he spoke up, "You can choose to believe me or not, Alina, but I'm a man of my word. If you want the advance, those are my terms. It's either four months or no advance. I'm even playing a gamble here, you know? I'm willing to give you that amount even though, as you said, I don't really know you.”

I closed my eyes. He was right about that. But was it worth it to just throw every caution to the wind and give in to him, since he was offering me a way out of this fucking hellhole? 

I knew I said the devil I know was better than the angel I didn't know. But the devil I knew was going to kill me one day before I could get my freedom. I could feel it in my bones. If he keeps up with hitting me every chance he got, I might not save myself from him. 

“Alina.” Raphael's voice pulled me back to the present. “I know you're afraid, and you have no reason to trust me. You can choose to forget about it. I won't pressure you.”

I gulped. 

“Text me your account details if you change your mind,” he continued when he didn't get any response from me. “And an address. I'll send a car for you tonight.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but instead of a negative response, I ended up giving him a positive one instead. 

“Okay,” I whispered. “Four months.”

“Good girl,” he murmured. “I'll see you soon, Alina. Pack light. You won't need much where we're going.”

“I'll send the account details to you, but don't make the transfer until I send a message to you, okay?”

“I'll be waiting for your text, Alina.”

The line went dead.

I sat on the edge of the bed with the phone still pressed to my ear. My hands were shaking again, but underneath the fear, there was hope. Bright hope that made my chest warm.

I was finally getting out of this fucking hellhole. Soon, I would be free from James. 

The next person I called was my mum. Even though I really wanted nothing to do with her, I still needed some money to pay the lawyer since that bastard tore up the last one.