CHAPTER TWO

Two days went by, and finally the day came for my meeting at Magical.

Making the phone call was easy. Getting face-to-face with someone inside? That was the hard part. A few minutes later, I managed to get an appointment. I’m nothing if not persistent. I went all out on the receptionist and used every trick in the book until someone agreed to see me.

The shame of sitting here in the waiting lobby was enough to bury me alive. The looks from the sleek men and women in expensive suits only made it worse.

Why didn’t I dress better? If I had known everyone in this building was flashy and polished, I would’ve borrowed some of Max clothes.

Those looks… I knew that if any one of them were in my shoes, they would do the exact same thing I was doing.

The building was high-grade, just as I expected. Walking inside felt like stepping into a catalogue for rich snobs.

This place screamed I’m more important than you, so shut up before I sue you, and it made my anxiety skyrocket.

I didn’t belong here. I wasn’t like these people. I didn’t grow up rich… I didn’t even have five dollars to my name.

Was this a mistake? Should I let myself drown, or should I swim into the unknown? Those were the questions looping endlessly through my head.

“Mr. Leo.”

A stunning young woman in a pencil skirt and tight blouse stood in front of me with a polite smile.

“Mr. Knight will see you now.”

Wait what?

With the CEO? That had to be a mistake.

I stood quickly and followed her. “Excuse me, I was told I had a meeting with someone named Alex.”

She stopped in front of a set of double doors just outside the lobby.

“No, sir. Mr. Knight will be taking this meeting. Alex is his PA.”

She knocked lightly and opened the door.

“Sir, I have your two o’clock,” she said sweetly.

No reply came, but she stepped aside and gestured for me to enter. When she saw the panic in my face, she gave me a sympathetic smile and an encouraging nod.

Shit. No turning back now.

Here we go.

The first thing I noticed was the size of his office. It was massive almost too big for what was inside it. I took a quick glance around before focusing on the man himself, sitting in the middle of the room.

Grayson Knight didn’t even look up.

He sat behind his desk, flipping through documents like I didn’t exist.

When the door closed behind me, I jumped.

“Take a seat,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I felt like a child about to be scolded, but I obeyed and sat across from him.

He still hadn’t looked at me, so I studied him instead.

He didn’t look like what I’d imagined. Sure, the man was devastatingly handsome like something that had crawled straight out of hell but there was more to him than beauty. He was broader, taller, commanding. There was something in the air around him that made my skin prickle.

Still… he looked reasonable. Maybe he’d understand. Maybe he’d show mercy.

I cleared my throat. “Mr. Knight… you know why I’m here, right?”

That finally made him stop writing.

He placed his pen down and lifted his head.

And I froze.

God, I was terrified.

The corner of his mouth twitched as he leaned back in his chair, cold eyes cutting into mine.

“You want my help,” he said flatly.

“You’re an actor, correct?”

Shame burned through me as I nodded.

A heavy silence fell between us. His gaze never broke, and I felt like prey under a microscope.

Don’t let this bastard scare you, Leo.

“You know who I am,” he said.

I nodded again.

“Then you know this isn’t as simple as me handing you money,” he continued. “I want something in return.”

Max had been right.

But what the hell could I give him?

“I see no reason not to have you thrown out of my office for wasting my time,” he said calmly. “You have nothing I can use.”

My palms dampened. My throat went dry.

“Because ”

I swallowed hard.

“Because I’m willing to do anything. I need this. This is my only option.”

His face didn’t soften.

“I work hard,” I blurted out. God, was I begging?

“Name it. I’ll do it.”

“Please… give me a chance. I won’t disappoint you. I’ll do whatever you ask, Mr. Knight.”

He sighed and checked the expensive gold watch on his wrist.

Then his gaze crawled over me slowly my hair, my clothes, my battered shoes.

Finally, his eyes lifted back to my face.

“You have a good look,” he said. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-three, sir.”

“You keep in shape?”

“Uh… yeah. I go to the gym.”

He smirked.

“Ever thought about erotic acting? You’d make good money.”

“No,” I snapped. “I don’t do that. I’m serious about acting.”

Was I insane for even coming here?

“A serious actor who hasn’t worked in over a year,” he replied coolly, tapping a paper on his desk.

“If you were serious, you’d take work wherever it was offered.”

“Beggars can’t be choosers.”

I wanted to punch him.

“If you want to be taken seriously,” he added, “take off your jacket.”

“What?”

“Get undressed.”

My heart dropped.

“I won’t repeat myself, Leo.”

I stood, humiliation burning through my veins, and slipped off my jacket.

“Your shirt.”

I clenched my jaw and pulled it over my head, dropping it on the chair.

He watched silently.

Then 

“Alright,” he said. “I can work with this.”

Relief struck first… then confusion.

“I’ll give you the money. I’ll sign you as talent. You’ll work off your debt through the jobs I give you.”

I waited.

Nothing else followed.

“Is… is that it?” I asked, then hesitated.

“And this isn’t… you know… sex for opportunity, right?”

His stare turned lethal.

“You’re a smart boy,” he said. “So I’ll skip the games.”

“You can leave now and forget this conversation. Or you can sign with me, have your debts paid, and accept this as a business deal.”

I relaxed.

Then 

“But.”

“The moment you walk out that door,” he said, eyes flicking to my growing problem, “you’ll never experience the curiosity you’re pretending you don’t feel.”

Heat exploded across my face as I looked away.

He stood and stepped around the desk, stopping far too close.

“So?” he murmured.

“Want to be my friend… with benefits?”

“I’m not gay,” I blurted.

“You like me,” he replied calmly. “Isn’t that enough?”

“I want something physical,” he continued. “No emotions. No drama. Are you interested?”

Silence filled the space between us.

I could leave.

I could take the deal and never see him again.

But…

“Then I won’t just be your friend,” I whispered.

A smirk curved his lips.

“No.”

Fuck.

A billionaire. Dangerous. Powerful.

And somehow… interested in me.

“I’m not gay, and I will never be a gay” I stood up angrilyand walked out of his office.