A condition?

And I did. I ran after him, knowing I had to beg for him to keep his mouth shut about what he had just discovered.

I shot past him and blocked his path, with my arms spread to prevent him from walking past me. “Can we please talk this out?”

He frowned. “What are we talking about?”

I raised my hand, exasperated. “This!”

“This? What do you mean by that?” He glared, not bothering to hide his resentment.

I puffed out a breath, realizing he wanted me to spell it out. “Will you tell my dad?”

“What do you think?”

"I—" I fell on my knees, ignoring the pain that shot through me when my knees pressed on the sand. “Please don't. My father —”

“Let's go.” He turned his back to me. “It's late.”

“Jules —”

“Let's go.” He continued towards his car, forcing me to rise to my feet and run after him. He opened the door and got in without sparing a look at me. I joined him, turning to continue the conversation.

“Please —”

“Fasten your seatbelt.”

I huffed out in frustration and did as he asked. “Can you not tell my father? I want to be the one to tell him.”

If I ever do that. I have no intention of letting father know about sexuality. He would kill me before he accepts that. If there were an award for the world's greatest homophobic person, it would go to him, no doubt.

Jules glanced at me, staring hard, as if he could tell what I had in mind as I looked at him. He let out a sigh before he returned his focus to the road. He didn't say a word, but the silence spoke so much.

“Please don't tell him. I will… I will pay you double for your silence. Just name a price and I will pay.”

I have millions in my account, untouched because I was saving up for the future. Giving him from it just to save my head didn't sound so bad. As long as it wasn't up to a million —

“A million.”

My mouth dropped open. “What??”

He glanced at me. “You asked to buy my silence, didn't you? I will take a million. It's not that much, is it?”

It is! 

I gritted my teeth, biting back the response, knowing he might decide to proceed with his plans to tell my father, without taking any bribe from me. 

He cocked his head to the side. “So?”

I exhaled, reluctant to part with a million, before I nodded. “I will pay. Just give me some time, okay?”

“I want it now. If you don't think you can —”

“I will send it to you when we get home, I promise!” I lifted my left index, middle and forefingers.

His lips curved up, and he nodded before he concentrated on the road.

I cursed him in my mind throughout the ride back to the flat. If only I hadn't been confident in my sneaking-out skills. I wouldn't have left the building if I knew he was on my heels. I had believed I was slick and wouldn't be caught. 

Fuck Jules!

He drove into the indoor garage and killed the engine. I took that as a cue to leave. I got out of the car and slammed my door shut, so he would know I was fucking pissed at him. A million? Even if my dad was loaded, removing that amount from my savings will shake me.

Jules only spared me a glance before he started for the lift and I followed him, tail tucked between my legs and my back hunched. 

We didn't speak throughout the ride to our floor. The silence was damned suffocating, at least to me. I couldn't even breathe loudly for fear that it would irritate him. He kept his face straight ahead, his jaw ticking. He must be super irked. I wouldn't be surprised if he rushes straight to the bathroom after this. Not to wank, though. More likely to wash out the impurities he came in contact with tonight.

When he stopped at his door, I did the same, lacing my fingers and peering up at him through my lashes. I'd heard this look was charming, but looking at the displeasure on his face, I knew he didn't feel that way.

I cleared my throat. “About the amount you charged me —”

“Forget about it.”

“Huh?” I looked up sharply, dropping the cute act. 

He exhaled. “Forget about the money I asked you to pay.”

My heart dropped. “I see, you must have realized my dad would pay more than I.” I should have known. Jules wasn't a kid. He must have calculated this on the way back. Letting my father know about this will fetch him more than a million. He might even get tens of it. It wouldn't mean anything to him. “What if I double the amount… No, triple it? I can even… Just name your price. I might not have it with me, but I promise to pay it.”

Anything to keep my sexuality from my father. I was yet to heal from my childhood trauma. Knowing who my father is, he will take me back to the camp and make sure I get the homosexuality beaten out of me. 

Jules looked at me. No, he actually stared, so hard it felt like I would melt under his gaze. I looked down, waiting for him to name his price, and knowing that whatever he charged might cost me more than a hand and leg.

For a full minute, we stood there, with no words exchanged between us. Just when I thought he wouldn't say anything, he exhaled.

“Just forget about it. I don't intend to tell your dad, and you don't have to pay a dime. It's not a business of mine if you like men and —”

“Really??” I perked up at that. “You won't tell him?” Even though it was too good to be true, I couldn't stop the smile that broke out on my face.

“On one condition.”

The smile froze. I should have known. Nothing comes that easily. 

“Promise you won't go to a place like that.”