Last night felt awkward once we got back, and I didn’t waste a lot of time in excusing myself to my room. I’m surprised he’s being so understanding and hasn’t tried to make a move. I can’t imagine it’s because of Tucker, he doesn’t come across as someone who follows the rules.
“Did you sleep well?” he asks, as he passes me a cup of coffee.
“It was good, thank you. I can’t get over how comfortable the bed is,” I say with a laugh.
“Mine’s comfier,” he replies with a wink, and I don’t know how to respond to that. Just don’t say anything, it seems like the safer option right now.
“Can I ask you something? I’m just a little worried that you may take it the wrong way.”
“Well, now you have me intrigued. Go for it, my Star.”
“Have you ever tried to see how the other half live?”
“What do you mean?” he asks, and I’m trying so hard not to roll my eyes.
“You know, being someone who doesn’t have a seemingly endless supply of money. Someone who doesn’t have every door opened for them and having a table suddenly appear, even though there’s a long waiting list just to be seated. The restaurant you took me to yesterday, is the kind of place you have to reserve months in advance, and yet you got in. Even though it was decided on a whim.” How do I make him see what I’m trying to get at here?
“I’ve never really seen the point in it. Why wait for something when you don’t have to?”
“Because this world you live in is so foreign to me, and I’m experiencing it because it’s what I need to do. Maybe you’d understand the way I react to certain things, if you just tried to live in my world for a day.” I run my fingers through my hair, yanking slightly as I try to rid myself of this growing frustration.
“And you feel strongly about this? Having me see what life was like for you before you came to us?” He cocks his head to the side while he strokes his chin.
“Yes, no, I don’t know. You were Liam so you could get to know me and see who I truly was. As well as seeing if I was deceitful, well this is who I am. You really want to know me, then maybe you should try it.” Why am I even saying this? I don’t want Emmet to understand me, do I? I know I want to understand him, and I feel like I’m starting to now that we’ve spent this time together. Even if it is just a bit.
“Okay then, let’s do it. But you’ll have to tell me what to do because I haven’t got a clue how to be poor.” It sounds conceited to me, but I just know that he doesn’t mean it in that way. That he’s even willing to try means the world to me, and that’s a scary thing.
“O-okay, I c-c-can do that.” Damn it, I’ve been doing so well with my stuttering. It’s okay, this is going to take time, and having a stutter is a part of what makes me who I am.
“Okay, tomorrow I’ll live like a Carter and then you’ll do something for me. Only, you have to agree without knowing what it is. As well as not asking any questions about it or refusing once I let you know. Do you agree to my terms?” He seems a little too happy for comfort, but I think this is worth the risk.
“You have yourself a deal.” He holds out his hand to me and I slip mine within. Just like that, we shake and our deal is made.
I wonder what I’ve just agreed to.
“For today though, I have some business to take care of. You can come with me if you’d like, but you have to go along with whatever I say.”
“Okay, now you have me intrigued. I’m in,” I reply, and I don’t think I like the glint he has in his eyes.
29
The Prince Effect
We climb out of the car and walk into a restaurant that is serving brunch. We don’t wait to be seated as Emmet sits down at a table already occupied by a girl, or I guess, a woman. She must be close to my age, and I’m curious who she is.
“Emmet, darling. I’m so glad you came.” Her eyes light up greedily as she takes him in, but the light dulls when she spots me. “I see you’ve brought a friend.”
“I have indeed. Although, I’d say she is a lot more than a friend,” he replied coolly, as he slides his finger down the column of my neck, before lowering his mouth to my pulse point.
“I don’t understand, why come at all? If you’re seeing this ‘girl’, then why bother? Unless you want her to join us.”
“Not at all. She doesn’t need any assistance when it comes to satisfying my urges, unlike you, of course. I just wanted you to see who I’ve replaced you with. I guess you could say I’ve traded up,” he says with a mocking laugh.
“But I did everything you asked of me. I brought all those outfits, and I let you use those restraints. Why tell me how you want me to behave, if you’re just going to throw me away?” She sounds genuinely upset, and her eyes are already filling with unshed tears.
“How can I put this in a way that your little brain can understand? You. Are. Boring. Oh, that was easier than I thought. You’re boring, Carmen, and frankly, you’re not good enough for me.”
“What, you think she is? Look at her, she’s nothing. You could have a real woman,” she throws out, and more than a fair share of heads are turning our way.
“There is nothing real about you, Carmen. Even your tits are as fake as the tan you have going on. But if you really want to discuss this, then maybe we should go out into the back.” He slides his chair back and climbs to his feet. She wastes no time in following him, and with one simple glance, I do the same. Have I stated enough, how much I hate this?
We go into a back office and he slides the lock in place, and she wastes no time in wrapping her arms around his neck and kisses him hard. He’s looking right at me as she kisses him, and then he pushes her away and against the door.
“You need to stop calling and texting me, and I swear to God, if you turn up at my place uninvited again, I will not be held accountable for my actions. I don’t take well to trespassers. You were a fleeting thing, Carmen, and you are deluded if you ever thought more would come out of our little arrangement. Now, fuck off before I get mean.”
“No, you can’t just push me away and shove that little slut in my face while you do it,” she screams, and his hand is around her throat in no time.
“Yeah, baby, you know what I like,” she purrs and a shiver passes through him before he pulls himself away.
“I mean it. Don’t contact me again. I’m done with you, I will not repeat myself again.” He grabs my hand, pushes her out of the way, and leads me out of the restaurant. We didn’t even grab anything to eat.
The day of Emmet being like me is here, and I have no idea what to expect. I’m struggling to believe he will really go through with it. It sounds mean, but I only give him an hour before he renegades on our deal.
“So, how much money am I allowed to use today?”
“Fifty, that’s still more than I’d usually have, but I think that will be a good amount,” I say with a smile and his falls away.
“Fifty? What the fuck am I supposed to do with that? That will only get us a starter, if we’re lucky,” he says with a growl, and I have to bite my cheek to stop myself from laughing.