Tormented

“That sounded like Jake,” she said.

He turned around. “Yeah.”

He held the seat out for her. Sitting down, she saw that dessert, a strawberry sherry mousse topped with citrus sorbet, had been set.

“Sounds like he wants you to give me back?” she inquired.

Ben’s face darkened as he took his seat. “Something like that.”

“Are you?”

He hesitated before replying, “I haven’t made up my mind.”

Shit.

She stared at her dessert, but as pretty as it looked, she had lost interest in eating. “So you’re considering it.”

“According to the contract he signed with the Scarlet Auction, any third-party involvement requires prior authorization from the Scarlet Auction.”

“And you’re a stickler for the rules?”

“I don’t give a fuck about the Scarlet Auction.”

“Then why bring up the contract?”

He pressed his lips into a line. “Look, I know you don’t like Jake, but I’m sure something can be worked out.”

“No, thank you. I don’t want to work anything out with that racist creep.”

“Who did you think you were going to end up with, selling yourself through the Scarlet Auction? Prince Charming?”

“No, that’s Claire’s fairy tale.”

“You can always walk away.”

The more he talked, the more it sounded like he was going to give her back to Jake. Her earlier anger returned twofold, in part because she was upset with herself. She should have known better than to trust he could have her interest. She should have walked out that door when she’d had the chance.

“But then I don’t get the money, and I’m out that ridiculous processing fee,” she replied.

“I’ll reimburse you the processing fee, plus whatever you would have earned.”

“I don’t want your money!”

He was taken aback.

She reconsidered what she ought to have said if she’d actually participated in the Scarlet Auction for monetary reasons. “I mean, it’s not fair for you to have to pay.”

“Then finish the week with Jake. There’s only a few days left.”

“Are you going to be there?”

“No.”

Great. Without Ben there to protect her, who knew what Jake might do. But how was she going to finish her story if she quit? And she needed more evidence if there was any chance of bringing charges against Jake.

“I don’t trust Jake,” she said firmly.

“Then don’t finish the week with him. I told you I could compensate you. And take all the stuff that Beth bought. It’s yours to do whatever you want. There’s easily ten thousand dollars’ worth.”