Falling Out of Hate with You (The Hate-Love Duet 1)

I look at Daria and it’s instantly clear she’s thinking what I’m thinking. How much money did the show offer Savage to get him to say yes?

“Hey, Nadine,” Daria says, leaning over the phone on her desk. “What’s Savage’s salary this season?”

“Don’t answer that,” Savage’s agent barks. “That’s none of her business.”

“I can’t divulge that,” Nadine confirms.

Daria places her palms on her desk, on either side of her phone. “I know what Aloha is making this season. Ten mill.” She looks up at Savage, apparently trying to gauge his reaction. “I’m guessing, all things considered, Savage’s deal would be significantly less than that. Maybe . . . a third of that?”

“Say nothing, Nadine,” Eli shouts.

“I can’t confirm or deny,” Nadine replies. But something in her tone feels a whole lot like she’s screaming, “Confirm, confirm, confirm!” Daria turns her dark, sultry eyes on Eli. “Come on, Mr. McKenzie,” she coos. “Let’s get this deal done. Both of our clients stand to make a shit-ton of money from endorsements and increased music sales after the season.”

The adults in the room begin sparring, and while they do that, Savage sidles up to me at the proverbial kiddie table, his body language cocky and decidedly sexual. He takes an empty armchair next to me.

“Hey, Fitzy,” he says, like we’re back in Providence, sharing a bottle of booze outside the twins’ birthday party in the moonlight.

“You can’t charm me into taking less money,” I say flatly.

Savage bites his lower lip, well aware he looks irresistible when he does that. “I’m not trying to charm you into doing anything. I’m merely pointing out that, if we do this, we’ll be stuck together in a kickass house—with a hot tub—for three months.” He licks his lips in a way I’ve seen him do many, many times. Like he’s thinking about performing oral sex. “I’m saying all the orgasms I could give you during our fake romance should be factored into your calculations. I’d think they’d be worth something.”

I roll my eyes, even as every inch of my skin erupts in lustful goosebumps. “Not gonna happen. I told you that was a one-time thing that will never happen again.”

Savage straightens up, all hint of seduction gone. “I’m not paying you a dime, Laila. Everything Daria’s already negotiated for you is well beyond anything you dreamed was possible when you woke up this morning. So, stop being greedy.”

I clench my jaw. “I’m not being greedy. This is business, and I’m letting my agent get me the best deal possible, which is exactly what your agent initially did for you, and what he’s also doing now. Don’t think, even for a minute, your donkey dick is some kind of dangling carrot for me.”

“Sure, bunny. You’re not any more believable now than you were on Sylvia.”

“If anyone is being greedy, it’s you. You’re the one who messed up, not me. So, you should be the one to have to sacrifice to fix your mess.”

Sexual heat washes over him. He leans forward sharply, sending his sexy cologne into my nostrils. “You wanna see me being greedy, sweetheart? Then let me eat your pussy. I’ll show you a kind of greed that’ll take your breath away.”

I inhale sharply, taken aback by the hungry look in his eyes.

“Laila!” Daria barks from across the room. “Stop talking to him right now!”

I lean back sharply, feeling like a kid who’s been caught saying a curse word. “He wasn’t convincing me of anything,” I blurt. But even I can hear the lie in my tone.

“Oh, jeez,” Daria mutters, throwing up her hands. “Seriously? The world is full of big dicks, Laila. He’s got nothing to offer that can’t be found elsewhere.” She leans into the speaker phone. “Nadine, we’re gonna have to call you back. Savage is trying to charm the pants off my client, literally.”

Nadine replies she’ll give our side fifteen minutes to reach a deal. “We’re running out of time here, folks,” she says sternly. “If you don’t call us back within fifteen minutes, saying you’ve reached a deal on your end, we’re going to cut bait and move forward with our Plan B—someone else we’ve already lined up to replace Savage, if needed.”

Well, that gets everyone’s attention, especially Savage’s.

Daria ends the call and rests half her bottom on the edge of her desk. “Okay, gentlemen. You heard Nadine. She’s already got someone else lined up. So, the question Savage needs to ask himself is this: ‘Do I want one hundred percent of nothing . . . or fifty percent of something?’”

“He’ll give her ten percent,” Eli says.

And Daria replies by launching into a long speech about why I’m not going to take anything less than half Savage’s salary, whatever it is. “This would have to be an equal partnership in all ways,” Daria says. “Because Savage needs Laila as much as she needs him.”