A Billionaire With Benefits

Mikaela found herself hugging a pillow as she listened to the lulling sound.

“Why don’t you like it when I curse?”

“It leaves a bad impression. And that doesn’t go for you alone. It sounds hostile.”

“I curse because it feels good when I do.”

“Where did you learn this?”

“After my parents died…”

He stopped her. “Let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk happy things.”

Like what? The contract ending? That he would move on so easily to other women? There would be other contracts. She was just the first.

“Do you like being alone?”

“I think it beats being surrounded by a lot of people who annoy me,” he replied.

“Do I annoy you?”

He looked at her like she was asking the most ridiculous thing. “Sometimes you do. You’re too nice for your own good.”

“I’m not. I just see the good in people.”

“You shouldn’t and that’s unsolicited advice from a businessman.”

“Not everything is business.”

“Of course it is. There’s an exchange for everything.”

She sighed. “You mean our contract. It’s almost on its third month.”

“I know,” he said quietly. He wanted to say something, but it seemed like word vomit.

“You don’t hate me, do you?” she pressed on.

“Hate is a strong word, Mikaela.”

“So that’s a no?”

“Of course it’s a no. Hate is debilitating in decision making. It clouds reasoning, even for people.”

“So you don’t hate me, but you don’t like me either.”

“I made a contract with you, I think that’s good enough grounds for liking you.”

He was answering this like a politician and it annoyed the hell out of her. She de

cided to be blunt with him.

“I don’t like how you treat me.”

“Which part of the contract did I violate?”

“You didn’t. I did,” she began.

“What?” he frowned, “I’m not really—”