hapter 83


    25 BONUS


    “What’s your deal? Are you seriously using our acquaintance andst night’s incident to ckmail


    me?” I confronted Hayden.


    “No,” he said, but his eyes didn’t quite meet mine.


    His guilty expression was all I needed to see. I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to punch him.


    “I’m unfamiliar with this ce. What’s wrong with asking for your help? I’ve helped you before too,”


    Hayden added, his tone softening, almost like he was trying to guilt–trip me.


    He was right. Debts had to be repaid, whether it was money or favors.


    I let out a sigh. “Okay, Mr. Hart, where do you want to go today? What do you need to buy? Just tell


    me. and I’ll take you.”


    “I want to check out some apartments,” he said, catching me totally off guard.


    I blinked at him. “Looking for an apartment? Aren’t you heading back once your work here is


    done?”


    “I might not be going back, so I’m nning ahead,” Hayden’s words hit me like a sudden jolt.


    I couldn’t exin it, but something about that felt off, unsettling even.


    “But yourpany isn’t based here,” I reminded him.


    “I could quit!”


    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I was speechless.


    “Oh, and I’m not buying–I’m renting. I’m broke right now, can’t afford to buy,” Hayden added, like it


    was no big deal, not even a hint of embarrassment.


    That was rare. These days, so many guys act like they got it all together, borrowing money to buy


    shy cars and watches just to keep up appearances. But Hayden? He just put it out there like it


    was nothing.


    “And you still want to quit your job?” I asked, my voice faltering a little.


    He didn’t respond, like he hadn’t even heard me.


    Maybe it was the fact that he admitted being broke that made me feel kind of sorry for him SoT


    actually drove him downtown.


    “This is the city center. The rent here must be pretty steep,” he noted.


    “It’s cheaper in the suburbs, but that’s far out, andmuting would be a hassle. As a lighting


    engineer, if you’re thinking of staying here long–term, you’ll probably end up working in the CBD


    Business Center. Renting downtown will save you a ton of time,” I suggested.


    He didn’t say anything, so remembering his financial situation, I added, “I could lend you the money.


    You can pay me back whenever.”


    “That sounds like you’re offering to be my sugar mama Hayden shot back, totally catching me off


    guard. I nearly choked.


    +25 BOUTE


    I red at him, thinking about whatever feelings he might have for me, and the fact that he’d even


    thought about marrying me once. I smirked sarcastically. “You’re overthinking it. I’m actually on the


    lookout for a wealthy boyfriend myself.”


    Hayden’s expression darkened a bit.


    I started the car. “Fine, let’s go check out the suburbs then.”


    But just as we pulled up to a real estate agency in the suburbs, my phone rang.


    “Hello… What? Alright, I’ll be right there.” I said into the phone before turning to Hayden. “You go


    ahead and check out the apartments. I’ve got something to deal with.”


    Hayden didn’t budge. “What’s going on?”


    I didn’t bother to hide it. “The water pipes in my apartment broke. I need to get someone to fix


    them.” The call bad been from my downstairs neighbor, saying water was already flooding the


    hallway.


    “I can fix it,” Hayden offered, throwing me off again.


    I was about to say something when he added, “If you keep dying, the water might damage


    someone else’s apartment, and you’ll have to pay for their repairs too.”


    He really seemed to know everything. Not wanting to waste any more time, I drove him to my


    ce.


    As soon as we stepped into the hallway, we were greeted by the sight of water streaming down,


    with a bunch of neighbors gathered around, pointing and talking.


    Hayden was out of the car before I could even react, heading straight for the source of the problem.


    After a quick nce, he asked, “Where’s the main water valve?”


    One of the neighbors pointed to a rusty metal te on the ground. “It’s under there, but it’s all


    rusted. We can’t turn it.”


    Before they could finish, Hayden had already lifted the metal te. He looked at me and asked,


    “Which floor and apartment are you in?”


    “Fourth floor, east unit.”


    As soon as I got the words out, I watched as he knelt down, lying t on the ground, and stretched


    his long arm out, gripping the rusted valve tightly. With a firm twist, he started to turn–it.


    Chapter B4