sed. "Leaving? Don't be ridicul

verything? You're just going to walk

mother die because you were too cheap, too arrogant, to lend me two thousand d

wed. I've been under a lot of pressure with the new funding round for Anderson Tech..." He s

tly. "The multi-billion dolla

le. "It's... complicated. I wanted t

I passed your t

waltzed in, perfectly made up, a cloud of expensive perfume preceding her. She was

rt when she saw

Her tone was syrupy swee

Blake, darling, I was just thinking we could grab dinner

issive glance. "St

ake muttered, trying t

it. She turned to me, a

atient with you. For years. Always wo

burning. The money I earned,

you know." Her voice dripped with false sympathy. "It's sad, really.

annoyance? – in his eyes. But he didn't contradict her. He

y steady, looking at Blake. "We split the rent

y. "Yes. Equal

t this whole building with pocket change. But you let me sc

mily," he insisted, but h

ive here. If it weren't for you, she'd be in some tiny room in the East Bay." She squee

s, meant to demean me, seemed to soli

a few times, then held it up, di

is voice was cold, businesslike. "You don't wa

eath

ite a bit for the privilege of living in my... well, our apartment." He smirked. "After all,

then at his face. The u

clever. He thought he wa

d no

ered. What was a little more debt, a l

oice quiet but firm.

p my box.

towards

unned. Jessica'

ote of panic in his voice now. "Don'

behind me, the click of the latch echoing