“What’s that supposed to mean?” I glared vehemently at him and demanded.
This man is doubting the legitimacy of my virginity! Am I really such a frivolous woman to him?
But come to think of it, if I were a virtuous woman, why would I have come on to him? Why would I have sex with him again and again? I guess I really am shameless.
“The surgery for hymen restoration isn’t that expensive nowadays, and the effect is exceptionally good. They can make it seem exactly like the first time,” Michael said pointedly while studying me with a thoughtful gaze.
I was even more furious upon hearing that. I couldn’t believe how petty this man was and why he would assume such a thing about me.
Although I had approached him with a personal agenda, he had no right to humiliate me like this!
Back then when I met him at the bar was really my first time. Hymen restoration? Seriously? Only he can think of something like that! I never expected such a handsome man to have such a black heart. What a waste of his good looks!
“Can you stop having such degrading thoughts about others? I know I’m nothing but a frivolous woman to you, but just so you know, I wouldn’t have come looking for you if I didn’t really need this money!” I retorted angrily.
My eyes welled up with tears, but I refused to let them fall.
Seeing the tears in my eyes, Michael’s expression stiffened, and his brows drew together slightly. Then, he sat up and took out a checkbook from his pocket before swiftly filling in the details.
My heart raced upon seeing him do so. Is he going to lend me two hundred thousand?
After writing the cheque, he handed it to me. Excitement shot through me, and I immediately reached out to take it.
But right before my fingers touched the cheque, he withdrew it with a straight face. I glowered at him and pursed my lips tightly. Is he messing with me? Why did he write it if he’s not going to give it to me?
I was about to reprimand him when he spoke again. “I can give you two hundred thousand, on one condition.”
His calculating gaze did not go unnoticed by me.
I had already expected that he wouldn’t give me the money so easily. People like him never made bad deals.
“What is it? As long as it’s within my capabilities, I’ll do it.”
I didn’t have any other choice. As long as it didn’t involve killing, I’d agree to do it in a heartbeat. My dad needed the money for his surgery, and there was no room for hesitation.
Looking into my eyes, Michael said with a serious expression, “Be mine.”
My eyes widened in shock, and I stared at him with incredulity. “What did you say?”
“Or, to be more precise, I want you to be my lover. You must be there whenever I need you, and you can never refuse me.”
I felt as though a bucket of ice water had just been dumped on me. So… he wants us to be friends with benefits.
I peered at him and asked awkwardly, “Is there any other option besides this?”
“Yes.”
“Which is?”
I looked at him expectantly, hoping there was a better option than being friends with benefits because I really couldn’t bring myself to agree to that.
“Leave right now without the money.”
Michael pinned me with a steely gaze, refusing to back down.
It was obvious that I had no other choice besides agreeing to his terms.
I warred with myself for a long time, but upon seeing him keeping the cheque, I finally gave in. “Fine. I agree.”
The only way I could get the two hundred thousand was to agree to his condition. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to settle my dad’s surgery fee.
Michael’s lips curved into a triumphant smile, and he threw the cheque in front of me.
My throat closed up from emotion as I picked up the cheque and carefully slipped it into my bag.
When he watched me put the cheque away so carefully, he queried once more. “Now tell me why you need two hundred thousand.”
Hence, I told him about my dad’s illness, not leaving out a single detail as I saw no need to hide anything. Besides, he could always find out the truth even if I lied.
After listening to my explanation, Michael frowned slightly. Thankfully, he didn’t make things difficult for me anymore. When he stood up and started getting dressed, I followed suit.
Subsequently, I grabbed my bag and prepared to leave. Since he was done with me, there was no reason for me to stay.
As I made my way toward the door, he called out abruptly, “Wait for me. I’ll send you home.”
Truth be told, I didn’t want to spend any more time with him than necessary. The thought of my current relationship with him sent a wave of indignance through me.
Sitting in his car had always made me uncomfortable. As I had nothing to say to him, I simply turned my face away to look out the window.
In the end, it was him who broke the awkward silence. “Where are you staying now?”
“At my friend’s.” With that, I reported Natalie’s address to him.
“That’s very inconvenient. I’ll prepare a place for you.”
Michael’s brows knitted into a frown; it was as though he was genuinely displeased by the fact that I was staying at my friend’s house.
“T-That’s not necessary. I’m fine living with my friend. You don’t need to get me a place.”
I thought Michael proposed this because we were friends with benefits. From what I knew, rich people like him were often generous to their lovers, gifting them houses and whatnot.
However, I didn’t want things to be like that between us. Although I sought him out for money this time, I only wanted to get enough for my dad’s surgery. I wasn’t planning to accept anything more than that.
However, it seemed like I thought too highly of Michael because his explanation of why he had offered greatly irked me. But then again, we were merely friends with benefits. Of course, he wouldn’t go out of his way to treat me well.
“I just think it’s inconvenient for us to get it on at your friend’s place. I mean, do you expect me to look for you there whenever I wanna have sex?”
He always spoke in such an unbridled manner before me. Not to mention, he managed to keep a straight face every single time. Right then, I couldn’t help but wonder just how thick-skinned this man could get.
“I’ll find a place myself. You don’t need to worry about that. But it may take me a few days. I just started a new job and haven’t gotten my first paycheck,” I replied, feeling slightly abashed.
Michael didn’t comment after that. Only the frown on his face indicated that he had heard me.
When handed me his phone, I eyed him dubiously and asked, “What?”
“Your phone number. Were you expecting me to wait for you to create chance encounters every time?”
