Crumbling Cakes

Part XXI (21)

A/N: Music plays a huge role in my writing process. And I'm not the only author it works for. So it shouldn't be a big surprise that I use some songs to help fuel a particular chapter. The playlist for this one was mainly Miracle by Chvrches. It has a way of highlighting both D and S's emotions. This chapter comes in at a whopping 12.5K words so prepare for a long read. If you enjoy playlist updates for later chapters,  just let me know! Enjoy <3

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Shortly after my nod, Sebastian pulled me into a tight hug. I had been right, those arms could hold me like a boa. This hug was tighter than any of his previous ones and that's saying something, believe me. Even though he was practically suffocating me I could tell the tension was leaving his body.

The reasonable, charming, understanding S.O.B got what he wanted. I should've felt more disgruntled and pissed off but in the end, I just felt tired. I've spent my whole life on edge, always wound tight and constantly running. Maybe this won't be so bad.

Maybe not, but I couldn't allow myself to get lost in this fantasy just yet. This doesn't change what happened before. There were ground rules and I had to point out some serious flaws with his offer before I could truly give up my concrete squat pad for good.

"Come sit down, Shorts. We'll talk through any concerns you have until you're comfortable with the idea. We both know it's what you should do, but I can tell you're not exactly on board—despite the nod." He had pulled away and gently led me back to the couch. At this point, I was too wrung out to even marvel at his ability to see through me. And there hadn't even been any alcohol involved.

This time he sat in the adjacent love seat, turned in my direction.

"Alright shoot." He rubbed his palms on his thighs like he was preparing for battle. I followed the movement with my eyes, which led me to the bulge at the center of where those thighs met. I knocked the constantly alert dirty bird in me back in line and quickly looked away. He was staring at me and I can only hope he assumed I was looking at the ground and not at his crotch.

I snorted. Sure he did. And Thomas Edison didn't want to destroy the reputation of Tesla's AC electricity.

Alright, Romanov, get your head in the game. The longer you put this off, the higher his chances of winning. I made a quick run-through of what he had said, what he had offered, and went with my first argument.

"I can't afford to pay you. There isn't a chance in hell that I could even afford a sixteenth of what this place costs." Problem numero uno. Because that was the gist of it, no? The reason I slept in a "refurbished" storage unit in the warehouse district on the east end of the city was that $250 a month was all I could spare. And let me tell you, people, that price is a steal.

We lived and played in the city. Well, he played in the city—I roamed it aimlessly. The point being everything was expensive, as inner-city life tends to be. Only catch is that the city has the most options for me if I hit a rough patch—plenty of people to pay under the table if necessary, though I really tried not to take that route. It's why I stay. But not for long. This life was just a means to an end until I had enough money to get away from here. And I'll now be leading a bunch of ducklings in my wake.

Sebastian watched me as he took in my first point, then he narrowed his eyes.

"You asked, that's my first issue." I shrugged in a take it or leave it way.

"Lia, I don't care. Let me worry about that, yea?" He sat back waving it away.

"I can't pay you. That means I'm not a viable option to help pay rent." I spoke slowly, maybe he did have that comprehension problem? He sighed heavily.