Chapter 474 - Call My Bluff

Chapter 474: Chapter 474 - Call My Bluff

Zac stared at her.

For the first time that evening, the arrogant bastard seemed to have lost his ability to speak. His smirk disappeared, and his eyes narrowed as though he was trying to figure out whether she’d actually agreed to his ridiculous proposition.

Oh, that was satisfying.

Roxie folded her arms, giving him enough time to recover before raising an eyebrow. "What’s wrong? You suddenly changed your mind?"

Zac leaned forward on the bench, resting his elbows against his thighs. "You understand what you’re agreeing to?"

"Perfectly. You want me to sleep with you in exchange for an interview. You’ve explained it quite clearly."

His jaw tightened.

Interesting.

She’d expected him to be delighted. The bastard had spent the entire evening humiliating her, and now that she’d accepted his offer, he looked like she’d personally offended him.

Roxie smiled.

"Honestly, Zac, I didn’t expect you to still be this attracted to me after ten years. I’m flattered."

"Don’t flatter yourself, Rox."

"Why? You’re the one who suggested we sleep together. I came here to discuss football and your investments, remember?"

He gave her a hard look before leaning back against the bench.

God, he really hadn’t expected her to agree.

And she was beginning to enjoy that realization.

"Fine," Zac said. "Then there are things you need to understand. When I call, you answer. If I want to see you, I expect you to come. I’m not interested in waiting around because you’re busy doing something else."

Roxie stared at him.

Was he fucking serious?

She had a career, responsibilities, and an actual life outside his ridiculous mansion. He couldn’t possibly expect her to drop everything whenever he decided he wanted company.

Then she noticed the way he was watching her, almost daring her to argue.

Oh, that bastard.

He was doing it again.

His first attempt to make her walk away had failed, so now he was making his conditions increasingly unreasonable. He knew perfectly well she would never agree to being ordered around like that.

Unfortunately for him, Roxie had already decided she wasn’t leaving.

"So whenever you call, I’m supposed to come running?" she asked pleasantly. "Even if I’m working?"

"You’ll make time."

"And if you text me while I’m in the middle of a meeting?"

"I expect an answer."

Roxie nodded thoughtfully, pretending to consider his demands.

"That’s quite a commitment, Prescott. I didn’t realize you wanted so much of my attention."

His expression darkened.

She nearly laughed.

God, he hated hearing his own demands repeated back to him.

"You’re making this complicated," Zac said.

"Actually, I think I’m beginning to understand. You call, I come. You text, I answer. Apparently, I’ll have a very busy schedule keeping you entertained."

He gave her another irritated look.

Roxie stood and approached the bench. Zac’s eyes followed her, but he remained seated, looking entirely too comfortable for somebody who’d just proposed controlling her entire schedule.

"Actually, I have another question."

"What now?"

"Since you’re apparently going to be giving me orders, should I start calling you something special?"

Zac frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

Roxie stopped directly in front of him, close enough that his knees were almost touching her skirt.

"Well, I’ll be at your beck and call, won’t I? Should I call you Master?"

His jaw tightened.

Oh, he hated that.

Roxie smiled sweetly and placed one finger against his shoulder.

"Too formal?"

"Roxie."

"What? I’m trying to be accommodating."

She let her fingertip move slowly across his collarbone, feeling the warmth of his skin and the faint dampness remaining from his workout.

Zac went still.

Interesting.

She’d spent half the evening getting distracted by this man lifting weights, and now he was finally paying attention to her.

"What’s the proper name for this kind of arrangement anyway?" she asked. "A booty call? Aren’t we getting a little old for that?"

"You’re enjoying yourself."

"Actually, yes. You should try being pleasant to your guests more often."

She leaned closer, fully aware that her blouse had shifted slightly at the neckline.

Zac’s eyes dropped.

Roxie noticed immediately.

Oh, that was lovely.

She’d spent half the evening trying to ignore how attractive he looked exercising, and now he was having trouble keeping his eyes on her face.

She lifted her finger toward the compass tattoo near his neck, lightly tracing its edge.

Zac swallowed.

His Adam’s apple moved beneath her gaze.

For the first time since she’d arrived, the bastard was having trouble hiding his reaction.

"Or perhaps you’d prefer Daddy?"

Zac caught her wrist and moved her hand away.

"Enough, Roxie."

His voice was sharper now, and Roxie couldn’t help smiling.

"What? You don’t like that one either?"

"You’re making a joke out of this."

She laughed.

"Oh, I’m sorry. Were you expecting a serious discussion after spending the entire evening making fun of me?"

He released her wrist, but his expression remained hard.

"You’re really willing to sell yourself for an interview?"

Roxie’s smile disappeared.

For a moment, she genuinely couldn’t believe what she’d heard. Then her anger returned.

Was he fucking serious?

He’d invited her here, deliberately humiliated her, and proposed the entire arrangement himself. Now he had the nerve to ask whether she was selling herself?

"That’s a very interesting question coming from the man who made the offer."

"Answer it."

"Why? So you can insult me again? You’ve already spent enough time doing that tonight."

Zac looked away briefly, his jaw tightening.

And suddenly, Roxie understood.

He’d expected her to reject him.

God, he really had.

He’d probably imagined her screaming at him, calling him every horrible name she could think of, and storming out of his house.

Then he’d get to sit there feeling victorious. Except she was still standing in front of him.

And now he had absolutely no idea what to do with her.

"What’s wrong, Prescott?" she asked. "I thought this was what you wanted."

"You’re awfully confident."

"Well, you’ve spent the entire evening telling me what you expect. I’m simply trying to understand how serious you are."

His eyes narrowed.

Roxie smiled.

"Or did you only make the offer because you thought I’d say no?"

Zac gave a hollow laugh.

"You really think you’ve figured me out?"

"I used to know you pretty well."

Something in his expression changed.

Roxie regretted saying it almost immediately.

God, why had she said that? She forced another smile.

"Anyway, I’m here now. You wanted to know whether I’d agree, so stop complaining because I did."

Zac watched her without answering.

Roxie decided she’d had enough of him looking down at her from that bench.

She stepped closer, then lowered herself onto the carpet in front of him.

His expression changed.

"What are you doing?"

Roxie looked up at him.

"Well, you seem to enjoy having me beneath you tonight. I thought I’d make things easier."

He gave a short, incredulous laugh, but his attention remained fixed on her.

Oh.

That was interesting.

She’d intended to embarrass him, and it appeared to be working.

Roxie rested one hand lightly on his knee.

"What’s wrong? You’ve been giving me orders all evening, and now you’ve suddenly gone quiet."

"You’re unbelievable."

"Thank you. I learned from the best."

She watched him shift slightly, his earlier composure becoming harder to maintain. The movement drew her attention before she could help it, and she realized his body was giving away considerably more than his expression.

He was hard.

Roxie raised her eyes to his face.

Oh, Prescott.

All that arrogance, and he was having just as much trouble remaining unaffected as she was.

She should have felt triumphant.

Instead, being this close reminded her how much she’d enjoyed his attention in Italy. She could still feel the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers, and her own body was responding despite how furious she remained with him.

Fuck.

She’d started this because she wanted to humiliate him.

Now she was discovering that she wasn’t entirely immune to her own little game. She’s wet and this was the most humiliating thing in this entire affair.

Zac reached toward her, settling one hand against the side of her neck.

Roxie stopped smiling.

His thumb rested near her pulse.

God.

Her heartbeat had become ridiculous, and she knew he could feel it.

"You’re nervous."

Roxie lifted her chin.

"You’re imagining things."

"Am I?"

He moved his thumb slightly.

Her pulse jumped, and the faint satisfaction in his expression irritated her.

Oh, the bastard.

He was enjoying himself again.

"Careful, Prescott," she murmured. "You’re starting to look interested."

He chuckled.

"You think you can handle me?"

Roxie raised an eyebrow.

"I handled you perfectly fine when we were younger. You were considerably more annoying back then."

His mouth curved.

"That’s what you remember?"

"I remember you complaining whenever I wanted to go home. Apparently, spending an entire afternoon together was never enough for you."

"You never wanted to leave."

Roxie felt her cheeks warm. God, she hated how easily he could still embarrass her.

"That’s debatable."

Zac laughed, and for a moment his expression reminded her so strongly of the boy she’d loved that something in her chest tightened.

She remembered him sitting on the bleachers after practice, finding excuses to make her stay a little longer. She’d sit close to him, sometimes on the lower step between his knees, while he played with her hair and complained about how early she always had to leave.

He’d been so affectionate back then.

Now he seemed determined to make her regret ever coming near him again.

Roxie looked away before the memory could show on her face.

Zac released her neck and leaned back against the bench.

"Let’s talk about what you’re getting."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I thought that was the interview."

"There’s more."

Roxie waited.

"I know people who can get you access to actors, athletes, and business executives. If you need introductions, I’ll make them."

She became quiet.

That was unexpected.

An interview with Zac was valuable enough, but access to his contacts could completely change the direction of her series.

She’d spent weeks struggling to get publicists to answer her emails, and he was casually offering to introduce her to people she could barely reach.

"You’re serious?"

"Yes."

"About introducing me to other celebrities?"

"I said I would."

Roxie studied him for a moment.

Well.

That was actually a very generous offer. She wondered whether he realized how much it could help her.

Then again, he probably did. Zac had always been annoyingly observant whenever he wanted something.

"I’ll also take care of your expenses," he continued.

Roxie blinked.

"What expenses?"

"Clothes, travel, whatever you need. I’ll give you an allowance."

She stared at him.

"Zac, I have a salary."

"I know."

"Then why would you pay for my clothes?"

"Because I can."

Roxie laughed.

God, the arrogance.

She was perfectly capable of paying her own bills, and the idea of Zac giving her money every month was ridiculous.

"I appreciate the offer, but I’ll keep paying my own rent, thank you."

"Suit yourself."

He leaned toward her.

"I’ll take care of you."

Roxie went quiet.

Those words.

God, she’d heard him say them before. She’d laughed and reminded him she intended to have her own career.

He’d laughed too, promising that he’d spoil her anyway. Now he was sitting in front of her, offering almost the same thing. Except everything about the offer felt different.

Roxie looked at him, wondering for a moment whether he remembered those promises.

His expression gave her nothing.

She forced herself to smile.

"That’s very generous, Prescott. Although you’re starting to sound like you want to keep me permanently employed."

His mouth curved slightly.

"Maybe."

She laughed, trying to ignore how close he was.

God, she was in trouble.

She could argue with him and make jokes about his ridiculous demands, but whenever he looked at her like that, her confidence became considerably harder to maintain.

Zac leaned closer.

Roxie held her ground, although her heart had started beating faster again.

Their faces were only inches apart when he spoke.

"One more thing."

She swallowed.

"What?"

His mouth curved.

"I need to sample the product first before we decide."

Roxie stared at him.

He leaned back slightly, looking entirely too pleased with himself. He thought he’d finally found something that would make her back down.

"Sample the product?" she repeated. "That’s how you talk to women now?"

"You’re free to change your mind."

She breathed hard. He kept offering her a way out, almost as if he was waiting for her to take it.

Roxie studied him.

Was humiliating her really that important to him?

He could have refused the interview. He could have told his representative to reject her request.

Instead, he’d invited her here, made her spend an evening asking for his help, and now he was deliberately pushing her to see how much she’d tolerate.

She was tired of being the one who walked away hurting.

Besides, he was clearly affected by her. She’d seen enough of his reactions tonight to know that his arrogance wasn’t nearly as convincing as he wanted it to be.

And she was beginning to enjoy proving it.

Zac watched her.

His smile returned slightly. He probably thought she was finally leaving.

She noticed the satisfaction in his expression, and that was enough to make her decision.

Oh, Prescott.

You really have no idea.

"What exactly do you want me to do?" she asked.

His smile faded.

"Roxie."

"What? You said you wanted to see whether I’m serious. I’m asking what you want."

Zac stared at her.

Then she noticed something.

The tips of his ears were turning red.

Roxie’s chest tightened.

God.

She remembered that.

Whenever Zac got particularly flustered when they were teenagers, his ears would turn pink before he could control his expression.

She shook the memory away.

The man sitting in front of her had spent the entire evening trying to humiliate her. Whatever she’d once felt for him couldn’t change that.

Zac leaned back against the bench.

"You know what I want."

Roxie’s eyes drifted downward before she could stop herself, and she swallowed when she noticed the unmistakable evidence of his arousal.

Oh, fuck.

So that was what the bastard expected from her.

Good God, Zac. At least take a shower first.

She glanced at the sweat still glistening on his chest, then immediately regretted the direction her thoughts took. The fact that she found him attractive even after his workout was embarrassing enough. Her imagination was making it worse.

Was she seriously thinking about that after everything he’d said to her tonight?

She was losing her fucking mind.

And apparently, he knew it, judging by the smug expression slowly returning to his face.

Oh, absolutely fucking not.

Roxie looked at him for another moment. He’d spent the entire evening trying to make her uncomfortable, and now he was sitting there, waiting for her to finally admit defeat.

Well, he could keep waiting.

She rose from the carpet, taking her time as she straightened her skirt. Zac watched her closely, probably expecting her to collect her handbag and leave.

Instead, Roxie held his gaze and reached beneath the hem of her skirt.

His expression changed.

She moved deliberately, allowing him to understand exactly what she was doing before a small piece of black lace slipped onto the carpet beside her heels.

Zac froze.

For a moment, he simply stared at her, his earlier smirk completely gone.

Roxie’s face burned. God, she couldn’t believe she’d actually done that. Her heart was racing, and every sensible thought in her head was telling her she’d taken this ridiculous confrontation far enough.

But the look on his face!

After an entire evening of being mocked, she’d finally managed to surprise the arrogant bastard.

And fuck, she liked having that power over him.

Roxie tilted her head, smiling despite the heat spreading across her cheeks.

"Well, Prescott?" she murmured. "Let me test you first."