She''d never actually talked to Ss about Oliver. But she knew one thing for sure Ss didn''t like the guy. She didn''t want to see him upset, didn''t want to make things harder for him, so she decided to deal with Oliver herself.


    "You know, if you weren''t Ss''s wife, I might actually like you," Oliver said, looking her up and down with a smirk. "But you''re sitting right where I don''t want you, so, yeah, I''m not your biggest fan right now."


    He leaned forward, voice lowering conspiratorially. "You''re pretty cocky, aren''t you? You really think Ss is never gonna change his mind about you? You think he''ll hand over every cent he makes?"


    He snorted, shaking his head. "Don''t fool yourself, sweetheart. The deal I''m offering is the best you''ll get. If you''re stubborn, you''re just setting yourself up for regret."


    Oliver''s eyes were cold, but there was a glint of grudging respect when he looked at Calliope. He didn''t like her stubborn streak, not one bit, but he couldn''t help but kind of admire it, too.


    Too bad she wasn''t the kind of daughter-inw he was hoping for. Otherwise, he''d admit she was sharp, calcting, probably would''ve made a great addition to the family.


    "Regret?" Calliope gave him a smile, calm and unbothered. "Sorry, can''t say I know the meaning of the word."


    Oliver eyed her up and down, a little annoyed at her bravado. "How about this? I''ll wire you a seven-figure sum, hell, make it eight. You leave Ss, and I''ll even set you up with a cushy job. Regr pay, no stress."


    He watched her, almost hopeful.


    "Much better than hanging around Ss, waiting for him to maybe throw you a bone, right? Money in hand is a lot more reliable than a promise from any man."


    He waited, sure she''d jump at his offer.


    But Calliope just grinned. "Nice try, but Ss already gave me everything. His money''s not going anywhere."


    She shrugged, almost yfully. "I get it, money''s nice. But you''ve got the wrong girl. I don''t need it. What I do want is Ss."


    Oliver''s patience was thinning. "I could introduce you to ten men, all better-looking than Ss. You could have your pick!"


    Calliope''s expression didn''t budge. If anything, she seemed more amused.


    "Ten better-looking men?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "Thanks, but if I wanted that, I''d have no trouble finding them myself."


    Oliver stared at her,pletely thrown off. He couldn''t figure her out. She was just impossible.


    l.ne


    "Okay, fine. How about a house? You want a house?" he said, desperate now. "Any city, any country, I can get you the best penthouse in Manhattan, a vi on the French Riviera, a beach house in Matibu. Hell, I have a few private inds. I can give you anything you want!"


    Calliope looked him in the eye, unfazed. "You know, I probably already have more ces to stay than have time to visit. Houses, inds, what am I gonna do with them all?"


    Oliver couldn''t tell if she was bluffing or actually telling the truth. He


    even own that much property n''t


    himself. No way she did, even if Ss was generous.


    "I''m serious," he insisted. "I can sign over an entire apartment building to you. All


    you have to do is leave Ss. Help me out here."


    Calliope shook her head, smiling politely. "Not interested. And by the way, Ss isn''t interested in you, either."


    Oliver clenched his jaw, finally losing his cool.


    "You know what, kid? You''re impossible. Absolutely impossible."