My mind went totally nk for a moment. 1 million dors a year and a cut of the profits, tost
instantly turned into a calctor, crunching the numbers; there was no way could lose on this deal.
way I coul
Jared really got me. He knew I had been all about the moneytely, so he just kept trying to win me over with cash.
He was such a sly, scheming guy. But what about his temper? Didn’t he get <b>mad </b>about what I said that night Why was he ying it so cool now!
I knocked on his office door. Jared was sitting in his big ck leather chair, smoking. When he saw mee in, he quickly stubbed out his cigarette and looked up at me, his eyes deep and intense.
<b>I </b>walked up to him, but before I could <b>say </b>anything, he slid a contract across the desk. “If you’re worried I might be pullingwyer friend take a look,<b>” </b>
I didn’t even bother with the contract. <b>I </b><b>just </b>stared at him, baffled. “Jared, what exactly are you trying to do?”
A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Can’t you tell? I’m trying to get you to stay.”
“There’s no point,” I said, my voice icy.
you can have your.
“I get it.” Jared nodded. “But if you want to fly high, you need to grow your wings first. Stay here, build up your skills, and you’ll be unstoppable out
there.”
“I’m not letting you buy me off,” I snapped.
“Buy you off? Please. You’re not freeloading; you’re working, and you deserve every penny. That’s just how it works” Jared leaned back, looking <b>all </b>calcting. “I know you want a divorce, but now’s just not the right time.
“Not to mention whether our parents could even handle it, and Yvonne definitely doesn’t want to see us <b>split</b>. Victoria, let’s just take a breather and think
things through”
looked at Jared, honestly shocked. He was actually giving in.
I kept silent, but my thoughts were all over the ce. I always thought divorce would be straightforward<b>, </b>but now Jared was <b>refusing </b>to let me go, and honestly, it was really getting on my nerves.
“Even if you refuse to divorce me, our marriage is already over. Could you really <b>handle </b><b>a </b>marriage without sex?” I knew he was still a man with desires, even if he wasn’t the most passionate type,
“No sex?” Jared’s brows drew together. “Is this your way of punishing me?”
I shook my head. “It’s not about punishment. Like I said before<b>, </b>a woman only opens her legs for the man she truly loves.”
ig moment, then finally nodded. “Alright, I won’t force you.”
Jared stared <b>at </b>me for a long n
I was honestly stunned. Jared actually agreed to live a nd, passionless life with me.
I picked up the contract from the desk and started <b>hipping </b>through it. The terms were allid out, but legal stuff isn’t really my thing. I figured I’d ask Melissato lunch so she could help me go over <b>it</b>.
Jared looked a bit <b>annoyed </b>after what I said. Seeing me poring over the contract, he <b>told </b>me, “We already signed an agreement, every cent you earn is yours. You don’t have to worry about that”
I know, but that was exactly why I was double–checking everything.
“Thanks for trusting me with this job. U give it everything I’ve got,” I said. <b>Since </b>Jared wasn’t letting me walk away, work <b>was </b>all I could <b>focus </b>on for now.
“Victoria, it might seem like I’m the one with all the advantages in this marriage, standing above it all, but honesty, I’m the <b>one </b><b>of </b>your deep voice called out from behind me as I was about to leave.
I stopped in my tracks, looking back at hlin, puzzled.
He lowered his eyes, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “It’s like that. A church thrives when tended with devotion. Candles flicker day <b>and </b>night, and the congregation grows.
“Neglected, it crumbles into a forgotten ruin, in this marriage, that seems like you’re begging for scraps of affection. You hold the true keeper of the key
“Now you turn to leave, while I stand here offering half my soul. Come or go. Your choice wears the crown. All I can do? Plead through tears, and <b>beg </b>you not to go.”
His words totally floored me. I was surprised that Jared could actually get all poetic and dramatic
“You know, you actually make sense. Guess you’re just not used to losing your VIP treatment, huh?” I crossed my arms, smirking at him. “Feeling itchy? Go boil it yourself.”
With that, I left him to his tragic monologue and walked out without another word.
But as soon as I stepped into the hallway, <b>I </b>saw Tracy fuming, ring right at me as she marched over
AD
<b>Chapter </b><b>178 </b>
My mind went totally nk for a moment. 1 million dors a year and a cut of the profits, too?
instantly turned into a calctor, crunching the mumbers; there was no way I could lose on this deal.
Jared really got me. He knew I had been all about the moneytely, so he just kept trying to win me over with cash.
He was such a <b>siy</b>, scheming guy. But what about his temper? Didn’t he get mad about what i said that night Why was he ying it so cool now?
I knocked on his office door. Jared was sitting in his big ck leather chair, smoking. When he saw mee in, he quickly stubbed out his cigarette and looked up at me, his <b>eyes </b>deep and intense.
<b>I </b>walked up to him, but before could say anything, he slid <b>a </b>contract across the desk. “If you’re worried I might be pulling something you can have your <bwyer </b>friend take a look”
I didn’t even bother with the contract. I just stared at him<b>, </b>baffled. “Jared, what exactly are you trying to do!”
A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Can’t you tell? I’m trying to get you to stay.”
“There’s no point,” I said, my voice icy.
t it.” Jared nodded. “But if you want to fly high, <b>you </b>need to grow your wings first. Stay here, build up your skills, and you’ll be unstoppable out
there.”
“I’m not letting you buy me off, I snapped.
“Buy you off? Please. You’re not freeloading; you’re working, and you deserve every penny. That’s just how it works.” Jared leaned back, looking all calcting. “I know you want a divorce, but now’s just not the right time.
“Not to mention whether our parents could even handle it, and Yvonne definitely doesn’t want to see us split. Victoris, let’s just take a breather and think things through
Hooked at Jared, honestly shocked. He was actually giving in.
I kept silent, but my thoughts were all over the ce. I always thought divorce would <b>be </b>straightforward, but now Jared was refusing to let me go, and honestly, it was really getting on my <b>nerves</b>.
“Even if <b>you </b>refuse to divorce me, our marriage <b>is </b>already over. Could you really handle a marriage without sex?” I knew he was still a man with desires, even if he wasn’t the most passionate type.
ows drew together. “Is this your way of punishing me?
“No sex<b>?</b>” Jared’s brows
I shook my head. “It’s not about punishment. Like I said before, a woman only opens her legs for the man she truly loves.”
Jared stared at me for a long moment, then finally nodded, “Alright, I won’t force you.”
I was honestly stunned. Jared actually agreed to live a nd, passionless life with me,
I picked up the contract from the desk and started ipping through it. The terms were allid out, but legal stuff isn’t really my thing. I figured I’d ask. Melissa to lunch so she could help me go over it.
Jared looked a bit annoyed after what I said. Seeing me poring over the contract, he told me, “We already signed <b>an </b>agreement; every cent you earn is yours. You don’t have to worry about that.”
I knew, but that was exactly why I was double–checking everything.
“Thanks for trusting me with this job. I’ll <b>give </b>it everything I’ve got,” I said. Since <b>Jared </b>wasn’t letting me walk away, work was all I could focus on for now.