My face grew hot.
“I’ve never done anything like that.”
“Then I won’t pretend you have.”
He spoke calmly, almost as if we were discussing a business proposal.
“You don’t have to decide this second. Think about what you want, what you’re comfortable with, and whether the arrangement makes sense for you.”
I glanced across the room and spotted Beatrice talking to a woman in a silver dress.
She noticed me looking and raised her thumb in encouragement.
I immediately felt embarrassed.
Adrian followed my gaze.
“Your friend seems to approve.”
“She approves of almost everything.”
“Then perhaps you should listen to yourself instead of her.”
His answer surprised me.
For a moment, I considered walking away.
Then I remembered the conversations Beatrice and I had shared. I remembered her expensive clothes, her confidence, and the way she spoke about financial independence.
I thought about how exciting it would feel to earn a large amount of money without asking my parents for a single coin.
