CHAPTER EIGHT

IF I SAID I SLEPT well, I would be lying. Even after a less than stellar orgasm, my body just would not give in to sleep. My brain would not shut the fuck up. The last time I glanced over at the clock, it was half past three.

The banging on the door that announces breakfast is unwelcome. I groan to life, rolling over and hugging my pillow, immediately wishing it was Chandler’s solid body. I should have said fuck it and gone into his room last night. The worst he could have done was told me to get out.

I force myself up, changing into a comfortable pair of slacks and a blouse for the flight home today. There’s a part of me that’s hopeful for some goodbye sex, but Chandler made it fairly clear yesterday that the cake room was going to be our last time together. Speaking of which, I wonder what he did with all those desserts. We each had a cupcake after dinner last night, but that was just a drop in the bucket compared to the spread in that room.

I’m not surprised when I see a good portion of leftover cupcakes and cakes set out on the dining room table when I join Chandler for breakfast. It appears he just had eggs, though. There’s an empty plate in front of him and no sign of frosting or crumbs.

“I was going to wait for you, but they get cold fast.” He gives me an apologetic look.

“Do you wear a suit and tie on cupcake breakfast day?” I tease him, noticing he’s dressed up again.

“You got me there.” He points at me, making a clicking sound with his tongue, and I laugh and shake my head. I don’t know about him.

“Do you really expect me to eat this?” I sit across from him, watching Susan pour me a glass of milk from a pitcher. It looks way fresher than anything we have in the US.

“I’m still trying to sabotage you from getting beefier than me.” He rests his elbows on the table, grinning at me. Damn him and his charming smile.

“You know what? You win.” I pile my plate with cupcakes. Time to eat my feelings.

“We’re not working out after this, by the way,” he mentions.

“I kind of figured since you’re all dolled up.” I nod towards his attire.

“Dolled up, huh?” he chuckles.

“A rose by any other name.” My eyes flash.

“I don’t think that’s what he meant.” Chandler gives me a queer look.

“Well, whatever.” I peel the wrapper from what appears to be a red velvet cupcake.

Chandler watches me stuff my face. He seems almost fascinated with me, and it makes me super self-conscious.

“Don’t watch me.” I hold my hand in front of my mouth.

“What else am I supposed to do?” His voice is full of amusement.

“Look at the wall.”

“Alright.” He turns his gaze to the wall for a few seconds before refocusing on me. Brat. Looks like I’m not going to get to eat all my feelings. I don’t want him to think I’m a fatty.

“So what’s on the agenda today?” I ask before wiping my mouth with a napkin.

Chandler takes a deep breath, and there’s a flash of concern in his expression. “Today you make a big decision.”

“Oh really? What kind of decision?”

“Are you ready to see?” He places his hands on the armrests of his chair, poised to push it away from the table.

I nod, standing to follow him down the hall. He’s been vague every day that I’ve been here, but he’s also been in control. Knowing that he’s going to let me decide something—something that’s probably important—makes me feel slightly uneasy.

We stop in front of a room. Chandler’s shoulders rise and fall as he gives pause. He’s acting differently. Something about this room bothers him.

He glances back at me before opening the door. I’m not sure what I expected to see, but it certainly wasn’t piles of cash everywhere. They’re laid out on multiple tables, not stacked very high, but there are a lot of them. I step into the room and walk up to one of the tables. George Washington’s face looks back at me hundreds of times over. They’re stacks of ones.

The door clicks closed behind me. Chandler has barely stepped into the room. He’s standing before the door with his hands in front of him clasped at the wrist. He seems unusually stiff.

“Are we going to have sex in this?” I gesture at the money, thinking that would be a story to tell. Who wouldn’t want to fuck in a big pile of money?

“No.” He shakes his head before walking towards me, his gaze to the floor. He stops a few feet short of me, picking up one of the stacks and riffling it across his fingers. “This is one million dollars,” he tells me before glancing around the room. “This is what it looks like in ones.”

“One million dollars,” I mouth the amount in awe.

“And it can all be yours, Emma.”

That gets my attention. Is he serious? I can’t even fathom having this much money at my age. Money was never part of the deal when I signed up for this, which makes it all the more shocking.

“You have to choose.” He stares at me intently.

“Choose between what?” The suspense is killing me. I’d give almost anything for the money.

“This.” He gestures to the tables loaded with cash. “Or me.”

“This or you,” I parrot, not really getting his meaning.

“If you want the cash, I’ll write you a check before your plane takes off today.” He gives the piles of money a solemn look.

“Or?” I press him to elaborate on the other side of the offer.

“Or you’ll leave here without the cash, and we’ll officially be a couple. I care about you, Emma.” He caresses my cheek, making my heart flutter. “This week with you has been more than anything I could have imagined. I want more.”

I can feel my pulse in my ears. This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make by a landslide. He’s making me choose between love and money. It should be an easy choice. There’s no guarantee that if I decide to be with him that we’ll stay together. The money could help in so many ways. I could use it to start my career without a care in the world. I could give some to my family to pay them back for everything they’ve done for me. I’d be stupid not to take it.

I want to cry. He’s looking at me like he’s silently begging for me to pick him. Will it break his heart if I take the money?

A million different things are going through my mind. The wonderful week I’ve spent with Chandler. My future, both with and without him in it. I’ll regret my decision either way.

“Can I have some time to decide?” I ask him finally.

“No.” He shakes his head, pulling his phone out of his pocket to check the time. “In fact, I’m only going to give you three more minutes. When the time runs out, you get the money.”

I gasp at the unfairness of the situation. Three minutes to decide something that will ultimately change my life in one way or another. Never in a million years did I expect to be put in such a position. Then again, everything that’s happened since I walked into this house has been unexpected. My life has been a series of strange adventures. Art and mystery and fantasy all rolled into one. It’s more than any girl could have ever dreamed of, and it was all possible because of Chandler.

“You,” I speak the only answer that my heart will allow me to give. “I choose you.” I meet his gaze, and he lets out a soft laugh, though relief is apparent in his expression. He genuinely wanted me to choose him, which means he genuinely wants to be with me. It makes me feel like I made the right choice.

“I’m flattered,” he tells me. “And happy.”

“I’m glad.” A tear rolls down my cheek. Chandler brushes it away with his thumb before leaning in to kiss me. I press my body against him, feeling emotionally shaken in so many ways. He’s mine now. He truly belongs to me. “I have a surprise for you,” he whispers into my ear.

“What?” I pull away, gazing up into his handsome face.

“I’m going to give you one more chance to get the money.”

“Really?” My heart leaps with joy. Damn, I really did make the right decision by picking him. I can still walk away with everything.

“Tell me the theme of my exhibit. If you can guess it, the money is yours. But you only have one try.”

That’s easy. “Sex.” I don’t even have to think about it.

Chandler chuckles, looking momentarily wicked. “I suppose you would think that. You’re wrong, though.”

I frown. “Well, we sure had a lot of it. So what’s the correct answer?”

“You’ll see at the opening. You should get ready to go. My guys will be here to pick you up shortly.” He nods towards the door. I can feel the disappointment radiating from him. He had really wanted me to guess correctly. Hell, I had wanted to guess correctly. The thought that I have to leave all this money behind makes me sick. But at least I still have Chandler. I made that choice knowing I was giving up the money. It’s not his fault I fucked up my second chance at it.

“Thank you, Chandler, for everything,” I tell him with a smile.

And for once, I’m the one who leaves him in the room alone.