I wonder how much more I can get out of him.
“Of course.” He forces a tight smile. “He was just staying behind for business.” His gaze cuts to me. “Give me one minute. I’m sure we can reschedule.” He turns. “A word?”
But I’m already walking toward the far wall.
Rhett pushes away from the counter, giving Autry one last glance before trailing after me. It doesn’t put much distance between us and everyone else, but I know he won’t risk stepping outside and leaving Autry unguarded.
Charlie seems nice enough, but he doesn’t exactly look like a fighter.
“What’s your offer?” My tone is ice.
“What do you want?” he whispers, not wanting anyone to overhear.
“To fly back?” I laugh, short and bitter as exhaustion hits me hard.
I really don’t want to go back to Westbin, but I’ve got sixty bucks to my name and no other prospects. I don’t know where else to go to find work around here. And on top of all of that, I’m tired, hungry, and all I really wanted today was to get the hell out of that damn city.
“You know,” I say, “the deal was that I’d travel with you to the airport and that’s it. I did my part.” I smirk, loving the way his jaw ticks as his frustration builds.
Rhett’s shoulders rise and fall with a slow breath. “I wasn’t aware of this…policy,” he snarls the word.
A mix of emotions swirls inside me—excitement at seeing him squirm, irritation at being forced to fly back, but mostly rage that this fucker can make all his problems disappear with the snap of his fingers.
I want to punch him so fucking bad.
“This isn’t what we agreed to,” I say, voice low, waitingfor him to make the first offer. “You told me you needed a bodyguard. Next thing I know,I’msigning a sales receipt soyoucan claim an omega. I stuck my neck out, and now you want more.”
His jaw tightens, and his voice drops. “What do you want?”
Rhett snorts. “You’re already making a fortune for a simple two-hour drive. And all you did was stare at my omega the whole fucking time,” he whispers harshly. “If you think you’re going to get six thousand dollars on top of what I already agreed to pay, you’ve got another thing coming.”
My fists curl. I step into his space. “Eight grand.”
“One,” he says, holding up a finger. “I’ll give youoneextra. That’s five total.”
Every muscle in my body tenses, waiting for some smug comment about how it’s more than I’ve ever seen. But he surprises me. Says nothing.
“Two grand,” I say forcefully. “Andyou cover my flight back.”
Rhett barks a dry laugh. “That desperate for off-the-books work?”
“I don’t need some old man judging me.”
“It’s not a judgment,” Rhett says. “I’m only calling it like I see it. Now give me your ID.” And just like that, it’s clear the negotiations are over.
I hate working with old alphas. They always treat me like an idiot because I’m younger, but they have no idea what I’ve lived through.
“Oli,” Rhett says my name, palm open.
“I want the money now,” I say. “Cash.Beforewe get on the flight.”
“I’ve got the four grand, but I’ll have to get you the rest in Westbin.”
“Transfer it.”
“No,” Rhett says forcefully as I pull out my wallet. “Everythingis off the books. Cash only.”
My hand curls right around my wallet while I try to figure out what I want to do. “You had better not fuck me over.” I refrain from reminding him that I know where he lives. That feels like it might push him too far.
