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“I think this is the one,” I said, running my hand over the tabletop.
“This one? Why don’t you get something bigger and better? More expensive?” Holly asked.
“Because it’s not about the money. A more expensive desk won’t do more than this one can. I need something functional, something I like, and this is it.”
“I would have used his cash while I had it,” Holly said.
“I know. But it’s not about the cash,” I said again. “It’s about getting what I need.”
I wasn’t about to give Brent the satisfaction that I spent more money than I needed. He already wanted to pay for everything and throw money at me. I wasn’t going to let him think I might want it. I wanted to be as sensible with his money as possible to prove to him that it wasn’t about that for me. Sure, Brent was loaded. But money meant nothing. I knew of rich men that were still horrible people. Money didn’t buy goodness.
I would be as attracted to Brent even if he weren’t a billionaire. Again, it wasn’t about money to me. It was about a connection—however physical—and that was the end of it.
I found a shop assistant to help me and arranged for delivery, paying with Brent’s card. When we were done, Holly and I left the store. She headed home after she had taken the afternoon off to spend with me, I went back to the office to give Brent the slip for the desk.
Brent wasn’t in a good mood. I had asked if he wanted to come desk shopping with me before I’d left. But he’d given me his card with a scowl and dismissed me in a way he hadn’t done in a long time.
I knocked on his office door and stepped in.
“You’re back,” Brent said.
I nodded and walked toward him, slip in hand. “I found a desk.”
Brent took it from me and glanced at it.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“It’s the money I spent on the desk.”
“I know, but why didn’t you take more money and get yourself something bigger and better? You weren’t on a spending limit.”
I was starting to get irritated with everyone telling me I had to spend more of Brent’s money.
“Because I didn’t need anything bigger or better,” I said. “I found something I liked at a reasonable price, and I paid for it.”
I handed Brent his credit card.
“It’s not a sin to spend money, Rena.”
“It's not my money to spend.”
“In this case, it was. I said you could.”
I shook my head. Why was money such an issue? I was getting angry.
“I don’t want to spend your money. I don’t care about your money and how much I can have. I needed that amount”—I pointed at the slip—“and that’s it.”
Brent looked angry, too. What the hell was he so upset about? I was sick and tired of Brent assuming I was here for his money.
“If you want I’ll give it back to you,” I snapped.
Brent sighed. “That’s the opposite of what I want. Now you’re just being difficult.”
“If you’re going to keep pushing this, I can show you how difficult I can be.” I stormed out of the office. I wasn’t some kind of gold digger. I wasn’t here for Brent’s money. It had never been about that; I had more than enough. Whatever was going on between us was above materialism. Holly had never said it to my face that she thought I was there for his cash, but her comments about spending all his money today made it seem like she thought that way.
And now Brent was upset about it, too. I wasn’t here for the damn money. I was tired of it being an issue. I was glad I’d gone shopping alone, without Brent badgering me to spend more. He might have won me over with those sky-blue eyes and that charming smile of his.
I was seething. I could barely think straight. I had to take care of work, but I couldn’t concentrate through my annoyance. Holly should have known better; she was my best friend. I understood if Brent didn’t get it. But someone should have understood.
Chapter 20
Brent
I was in a shitty mood. Something was irritating me, and I couldn’t figure out what it was. I trained hard at the gym, harder than ever before. I was sore all over, pushing myself past my limits all the time, trying to get rid of whatever I was feeling. It wasn’t helping. All it did was make my muscles ache, and that pissed me off more.
