Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right

“Not many times. My main goal with these dates is to find a like–minded partner,” Pete said, and I almost rolled my eyes.

Like–minded?

Pete’s idea of a “like–minded partner” probably meant someone who was also into making money off this, so they could hustle together.

People said it was tough to find a job these days, but if you were clever, there were plenty of ways to make easy money, sometimes without spending a dime upfront.

“So, are you sure you wanna hire me as your boyfriend, or do you wanna try dating me for real?” Pete asked again.

I pressed my lips together, staying silent. He took a sip of his coffee, all smooth and graceful. “Usually, a smart girl would go for dating. That way, you don’t have to pay anything. And if it doesn’t work out, you can always break up later.”

“If everyone did that, wouldn’t you be losing out?” I stirred my coffee.

“Not everyone gets the option. If someone has certain requirements, I’ll weigh their situation before deciding,” Pete explained.

I got what he was hinting at–he was into me and offering a chance to try things out without charging. “So, is there some VIP discount or a special deal on the services you mentioned?” I asked, honestly a little freaked out by the prices he’d quoted.

Holding hands for $30? And if I hired him to go to the Johnston’s, I’d definitely need to do that in front of Jace.

“Nope,” Pete said flatly. “No negotiations.”

I nodded. “Got it. I’ll need some time to think it over. You can wait for my response, but feel free to take on other clients in the meantime. If something better comes along, you’re free to say no.”

As I said that, it hit me–this wasn’t a date; it felt more like a business meeting.

Pete looked at me seriously. “I’m really interested in working with you.”

“Yeah, I get it, but I’d like to see some other options first. You know, pick the best fit,” I said, trying to sound all businesslike.

“Alright, I’ll be waiting for your good news,” Pete said, raising his hand to call over the server.

“Check, please. I’ll cover hers too,” Pete offered smoothly.

I shook my head. “No need, let’s just split it.”

Pete didn’t insist. He scanned the payment code with his phone, gave a quick nod, and left with a smile. stayed in the café for a bit longer, just thinking things over before heading out.

Since Lena was working late, I couldn’t crash at her place, so I grabbed some food at a nearby spot. After

that, I wandered through the night market, picking up a few random trinkets. By the time I got home, it was already pushing eleven.

The night felt weirdly heavy, like it was about to rain or something. As soon as I got out of the car, a cold shiver ran down my spine. I instinctively pulled my collar up, and that’s when I got this creepy feeling that someone was watching me.

I spun around, but there was no one there.

I brushed it off as my imagination, but the unease didn’t go away. My gut told me to move faster, so I hurried up to my building and raced upstairs.

But just as I hit the second floor, I got this overwhelming sense that someone was right behind me. To make things worse, the hallway lights were out tonight.

Panic hit me hard, and I quickened my pace, nearly breaking into a run. Of course, I was in heels, so running was pretty much impossible.

The footsteps behind me grew louder, like whoever it was, was closing in.

I tightened my grip on my bag and pulled out my car key, clutching it like a weapon. If someone was about to jump me, I’d be ready to stab them in the eye if I had to.

Suddenly, I decided not to keep going up. If I led this person to my door, it’d just make things worse later. This material belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.

I stopped dead in my tracks, and the footsteps behind me stopped too.

After taking a deep breath, I called out in a shaky voice, “Who’s there?”