half his year’s tuition like their mom wanted him to, that wouldn’t spare him from what was coming. His schooling, his future, would still be in danger.
“We might have to order another pizza,” Jane said, “and some beer.”
----
T hey got their beer , and boy did Isla ever need it.
She knew what Janey was trying to do. Her best friend was trying to make her see that the world wouldn’t come to an end if she couldn’t get the business back for her grandfather and her family. Her mother would find another job, probably one that didn’t pay as well, but she would be all right.
Maybe her parents wouldn’t get a divorce. Maybe they would stay together.
But then her granddaddy, who was sick with grief, could possibly get worse. If he didn’t get over the takeover, then he could die. He wasn’t even remotely a young man anymore.
Also, the more she thought about this, the more her mind wandered over to sexuality and morality. She wasn’t a virgin; she knew how to have and enjoy sex. There was certainly nothing immoral about wanting sex with a handsome man she didn’t love, or didn’t like.
Anyone who did think there was something wrong with a woman wanting sex could fuck off. She always hated people who thought to tell other people how to behave, and yet here she was telling herself how to behave.
Isla was also fairly sure Arturo had no plans to abuse her or anything. He just wanted to humble her, get back at her a little, and then she could go on her way. She was a grown woman, and this wouldn’t be much different from any other barely-there relationship she’d tolerated just because she’d wanted the sex or to go out on a date and not stay in on a Friday night.
There was nothing wrong with sex. It wasn’t a dirty and disgusting act, but Arturo hadn’t mentioned what sort of sex he intended to have with her, so that left something to think about on top of everything else.
Arturo was a businessman. Despite also being a playboy and having sex in what was supposed to be his office, he’d still kept his company afloat even after his father was put away. That meant there would likely be a contract in there somewhere. She could negotiate. If he wanted sex from her, then he had to get her off while he was at it. No sharing her with anyone else, no pictures taken, and no audio recordings.
She thought sex was natural and hated people who tried to put shame to it with a hardcore passion, but she definitely drew the line at putting sex tapes of herself on the Internet. It was one of the few things a couple of her boyfriends had been disappointed in. She refused to take pictures of herself or make tapes. Eff that shit.
Jane had fallen asleep on the couch while trying to get her to see things differently, but all Isla was doing now was talking herself into it.
This actually might be a little fun, and her family didn’t have to know about any deal she’d made. At worst, this would just look like she’d decided to date a good–looking, super billionaire, and by the end of it, he would give her family back their business because he simply wanted to be nice.
That didn’t sound so bad. Matt wouldn’t have to worry about coming up with the extra funds for school or switch universities, her parents could work out their problems, and her grandfather would get better. Why the hell had she even let herself worry about it?
Yeah, she was totally making her decision, and by the end, she was going to make sure Arturo was wrapped around her little finger. He might be taking her on this ride, but she was going to see to it that he got on this ride with her.
5
T he next morning , Isla slept in a little later than normal. So did Jane.
Jane worked and went to school. Her family was similar to Isla's. At least her mother's side, so Jane needed to work if she wanted to pay her fair share of art school and this nice apartment.
Jane barely had time to grab a shower and change her clothes. She had to rush to the door,