The King - S.R. Jones Page 0,33
answer.
He pinches the bridge of his nose but doesn’t say anything.
“I have a proposition for you.”
“I thought you said we couldn’t do that now,” I snipe.
“A business proposition.”
I frown. What could he have to offer me?
“I need you to do something for me, something off the book and seriously hush-hush.”
Oh. My. God. Is he serious? First, he comes onto me, then he dumps me before we’ve even begun, and then this?
“I think you’ll find it interesting, maybe even a little exciting. I know you, Cassie. Deep down you want some excitement, don’t you?”
“You know nothing about me,” I tell him.
“Ah, but I do, Cassie who loves to read and wants a dog. I know plenty. But here’s the thing. I observe people, and I read between the lines. I also know that you occasionally like to toe the line of … legality, or morality. Call it what you will. What I’m asking of you is no more than you did at university. What I’m offering is enough money to see you through the next few years, whatever you do.”
Normally, I’d tell him to go screw himself. Two things stop me. Firstly, he’s right—I do like a bit of excitement and have craved it, deep down, for the longest time. Secondly, money doesn’t normally motivate me, but if it means I can help pay for Grandpa to have the treatment he needs, then I’ll do anything.
We’re lucky we live in a country with free healthcare, but sometimes there are limits, and some drugs and treatments just aren’t approved for anyone. In those instances, the only choice is to buy those drugs, or pay out of pocket for a surgery. That’s what I need to do for Grandpa. I’ve started to set up a funding page for donations, but this might mean I have enough to pay for him to have the surgery outright.
“How much money?” I demand.
His expression flickers for a moment, brows raising and lips parting slightly. I’ve surprised him. Good.
“I honestly didn’t think you’d care about the money,” he says.
“Well, there you go, like I say—you don’t know me. Now, how much?”
He grins, and it’s wolfish and gorgeous, and I want to make him smile like that all the time. “Three payments of fifty-thousand pounds. In three tranches. One when you start. One when you finish, and one six months later so long as you keep your mouth shut.”
“How about … one hundred and fifty upfront, no tranches?”
He barks out a laugh. “Yeah, not going to happen, Cassie.”
“Okay, one hundred upfront, fifty after six months?”
He shakes his head, still smiling.
“Fine, then, no. I decline your offer.”
I’m taking a huge risk, but I need that hundred thousand, and I need it for Grandpa sooner rather than later. I can’t wait six months for it. This way I get what I need immediately. I’ll do a good job, I always do. But I need that money. The remaining fifty thousand is simply a bonus that will help my grandparents pay the rent going forward.
I walk to the door.
“Stop.”
I do, but I don’t turn around. I don’t want him to see my face because my heart is hammering so fast, I’m sure he’ll see the fear in my eyes.
“Okay, one hundred and fifty thousand. One hundred upfront, fifty after. Cassie, if you fuck up, you owe the money back. If you can’t do what I need—no money. So don’t go spending the first hundred on too many bags and shoes until you’ve finished the job. Six months after, if you’ve kept your mouth shut, you’ll get the rest.”
I almost laugh at the idea of spending it on bags and shoes. I’ll be spending it on Grandpa. I don’t want him to know that, though. For some reason, I want to keep the real reason secret, now this bastard has crushed my heart. He has given me a lifeline, though, and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.
“How dangerous is it? How illegal is it?” I ask, turning to face him finally.
“Dangerous? Not at all, not if you know how to hack without leaving a trace. I won’t lie to you, the man you’re hacking is dangerous, but so long as you know what you’re doing, you’re in no direct danger yourself.”
Shit. I don’t know what I’m doing, not to the degree he clearly believes. I was part of a team at uni. I can get in, that bit I’m good at, but the not leaving a trace bit might be above my paygrade.