Chapter 7 How Much Do You Intend To Pay

Collin's face was impassive, his eyes deep and inscrutable, yet his words carried an unmistakable implication.

He was alluding to that night they spent together!

Lena felt a cold shiver run through her.

During their awkward blind date earlier, when Collin had recognized her, he hadn't mentioned that night.

Lena had thought it was just a one-night stand, something they would both tacitly agree to forget by morning. But now, unexpectedly, he brought it up.

With the knowledge of her pregnancy weighing on her, Lena clenched her fists to maintain her composure. "What? Do you want to sleep with me again, Mr. Barton?"

"No interest," Collin responded, reaching for his pocket only to find it empty, his cigarettes likely left back in the room. "I just believe in the spirit of a fair exchange. I suppose you wouldn't let me off easily if I took advantage of you without giving you anything in return."

Lena understood his insinuation immediately. "You think I deliberately appeared in front of you tonight?"

The idea seemed ludicrous to her. Yet, she had replaced her half-sister on the blind date earlier that day, and in that tense room, she had indeed sent him a desperate look for help! It seemed Collin viewed her actions as part of a calculated plan.

Frustration and indignation surged through Lena, realizing she couldn't vindicate herself no matter what she said.

Collin showed no interest in continuing the discussion. "How much money do you want? Or do you want my help to become a director?"

Lena found the whole situation absurd, a mixture of shame and anger bubbling within her, prompting a bitter laugh. "Since you seem fond of putting a price on everything, Mr. Barton, how much do you intend to charge me?" she asked sarcastically.

Her laugh was cold, tinged with resentment. "Are you concerned that your efforts that night were in vain, worried I might withhold what you consider rightfully earned?"

The elevator doors closed once more, trapping them inside as Lena's words hung in the air. The space wasn't particularly small, yet it felt claustrophobic.

Lena's eyes burned with anger, while a chilling, dangerous glint shone in Collin's eyes. Her laughter stopped abruptly as she faced him-what had she just said? She had asked him how much he would charge her. The absurdity of her own words struck her.

"So..." Collin took a small step forward, reducing the distance between them. "How much do you intend to pay?"

The moment he finished speaking, a dull thud resonated in the elevator. Lena had instinctively backed away, her retreat halted by the wall, her initial fury replaced by a surge of panic.

Lena considered his question seriously. The amount she could offer depended on her financial resources, which were currently tied up in debts.

"Mr. Barton, I genuinely didn't expect to encounter you tonight," Lena stated firmly, her tone conveying sincerity in recognition of his earlier help.

Collin gave a nod, seemingly accepting her explanation, as the tension between them shifted subtly.

Lena felt a fleeting sense of relief which quickly vanished as Collin chuckled coldly. "Let me rephrase that. How much were you planning to charge Josh Wallace tonight? Name your price. Considering it was your first time, I'll double it."

The humiliation overwhelmed her, and Lena reacted without thinking. As she calmed down, the echo of her slap seemed to hang in the air. Her palm stung, then numbed.

She saw Collin's face turned to the side from the impact. Her eyes blazed, her chest heaved with a tumult of emotions on the verge of bursting. "Collin Barton, your family is corrupt, just a lineage of inherited jerks!"

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke, the hurt palpable in her voice. Despite striking him, she felt utterly miserable.

The elevator door opened to an awaiting group. In a surge of embarrassment, Lena stomped her high heel onto Collin's calf and rushed past the gawking bystanders.

Outside the club, by the roadside, Lena reached for her phone to call for a ride. Suddenly, a sharp pain clenched her lower abdomen. She doubled over, her face draining of color, and then darkness enveloped her as she collapsed to the ground.