Chapter 7
After the drunk passed out, I looked up that psychic he mentioned with mixed feelings, and turns out the guy was actually pretty legit.
And just like he predicted, Derek’s life really did get better and better in the following years.
So did that mean Derek actually liked me?
Then what was the deal with Nora?
I decided to get to the bottom of this. The next morning when Derek sobered up, I cornered him in bed.
He held his head, looking a bit embarrassed but not avoiding the conversation.
He stared straight at me. “You’re not mad anymore?”
I kept my expression blank. “Not sure yet. Let me hear your excuse first.”
I’d made up my mind-if there was even the slightest chance, I wasn’t letting this golden goose slip away.
Those city-wide fireworks better damn well be for me at least once.
Derek licked his lips, showing rare shame. “Nora and I are from the same village. We grew up together like brother and sister.”
“Her family favored boys over girls. When she finally got a chance to escape poverty, she was determined to climb up in the world.”
“Sophomore year, some businessman took a liking to her and gave her money to study abroad. The catch was she had to give him a son.”
“Nora agreed and quickly went overseas with him. After she had the baby, the guy dumped her.”
‘She graduated abroad and came back looking for work. We ran into each other at a business event and she asked me to help her find clients.”
‘I happened to need her help too-I wanted to test your feelings toward me.”
His tone was sincere, didn’t sound like he was lying. I thought it over but didn’t say anything.
After a while, I asked, “So you don’t like her?”
‘No.”
Does she like you?”
I don’t care.”
Derek repeated without hesitation, “I don’t care. I only want to know how the person I like feels.”
fake-smiled while pinching him. “My feeling is… you might be a genius intellectually, but emotionally you’re a complete idiot!”
No wonder dating was such a struggle for him-this guy’s thought process was twisted as hell.
Good thing I’d figured things out now. Time for direct communication, no beating around the bush.
didn’t care what he was thinking inside-I only cared about what I wanted.
After laying everything out with Derek, I set three ground rules.
First, I’d manage all the household money. He got 2,000 bucks allowance per month.
Second, we’d have sex whenever I wanted, however I wanted. No killing the mood.
Third, if either of us developed feelings for someone else, we’d be honest about it and end things properly.
Derek didn’t really object to any of this, but he still took some time off work, claiming he wanted to heal my wounded heart.
I suspected he just wanted an excuse to relax.
Derek without work was like glue stuck to my body.
When I put on makeup, he watched.
When I filmed vlogs, he followed me around.
And when 1 edited videos, he insisted on finding music for me.
He also kept criticizing my content.
“Why are you labeling me as a ‘boy toy? Shouldn’t it be loving husband”?”
1 brushed him off. “Oh honey, that’s just internet slang.”
“Then what about this part where I’m suddenly the ‘head chef”?”
“Well, you do cook amazing food for me.”
“Great, and here you’re worried the personal trainer thinks he’s hot.”
“It’s all just for show, don’t take it seriously.”
Back and forth we went until he slammed my laptop shut and pinned me to the couch.
Derek was determined to demonstrate his worth as more than just a boy toy.
After three hours of being thoroughly convinced, I finally begged for mercy.
Looking at the mess we’d made, I was fuming.
‘Ugh, my account needs daily updates and you made me miss my editing deadline. Now what am I supposed to do?”
This bastard was sabotaging my career.
Derek hugged and kissed me, nibbling my earlobe apologetically. “Hey, I’ll help you edit it.”
‘You know how?”
‘How hard can it be?”
Turns out, brilliant people really are brilliant at everything.
fis final product was actually better than mine.
