Page 59 of The Shy Waitress and Her Boss

Don't let me be fucking late.

He tried moving forward to close the distance between them but had to stop when she tripped and nearly cracked her head against the edge of a table.

Shit.

"Kady." His voice was hoarse and uneven. "I'm in love with you."

But she just kept goddamn staring.

"And I know now...you're in love with me."

Like he could never reach her again.

"Kady. Please. Say something. Please."

He saw her jerk, pain flashing her face, and a moment later he saw her swallowing convulsively, and he realized that she would rather hurt herself - would rather force herself to speak - than see him beg.

"I'm sorry, Slade."

She saw his face whiten, and she tried, oh God, she tried so hard not to cry, but she just couldn't.

"There's something you should know about me," she heard him say.

Kady shook her head. "Please, Slade, it's just not—-"

"I'm not...I'm not someone who manages a cafe."

She watched in confusion as he typed something on his phone before giving it to her.

"Please."

She bit back a sob. He was begging again. And it hurt.

Her fingers shook as she took the phone, and her tears fell faster at the painstaking care he took to prevent their fingers from touching, almost as if he felt that his touch would sicken her.

Oh God.

That was so far from the truth, and that he would actually think it was so...

Her tear-blurred gaze fell to his phone.

The moment her head jerked up and he saw the stunned look on her face, he started talking -fast -knowing he was on borrowed time. Make or break, all or nothing. He had just this one last shot to keep her in his life.

"I know my money doesn't mean a thing to you, but if you could consider—-" He saw her lips part as if she was about to speak, and he bit out,"No."Because he knew she was only going to tell him that this meant nothing, and that just couldn't be fucking true.

"Slade—-"

"I'm just asking you toconsider—-"

His voice was as savage as it was desperate, and it only made Kady cry harder.

"My being a billionaire would mean everything to your parents, and don't you want to make them happy? And think of your former best friend.Margaux,isn't it? Think of how good it would feel to introduce me to her and see the look on her face when she realizes that all she has is a small fish in a big pond while you've got the person who owns all the fucking ponds. And think of Humbug. Wouldn't it fucking feel great—-"

"Please stop—-" He had already won. They were over. So why was he doing this?

Justconsiderit, Kady." His voice shook. "Just fucking consider—-"

"You want me to consider using you?"

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