Chapter 83

“What’s your deal? Are you seriously using our acquaintance and last night’s incident to blackmail me?” I confronted Hayden.

“No,” he said, but his eyes avoided mine. His guilty expression was telling. I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to punch him.

“I’m unfamiliar with this place. What’s wrong with asking for your help? I’ve helped you before,” Hayden added, his tone softening, almost pleadingly.

He was right. Debts, whether monetary or otherwise, should be repaid.

I sighed. “Okay, Mr. Hart, where do you want to go today? What do you need to buy? Just tell me, and I’ll take you.”

“I want to check out some apartments,” he said, surprising me.

I blinked. “Looking for an apartment? Aren’t you heading back once your work here is done?”

“I might not be going back, so I’m planning ahead,” Hayden’s words struck me. Something about it felt unsettling.

“But your company isn’t based here,” I reminded him.

“I could quit!”

I was speechless.

“Oh, and I’m renting—I’m broke right now, can’t afford to buy,” Hayden added casually, without a hint of embarrassment. That was unusual. Most men his age try to maintain appearances, even going into debt for flashy cars and watches. But Hayden's honesty was refreshing.

“And you still want to quit your job?” I asked, my voice wavering slightly.

He didn’t respond, as if he hadn’t heard me. Perhaps his admission of being broke made me feel a touch sympathetic. So I drove him downtown.

“This is the city center. The rent here must be pretty steep,” he observed.

“It’s cheaper in the suburbs, but that’s far out, and commuting would be a hassle. As a lighting engineer, if you’re thinking of staying long-term, you’ll probably end up working in the CBD. Renting downtown will save you time,” I suggested.

He remained silent, so remembering his financial situation, I added, “I could lend you the money. You can pay me back whenever.”

“That sounds like you’re offering to be my sugar mama,” Hayden retorted, catching me completely off guard. I nearly choked.

Chapter 53

I glared at him, considering his possible feelings for me, and the fact that he’d once considered marrying me. I smirked sarcastically. “You’re overthinking it. I’m actually on the lookout for a wealthy boyfriend myself.”

Hayden’s expression darkened.

I started the car. “Fine, let’s go check out the suburbs then.”

But as we pulled up to a real estate agency, my phone rang.

“Hello… What? Alright, I’ll be right there.” I hung up and turned to Hayden. “You go ahead and check out the apartments. I’ve got something to deal with.”

Hayden didn’t move. “What’s going on?”

I didn’t hide it. “The water pipes in my apartment broke. I need to get someone to fix them.” My downstairs neighbor had called, reporting flooding in the hallway.

“I can fix it,” Hayden offered, surprising me again.

Before I could respond, he added, “If you keep delaying, the water might damage someone else’s apartment, and you’ll have to pay for their repairs too.”

He seemed remarkably resourceful. Not wanting to waste time, I drove him to my building.

As soon as we entered the hallway, we saw water cascading down the walls, with a group of neighbors gathered, pointing and chattering.

Hayden was out of the car before I could react, heading straight for the leak. After a quick inspection, he asked, “Where’s the main water valve?”

A neighbor pointed to a rusty metal plate on the ground. “It’s under there, but it’s all rusted. We can’t turn it.”

Before they finished, Hayden had lifted the plate. He looked at me and asked, “Which floor and apartment are you in?”

“Fourth floor, east unit.”

As I spoke, I watched him kneel, stretching his arm to grip the rusted valve. With a firm twist, he turned it.