The man stepped into the room. He was tall and lean, his frame sharp like something carved from marble. His features were almost unnaturally handsome, sculpted with a precision that bordered on surreal.
His eyes glinted with an almost hypnotic light, carrying a kind of dangerous charm. Even the tilt of his brow hinted at mischief, his whole presence exuding a quiet and irreverent arrogance.
“Matty Cooper,” he said, voice low and magnetic. “You’re being naughty again.”
At the sound of his voice, the boy flinched ever so slightly and instinctively leaned deeper into Sharon’s arms.
Sensing the unease, Sharon shifted subtly, placing herself between the boy and the man. Her tone was calm but firm. “Excuse me, who are you to this child?”
Only then did the man seem to really look at her. One elegant brow arched.
“Who am I?” His lips curled into a languid, half–smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m his father, of course.”
Sharon studied him, not bothering to mask her doubt. “Are you sure about that?”
The man’s smile deepened, casual and tinged with a devil–may–care kind of charm. “If you’re not convinced, we could always call the police and have them investigate.”
“Fine by me.” Sharon reached for her phone without hesitation.
But before she could dial, the boy tugged gently at the hem of her shirt. His voice was soft, but there was a tremble in it. “No need to call. He… he is my dad.”
Sharon glanced from the boy to the man. Something about the atmosphere between them felt… off. Tense in a way that didn’t line up with the calmness of the man’s expression or the boy’s words.
Still, since the boy himself confirmed it, she had no grounds to question it further.
She lowered herself a little and said softly, “Since your dad’s here, you should go back with him.”
But the boy suddenly burst out, “I don’t want to go back with him!
Sharon paused. She figured now the boy might just be upset, maybe ran away after a fight at home.
She was about to coax him gently when the man’s lazy voice floated over.
“Then don’t.”
Both Sharon and Wendy were caught off guard. They turned to look at him.
The man gave a slow nod. “My name is Xavier Cooper. I’m Matty’s father.”
Sharon said nothing, watching him carefully, trying to discern what game he was playing.
He continued, “It’s rare to see Matty take to someone this quickly. So I’d like to make you a proposition, Miss. I want to hire you to keep an eye on him during his rest periods. I’ll pay you fifteen thousand a month. All expenses related to Matty–fully reimbursed. What do you think?”
Wendy blinked, visibly startled, then took another look at Xavier.
Just watch the kid while he rests? Fifteen grand a month? Everything else paid for? That wasn’t even a job. That was basically getting paid to breathe.
Her mind was already racing. For a typical worker like her, even pulling in four figures a month was considered solid.
And clearly, judging from his tailored clothes and polished manner, this guy was no ordinary man–definitely one of those ultra -rich types who could throw money around like tissue.
Chapter 18
Sharon didn’t even think twice before replying, “I’m sorry, I can’t”
“Thirty thousand,” he said, cutting her off.
“Mr. Cooper, it’s not about the money-”
“Seventy–five thousand.”
Sharon frowned slightly. “It really isn’t about-
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“A hundred and fifty thousand.”
She fell silent.
Fine. She admitted it. There were very few problems money couldn’t fix.
Yes, she had once been married to Carter and had seen her fair share of luxury. But even then, her monthly expenses had been minimal. She never had a taste for designer bags or flashy jewelry. Most days, she stayed home to care for Theo. There was hardly anywhere for money to go.
She had never even considered using Carter’s credit card to cash out for herself.
Over the years, she hadn’t spent more than fifteen thousand total on herself.
Now that Carter had frozen her cards, and she was planning to start a studio with John, she knew she’d need a serious chunk of capital to get it off the ground.
There was no way she’d let John front all the money while she only offered manpower.
Chapter 19
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