I shrugged. "Negotiable or not, those are my terms."
"All right." Jace nodded. "We can discuss them."
My heart pounded relentlessly against the cage of my chest. "Okay."
"Why are you willing to accept Gabe as your driver, but not your bodyguard?" He asked pointedly.
"As my driver, he will see me throughout the day, and I suspect he will never be too far, but I am unwilling to have him as a second skin...or shadow." I shook my head adamantly at the thought. "I just don't want a bodyguard, Jace. I believe my reasons are the same as yours."
"All right." Jace nodded, but I didn't miss the muscle in his jaw tick. "You are willing to accompany me to my business functions, yes?" he cocked his head and I nodded. "Then why are you so opposed to me purchasing and choosing what you wear?"
I narrowed my eyes and shifted on the barstool. "I do not enjoy feeling as though I'm a responsibility, or like, I'm a doll for you to play dress-up with."
"I believe you are missing the point. I do not feel as though you should have to pay for the clothing to accompany me to my functions. You would, in the end, lose money doing so, and therefore, I believe it is my responsibility to ensure you are dressed appropriately for each function, without it hindering your bank account."
"My bank account is really none of your business." I snapped, suddenly feeling warm.
"You must realize, Olivia," he stared pointedly at me. "I have made everything that regards you my business."
What the hell was that supposed to mean? He somehow had access to my account...but that was impossible and completely inappropriate. And, it was not the topic of importance as of this moment. "I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that, for now." I said tightly. "And, I have decided you can purchase the attire, but you will not choose it for me."
He cocked his head. "I will bend on this because there is another point I would much rather fight for." I shivered, but held my ground. "I am assuming you dislike my desire to pay for your living space for the same reason you dislike my paying for your attire?"
"You would be right." I folded my arms over my chest. "And, that it's completely preposterous."
"How so?"
I couldn't help the words that tumbled from my mouth. "Are you dense, Mr. Rush?"
He flinched, but had the audacity to look mildly amused. "No, Olivia." His eyes were focused solely on me. "I am not dense."
"Then, how is it you find paying for my condo in New York City anything but preposterous?" I snapped. He was making me feel like a whore. There was no nice way of putting it. He wanted me to sign a contract that would give him the right to my body and my life in return for complete monetary comfort. It was offensive, to say the least.
"Living in this city is expensive, and I believe, I made myself clear when I inadvertently admitted to knowing the sum of your bank account." I was shocked speechless and he continued. "You have monetary responsibilities to your project that is not nearly ready to open, and, your lease is due for evaluation in six months."
He looked at me pointedly and I blushed, so hot, I feared it would singe the roots of my hair. "I fail to see what this has to do with you." I spoke, quietly. I had never been this humiliated in my entire life.
"I'm not ready to lose you, Olivia." Jace said gently, but with as much authority as ever. "And, because I doubt I will have had my fill of you in only a short six months, I would hate to see you leave this city because you cannot afford to live here. I also refuse to see you living in an unsafe walkup apartment or location."
Wow. I had no idea what to say to him. He had sifted through my dirty laundry and was now holding his findings over my head. My hands shook with the need to throttle him and my tear ducts were stinging as I tried to force my emotions into obedience. No one had ever made me feel so low and incompetent in my life. And, that was a feat to be recognized because my father was the king of making me feel worthless. The fact that Jace had surpassed even his most ruthless comments and actions, in a matter of minutes, was astonishing. He really knew how to take someone down. I guessed that was why he was known as a cutthroat businessman. His conscious knew no bounds and his heart...well, I was beginning to wonder if it even existed.
"Shall I take your silence as acceptance?" Jace asked cordially. His tone really was not fit for the scene.
I shook my head and looked down to the speckled marble floor. "No," I spoke quietly. If I allowed my voice to be any louder, I feared it would reflect my feelings to him and I could not have that. "I think this meeting is over."