“I tend to open my mouth without thinking,” I said, not looking her in the eyes. “I didn’t mean it.”
“It’s too late now for an apology. I’m pretty sure that’s why you’re trying to do here, right?” Kathryn paced in front of the door.
“Don’t leave. Finish your tea, at least. Then go. Never see me again, if you wish.”
“It’s not that easy, Bernard. I can’t walk away now. I’ve already given you two thousand dollars. Would you give it back?”
“Why would I do that? Didn’t you get what you came for? You didn’t like it? You didn’t pay for conversation.”
“You’re infuriating! I can’t stand you.”
Kathryn reached for the door, but while her hand was still on the doorknob, I stopped her.
“Don’t leave, K. I love you.”
“You said it again!”
“What if it were true this time?” I asked, caressing her cheek.
“But it’s not.”
“It’s not a lie, K. I guess it’s not a truth either. But if you wish, I’d give you half back. Half back because you’re my finest customer and I upset you. Surely, this is not how you wanted to spend the evening.” I opened up my wallet and began counting out one hundred dollar bills.
“That’s truly disgusting. Keep it!”
K walked out and I never saw her again. Not even on the street. Or at the grocery store. All of those times that I thought were happy coincidences were all part of the act. Except that she was paying me to fulfill them, but she was doing all of it. She was the sham. I was just the boy, slowly falling in love and now I was left with nothing but a wallet full of bills.
And tomorrow it would all start again.
