Theodore sat hunched on the edge of the couch. He looked up slowly, his eyes searching yours, unsure, almost afraid. “Would you give me a chance to—”

“No.” Your voice came out sharp. “You were paid to take me out… by the one person I truly hate?!”

You took a step forward. "I knew this was a setup. I knew it,” you spat. “God, I told myself it was too good to be true, but I still let it happen. I let you happen.”

“It wasn’t like that,” he said quickly, standing now. “Okay? Just listen to me—”

“I am listening!” you snapped. “And all I hear is that I was a job. A joke.” You shook your head, a bitter laugh escaping your throat. “A payment. Maybe a bonus for what? Kissing me? Getting me to open up so you could report back with notes?”

“No,” he said, stepping toward you. “I didn’t care about the money, okay? It wasn’t about that. It started that way—but it changed. You changed it.”

You laughed again, emptier this time. “So when did it change, huh? Before or after you have been with me?” The words came out before you could stop them.

“Don’t do that,” he said. “Don’t pretend like it didn’t mean anything. Don’t reduce it to some twisted deal. You think I planned this?” He gestured between you. “You think I could fake this? What we had?”

You folded your arms over your chest to stop them from shaking. “I think you’re a liar,” you said, quieter now. “I think I was stupid enough to believe someone actually saw me. Really saw me.”

“I did see you,” he said. “And yeah, I lied at the start. I was hired to get close. I told myself it was just a job. But then you… you were funny, and real, and stubborn as hell, and brilliant, and everything I didn’t know I’d been waiting for.”

“I didn’t care about the money,” he whispered, softer now. “I cared about you. I still do.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” You asked him.

He swallowed hard. “Because I knew I’d lose you the second I did.”