“A rent increase?!” Maya panicked.
The rent for this little shop was already steep, making up the bulk of her expenses.
How could she possibly afford another increase?
“Ms.
Westwood, we signed a contract.
We agreed that the rent wouldn’t go up for three years.”
Although Maya was upset about the rent hike, she had no choice but to put on a smile for her landlord.
Ms.
Westwood’s expression was flat, offering no leeway.
“Go ask around.
Hasn’t every other place raised their rent?
I’m giving you two months, which is more than generous.
It’s up to you whether you want to continue renting or not.
You figure it out.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Maya stood at the shop’s entrance, her expression grim.
She knew the landlord was raising the rent so aggressively in breach of their contract because she was betting that Maya wouldn’t move.
She’d already spent a significant amount of money on renovations.
The cost of finding a new location and starting over would be far greater than an extra thousand a month in rent.
Besides, she had only just built up a base of regular customers.
Leaving now would mean starting all over again.
It was too great a loss to even consider.
But since she didn’t own the place, the landlord had her right where she wanted her.
“Maya.” Worry flickered in Morgan’s eyes.
The tension in Maya’s features softened as she smiled.
“It’s fine.
I’ll just stay open a little later.”
Staying open longer would bring in at least a little more income.
Morgan seemed to have understood part of the problem.
“Is it a lot of money?”
Maya continued eating, sighing in spite of herself.
“Yeah.
An extra thousand a month is twelve thousand a year.
Do you have any idea how many facials I’d have to give to make that much?”
The rent hike was one thing, but with Morgan—another mouth to feed—her living expenses had also increased.
Maya’s monthly plan to save money and pay off her debts was now completely in disarray.
Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Morgan didn’t press the matter.
He waited for her to finish dinner, cleared away the dishes, and left quietly.
Summer downpours arrive without warning.
It was only a little after four in the afternoon, but the sky was already an oppressive, dark sheet.
Rain splattered everywhere, and the streets were nearly empty of pedestrians.
It was unlikely she’d get any customers in this weather, but Maya, not ready to give up, stubbornly waited.
By eight o’clock, not a single customer had come.
Disappointed, she finally began to close up shop and head home.
A dark figure holding an umbrella came running toward her.
Maya stopped what she was doing and stared at the soaking-wet figure of Morgan.
“What are you doing out in a downpour like this?”
“To bring you an umbrella.” Morgan stood at the entrance, dripping water onto the ground, hesitant to step inside.
Only when Maya said, “Come in and sit down,” did he step across the threshold.
Maya grabbed a dry towel and began to dry the rain from his hair.
“You didn’t need to come for me in such a heavy downpour.
I have an umbrella here.”
Morgan looked up at her and said stubbornly, “I had to.”
He had bolted out the door the moment it struck eight.
Meeting his deep, bright eyes, Maya felt her heart skip a beat.
She sighed, caressing his damp cheek.
“You’re so good to me.
I’m a little moved.”
Little by little, Morgan was winning her over, and she felt the unnerving fear that she was about to fall in love.
Morgan couldn’t resist nuzzling his face against her palm, looking utterly content.
He promised, his voice full of conviction, “I’ll always be good to you.”
Her heart melted into a puddle.
She laughed.
“Okay, okay, you’ll be good to me forever!
You’re just like a clingy little puppy.”
She finished drying his hair.
“Come on, let’s go home.”
She grabbed an umbrella, and after closing the door, they started walking back.
The wind was too strong.
They hadn’t gone more than a few steps before the canopy of her umbrella was ripped clean off, leaving only its bare frame swinging back and forth.
“Fuck!”
Maya cursed under her breath as the downpour drenched her face.
Morgan quickly moved his umbrella to cover her head.
He wanted to lean in closer but, afraid she would scold him, he just stood there stiffly in the rain.
Maya laughed.
“You’re so silly!”
She took the initiative, moving in close and linking her arm with his.
Tucked tightly against him, they walked on, sharing his umbrella.
Morgan could feel her body heat through his arm, and his heart began to pound.
His own rain-chilled body started to grow warm.
He slyly slowed his pace.
‘This way, she’ll stay pressed against me for a little longer.’
By the time they got to the entrance of her building, they were both completely soaked.
They looked at each other’s bedraggled state and grinned foolishly.
Maya started up the stairs.
“Hurry and get in the shower, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Once inside, she flicked on the lights.
As she passed a full-length mirror, she realized her drenched dress was plastered to her body.
The curves of her full hips and slender waist were all too obvious, and the black of her bra and underwear was clearly visible through the fabric.
She instinctively glanced back at Morgan and caught him hastily looking away.
Maya frowned.
‘The kid was sneaking a peek.’
Maybe it was because she’d been on her own for so many years, but this was the first time anyone had ever cared for her so meticulously, treating her like a precious treasure.
She liked Morgan; she truly did.
It wasn’t romantic love, not yet, but it was definitely more than simple friendship.
Being stared at by a man like that, Maya felt her own heart begin to beat erratically.
Morgan’s clothes were just as soaked, his thin T-shirt clinging to his perfect physique.
The lines of his abdominal muscles were visible, and he radiated a potent, masculine appeal.
Maya thought she must be going crazy.
Why else would she be reaching out to touch Morgan’s Adam’s apple?
The moment her fingertip made contact, his Adam’s apple bobbed.
“Maya…”
The moment Morgan spoke, all the tantalizing images in Maya’s mind were washed away.
She retracted her hand.
“Go take a shower.”
Morgan, who had been savoring her touch, looked crestfallen when she pulled her hand away.
“You first, Maya,” he said, his voice glum.
Maya didn’t argue.
She grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom.
Morgan stared at the blurry silhouette visible on the glass door, then looked down at himself.
‘It’s not morning, so why is it standing up?’
‘She’ll be angry if she sees.’
Morgan frantically pushed it down, trying to make it go away, but the sound of the running water from the bathroom and the sight of the moving silhouette made it impossible to control.
Morgan was so scared he was on the verge of tears.
He hurriedly pulled open a drawer, grabbed the scissors inside, and hid them under a flowerpot on the balcony!
‘Can’t let her cut it off!’
The moment Maya stepped out of the bathroom, Morgan rushed in, clutching his clothes.
Maya yelled at the bathroom door, which had just slammed shut.
“Gently!
If you break it, you’re paying for it!”
The sound of the shower turning on full blast came from inside.
Morgan was scrubbing his body furiously and didn’t answer her.
After they had both showered and eaten, Maya drew the curtain around her bed and took out a small notebook to go over her finances.
The added rent plus the expense of supporting Morgan meant her monthly expenditures were up, which would throw her year-end debt repayment plan into chaos.
But business at the shop was perpetually lukewarm.
She couldn’t just raise her own prices to match the rent hike; she’d definitely lose customers if she did.
‘If only I had more ways to make money.’
She let out a sigh.
Morgan’s voice drifted over.
“Maya, what’s wrong?”
Maya closed her notebook and lay down.
“Tell me something.
Those rich people, where do they get all that money?
How do they even earn their first pot of gold?”
Morgan asked, “Do you like money that much, Maya?”
“Of course,” Maya said.
“With money, I wouldn’t be stuck in this little nook.
With money, you wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor.
We could rent… no, buy a big house, and you could have your own room, your own big bed…”
Dreaming of a life of wealth, she couldn’t help but smile.
‘Daydreaming really is sweet.’
Morgan said seriously, “Then I’ll make lots and lots of money in the future and buy you a big house!”
Maya pulled back her curtain.
“Really?”
Morgan turned onto his side to face her.
“Really.
What else do you want?”
Maya huffed.
“You men are all talk, always making grand promises.
But still…”
She giggled.
“I want a big house, a nice car, and a massive beauty salon.
I’d hire tons of employees, and I’d be the boss, sitting in my air-conditioned office all day, counting my money!”
Morgan repeated earnestly, “I’ll buy it for you.”
Maya lay back down, a happy smile on her face.
“Even if it’s just a dream, it makes me happy to hear you say it.”
Morgan was still staring at her swaying bed curtain.
“I mean it, Maya.”
“Alright, alright, I believe you.
I’ll be waiting.
Now go to sleep.
In your dreams, you can have anything you want.”
And she did have a sweet dream.
She dreamt that Morgan became a tycoon, and she, his wealthy wife, lay on a pile of money, counting it to her heart’s content.