I swallowed so hard I was afraid he could hear it.

This was fine. It was going to be fine. This was my way of pleasing him, of trying to win him over so that when I asked to get a job, he would let me.

I raised my head and looked at him, keeping my eyes steady on his. “I just want to show my gratitude, sir. You've done a lot for me in this short time, and I want to do something for you.”

He leaned away from the laptop, resting his back on the sofa. “That's not necessary. It was my ...