Chapter 113: Setting Boundaries

Emerald’s POV

The next morning, my phone chimed just as I was finishing breakfast.

I glanced at the screen and saw Michael’s name.

Michael: Good morning, girlfriend.

I stared at the message for a few seconds before shaking my head. He was really going to take this seriously.

I typed back.

Me: Good morning to you too.

His reply came almost immediately.

Michael: Have you eaten?

I smiled despite myself.

Me: Yes.

Michael: Good. What time is your first class?

I glanced at the wall clock, then turned my attention back to my phone.

Me: Nine.

Michael: Then you have about twenty minutes before you need to leave.

I frowned at the screen.

Me: Are you monitoring my schedule now?

Michael: I’m paying attention.

I couldn’t help laughing. This was Michael.

He had always been attentive, so this wasn’t exactly new. What was different now was the extent to which he seemed determined to apply that attentiveness to this ridiculous arrangement between us.

I slipped my phone into my bag and left for class. By the time I reached the lecture hall, I had almost forgotten about our conversation.

Three days later, Michael messaged me while I was in class.

Michael: Don’t forget to eat lunch today.

I looked at it, then typed a reply.

Me: You sound like my father.

Michael: Your father doesn’t know your schedule as well as I do.

I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling. He had an answer for everything.

I put my phone away and focused on the lecture.

For the next hour, I managed to keep my attention where it belonged. Then my phone vibrated again.

I ignored it at first, but when it vibrated a second time, I finally looked.

Michael: I sent something to your dorm. It should arrive before you get back.

I frowned.

Me: What did you send?

There was no immediate answer.

I didn’t think much of it until I returned to my dorm that afternoon and found a neatly packaged container waiting for me.

I opened it and stared. It was a home-cooked meal. And there was a short note attached.

"You said you were too tired to cook yesterday."

I stood there for a moment.

I had mentioned that casually during our conversation last night. He asked what my day would be like today, and I had told him.

I just hadn’t expected him to remember it.

That was becoming the problem.

Michael didn’t need to flirt with me in every conversation. Most of the time, he didn’t. He simply paid attention.

When I was too exhausted to cook, food somehow appeared.

When I was working through my Mercer strategy, he sent me reminders about developments I might have missed.

When I mentioned being confused about a concept in one of my courses, he explained it without making me feel stupid for asking.

If I asked him for something and he was capable of helping, he did. It was becoming dangerously convenient.

Over the next several days, that pattern continued.

He never hovered or demanded my attention; he just appeared whenever I needed something.

Sometimes it was a message about Mercer Technologies. Sometimes it was information about the market. Sometimes it was a reminder about an academic deadline I had mentioned in passing.

And sometimes, when he had the time, we would discuss one of the subjects I was struggling with.

I knew Michael was intelligent. I had known that from the beginning. But what I hadn’t fully appreciated was how much attention he paid to the details of my life.

Two weeks passed before I finally realised how accustomed I had become to it. That realisation came on a Thursday night.

I had just finished reviewing some notes when my phone vibrated. A message from Michael appeared.

Michael: Check your holding company’s account.

I opened the banking application. The transfer was visible. The amount we had agreed on had been deposited in full.

I stared at the figure for a moment. Relief came first, then satisfaction.

I finally had enough liquidity to continue acquiring Mercer Technologies shares according to the plan.

I sent him a message.

Me: I received it. Thank you.

His response came shortly afterwards.

Michael: You’re welcome.

I put my phone down, then I picked it up again. Something about the transaction had made me think.

For almost two weeks, Michael had been helping me in ways that had nothing to do with the money. And I had allowed it.

That bothered me more than I wanted to admit.

I wasn’t accustomed to depending on people, especially not financially or personally.

I sat back on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

This needed boundaries. With that, I picked up my phone and called him. He answered after a few rings.

"Hi."

There was amusement in his voice. "What is it?"

"I’ve been thinking about something..." I drawled.

"That sounds dangerous."

I ignored him and continued, "If we are going to continue with this arrangement, I think we need some rules."

A brief silence fell before he repeated, "Rules?"

"Yes," I confirmed.

"What kind of rules?"

I sat upright. "First, there will be no unnecessary public displays of affection."

"Agreed."

"You’re not allowed to interfere with my studies."

"Agreed."

"You can’t use this arrangement as an excuse to control where I go or who I spend time with."

"I wouldn’t."

"Good."

I paused before continuing. "And this ends immediately once I repay you."

He was quiet for a moment. Then he asked, "Anything else?"

I thought about it and shook my head. "No."

"All right."

I frowned. "That easily?"

"You wanted rules. I’m agreeing to them."

I didn’t know why that answer made me more suspicious rather than less.

"Fine."

"Then we’re done." I lowered the phone slightly.

"Goodnight, Emerald."

"Goodnight, Michael"

I ended the call and stared at the screen. For some reason, I had expected an argument, but Michael had accepted every condition without hesitation.

That should have made me feel better. It didn’t. I placed the phone beside me and shook my head.

I knew this was just a game. But there was something about that man that made even the simplest agreement feel like I had somehow walked into a situation he had already thought through.