"I have never been more serious. How much was it again? I need the number spoken aloud so my suffering feels itemized."
She lifted her head, eyes glittering. "We both know you did not do it for money."
"That is slander."
"That is affection."
"Affection can still be defamatory."
"But sure," she said, smiling as her finger traced a lazy circle over his chest, "it was only one million dollars."
Phei's grin spread with beautiful, terrible satisfaction. "Only? Listen to the Ashford Madam, casually wounding money's dignity. One million dollars. A single ad shoot. I have been elevated. Crowned. Commercially blessed."
"You were already rich."
"I was rich privately. This is different. This is career money. Do you know independent-young-man money? This is, 'I worked hard for one day and society rewarded my beauty appropriately' money."
She stared at him for a moment. "Insufferable."
"Professionally."
"Completely."
"Internationally, after tonight."
