She doesn’t understand the question. “Yeah, but my friends-of-friends pool doesn’t include any great single people. Plus, I’m not looking for…” she pauses when she realizes I’m staring. “What?”
“You’re single.” I say.
“Ye—”
“And you’re not trying to climb me. In fact, I’d venture to say you don’t particularly like me very much.”
She squirms in her seat, “I, uh, I mean…”
“You won’t be a bore, plying me with shallow compliments. You’re stunning, of course, wicked smart, we already know each other and, if I’m not mistaken, you are in need of money.”
“What are you…”
“Don’t know if you’ve heard, love, but I have loads of it. Heaps. Mounds,” I draw out the last word and her eyes blow wide.
There it is.
And three, two, one…
7
BEN
“No. Are you crazy? No way,” she starts shaking her head side to side violently.
“Yes way.” I push on. “It’s perfect. You’ll call me on my bullshit, help me seal the deal with dad, save me from dying of boredom—”
“I am the most boring person I know,” she deadpans but I ignore her.
“And you’ll get…a million.”
“Dollars?” she yells comically loud.
“I meant pounds, actually.”
“1,270,000 dollars?” she says immediately, still way too loud.
I narrow my eyes at her, “Iknewyou were a savant. Come on, let me save Granny and your brother the wanker and provide you with fine sushi and lots of naps.”
The head shaking is back, “You realize what this sounds like?”
“A mutually beneficial agreement.”
“A mental break. Are you having a seizure? Do we need to get Nigel over here?” She raises a hand but I put my hand over hers. I ignore the tingly feeling where our skin touches. I also ignore how she yanks her hand away as if she’s touched the plague.
Lovely.
“You know from the Grace Race and others in our circles: arranged marriages, contractual marriages, they happen all the time.”
“Only for you billionaire weirdos!”
I smirk, still unfazed, “You should focus on the billionaire bit.”
“Benedict.”
“Janie.”
She leans forward to whisper-yell at me. It’s…inconveniently sexy. “Be so freaking for real right now! I am not marrying you!”
