“I don’t have a goddamn type.”
“Yeah, as long as blood pumps through their veins it’s fine with you. I obviously didn’t spend as much time on investigating her skills as you did, but from what I could tell, her firm is highly reputable and should be able to provide you with that perfect Barbie doll wife you’ll covet and never want to annul.”
“Fuck you. Speaking of which, you need to prepare a contract in case this shit works out.”
“I’m shocked you’re agreeing to this fascinating if not ruthless game.”
That’s exactly what this was. Ruthless as fuck. What would happen if Mr. Lopez or anyone else realized it was a scam? I half laughed. “My father nailed down a meeting with Andres Lopez for next Friday. With his wife.”
“Here?” Michael grimaced.
“Here. I was strongly encouraged to have my fiancée by my side.”
“O-kay. This is getting good.” He laughed until I glared at him. “Hey, I need to find some enjoyment out of this. You don’t think that’s possible?”
“Not a chance in hell. Vanessa is going to be a problem, but I’ll figure out a way to handle her.”
He grabbed his tennis shoes, plopping down onto one of three benches in the room. “I’m sure you will. Let’s see here. You say you’re not at all bothered by the woman except when discussing your meeting, you practically inhaled two drinks and that was before you ran into her in the hallway. By the way. You never fully explained what happened when you did.”
“Nothing.” My answer was too clipped and too quick.
As he lifted his head, wearing that same shit-eating grin he always had when he’d caught me in some fucking lie, I turned my head. “Come on. I know you too damn well.”
“Don’t start with me.”
“Okay then. You like the girl and not just because of her sexy marketing video, although I’m certain that grabbed your immediate attention. It would any red-blooded male.”
“Hell, no. She’s a pain in my ass. She grilled me for hours about my likes and dislikes. She even had the nerve to ask boxers or briefs.”
He pretended like he was choking as he stood. “Oh, the horror of her trying to ascertain the perfect wife material for you.”
“She still hasn’t agreed to work with me. I’m not sure she will.” I headed out of the locker room, still gritting my teeth. I moved to one of the weight benches, furiously grabbing one weight after the other, the metal clanging together as I filled both sides of the bar.
I was aware Michael had moved behind me, watching me silently.
“I didn’t know you turned into a weightlifter overnight, buddy. You’re going to need more than a spotter. You’re going to need an ambulance if you try and press that much weight. What the hell is really going on? I know you’re irritated about your father’s determination you marry, but there’s something nagging you to the point you’re off kilter. A rarity.”
After a few seconds of remaining still, I finally slammed my hand on the bar, startling the other two employees I didn’t even know with the force I used.
I turned to face him, planting my hands on my hips and pacing back and forth. “I don’t like her.”
He folded his arms, lifting an eyebrow.
“Okay, she’s sexy as hell with a perfect body, and every conversation is highly evocative. I’ll give her that, but she is purposely trying to bust my balls. Plus, she made it sound like we’ve met before and I wronged her in some horrible way.”
“Only you have no clue where or when that could be.”
“None. On top of it, she really couldn’t care less about my business. I offered five hundred thousand for the chosen employee plus all expenses and perks along with a million-dollar fee to Perfect Pairing and she acts as if it’s chump change.”
Whistling, Michael’s eyes opened wide. “Her required fee? What in God’s name does she offer?”
“No, that was my initial offer.”
Now, he scoffed. “Hell, I’ll marry you for five hundred thousand. One million? That’s…” The sentence dropped midway, when I caught him rubbing his chin, I cocked my head.
“Just say it, Mike. I know you’re chomping at the bit.”
“This isn’t about the money or about the fact she’s got your number. This is all about the fact you like her more than you anticipated, perhaps more than you have any woman in years.”
