“‘And you’re mocking it.’” She chortled, fully and unrestrained. Infuriating. She tilted her head, water sliding down her throat. “Do you even hear yourself? Look around, Griffin. You already have more money than probably the entire population of this city combined.”
I glared at the drop of water trailing down her collarbone. At the spark in her eyes—challenging me, disarming me faster than any hostile takeover ever could.
She lifted her chin toward the papers. “And those rules? Get real. What self-respecting woman would sign off on that garbage? Of course I made fun of them. It’s a joke. Or did you forget how to laugh somewhere in your sweet, charmed life?”
The corner of my mouth twitched despite myself. Damn her sassy mouth. I wanted to haul her out of that tub, bend her over the edge, and show her exactly what my thick, entitled cock could do.
“Haven’t you noticed?” I said instead, voice low. “I work hard for my good life, sweetheart.”
“Can’t be that hard to maintain riches when you started with them in the first place.” Her gaze raked over me, dismissive and cutting. “Why don’t you try walking in someone else’s shoes for once? See if you can make a million when you start from nothing.”
“Of course I could.” Pride flared, hot and defensive. “I have the confidence and the knowledge to build something from nothing. Could probably do it in my sleep.”
She snorted. “Doubtful. Life beyond your penthouse and high-rise office gets pretty tough.”
“I’m tougher.”
“No.” She leaned forward, bubbles shifting dangerously low. “You have an ego the size of a skyscraper.”
“So? I’m cocky.” I stepped closer to the tub, my cock growing with every word she uttered. “You didn’t seem to have a problem with that one night.”
Her eyes flashed. “You’re impossible. Forget this. Just go hire yourself a Barbie doll to play the role of your wife and leave me alone.”
She pulled the stopper from the tub. Water began draining, inch by torturous inch, uncovering more skin. My pulse spiked.
“Please leave so I can get out,” she said coolly.
“No.” I planted my feet. “You’ll sit there and listen.”
She rolled her eyes but didn’t move.
I exhaled, forcing my words into something resembling calm. “That contract was meant for you. I wanted to talk to you about it and see if you’d be interested. But fucking Sam jumpedthe gun and sent it to Sabine—this woman we’ve had business dealings with for years. It wasn’t my idea.”
She crossed her arms over her chest as the water level dropped, revealing the swell of her cleavage. I forced my gaze back to her face.
“Jessa, if I was going to go through with this, I’d need someone I could depend on. Someone who could be more than just a pretty thing by my side, but also a… a strategic partner.” The words felt clumsy, inadequate. “This is a key role I need filled if I’m going to pull off this IPO. I don’t make the stupid, unwritten rules about expectations in this world, how I need to be more than a single father but a responsible, married father. Just for a short while.”
I paused, choosing my next words carefully. “I’ve been married and divorced before. It’s not something I wish to repeat. I don’t need a complicated relationship right now, but a short-term contract? A professional relationship to look like the real thing? That I can certainly manage.”
“You’d fake a marriage just to get what you want?” Her voice held disbelief, maybe even disappointment.
I ignored the question—ignored the way it made me sound vile—and tapped the folder. “Please consider it. Call it extra after-hours duty. Nanny by day, and by night...” I met her eyes. “You’ll be my pretend fiancée.”
Her mouth fell open. “Me?”
“Yes, you. Because Theo lights up around you.” I plucked a pen from my jacket, slid the vandalized rules in front of me, and tapped the paper.
“Let’s renegotiate. Rule number eight says: The woman shall be available for my pleasure after hours.” I crossed it out with one decisive stroke.
“How about this instead: Griffin shall immediately make himself available for Jessa’s desires, dropping everything hewas doing—even work—whenever she appears naked in front of him?”
Her eyes glittered. “Sounds good on paper, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“Be there for me through all of this, and at the end, I’ll pay you a million dollars.”
“A million?” She scowled.
“Make it two, then.”
