“I didn’t reject you. I rejected your idea and the money. Which, by the way, feels dirty to me.” Geez, he smelled incredible. The scent of his cologne had been everywhere in his condo, but it was more intense and intoxicating with him next to me. It was literally blown in my face.
“Dirty? My money isn’t dirty.”
“Paying me feels dirty.”
“It’s a job. Like cleaning my home. If you’re willing to do it for free, out of the goodness of your heart, I’m game.”
I laughed and tossed my head back. “I’m sure you’d be game. Think of all the money you’d save.”
“Truly, I wouldn’t even notice losing a hundred grand or even a million.”
My mouth dropped open. “You’re so rude and cocky. If those amounts mean nothing to you, I’m insulted by how little you offered me.” Like seriously. Was I worth so little to him?
He furrowed his dark brows and stared at me but said nothing.
“It wasinterestingrunning into you, but I’m going to go find my sister.” I stood.
“Cyndee, please reconsider. I will do my best to make it as painless as possible. I would be indebted to you, if you’d helpme.” That darn baritone voice melted me. And this was what I’d been afraid of.
“Why didn’t you reply to my text?” I asked him, then instantly hated how I sounded butt hurt over it. But honestly, I checked my phone dozens of times in the last two days, hoping to hear from him.
“What was there to say?”
“Most people reply to text messages, but you just read mine and did nothing. That’s so rude.”
“Rude? What’s rude is rejecting me when I’m desperate for your help. You have no idea how brutal my family can be. My parents will try to force me into an arranged marriage. I just need more time to find my own wife. Someone I would love and cherish.”
He really did sound desperate. I wished I didn’t feel sorry for him, but I did. I couldn’t imagine being forced to marry someone I didn’t love.
“Listen, I’ll make it worth your while.” He stared up at me with intense dark eyes. “You’re right. I lowballed you. But the fake girlfriend idea had just popped into my head, and I hadn’t given it much thought.”
I believed him. When he asked me, it had sounded very random and out of nowhere.
“I don’t know, Mr. Ferrari. I can’t afford to lose the contract with you. Cleaning your place is a huge part of our income.”
“I understand. I’ll give you one million dollars for each event you attend with me, then if things blow up in our faces, your livelihood won’t suffer.”
“She’ll do it,” Celine said from behind me.
I spun around and faced my sister. “Are you crazy?”
“Please, Cyndee.” The desperate tone in Fabio’s melted me on the spot. I always struggled to tell people no, hence moving across the country with my older sister at only nineteen andnowhere near ready to be away from my parents. “If one million isn’t enough, tell me how much you want, and I’ll pay it.”
Celine nodded rapidly with wide, excited eyes and mouthing, “Do it. Do it.”
“Geez, no pressure at all, you two.” Did either of them care about how I felt or if I even wanted to do this. I was attracted to Fabio and Celine knew it. What if the lines were crossed in my heart?
“Sorry, DeeDee. He’s making an amazing offer, and I don’t think you can refuse,” my sister said. She wasn’t wrong about the money being amazing.
It was like winning the lottery. My life would change, but I didn’t know if in a positive or negative way.
I turned to face him. “I have some conditions.”
“Name them.”
“There will be no sex. You won’t bad mouth me after. I expect to be treated with respect and kindness. I’m your equal at the events, not your cleaning lady.” Was there anything else I should demand? This was all happening so fast that mind was spinning.
“I agree to all your conditions.” He took out his wallet and handed me his credit card. “You need to buy clothes.”
