“He caught Riley. He wants me to go and live with him for two weeks and pretend to be his girlfriend,” I groan, and Jade gasps.
“And you agreed to that?”
“What am I supposed to do? I can’t just leave my baby brother with that monster,” I tell her.
“I’m going to murder the little shit,” she hisses into the phone. “Hayles, you don’t need to do this. We can think of another way.”
“There is no other way.” I sigh.
“So, you’re just going to swap a season of joy for a season of sin?” she asks me.
“I’m not sinning.” I lift a shoulder, even though she can’t see me.
“Oh, honey, getting into bed with a man like August Wade is the most delicious sin there is,” she says.
“How would you know? Have you fucked him?” I’m almost jealous at the thought.Almost.
“No, but I’ve seen pictures of him, and a man who looks like that knows how to sin in all the right ways.” She laughs.
“Okay, gross. I’ve told him under no circumstances am I sleeping with him. And he agreed to it,” I tell her. “I need you to take Riley in for two weeks, please and thank you. I’ll owe you big time and he’s already agreed to rub your feet.” I cut the call before she can argue with me. Not that she would. Jade is my ride or die. She will do anything for me.
When I walk out to the living room, Andre is standing stiffly by the door. “Are you ready, Miss Bell?” he asks.
“No,” I say, and he gives me a sympathetic look before he schools his features.
“Want me to take that for you?” He nods towards my bag, and I hand it over to him.
“Sure, thanks. I like you more than Colton. He’s an ass,” I grumble as I follow Andre out. “Riley, go to Jade’s!” I yell into the house before closing the door. I’ll text Jade later to make sure he shows up.
Andre opens the back of the car, and I slide in. He then walks around to the driver’s seat. My hands are shaky as I buckle up. I can’t believe I’m really doing this. Sure, August said he doesn’t want sex, but once I’m in his apartment, he could do anything to me. He’s twice my size, so I would have no chance of fighting him off. And now I feel like I want to puke.
“Miss Bell?” Andre looks at me in the rearview mirror.
“Hm?”
“The boss, he’s not a bad man. You will be safe with him.”
I laugh. “Have you read the tabloids?”
The bossis Miami’s very own bogeyman, and I’m about to move into his dungeon. Okay, he did say it was a penthouse, but that’s not the point.
“You should judge someone based on your own experiences with them. Not what others want you to believe about them,” Andre says.
I don’t reply, because what do I say to that? He’s right. I shouldn’t judge the guy based on gossip.
Chapter Six
Ireceived a message from Andre letting me know Hayley was at my penthouse. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her ever since I let her walk out of my office. I wanted to tellAndre I’d take her myself. And I would have, if I didn’t have this fucking deal to handle.
“So… what’s happening with the chick?” Colton asks.
“What chick?” I know who he’s talking about, but I’m not going to tell him shit.
“Hayley. I call dibs, by the way,” he says, nudging my shoulder with his.
I’ve never wanted to slit my friend’s throat more than I do right now. “Are we in middle school? You can’t fucking call dibs on a woman, Colt,” I tell him, quickly adding, “And you’re not fucking touching her.”
“Why? Because you’re going to?” he presses.
