“Do your issues have anything to do with Cici?”
I freeze at that, then try for casual as I turn to face her. “Why would you ask that?”
“I’m not stupid, Eli. I knew from the very first night you were fucked over her, but I figured you’d eventually move on. Youhaven’t, have you?”
“Regardless of whether I have or not, there’s more to it. If that were my only problem, I’d have it made, but I’ve got bigger fish to fry.” I run my hand through my hair and stalk toward the door, grabbing my jacket on the way. “Look, Rebecca, this arrangement is all that works for me. And if you’re only here because you’re holding out for more, we should probably stop now because that won’t happen.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.I slam the door too hard on my way out, making me feel like an even bigger dick. It’s no secret I’ve been using Rebecca, but to practically spell it out like I did makes me sound like a complete ass, which I undoubtedly am. She’s convenient. And a damn good lay, honestly. But that’s all she is. Someone to fill my needs while I mourn Cici and search for a wife. Dammit all to hell.
The minute I park in the underground garage for my building, I bang my hands on the steering wheel and flop back into my seat, resting my head and closing my eyes. Can’t anything in life just be simple? I’m not sure how long I’ve been sitting here until a knock on the window jolts me.
“Come on, let’s grab a drink,” Sebastian says when I open the door.
We walk wordlessly out of the parking garage and around the corner to a small pub we frequented before women invaded our lives. After ordering a couple of beers at the bar, we grab a table in the corner. I chug half mine in one go.
“That bad, huh?” Sebastian comments.
“That bad.”
“Aren’t you still fucking that Rebecca chick? You might need to call her for an extra round this week.”
I don’t answer and chug the rest of my beer instead.
“Wait, today’s your regular day, isn’t it? Is that what this is about? You end up falling for her?”
“Fuck off. She fell for me. I should have cut things off when I sensed she wanted more. Hell, I should do it now, but it’s so damnconvenient. Someone to fuck with no feelings or attachment. Then she had to ruin it by asking for more. Shit. I need another beer. I’ll be right back.”
Sebastian was ready when I returned less than a minute later, firing off his screwed-up suggestion.
“Ask her to marry you. Kill two birds with one stone.” The look on his face tells me he’s dead serious and thinks it’s the most brilliant idea in the world.
“Hell no. I’d never do that to Cici. It’s bad enough I have to marry someone to begin with, but there’s no way in hell I’d do it with a woman she knows. I feel bad enough for fucking her.”
It’s something that’s bothered me from day one with Rebecca, but Christ, she made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, and after that first blow job, it was impossible to say no. I took her to dinner, intending to tell her it would be the last, but before I had a chance, she surprised me by suggesting a purely sexual arrangement. No dating, no friendship, no relationship—just meeting once a week at a location of my choosing to fuck. Who in their right mind would say no to that? Did I mention I wasn’t necessarily in my right mind?
We sealed the deal at a hotel down the street after dinner. I set expectations up front and left immediately after, continuing to do so every time since. She’s hot, I’ll give her that, with great tits, curves, and that goddamn mouth of hers. There was no way my dick was backing out.
About a month into it, she started tossing subtle hints at wanting more, but I’m a master of evasion. It’s only in the last few weeks that she’s become more pointed with her comments, and then today that damn question. Why couldn’t she leave things how they were, goddammit? And to bring Cici into it, fuck that.
“She’s not coming back, Eli. You can’t live your life for someone who doesn’t love you. I’ve tried to be patient and let you do yourthing, but I can’t stand by and let you piss away your inheritance because you’re in love with a woman who doesn’t reciprocate.”
“That’s classic coming from the man who recently married the woman he loves and is about to start a family. You couldn’t even begin to understand what I’m going through. It’s not only that she’s gone, but I’m being forced to move on like she never mattered. Do you understand what that’ll look like? Like my feelings weren’t real. Hell, it’ll look like I never loved her at all, and that’s the last message I want to send. No matter what happens, I don’t want to hurt Cici or cause her to doubt what we had. Getting married, period, will do plenty of damage as it is.”
“I’m sorry, man. It’s fucked up, and if I could make it go away, I would in a heartbeat. But that’s impossible, so somebody needs to be strong and push you in the right direction. You might be angry with me, but I refuse to let you fail. I want you by my side, running our family legacy together. If I have to force your hand, then I will. The clock is ticking, Eli, and you’re getting engaged in three months whether you like it or not, so think about if it would be better to be with someone new or someone you’re already compatible with for the next two years.”
“I’ll consider it, but I’m not doing it any earlier than necessary. Justin is running his search for candidates, and the paperwork is in progress with our new attorney, so it won’t take long once a choice is made. That means no one is needed until May to have enough time to get all our ducks in a row before a public engagement.”
Once the matchmaking service didn’t work out, Sebastian and I agreed that an arranged marriage made the most sense. Justin, our friend and owner of the security and PI firm we use, is the only other person who knows the truth and found a lawyer to create the NDA and contract while being discreet. He’s also using his intel to locate suitable women through dating apps and running background checks to procure a list of candidates. I’ll set up dates tomeet the women, weed them out, and rank the rest, then have individual meetings starting with number one to explain the proposition. If they say no, I’ll move down the line until someone accepts. And if that isn’t the most romantic proposal ever, I don’t know what is. What a fucking joke.
Here’s the deal, though, I refuse to pretend for two years only to break someone’s heart in the end. Even if I did find a woman I was attracted to and interested in, I’d want to be honest about why I was moving so fast. And the only way to do that is to disclose the entire situation with an ironclad NDA and prenup. At that point, why worry about finding one I like? I might as well find someone with no baggage, little family, and low expectations. Whoever ends up marrying me will come out wealthy when the marriage is dissolved—the least I can do for taking two years of their life and an incentive to stick it out and keep their mouth shut in the process.
“Have it your way, then. I’ll follow up with Justin to see where he is on the list. In the meantime, think about what I said. Rebecca may not be a bad idea since, according to you, Cici will be hurt no matter what. Remember, she made her choice, and it wasn’t you.”
“Way to hit me where it hurts, bro. Since you care and are only trying to help, I’ll let it slide, but you don’t understand. Cici loves me, I’m sure of it, and even though she walked away, I refuse to hurt her any more than I have to.”
The skepticism is pouring out of him. That’s okay. I don’t need his validation. It doesn’t make a difference anyway. I’m still in the same fucked-up situation regardless.
“I’ll take your word for it. Doesn’t change the fact that she’s gone. The bottom line is, I’m not letting you squander your birthright. Get the list, vet the women, and make a decision. If you screw this up, you’re not only fucking up your life but mine along with it. You’re fifty percent of this company. Now man up.”
