“For the cameras, you mean?”
Elise steps closer to me and drops her voice. “For everyone, including our families.”
“What’s in it for you?”
Elise pats my hand. “I think every relationship has to have secrets, don’t you? It keeps things interesting.”
“If you’re trying to screw me over…”
Elise arches a brow at me. “Why would I try to do that when there’s a potential war coming? I know better than to make an enemy of the Paynes.”
Her offer is intriguing, but I know better than to bite.
I need to know what her angle is because there’s no way she’s just agreeing to this without a caveat.
Elise Thayer’s endgame is the same as mine, but it doesn’t mean we can work together.
I don’t like being kept in the dark.
Still, I know better than to outright refuse her.
I have enough problems as it is without having to worry about offending the Thayers, too.
Isn’t that what you wanted? The appearance of an alliance without the hassle? It’s better than you could’ve hoped for, and you’d be an idiot to not consider it.
London isn’t going to like this.
It’s one thing to have an understanding between the families, but it’s quite another to have the press fawning over us and splashing pictures all over the news.
It’s not the kind of publicity I like or want, but Elise Thayer is a public figure.
She’s been on the cover of several lifestyle and fashion magazines. The press is obsessed with her, and as much as I hate to admit it, selling our relationship means flaunting it in public.
And it’s the only option I have.
“I can live with being your beard,” I murmur close to her ear. “So long as you don’t fuck with me. If you do, you’ll find out why I have a reputation.”
Elise turns her head so there’s an inch of space between us, a strange glimmer in her eyes. “Noted.”
I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Any other terms you’d like to discuss?”
“What you do and who you do it with is none of my concern, but be discreet,” Elise says quietly. “I’ll offer you the same courtesy in return.”
My eyes move over her face again. “That sounds reasonable.”
Elise pats my hand. “I look forward to our partnership.”
I look away from her and see our fathers looking at us. “As do I.”
I spent the ride home trying to come up with a way to break the news to London. As we pull up to the estate, my father leaves the car and makes a beeline for an empty room that has been temporarily converted into his study. I follow in his wake. My phone pings, and I stare at the date.
Suddenly, my father’s impatience and surly mood make sense.
“I can take care of anything else business-related for today.” I step into the room and let the door click shut behind me. “Is there anything I can get you?”
He wheels to face me. “You and Elise seem to be getting along.”
I nod.
