Or at least that’s how it felt as Drew and I walked back to the main building at Longwood. I could feel Dorian’s cameras pointed at our backs so I did my best to throw in a couple of loving glances Drew’s way, to really sell his delusion, knowing that neither of us could afford to make a scene.Moreof a scene, that is.
We kept it up through the lobby, until we arrived at the ballroom where we’d left all of our belongings. Thankfully, it was empty. The second we crossed the threshold I shook my hand free from his, slammed the door shut and started sputtering at him.
“Why would you think … howdareyou assume …”
I stopped myself abruptly when I realized that both of our mics were still on. I held my finger to my lips, pointed at the thing on the collar of my dress, then pulled the battery pack from my pocket and very pointedly demonstrated how to flick the thing off. Drew nodded then did the same. Once I was sure we were both in the clear I went back into rage-mode.
“What the actual fuck, Drew?”
He put his hands in the air like he was trying to fend me off. “I’m sorry. Okay? I was backed into a corner and I didn’t have a choice. Did you see how pissed off Carter was? We couldn’t afford to have him blow up on camera.”
“So you decided to sacrificemeto save your ass?”
My voice echoed around the space.
“Oh, so being fake-engaged to me is a sacrifice?” Drew mused.
“Yes!” I shouted out. “Obviously. Have youmetyou?”
I could’ve sworn he was about to laugh, which made me even angrier. How could someone look so hot and so infuriatingly smug simultaneously?
“How are you going to explain that you lied?” I demanded. “Because your genius cover story is going to make you look like a fool when you have to come clean.”
“Who says I need to?”
“Uh,me?” I reminded him. “I did not agree to this!”
“I can make it worth your while,” he said. He pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit, like we were about to negotiate a deal.
I crossed my arms and held my ground. No way was I going to sit down to bargain with him.
“You can’t just throw money at every problem and expect that to fix things. That’s not how the world works. And it’s definitely not howIwork.”
It didn’t matter how fat his wallet was, there was nothing even remotely appealing about him.
Okay, except for those arms. And the giant bodyguard build. I mean, when did the guy have time to work out? Because he clearly did his time in the gym, based on the ropey veins running up his thick forearms. And the shoulders that were as wide as a linebacker’s.
Fine, I could admit thataestheticallythere was plenty going on with him. I wasn’t about to deny how fucking hot he was, because it was a given. Anyone with eyes could see it. But none of that mattered. His personality cancelled it all out. I was completely immune to the hot guy with the big bank account.
At least that’s what I kept telling myself.
Drew was watching me closely, an evaluating look in his eyes. “And what about that four thousand dollar bill you just got surprised with?”
Surprise hit first—but indignation followed after it pretty damn fast. “Youwereeavesdropping on my call! I knew it.”
He sighed, looking marginally apologetic. “I accidentally overheard you. But given the way you were shrieking the total, everyone else probably heard you, too.”
“I wasn’t that loud,” I grumbled at him.
“What if I agreed to take care of the bill, if you go along with the engagement scenario?”
I’d been so busy that I hadn’t given much thought to how I was going to afford Winston’s surgery. Now my bosshole was offering me a solution… but it came with so many strings that I felt like a mummy.
“As if I want to be forced into more time with you.” I rolled my eyes, a totally juvenile response, admittedly, yet in this scenario, it felt totally appropriate.
“Oh, come on. It’s not like you’d have to move in with me. You’d barely have to do anything at all. Just pretend to like me when we’redealing with this mess.” He gestured to the production equipment littering the room. “Maybe carpool with me now and then, so it looks like we’re spending most of our nights together. Flirt a little, in front of everyone, so they buy that we’re in love enough to get married.”
I couldn’t help but feel baffled at the thought. How could I manufacture affection for him?
