Very nice.
She looked like a card-carrying member of his mother’s country club, and exactly how Jimmy had described. A smooth, chic blond.
Perfect.
Though for some reason, Seb hadn’t expected her to be so tall.
Or so hungry.
Glancing at the pile of food on Cassie’s plate, Seb scooped up more onto his and grabbed some cutlery.
“There’s a lot we need to discuss,” he told her.Her punctuality, for one.He’d nearly had heart failure at the thought of her not showing up today, not to mention for tomorrow’s glitzy inaugural dinner when his position as sports ambassador would be officially announced.
“We need to get a few things straight between us,” Seb continued.
“Well, um …” Cassie lowered her voice as her eyes flicked toward the annoying hotel manager who’d been buzzing around all day like an annoying fly. “You see, I’m …”
“Look, Jimmy said you might be nervous, and I really hope that’s not why you were late, but seriously, don’t worry.” He gave her his most reassuring smile, totally understanding her anxiety. After all, pretending to be a virtual stranger’s girlfriend wasn’t an everyday thing, and he was more than a little nervous about this arrangement himself. “From what he’s told me about you, I think you’ll be great, and I promise you, I don’t bite.”
“That’s what they all say, but really, I … Where are we going?”
“Outside.” He’d taken her elbow and guided her to the hotel’s small courtyard. “I need to keep out in the fresh air as much as possible before my jet lag kicks in.” Seb kept his smile firmly in place. He also needed the privacy. He didn’t trust the hotel staff not to listen in.
“Please, take a seat.” Seb placed his plate on a small bistro-style table and pulled a chair out for her, eager to set out his terms. He didn’t have long before Mikey finished his meeting with Brenda Ellis, the campaign manager, and Seb wanted to fully brief Cassie before she met them. “First and foremost, this deal between us is a job.”
Cassie’s head jerked up. “A job?” Her gaze shot to his groin, then she looked back at him, eyes narrowed. “What kind of job exactly?”
“Not that kind. That’s the first thing to get absolutely clear.” Seb sat across from Cassie and held her gaze. “Despite what’s been written about me recently, I’ve never ever paid for a woman’s company, and what’s more, I’ve never needed to. Until now.”
Cassie’s brow creased again, looking like she didn’t believe him one bit.
Seb rolled his eyes. “Those reports were full of lies, blown out of all proportion by my mother’s opposers, so let’s step away from the bullshit politics for now and focus instead on what I’m doing here in England.”
He paused while a man and a woman carrying coffees sat at the table next to theirs.Awesome.If Cassie had answered her phone earlier when he’d tried—numerous times—to speak to her, he could’ve gone through all this in privacy. Seb leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Forget all the crap you may have read about me. After poor Dan Jones’s accident, I’m here to help Michael and Get Living, okay?”
And win back a place in Strive’s good books.
His sponsors were also cofounding the campaign which meant Seb would have many opportunities to show the sports giant that he was still their wholesome hero—despite his one-off, out of character booze binge in Vegas.
“Michael needs me to make this summer’s campaign a success and that’s where our arrangement comes in,” Seb said. “All I need you to do is be my date to the events Daniel Jones was due to attend with his fiancée.”
Cassie leaned back in her chair. “So this isn’t some dodgy sex thing? It’s a real job?”
“It sure is a real job and neither of us should forget it.”
“And it has real payment? With money as opposed to”—her gaze shot to his groin again—“other benefits?”
“Absolutely. You got my email, didn’t you?”
“Oh, yeah, of course. I got it.” She waved her fork casually in the air. “I’m just checking.”
Taking a forkful of his potato salad, Seb studied Cassie as he chewed. There was something odd about this woman, but Jimmy had assured him she was sweet, reliable, and honest.
“Your contractual title is personal assistant and you’ll be paid weekly.” Seb reached into his inside pocket for the salary form and pushed it toward her. “You’ll need to fill out your personal details as well as your banking information. My accountant will process the payment. Did you print off and sign the contract and nondisclosure agreement I emailed you?”
“The contract?” Cassie paused eating, eyeing the salary form between them. “Gosh, I’m sorry. I forgot to bring it with me.”
“That’s okay, I have a spare copy in my room.”
