My eyes flicker toward Grayson, and I recall how when we all entered the kitchen, he lingered behind with Sterling. My jaw tenses. “No. I didn’t ask for anything in return.”
Sterling clears his throat. “It would not be appropriate for us to take advantage of—”
“This is my choice, and Grayson has already done enough for me. More than I can pay back.”
I ignore the way he stiffens, but before he can say anything, Coach Ramirez speaks. “Miss Carver.”
I look at him.
“You need to understand what the media will do to you.” His tone is firm. “Once your name is attached to Grayson’s publicly, every part of your life becomes available for someone to write about. Your mother’s death. Your debt. Every skeleton in your closet will be forced into the light. You didn’t take Grayson’s words too seriously. Let me assure you that this will be the least of your problems. If Grayson paid off your debt, that is a separate matter. But this compensation is your security for the backlash of this which will follow you for years. You might not be able to work for a long time.”
My stomach drops, and it takes effort to keep my face still.
“Grayson has a lot of investment properties,” Sterling adds. “He wants to give you two rental buildings in prime locations so you will always have income coming to you. One condo and a vacation house. And a trust that will provide you with a monthly income. It’s his trade for you helping him keep his son.”
I stare at Grayson, my head reeling. Does he think I’m an idiot? This is the same thing he was offering me before. He’s just found another way to give it to me.
Why?
I don’t understand why he wants to do all this for me. What am I to him?
Nobody’s ever wanted to look after me the way this man does, and it makes my heart flutter helplessly in my chest. I’ve always fended for myself, and here is this man, this man who can have any woman he wants, whose wealth is probably something I only see in movies. And all he keeps trying to do is look after me. As if I matter to him.
And the more he wants to do it, the more I don’t want to put money between us. We’re already on such unequal footing. The more money he throws my way, the wider the chasm between us grows.
“No.” I bite the word out as I gaze down blindly at the contract in my hand. “I’m doing this because I love your son, Grayson. I know it’s stupid to say no.” I tear the papers in half and look at his tense expression. “I don’t have money. I can’t help you by throwing money your way like you did. But I can help you like this. Don’t insult me by putting money on the table, not when Ethan is involved.” I can see that Grayson is going to protest. “I don’t want to discuss this any further.”
Grayson takes a step forward, but his coach lifts his hand, stopping him. “Enough. You can’t shove these things down her throat. If this is something that’s a hard no for her, then leave it. Sterling, keep the papers available in case she changes her mind.”
“I won’t.”
Coach Ramirez studies me, and a small smile plays on lips that looks almost wistful for some weird reason. “I don’t think you will.” He nods once and looks back at Sterling.
Sterling clears his throat. “One more matter. Household logistics.”
I tense.
“The cover story has to hold inside this house as well as outside. The staff cannot know it’s an arrangement.” Sterling sets his pen down. “A fiancée doesn’t sleep in a guest room, Miss Carver. Your belongings move into Grayson’s bedroom by tonight. Bathroom, closet, all of it.”
The kitchen tilts a fraction.
I open my mouth. Close it. Open it again.
I have to sleep in the same room as him?!
I glance at Grayson. His eyes are still on the floor. His jaw is locked.
The fact that he doesn’t seem to like the idea makes me feel small. This man is confusion personified. His actions say onething, his words another. But right now, the idea of me being in his room permanently seems to upset him.
“Is that really necessary?” I ask slowly. “I mean, it’s just Linda here, right? Or is there other staff?”
“It’s just Linda,” Grayson says finally.
“And it takes just one person to reveal unwittingly that you two are sleeping in separate bedrooms. Even Ethan could accidentally make this revelation,” Sterling says firmly. “It needs to look real because if it doesn’t, the story collapses inside a week.”
They’re right, I realize.
Hoo boy. This is going to be harder than I anticipated.
