The Gamble

by Alice Ward

  “Okay.” She sounded nervous, and I didn’t blame her.

  “Do you remember when I told you about my father?” Dani tensed but didn’t respond. “Well, there was a reason why I was so upset. You see, last week, my father demanded that I find myself a wife before the end of the month. We own a very large pharmaceutical company and—”

  “Gaston Pharmaceuticals.”

  “You’ve heard of it?” I asked, surprised.

  “I’ve heard of you,” she admitted. “Though, I didn’t realize who you were when we met. I looked you up last night and put the pieces together. You have quite the reputation.”

  “I know.” I pushed my fork around on my plate. “Which is why my father’s worried. Our investors are coming to town next month, and he wants us to present the right image to them. My being married is, apparently, the right image.”

  “Okay,” Dani said. A look of concern crossed her face.

  “So…” Shit, why was this so hard? “I wondered if you could do me a favor.”

  She licked her lips and my cock pulsed in my pants. “A favor?”

  “If you would be willing to just stay married to me for a few weeks, that would—”

  “What?” Dani shouted. “No! Are you kidding?”

  “It wouldn’t be for very long,” I explained quickly. “Only for a few weeks, a month.”

  Her head was whipping from side to side. “I’m still not—”

  “I’ll pay you,” I said desperately. “I’ll pay you a lot of money. There must be something you need, right? Some debt or something to pay off? I can help you. I’ll pay you. I will.”

  Dani’s eyes narrowed, but I thought I saw something else in their depths. A glimmer of hope? For a fraction of a second, she considered taking my offer. Then, her consideration disappeared, and she glared at me. I knew she wasn’t going to go for it unless I did something drastic.

  “No,” she said firmly. “That’s insane, and you are insane. I won’t stay married to you, not for any amount of money.”

  “Dani…” I knew I sounded desperate, but I didn’t care because I was. “Please.”

  “No!” she yelled. “Do you even realize what you’re asking? I don’t know you.”

  Her anger fueled my own. I’d told myself that I wouldn’t threaten her, but as I sat there, I realized it might be my only option.

  “I won’t give you an annulment,” I said firmly. I hated myself for it, but I kept talking. “I won’t sign the papers. You’ll have to petition for a divorce and take me to court. That will take at least a month or two. By the time everything is said and done, the investors would already be here. It will be quicker and more painless for you if you just agree.”

  Dani’s eyes widened in shock. She couldn’t believe what I’d just said, and truthfully, neither could I. I felt like the scum of the earth for threatening her, but it was over. I’d done it. Now, I just had to wait for her response.

  “You’re threatening me?” she asked, her voice unsteady. “You’re actually threatening me.”

  I scrubbed my hands over my face. “I’m sorry, but I need this. Trust me, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t have to.”

  “You don’t have to!” she snarled.

  “I do!” I took a deep breath and repeated more softly. “I do. Like I said, I’ll pay you. Just agree, and I promise, I’ll make it worth your while.”

  Dani’s green eyes locked on mine, and she stared at me with disgust. I could tell how much she hated me, but I didn’t care. This wasn’t something I wanted to do. It was something I had to do. My father had forced my hand the day he demanded I find a wife. While I hated the idea of obeying his orders, it seemed that fate had other ideas. For whatever reason, I met this woman and we got married. Drunk off our asses or not, it was official.

  “The money will be good,” I promised. “We can work out the details later, but I’ll pay you one hundred thousand dollars.”

  She gasped and lifted those magnificent eyes to meet mine. Then sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples. “You know. Money can’t buy you everything.” She no longer looked mad, just… disappointed?

  With more grace than I’d seen anyone possess, she stood and left the restaurant. I watched her go, wondering if I should chase her. Part of me wanted to run after her and demand an answer, but I could tell she needed space. We both knew that she didn’t have a choice. Once I threatened to not sign the annulment papers, the game had changed. I didn’t know much about her, but I could tell that she didn’t have the money for lawyers. Taking me to court would be costly and ineffective. I had her backed into a corner, and we both knew it.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Dani

  In twenty-five years on this Earth, I’d never been as angry as I was right now. As I stormed out of the restaurant, I seriously considered suing Talen for all he was worth. I would sue him for a divorce and so much more. More than anything, I wanted to teach him a lesson. I hated being manipulated and threatened. Talen wasn’t worth my time or my energy, and yet, I was stuck with him. My mind was racing, and my face was on fire. I felt a rage unlike anything I’d ever felt before.

  In an effort to calm myself, I pulled out my phone and called Madison. If there was anyone who could help me make sense of things, it was her.

  The phone rang six times before Madison finally picked up. Her voice was rough and sleepy. I had forgotten how early it was.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I know I woke you up, but this is important.”

  “What is it?” I could hear her sit up in bed. “What’s wrong? Is it your mom?”

  “No. Don’t panic. It’s nothing like that.”

  “Then, what?” Madison demanded.

  “I’m married.” I said it fast, forcing myself to spit out the words before I lost my nerve.

  Madison’s breathing faltered on the other end of the phone. “Y-you…” she stammered. “You’re… you’re married?!”

  “I know,” I said frantically. “It’s a mess. The guy I met at the strip club—”

  “Yeah, the super hot one.”

  God, he was so hot. Dammit.

  Focus!

  “Yes, him. Well, his name is Talen Gaston, and I guess he’s insanely rich. His father owns this pharmaceutical company and—”

  “Holy shit,” Madison breathed. “Holy shit.”

  “I know.” I took a deep breath. “But there’s more. We got married while we were drunk. Like, completely wasted. I barely remember anything, but I knew we’d gotten married. We planned to meet up this morning and go get the marriage annulled. It would be like it never happened, you know? Over. Done.”

  “Yeah,” Madison said. “That sounds like a great plan. What’s the problem?”

  “He’s refusing to do it!” I shouted into the phone. I glanced around the lobby to make sure no one heard me. “He says he won’t sign the papers.”

  “Why?” Madison demanded.

  “His father has this crazy idea that he should be married. I guess the investors want to see Talen settled down, and he thinks I’m the magical answer. He wants me to stay married to him for an entire month just to please his dad!”

  “A month?” Madison asked.

  “A whole freaking month,” I repeated. “He said if I don’t agree, then he won’t sign the papers and I’ll have to take him to court. How crazy is that? I mean, he offered to throw money at me like—”

  “He offered to pay you?”

  “Yes, but I don’t want his damn money.”

  “I don’t know, Dani,” Madison said softly.

  The tone of her voice stopped me. “What?”

  “Maybe this isn’t such a bad idea.” I could tell she was afraid of my reaction, but I was too shocked to speak. “You need the money, right? I mean, you said he was rich.”

  “He is, but still.”

  “Think about your mom,” Madison said quickly. “This could help you pay for her care. She could go to a place where she would never be alone. Isn’t th
at what you want?”

  The weight of the world settled onto my shoulders. “It is.”

  “And it’s only for a month,” Madison continued. “A month is nothing. You can handle anything for a month.”

  “He’s trying to buy me, Maddi,” I said. Her logic made sense, but I didn’t want to admit that. Talen had been a dick to me, and I couldn’t imagine staying married to him.

  “He’s renting you, at worst,” Madison argued. “And it sounds like he’s just desperate.”

  She was right. I remembered the look on Talen’s face the first time he mentioned his father to me. He looked defeated and beyond depressed. I remembered feeling terrible for him. Then, that next morning, he lashed out at me because I mentioned his dad. He was livid. I was so angry at the time that I didn’t stop to try to find out what it all meant.

  As I thought back to Talen’s offer, I pictured his face again. He didn’t seem demanding or angry. Madison was right, he was just desperate for something, anything that might help him. I didn’t want to consider his offer, but I suddenly felt like I had to. Not just for myself, but for Talen. There was something about him that intrigued me. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I was drawn to him for a reason.

  “You really think this is a good idea?” I asked my friend.

  “I do,” she said firmly. “He doesn’t sound like a bad guy, just a spoiled one. I think he just wants to please his father, and he can’t think of any other way to do that.”

  “But is it worth it?” I asked, speaking more to myself than to Madison. “Is the money worth it?”

  She laughed softly. “You’re asking a woman who shakes her tits for a buck.” She sighed, growing serious again. “You’ll have to decide if it’s worth it, but if you’re asking me, it is. If it means you can help your mom and take some of the financial stress off your back, then it’s worth it.”

  Tears pricked the backs of my eyes. “Thanks, Maddi. I have to go.”

  “Talk soon,” she said.

  “Talk soon,” I said back.

  When I hung up the phone, I stayed still for a few minutes. Madison was right. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to help my mother. Talen admitted to being wealthy. If I asked, I was certain I could get enough money to pay for my mom’s care. I wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore. She would always be well taken care of, and that, more than anything, was what made me turn around and walk back into the restaurant.

  As I approached the table, I saw that Talen was still sitting there. He hadn’t touched his food, and he was staring off into the distance. He looked defeated and hopeless, but I didn’t know why. He’d won. We both knew that I was backed into a corner I wouldn’t be able to escape from. Either I took his offer, or I spent money I didn’t have on a lawyer. He’d planned it out perfectly, but from the look on his face, he wasn’t happy about it.

  “I’ll do it,” I said, sitting down across from him again.

  Guilt. Relief. Anger. Hope. It all flashed over his expression. “Seriously?”

  “Yes. I’ll be your wife for a month.”

  “Thank you.”

  I think it must have been the most sincere appreciation I’d ever received. My throat closed, threatening to choke me. I coughed into my abandoned napkin. “Just tell me what I have to do.”

  He blinked, and I could almost see the wheels begin to turn in his mind again. “Well, basically, you’ll be by my side for the next month. I’ll take you to meet my parents, you’ll come into the office, and you’ll be present when I meet with the investors. You’ll be on my arm at every social event, and most likely, we’ll appear in the tabloids.”

  “Tabloids?” I asked with wide eyes.

  “I know,” he said. “It sucks, but it’s a facet of my life. I can’t avoid it.”

  “Okay.” I already didn’t like this plan. “What else?”

  “That’s really it,” he said with a small smile. “I appreciate what you’re doing.”

  “Don’t thank me,” I snapped. “We both know you blackmailed me into this.”

  “I did,” he admitted. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not grateful. I am. You have no idea what this means for me.”

  I fiddled with the napkin in my hands. “Well, I could use the money.”

  “Yeah?” Talen asked, leaning toward me, genuinely curious.

  “Yes,” I said without offering any further explanation. I didn’t think he deserved to know about my mother. She was the closest person to me, and I wanted to protect her. Talen had already proven himself to be untrustworthy. While I couldn’t help but feel a certain attraction to him, I wasn’t going to tell him any more details about my life than he needed to know.

  “Why don’t we go to dinner tomorrow night? We can go to the Le Jean. Have you heard of it?”

  I blinked. The Le Jean was one of the top three restaurants in Nevada. It was fancy and expensive, and I’d never stepped foot inside. Immediately, I felt intimidated, but I didn’t want Talen to see that. I gritted my teeth and nodded.

  “Great.” He looked so relieved. “We can get dinner and discuss the finer points of our deal. At the end of the month, we’ll meet with the investors. Once that’s over, you’ll be free. I’ll sign the annulment papers, and you’ll never have to see me again. Plus, you’ll get your money then too.”

  I licked my lips, and my stomach twisted when his eyes followed the movement. “Okay. Anything else I should know?”

  Talen shook his head. “Just meet me at the Le Jean tomorrow at eight.”

  “All right,” I said, already rising to my feet. I was ready to put as much distance between us as possible. “I should go.”

  “Wait,” Talen said. “You still have my number?” I nodded but didn’t speak. “Call me so I’ll have yours.”

  Like a robot, I did what he said and his phone buzzed on the table. He smiled and added me as a contact, then showed me the phone. He’d called me “Wifey.”

  I rolled my eyes, and with one last glance at his face, I turned to leave. Our deal was done, and there was no longer any reason for my presence. I could feel his eyes on me as I walked into the hotel lobby. I hurried toward the elevators so I could return to my room, then remembered that none of my things were here. I’d been staying with Madison, so there was nothing for me to collect. The few things I bought were stuffed into the gigantic bag hanging from my shoulder.

  Feeling suddenly exhausted, I turned away from the elevators and froze. It was him, heading my way. My heart began to race, and I realized I didn’t want to face him again. Not yet. Not after everything. It was bad enough that I had to see him the following night at Le Jean, but I couldn’t stand the idea of making small talk with him right now.

  Frantically, I threw myself behind a potted plant and hugged the wall. He didn’t so much as glance in my direction. Still, I felt ridiculous as I pulled myself away from my hiding spot and glanced over my shoulder. Talen was gone, but my heart was still pounding inside my chest, and I didn’t know why. The only thing I knew was that I needed to get out of here. Fast.

  I ran toward the doors and stepped outside. A wave of hot but fresh air knocked into me, and I immediately felt better. My head cleared and my heart rate slowed down. I shook my head, telling myself that I was acting crazy. Talen wasn’t someone I needed to be afraid of. He was just some guy I never should have met. He meant nothing. Not really.

  As I hailed a cab and climbed inside, I breathed a sigh of relief. I normally hated taking cabs anywhere, but that morning, I made an exception. I was so ready to get home that I didn’t care how I got there. I leaned my head back against the seat and let the cab driver head out of the city. The bumps in the road helped clear my head, and soon, I felt like myself again.

  It didn’t matter than I was technically Mrs. Gaston or that I would have to stay that way for an entire month. All that mattered was that I was finally going home.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Talen

  I tightened my tie and adjusted my
jacket. Le Jean had a dress code, so I wore one of my best black suits with a light blue shirt. The shirt matched my eyes perfectly. I always loved the way I looked in this suit. As I smoothed some gel into my hair, I wondered how the next month was going to go. I hated the idea of being married, even if it was a sham. It felt awful, but I told myself it would be worth it. As soon as the investors were gone, I could return to my normal life again.

  Part of me worried that my game would still suffer. If the tabloids printed that I was married and then suddenly divorced, would any woman still want me? I had to push my concerns aside and focus instead on the task ahead. My father needed to approve of Dani. She and I would have to act like a real couple so that the investors believed us. If they questioned the validity of our relationship, they would then question their investment in the company.

  I was jumpy from stress as I left my apartment and headed toward the parking garage. I had called Dani earlier that day to get her address. At first, I planned for her to meet me at Le Jean, but when my head cleared, I realized it was an asshole move. The least I could do was pick her up like a real gentleman. Our arrangement was purely business, but I already felt like an ass. I didn’t need to make myself feel any worse.

  When I pulled up to Dani’s apartment complex, I realized how little I knew about her life. The apartments were slightly run down, but they had a certain charm. I entered through the gate and drove slowly toward her building. I parked and headed toward her door. She lived on the first floor, and I could tell from the windows that her apartment was small, probably just a single bedroom. She clearly lived a more modest life than I thought. She had admitted to needing the money. From the look of things, Dani needed my money more than she let on. It made me feel a bit better knowing that I wasn’t the only one benefiting from our deal.

  Stepping up to the door, I raised my fist to knock. My knuckles were just centimeters away from the wood when I hesitated. Nerves hit me like a bucket of snakes and I felt like a teenager stepping onto a girl’s front porch for the first time. My damn hands were shaking slightly, and I could feel myself sweating beneath my suit. I lowered my hand and shook my head. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to relax. I wasn’t trying to impress Dani. This wasn’t about romance or creating a connection between us. This was business.