by Ashlee Price
“I agree to your proposal,” she repeats as she looks at me. Then she looks at Tom. “I mean, to your arrangement or whatever you call it, but I have one condition.”
“Name it,” Tom says.
“I need the money now,” Dani tells him. “Well, not now but preferably within the week. I need all of it—the whole million dollars.”
My eyebrows go up. She’s doing this for the money?
“Deposit the money in my bank account and we’re good,” she adds.
No. Something is off.
Yes, she’s doing this for the money, but something tells me it’s not greed. It’s necessity.
Tom scratches his chin. “I don’t think that’s wise. I…”
“Consider it done,” I speak up.
Dani’s eyes grow wide. Then she lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
I knew it.
“Don’t thank me.” I lean forward in the armchair I’m sitting in. “You’re going to earn it, remember?”
“Fine.” Tom grabs a folder from the shelf against the wall and opens it. “Now, if you just sign these…”
He puts the papers on the coffee table.
“I’ll make a call right away so that the money is deposited to your account first thing in the morning.”
Dani picks up the papers.
Tom hands me a few. “Here’s your copy.”
I read the first two words on top of the first page—Business Agreement.
I turn my eyebrows up at him. “When did you have this contract made?”
“Yesterday,” Tom answers. “I knew Dani would come to her senses.”
He did?
“Now, I’ll just read the important parts out loud.” Tom clears his throat. “One, this contract is effective as soon as it’s been signed by the parties concerned, which means the moment you affix your signature, Dani, you’ll be Kaleb’s fiancée.”
“I understand,” Dani says without taking her eyes off the paper.
“The two of you will go out on dates in public,” Tom continues. “For the first three months, the two of you will hold hands and you may kiss each other on the cheek.”
My eyebrows furrow. “On the cheek?”
“You may kiss her on the forehead as well, or put your arm around her,” Tom tells me. “But no more than that. The less affectionate you appear, the better.”
“Says who?” I ask.
“Me,” Tom answers. “In my opinion, couples who show off their relationship rarely end up staying together.”
“But we’re not staying together.”
“And we’re the only ones who know that,” Tom says. “Anyway, the less affectionate the two of you appear to be, the more people will believe it’s serious, especially since in the past, you’ve been quite showy…”
He must be referring to that sex video.
“…and yet, nothing good came out of that. You were just playing around. Now, you’re not.”
I glance at Dani. “So we can’t share a French kiss?”
She blushes.
“No lip locks for the first three months,” Tom confirms. “At least, not in public. In private, you can do whatever you want.”
Again, I glance at Dani, who’s pretending not to listen.
“After the first three months, Dani will move in.”
“What?” Dani looks up.
Ah. She’s listening, after all.
“The two of you will live together. Separate rooms but the same apartment. Then you can start sharing kisses in public, maybe give each other naughty looks now and then. We can even leak out a photo of the two of you making out on a private beach, but that’s it.”
The words spur my imagination into action. My mind takes me to the beach, with Dani in her bikini lying on the sand beneath me.
I can even see the lens of the camera on us as I kiss her over and over and over.
“Also, after five months, we’ll have Dani visit your family,” Tom tells me.
This time, I’m the one whose eyebrows arch. “What?”
“You and Dani will go visit your grandmother,” Tom explains. “It will look good.”
I let out a sigh. “I haven’t seen her in years.”
“I’m sure she still remembers you,” Tom says. “You’ve been paying for her healthcare, after all.”
“Where are your parents?” Dani blurts out. Then she places her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“His parents are both dead,” Tom answers for me. “No siblings, either.”
I throw him a look of disbelief.
“What?” Tom shrugs. “If she’s your fiancée, she should know that much.”
“I’m sorry,” Dani tells me.
I shake my head. “It’s fine.”
“In the same way, Kaleb will visit your family,” Tom tells Dani.
“My parents aren’t around anymore, either,” Dani says.
“But you have a sister, don’t you?”
Dani frowns.
“Sorry. I did some research on you,” Tom confesses. “I just wanted to make sure you were ideal.”
Dani narrows her eyes. “Don’t tell me you planned this from the start.”
Tom snorts. “Don’t make me laugh. I couldn’t have planned this. Why, I can barely predict what Kaleb is going to do tomorrow. If I could, it would have spared me a lot of trouble.”
Dani doesn’t look convinced, and so I start to wonder. What if Dani’s right?
“And speaking of your sister,” Tom continues. “You’re not supposed to tell her about this arrangement. In fact, you’re not supposed to tell anyone. No one is to know this is all made up.”
“That’s fine,” Dani says. “But Kaleb can’t see my sister, because she’s moving to Switzerland next week.”
“Oh.” Tom looks surprised.
“Didn’t your file say that?” Dani asks him.
He doesn’t answer.
I tap my fingers on the arm of my chair. She needs money and her sister is moving to Switzerland. Those two must be connected somehow.
“Well, the two of you can visit her in Switzerland then,” Tom says with a smile. “It will make for a nice trip. Besides, Switzerland is quite romantic.”
Dani says nothing.
“Moving on, let’s see…” Tom goes to the next page. “The two of you will not date anyone else, of course, because real engaged couples don’t cheat on each other. And you will not fight in public, either.”
“Because real couples don’t fight?” Dani asks.
I grin.
“Because we want people to think you’re really in love,” Tom replies. “You’ll only start fighting in the last two months of the contract.”
“You’ve planned everything, haven’t you?” I ask him.
He ignores me. “And to make sure we send everyone the correct message, I will be managing your social media accounts, Dani.”
“Yeah, sure,” she says. “I think I’m done with social media anyway.”
“And like I said, you have to give up your male clients.”
“Do I have to?” Dani asks.
“Yes,” Tom answers straightforwardly. “And if ever you go out with your female friends, you’ll have to behave.”
“I don’t have female friends,” Dani says. “Melanie is moving away and so is my sister. They’re my only female friends.”
“I see.” Tom glances at her. “Less to worry about, then.”
I frown. I thought it was just my personal opinion that Tom could be a pain in the ass. Apparently, it’s fact.
He turns to the last page. “Finally… Ah, if the two of you decide to have sex, you must use protection. In other words, Dani must not get pregnant.”
“I think I understand what using protection means,” Dani says.
I give another grin. Earlier, she seemed so timid that I was worried about her, but now she’s more her usual, adorable self.
“Do you take birth control pills?” Tom asks her.
“No.” Dani shakes her head. “They make me feel awful.”
“Then Kaleb, it’s up to you to be responsible.” Tom turns to me.
“I can be responsible,” I tell him.
He turns back to Dani. “On second thought, Dani, I’ll count on you to be responsible enough to make sure Kaleb is responsible.”
I frown. “As always, your faith in me is moving, Tom.”
Tom places the sheets of paper he’s holding back in the folder. “Any questions?”
“You didn’t include the part where Kaleb keeps me from getting killed by one of his fans,” Dani points out.
I chuckle.
“I’ll personally make sure that does not happen,” Tom assures her. “You’ll have your own bodyguard from now on.”
Dani pouts. “I should have kept my mouth shut.”
“Any other questions?” Tom asks.
Dani shakes her head and so do I.
“Then please sign.” Tom hands Dani a pen.
Dani takes it but doesn’t sign at once. She goes through the papers one more time. Then her finger hovers above the dotted line.
She’s hesitating.
In the end, she takes a deep breath and signs, though. I affix my signature next to hers.
“Good.” Tom claps his hands together. “Now, I’ll go make that phone call.”
He walks off but turns around. “Oh, before I forget…”
He takes a satin box out of his pocket and tosses it to me.
I open it and find a platinum ring with a marquise cut diamond inside.
I take it out and turn to Dani. “I guess I’ll have to give you this now that you’re my fiancée.”
“I guess.” She stands up and stretches out her hand.
I walk over to her. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
“I thought you said I had to,” she says.
I pull up my eyebrows. “I never said that.”
“You said it would be best for us. And besides, it’s not like I have anything better to do with my life. I mean it’s not like there are any guys who want to be engaged to me for real, so this may be as close as I can get.”
I frown.
“Are you giving me the ring or not?”
I grin and slip the ring on her finger.
She takes a closer look at it. “Hmm. Look at that. Tom even knows the size of my finger.”
“He knows almost everything,” I say.
“Yeah. I figured that out.” She offers me her hand. “Shall we shake on our business contract?”
“Okay.”
Honestly, I’d rather kiss, but I settle for shaking her hand. There will be opportunities for kissing later.
And maybe more.
“Okay,” Tom says as he comes back into the room.
“You’ve already deposited the money?” Dani asks.
“I’ve already made the call. Like I said, the money will be there tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“And while I was on the phone, I made another call, too.” He rubs his hands and looks at me. “Kaleb, you just got an invitation to a charity gala tomorrow night at the observatory. You’ll bring Dani, of course.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “A charity gala?”
“Tomorrow night?” Dani asks, also surprised.
“Oh, don’t worry.” Tom pats her on the shoulder. “I’ll get you everything you need. All you’ll have to do is show up on Kaleb’s arm and show off your ring.”
“And try not to embarrass myself in front of all the famous people who are going to be there, right?” Dani rubs her arm. “Yeah. It’s going to be easy as pie.”
I place a hand on her arm. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
Tom grins. “This is going to be fun.”
Chapter Seventeen
Hector
This is no fun at all.
As I look around the observatory, I see only a sea of familiar figures. As usual, they are divided into three groups.
The first group is comprised of men in crisp, tailored suits similar to mine. These are the guys with whom I do business. Their wives are in heavy makeup, chiffon and diamonds, and their mistresses are in less makeup, chiffon and diamonds. The big spenders. The movers and shakers.
The second group consists of reporters with cameras and constantly scrutinizing gazes that can capture even more than their cameras. They remind me of big cats stalking through blades of tall grass with senses sharp, blending in but always ready to pounce.
The third group are the entertainers—the actors and actresses, whether A-listers, wannabes or has-beens, the musicians and the athletes. They are there for the spotlight to shine on, like beacons simply to draw attention.
Speaking of which, my attention is drawn to one as I take a sip from my glass of Scotch—Kaleb Wilson, who is currently being interviewed by a female reporter.
I’ve been thinking of offering him the lead role in the movie project I’m producing. After all, he’s already well known. Sure, he may have been doing crappy movies, and personally, I don’t really like him, but I’ve seen his potential. I know he can pull off the lead role and maybe even win an award for it.
I consider going over to him and talking to him, but suddenly someone else catches my attention.
The woman beside him.
I’ve never seen Kaleb with her before. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen her before. Is she an actress, too? A model? She certainly looks like the latter in her glittering emerald gown that dips just a little low down the front and has a slit on the side that reaches almost to her waist. It clings to all her curves and brings out the fiery glow of her auburn hair, which has been styled in dozens of tiny braids all woven together.
Who is she?
Suddenly, she turns her head as she lets out a laugh and I almost choke on my drink.
I have seen her before. Just two days ago, in fact.
Dani.
Her makeup and hair may have been done by professionals, but I can still recognize that face, those eyes that I’ve seen myself in, those lips that I’ve kissed over and over.
What is she doing here? Is she with Kaleb now?
Then I see the diamond ring on her finger. It’s hard to miss, what with its large stone outgleaming everything else in the observatory that’s lit only by the stars beyond the glass dome and a few well-placed table lamps.
I gulp down the rest of my Scotch and frown.
“Hector,” someone greets me.
I turn my head and see the fifty-something wife of Oscar Svenson, a man I once produced a TV movie with.
“Agatha,” I greet her in turn.
Careful not to spill her glass of champagne, she presses her cheek to mine. “How are you? I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Good,” I tell her.
“How’s Rachel?”
I try not to frown at the inquiry regarding my ex-wife. I’ve forgotten how the wives of the spenders can even be more brutal than the reporters, mainly because they’ve got powerful backers.
“I’ve heard she’s fine,” I answer as I set down my empty glass, which I suddenly wish was full again.
Agatha scowls. “Don’t tell me you’re still not talking to her. She’s the mother of your child, for goodness’ sake.”
Looking back at the crowd, I don’t answer.
Yes, she’s that, but she also cheated on me with a director I once made a movie with. That turned out to be one of his final movies.
My eyes fall on Dani again. I can’t seem to look away. I can tell other men are looking at her, too, and it annoys me.
“You must be wondering who that woman is,” Agatha changes the subject as she looks where I’m looking. “I’m told her name is Danielle Hoffman. Nine years younger than Kaleb Wilson. Not in the movie industry. Just a yoga instructor, although she was an Olympic medalist in gymnastics, apparently. No wonder she has such a slender body and hardly any breasts. She’s not afraid to show off those legs of hers, though.�
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I narrow my eyes at Agatha. The old woman sure is more adept than a seasoned reporter at gathering information. I decide to use that to my advantage.
“How long has she been going out with Kaleb Wilson?” I ask with veiled curiosity.
“Not long, I think. Who knows?”
So she doesn’t know.
“But it must be a few months now, because she’s wearing a ring,” Agatha adds.
“You think they’re engaged?”
“Why, Hector, are you blind? No one wears a ring like that unless she’s engaged.”
Or unless she wants everyone to believe she’s engaged.
“All the reporters are going crazy over it,” Agatha continues. “It will be all over the news tomorrow.”
I frown. I thought I had made it clear that I didn’t want her to be seen with other men in public.
I thought I had made it clear that I wanted her to be mine.
I guess I’ll just have to be more clear.
I grab another glass of Scotch and sip the amber liquid while I wait for Dani to leave Kaleb’s side. When she does, I finish the drink, set down the empty glass and walk towards her to intercept her.
“Good evening, Dani,” I greet her.
Her brown eyes grow wide. “M—Mr. Davis.”
“I’d like a word, please,” I tell her. “Maybe several.”
She glances at Kaleb, who is still busy talking to someone, and opens her mouth. “I…”
“I insist,” I cut her off. “It won’t take long. I’m sure your fiancé won’t miss you.”
Still, she hesitates, but then she gives in with a nod. I discreetly lead her away from the crowd and into a room filled with astronomical equipment.
“What do you want?” Dani asks me.
I grin. “Feisty as ever, I see.”
“Please. I’m not in the mood for your games.”
“Why not?” I tuck my hands into my pockets. “Because you’re engaged now?”
Dani doesn’t answer.
I extend my hand. “Allow me to offer my heartfelt congratulations, by the way.”
“Thank you,” she mumbles.
She looks at my hand and shakes it reluctantly.
I pull her close. “Were you thinking that maybe now that you’re engaged to Kaleb Wilson, my offer is no longer valid? You’re mistaken, Dani. My offer still stands.”
“Well, I’m sorry, but I refuse.” She wrenches her hand away from my grasp and steps back with shoulders squared. “Also, I’m not going to be your yoga instructor anymore. You’ll have to find a new one.”