Husband For Hire (A Billionaire Fake Marriage Romance)

by Caitlin Daire

  I sighed. Mom was ruthless when it came to her job and keeping her show’s ratings up. And I guess she had a point, after all. I wasn’t dead, so why not use the dramatic footage of my rescue? It would be a ratings goldmine.

  “We’ll spin it,” Ben added. “If the network heads ask, we’ll tell them that part of the island was secure, and it was all a trick, set up to look like a real fall and rescue.”

  He kept going as he walked off with my mother, and I turned to Dec, who simply glared after them. “Unbelievable,” he said.

  “I know. Get used to it.”

  “They’re lucky contestants don’t sue, with shit like this happening.”

  “Well, we can hardly sue, can we?” I said with a sigh. “It’s my fault for being negligent and running off the way I did. Like you said, we were told not to go that way into the mountains. And even if we could claim something…well, for one, I’m not suing my own mother and her show. And secondly, the truth would come out about who we really are if we did, which would cause a huge shit-storm for the network. And our lives in general. Not to mention, it would ruin your little deal with my mother.”

  Dec sighed and rubbed his chin. I gazed at him curiously for a second. Something had just occurred to me. This whole time, I assumed it was money he was getting from my mom—and I’d made more than a couple of nasty statements about it—but he’d never actually officially confirmed that for me. Neither had Mom. If it wasn’t money…what was it? And if it was money, how much was it, and what made Dec this desperate in the first place that he’d resort to a sham marriage? Was he just that slimy that he didn’t care how he earned his living, or did he have a good reason?

  I guess now wasn’t exactly the right time to bring it up. Our day had been rough enough without me opening that particular Pandora’s Box.

  Belle and her husband finally arrived back, and the crew packed everything up. Dec and I rode the boat back to the resort island in silence. Shayla was next to us, and she wouldn’t stop tearfully apologizing, but I knew it wasn’t her fault. It was all mine. I’d acted like an idiot and insisted on going north, and I almost got myself seriously hurt. Or worse, killed.

  When we finally arrived on the dock, I took off toward the resort, embarrassed at my behavior. Dec followed closely behind me, along with a cameraman—the one who’d been assigned to capture our every move on filming days, aside from when we had GoPros attached.

  I heard Dec turn and talk to him. “Hey, can you give us a few minutes?”

  The guy shrugged. “Just doing my job.”

  “Okay, well, I’m about to tell my wife here how fucking constipated I am after that shitty lunch earlier. Pun not intended. So if you wanna get five minutes of footage about my bowel movements and how I need her to grab me some laxatives from somewhere, then be my guest. Or you could piss off and shoot something else for a while.”

  The camera guy slunk away, and Dec caught up to me.

  “You’re not really going to ask me for laxatives, are you?” I said with a wry smile.

  “Nah. Just wanted to talk to you about some stuff in private.”

  My heart skipped a beat. “Oh?”

  “I…” He hesitated and rubbed his chin. “Firstly, I’m glad you’re safe. I know the show is writing it off as set-up drama, but we both know what happened today was real. I didn’t tell you this earlier, because I didn’t want to freak you out even more while you were in trouble, but I was damn frightened at that bridge earlier, Liv. I didn’t want to lose you.”

  “You didn’t lose me,” I said softly. “I’m right here. And if Mom’s right, that rescue footage just bought us another week on the show, at least, even though we didn’t find our treasure. So that’s a point for you, I guess, seeing as at our wedding you claimed you were going to keep us here as long as possible.”

  He smiled. “Yeah, I guess. So look, I know we didn’t get off to the best start, and you’re not exactly in a place where you can trust me. I get that. There’s been a lot of confusion, and a lot of that is on me. But aside from your mother and some of the crew members, I’m the only person on this island who knows what you’re really going through with all this bullshit fakery. So if you ever need someone to talk to…well, you know where to find me. Right on the couch where I’ve been relegated to.”

  He gave me a silly little salute, and I smiled and nodded slowly. “Thanks. I might just take you up on that offer. I came here thinking I’d get to spend some time with Mom, but she’s so busy with the show. I’ve barely even seen her.”

  “You might be her child, but this show is her baby.”

  “I know. But still…” My voice trailed off as I tried to think of a decent way to phrase my next question. Seeing as there were no cameras around, it seemed like a good opportunity to finally say everything I’d been wondering. “Dec, I’m sorry about how I’ve acted around you. I’ve been a bitch, calling you a manipulative gold-digging man-whore and all. I never asked if Mom is actually even paying you. I mean, for all I know, she freaking blackmailed you into this fake marriage with her. So if you don’t mind telling me, what is your deal with her?” I asked. “Not that I think my mom is the blackmailing type,” I added hurriedly.

  Dec chuckled. “No, she’s not. She’s a bit of a ball-buster, but she’s not a criminal,” he said.

  I noticed he was still avoiding the meat of my question. “So she is paying you?”

  He sighed, running a hand through his short hair. Then he nodded. “Sort of.”

  “Why?” My forehead wrinkled with curiosity. “I mean, back in New York, it seemed like you were a pretty big deal at that club. As if you owned it. So what made you need money so bad that you’d do this with her? Did your club fall on hard times or something?”

  “Yeah. Something like that.” He was silent for a moment. “Do you think we could talk about this another time? It’s a pretty long story. And you look pretty tired and hungry. I think we should get back.”

  My face fell. I didn’t blame him for not wanting to talk to me about it, though. Since I arrived on the island, I’d been pretty immature and nasty toward him. I’d insulted him, ignored him, and generally acted like a child. But no more. Dec had shown me his true colors today, and I’d seen that he was a genuinely good, caring person. After all, not many people would risk their own lives to save another’s, and Dec had come perilously close to the edge of that cliff in order to rescue me.

  I wasn’t going to forget that anytime soon.

  “We’ll talk about it eventually. I promise,” Dec added. “Just not now.”

  I smiled. “Okay. Another time. And um…thanks again for today. You saved my ass. Literally.”

  He returned my smile and gave me a saucy wink. “It’s an ass worth saving.”

  “I knew you couldn’t be serious for more than thirty seconds,” I replied. But this time I wasn’t mad; I was amused. I was getting used to Dec and his particular brand of humor, and to tell the truth, I actually liked it. Especially right now, after the shitty day I had. It was exactly what I needed.

  “Yeah, yeah,” he replied with a chuckle. “But back to being serious: even if you never wanna be friends with me, or anything else, because of our weird-as-fuck situation… I’m still gonna take care of you, Liv. Still gonna look out for you. You can be a hard-ass sometimes, just like your mom, but I think you’re a good girl deep down.”

  “Thanks,” I said softly, looking down. I was embarrassed at how nice he was being to me after all that I’d said and done. I didn’t exactly deserve it.

  “Anyway, let’s get you home,” he continued.

  “Home?” I raised my brows.

  He gestured towards the resort. “Well, our home away from home. Our marital abode.”

  “Sure thing… husband.” I stuck my tongue out at him, and his grin grew wider. “By the way, after what you did for me today, I think you deserve the bed tonight.”

  He arched one brow. “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. But don’t get any i
deas. I mean I’ll take the couch, and you can have the bed.”

  He shook his head. “Nah, you keep it.”

  “I insist. Take the bed, Dec.”

  “You sure?”

  I smiled widely and turned around. As I walked up the path, I called back over my shoulder, knowing he would follow. “Yeah,” I said, still grinning. “I’m sure.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Olivia

  Four days had passed since the hiking challenge, and today was a rare day off from filming before it started up in earnest again first thing tomorrow. We were allowed to do whatever we wanted on free days without any cameras or mics stalking us around, and I’d decided to take a book down to the beach to do some reading and sunbathing.

  Ben and Mom were right about the popularity of the bridge rescue footage from my GoPro—the episode had aired just last night, and viewers apparently loved it. Dec was by far the most popular guy on the show at the moment, and even though we failed the challenge quite drastically, no one cared, and we hadn’t been eliminated. Belle and her husband had been dragged in the online polls and kicked off the island instead after failing to work together properly and taking way longer than everyone else to get back with their treasure.

  And then there were eleven…. couples, that is.

  Truthfully, I wasn’t even slightly miffed that we were still on the show, despite my earlier promise to Dec to get us kicked off as soon as possible. Obviously we had to leave eventually, but Dec and I were actually getting along pretty well now after our little chat the other day, and the island was a damn good vacation spot when I wasn’t being followed around by cameras. So I guess a few more weeks on the show wouldn’t hurt.

  I pushed my sunglasses up my nose and trudged along the sandy path that led toward the secluded private beach just a few yards down from the resort. Shayla was having a late breakfast with Paul, and she was going to join me after that for some fun in the sun. I wasn’t sure what Dec was doing, because he was gone when I woke up, but I assumed he was off somewhere with my mother, discussing their arrangement some more, or whatever it was they got up to when they were together.

  A shadow darkened my path, and I looked up. Andrew was standing in front of me on the path, smiling down at me. He was the fake husband of a woman named Yvonne (one of the Snob Brigade), and he was the guy Dec and I had agreed was a massive sleazebag. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but something about him had always come across as slimy and calculating.

  That was confirmed for me mere seconds later.

  “I’ve been looking for you, Liv,” he said.

  I crossed my arms. “Oh?”

  “Yeah. I have a little proposition for you.”

  I sniffed suspiciously. “Oh, you do, do you?”

  “I hear you and your husband are very popular with the viewers right now. And so am I, after all that wedding reception drama last week.”

  “Erm…” I raised my brows.

  He wasn’t exactly popular… more like infamous. From what Mom told me when I sneaked into her office for a coffee this morning, viewers wanted Andrew and Yvonne to stick around for all the drama they’d already caused, but they didn’t actually like him. He was one of those people everyone just loved to hate. “Go on, I guess?”

  “You remember last season of the show?”

  “You’ll have to refresh my memory,” I said, looking past him for a second as I waited for him to get to his point. The pristine, warm white sand seemed to be beckoning me, and I wanted to get the hell away from Andrew so I could go and enjoy it.

  “There was this whole cheating scandal. One of the husbands cheated on his wife with the wife of another contestant.”

  “What an asshole. I mean, I know these aren’t real marriages, but still.”

  He waved his hand. “Yeah, yeah. Anyway, it caused huge drama. So both couples actually made it through to the finale despite all that, because they were the only ones viewers were talking about.”

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  “So here’s my idea. You and Dec are popular, and Yvonne and I are too. So we should stage something similar. We’ll let the camera guys catch us sneaking around together. Maybe you’re seen coming out of my room looking guilty, or maybe the room cameras catch me in your bed when they get turned on in the morning.”

  I sniffed. “Um. No thanks.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t you get it? It’ll cause huge drama. It’ll help us stay in the running.”

  “Yeah, so you said. But I don’t care. Not interested.”

  He took a step toward me, and I gulped and stepped to the side, nearly hitting the wooden railing of the path. “Look, I know you’re a lot younger than most people on this show, but I can tell you’re smart, and I know you’re here to win. Do you think I didn’t figure that out when you and Dec staged that bridge crap?”

  “We didn’t stage it.”

  His lips twisted into a sneer. “Sure. I see right through you, Olivia. You’re a snake; in it to win. You’ll do anything. So do this with me.”

  “I already said no. Now please leave me alone.” I tried to step around him, but he suddenly reached out and shoved me right into the railing. I cried out as my back hit the hard wood. “Ow! What the hell?”

  I struggled to regain my composure, and Andrew leaned down. “You don’t want to mess with me, little girl. You’re gonna help me win, whether you like it or not.”

  I rubbed my lower back. “No, I’m not,” I said through gritted teeth. If only the cameras were around today; Andrew would be off the show the second anyone saw this footage.

  “Oh yeah? I think you might reg—”

  “What’s going on?” A familiar deep voice cut the air, and Andrew sprang back. I looked behind us to see Dec approaching. “You aren’t bothering my wife, are you, Andrew?”

  He obviously hadn’t seen Andrew shove me, because if he had, I knew he’d probably throw him into the ocean and let the sharks have him for dinner.

  “Just asking for the time,” Andrew said. “Thanks, Olivia.”

  He took off back towards the resort, and Dec frowned. “What was that about?” he asked.

  “Nothing. He was just confirming what a sleazy prick he is. Guess people who come on these shows really can be cutthroat assholes.”

  Dec gave me a wry grin. “Are you really surprised to discover that people on reality shows are cutthroat assholes?”

  “I guess not.”

  “The only surprising thing to me so far is you,” he said. I smiled, the pain in my lower back already forgotten. His blue eyes were unbelievably gorgeous when they sparkled in the sun, and as he stared down at me, they radiated an intense sexual heat. It was nearly enough to make me forget how forbidden a real relationship between us would be. Dec gave me an impish smile and went on. “And you know that was a good surprise.”

  I raised an eyebrow, smile still firmly in place. “All right, all right, Dec. Don’t push your luck…”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dec

  Another week, another elimination.

  Someone called Rebecca and her husband Dan were the second couple to go. I didn’t even remember them from any of the group meals, challenges and activities, so I guess that was why they got voted off—they were so boring no one wanted them around anymore.

  As Rebecca tearfully walked off to pack her things, Dan trailing behind her, the rest of us had to get right back into filming. Today was ‘private date’ day, where each married couple had to go to an early dinner at a romantic location with each other. I had a feeling there was more to it than simply eating on camera, but we wouldn’t find out till we arrived.

  Liv and I had been sent to a restaurant on the other side of the resort island. The place was apparently world-famous for its African, Indian and European-influenced fusion food, and it sat right by the edge of a cliff which overlooked the deep blue ocean surrounding the islands. The sun hung low in the sky, pink and gold glinting across the water. A little sign hun
g over the door, welcoming us to the restaurant. Soft jazz music drifted out the windows. All in all, it was a great place for a date.

  I only wished it was a real date between Liv and me.

  We’d been getting along much better over the last week or so, ever since our little chat after the hiking challenge. I wouldn’t say we were best friends, but there was a certain camaraderie between us now, and dare I say it…there was a hint of flirtation as well. But despite that, nothing had happened between us, and Liv had made it quite clear that it wouldn’t. When it all came down to it, I was technically her stepfather at the moment, and that made it too weird for her.

  The restaurant door swung open, and a short man with salt-and-pepper hair greeted us. “Hello, Olivia and Dec! We’ve been waiting for you.” He had a thick island accent, but he was still easily understandable, and he waved his hands as he spoke. “I’m Chef Xavier. My humble staff and I are preparing our finest meals for the two of you, and we have the best seats in the house available for your enjoyment. Come, come!”

  He led us through the restaurant, trailed by camera operators and one or two junior producers. The place was empty save for the staff members (I assumed the showrunners bought it out for the night for the ease of filming), and Chef Xavier finally stopped outside, just beyond a set of French doors that led out onto a large balcony. “Here is your table. Wonderful view, eh?”

  The exquisitely-decorated table had a perfect view of the clifftop ocean scenery, and I nodded. “This looks incredible. Thanks, Chef.”

  “Beautiful view for a beautiful couple.”

  He pulled out a chair for Liv before I could get the chance. The junior producers and crew guys sat nearby, cameras at the ready. Great. Nothing like a bunch of stalkers to make a meal even more romantic. Or not.

  Chef Xavier hurried off to continue preparing our meals, and Liv looked anxiously over the water, twisting her hands on the table in front of her.

  “Okay, you two,” said Ben, one of the junior producers. “Here’s the deal. This episode is going to be about the eight remaining couples getting closer and revealing truths about themselves.” Great. “While you eat, you both need to list your three greatest fears, and give reasons why. Liv, you’re up first.”