Chapter Six

A few hours later;

Adam is pacing the floor with his hands behind his head. His best friend, Paul, is sitting in one of the arm chairs, while I'm standing and looking at them while leaning against the wall. The air is tense.

"This is such a mess. I can't believe she's doing this to me!" Adam fumed, his tone slightly aggravated.

"Calm down. I'm the best lawyer in town. We'll fix this," Paul reassured.

"I don't understand what's happening right now. Can someone please explain?" I begged.

"My wife is suing me for half of my fortune, that's what's happening!!" Adam bellowed.

"I knew that. But why was she so certain that I wasn't your real wife?" I queried.

"God, my head is killing me," he groaned, stopping his pacing and rubbed a hand down his face to his chin.

"Let's focus for a while, alright? I won't let her screw you over," Paul voiced out.

"And how are you going to stop her?" Adam sneered.

Paul strokes his chin and addresses us. "Well, first if all, you two need to move in together, as soon as possible. Then you can divorce after like, let's say, six months." He suggested.

"Wait, what? I did not sign up to move in with him," I gestured to Adam, "let alone be married for SIX months!!" I hissed at Paul.

"I understand, but under the circumstances--" Paul tried advising but I didn't let him finish his statement.

"No, I'm not doing it--"

"Please, Payton." Adam pleaded, and I turn to him. He looks me in the eye, and I have to try my hardest not to groan.

Why is it so hard for me to resist this man? 

"I'll do anything if you do this," he offered with a plea.

"You'll do anything?" I repeated, an eyebrow raised.

"Yes," he insisted.

"Adam, I don't think--"

"Just hear me out, alright?"He pleaded and I sigh heavily. 

He comes close to me and takes my hand in his. A shiver runs down my spine at his touch, and a swarm of butterflies dance in my stomach.

"I promise I'll make it up to you," he stated.

"Make it up how?" I inquired.

"You can have anything you'd like if you play along. I'll set you up for life, and I know you could use the money," he claimed.

I marrow my eyes at him. "How did you know?"

He at least has the decency to look uncomfortable. "I overheard your conversation with your friend the other day. You told her that money was tight," he explained.

I can't believe he eavesdropped on me! I don't need his pity! 

Still, when I realize what he's offering me, I can't help but think about my mum. She's been working hard as a cleaning lady for years just so she could afford a decent life for the two of us.

My dad got in a car accident when I was young and died. The man who he collided with, also died on the spot and his family demanded money since it was my dad's fault because he was driving on the wrong lane. We had to give them most of what we had which was little, so that the case would die, leaving I and my mum with close to nothing to survive on.

My mum's dream was to one day own a house in Greece with blue windows, next to the seashore.

If I agree to this, if I spend six months living with Adam . . . I could easily buy my mum her dream house.

"What do you say, Payton?" Adam asked.

I can't believe I'm about to do this.

"Okay. I accept your proposal," I mumbled. Your manipulative, indecent proposal.

Adam blows out a harsh breath and sighs in relief. "Thank God. I promise it'll be worth it," he beamed.

"Well, it's not like I have a choice anyway." I shrugged.

"Well, that makes two of us. I already introduced you as my wife- I can't pull another one out of a hat," he stated and we both smile at each other.

He should smile more often. It's a crime to hide such a beautiful smile.

Paul clears his throat, and we remember that there's another person in the room.

"Good. Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about how to make this believable."

"What do you mean? She's moving in with me- isn't that enough?" Adam questioned.

"It's a start, but there are a few more things we need to talk about," he revealed.

"What's that?" I frowned.

Paul looks at us seriously. "You can't flirt, kiss, or sleep with anyone else during this time. If someone catches you ‘cheating’, it would risk everything," he explained.

Adam hesitates for a moment, but then he nods. "Alright, that shouldn't be a problem."

"Good. And you, Payton?" He asked, looking at me. I almost laugh.

My love life is as non-existing as it can get. And I've got Adam to thank for that. I've been working like crazy ever since I became his assistant.

"It's no problem for me, either."

"Great," Paul remarked. He checks his phone and raises a finger in the air, not even glancing up. "I'll let you two talk things through. I'll see you later." Just like that, he walks away.

I turn to Adam, and his stating at me like I'm impossible to figure out. "Are you really sure you'll be able to do this?" I asked.

"Why?"

"Well, for starters, you're not exactly known to stick to one girl. In every magazine article I've ever read about you, you always have a different girl around your arm.

"That may be the true, but that doesn't mean that I hook up with all of them," he uttered.

"So just a few, then." I remarked.

Adam chuckles and shakes his head at my comment. Suddenly, there's a shift in his eyes. His gaze is burning me up, and he places hus thumb in his lower lip as he scrutinizes me.

"What about you then?" He inquired.

"What do you mean?" My voice comes out shy, and a bit breathier.

"You're beautiful, young, smart . . .and you'll be the center of attention now, seeing as you inspired a famous bachelor to settle down," he accessed.

I could feel my cheeks turn pink and the only thing I could think of was that he thought I was beautiful.

"Uh, no. I don't think that will be happening," I said, addressing the whole becoming the center of attention part.

"Come on, it's true."

"Really? And how exactly did I catch the attention of this famous bachelor?" I drawled.

"With your beautiful smile, of course. The minute I saw you, I couldn't help but want you," he responded.

"Mhm, you mentioned something like that to the journalists," I recalled.

"I didn't give them all the details," he said, his eyes provoking me.

I know this isn't real- we're just playing pretend, keeping ourselves amused until we go our separate ways. But something sparks inside me, and I feel extremely hot. His gaze is all over me, my body tingling with excitement.

I want him to touch me, to feel how much I'm burning for him.

"So, what did you do to gain my attention?" I quaked.

"Simple. I seduced you."

"How?" I now whispered.

He smirks. "It probably went something like this . . ." He steps closer to me, and I struggle to stay calm.