9

Andy’s POV

I stared at her.

“I said I’m in.” She repeated.

“So quickly? Just now you were telling me to go to hell. Why the sudden U-turn? What’s the catch?” I asked suspiciously.

“Is the deal on or not?” She asked irritably.

“It is. Glad you accept. Let’s talk about the detail.”

“I’m listening.”

“Not here. Let’s go somewhere private.”

She folded her arms in front of her stubbornly and didn’t move.

I held back a frustrated groan. I’d forgotten how stubborn Tiffany Baxter could be.

“I missed breakfast. I need food if I’m going to explain everything to you.”

She rolled her eyes and reluctantly got into my car. We were silent as I drove to an upscale café where I usually had lunch. The silence continued till we received our order.

“Well?” She asked.

The look in her eyes wasn’t encouraging. I decided I’d be a little economical with the truth.

“Okay here’s the deal. I need a pretend fiancée for a month. Once I’m made CEO of the company, we'll break it off and I’ll pay you for your trouble.”

“Please don’t treat me like I’m dumb. I want the full details. Why do you need to get engaged to be CEO?” She demanded.

I sighed. “I got into a little trouble and my dad insisted I had to prove I was responsible by having someone serious in my life.”

“Which trouble is it? The bar fight at collage? Or banging a married woman whose husband came to make a scene in class? Or the DYI your dad tried to hide? Or…..”

“Hey, how do you know all this?” I asked embarrassed, as she reeled off incidents that had happened in and out of college. “Were you keeping tabs on me?”

“Didn’t have to. Your notoriety as a irresponsible jerk is well known “ She laughed.

I would have been offended, but watching her laugh stopped my anger.

“Those stories are exaggerated. “ I protested. “Two of the other kids fought, I just happened to be there. And the woman never told me she was married, how was I to know? And I wasn’t driving under the influence of anything.”

She smirked. “So which is it?”

“Never mind. The point is I need you for this job. I’ll pay what you ask. Name your price, just make sure it’s reasonable.”

“If we're going to do this, then we should be honest with each other.” She sighed. “Me saying yes was to my benefit too. I’ve been looking for a fake boyfriend to accompany me to my cousin Penny’s wedding. It’s some weeks away, she’s marrying Frank Castle, I’m sure you’ve heard of him? He was my ex fiance.” She held up her hand. “Don’t bother asking what you want to ask because I don’t have an answer. All I can tell you is, the wedding is taking place and I need to attend with a guy by my side. I’ve auditioned for one but all I kept getting were weirdos. So as much as it pains me to admit, your request was welcome.”

She was silent, waiting for me to speak. I had a million questions I wanted to ask, but I asked the most important.

“Why are you attending a wedding of two backstabbers?”

“Because my dad insists on it. After the scandal I became something of a family pariah. My dad couldn’t take the embarrassment and threw me out, my family shunned me, and Fred refused to speak to me. He broke off our engagement with a text message and hooked up with my cousin. I couldn’t take the isolation so I pretended to be engaged. My dad heard about it and reached out. He wants me at the wedding with my fiance. Since the press has already announced it’s you, we’ll go together. After that, I won't need your help. Maybe I will finally win his approval.” She said sadly.

I listened without interrupting. I was surprised how sorry I felt for her, and I also understood what she was going through. Winning my father’s approval had always been important to me.

“Well, since we both want the same thing, let’s do this.” I smiled.

“If we are, there needs to be rules.” She said firmly.

“I agree. It’s a business arrangement, not a real relationship, the rules are.

No falling in love.

No sleeping together.

No jealousy.

No interfering in each other’s private lives.

Public affection only, and the arrangement ends after a month. Agreed?” I asked.

“Agreed. No romantic names either.” She added.

“Fine by me. Now name your price.”

I held my breath, expecting her to ask for my arm, leg and head. Instead she said,

“There’s a homeless shelter in South Boston where I volunteer. Most of the people there haven’t seen a dentist in years. I want you to help me get them a proper dental clinic.”

“A dental clinic?”

“A small one. Two treatment rooms, basic equipment, supplies. Something where I can treat them regularly instead of dragging equipment around and begging other dentists for space.”

I stared at her. “You want me to build a clinic for homeless people?”

“I want you to use your influence to make it happen.”

“Why? Who cares if hobos have rotten teeth?”

“I do. Will you do it?”

I shrugged. “If that’s what you want. Fine. Although, most women would have asked me for a couple of millions in their account.”

“I’m not most women.”

“Thank heavens.” I said, remembering the last greedy leech I’d gone out with.

She narrowed her eyes. “What was that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, fiancée.”

“No romantic names.” She warned.

“Yeah, I forgot.”

“Look, if we’re doing this we better keep to the terms. I’ve had enough complications in my life, I don’t want anything that’ll add any more.”

“I promise there won’t be.” I brought out the contact I'd drafted from my briefcase and handed it to her.

“Is this really nessecery?” She asked, eyebrows raised.

“It’ll help remind us this is strictly business.”

She hesitated, then signed.

“Good. Let the deal begin.” I stretched out my hand. She took it.

As we shook hands, I had the crazy feeling this deal was going to be the most expensive deal of my life.