The deal.

SUMMER’S POINT OF VIEW.

“What?”

He wasn’t serious, was he?

Yes, I wanted to make things believable, but that didn’t include ‘making love’ with him.

I swallowed hard at the thought of his body over mine, and those strong, muscular arms gripping me firmly while they pinned me to the bed.

He would be huge down there, I could tell from the bulge in his pants. My eyes hadn’t meant to stare down there, but…

Wait, was he hard?

I could see his length rising and… OMG.

“Have you lost your mind?” I straightened my body on the bed, on my knees, of course. “Why would I ever want to make love to you? I don’t even like you.”

He huffed, halting the fingers on his buttons as he got closer to me, his narrowed eyes piercing through my batting eyeballs.

“Then you shouldn’t have announced me as your fiancé.”

“I was desperate, okay?” I sounded frantic with my high-pitched voice. “Nobody said anything about having sex. Make things believable, yes— but not like this.”

He sneered, and I felt him grab my arms as I stood up to leave. Kissing me twice, I’d accepted, but this? Hell no.

“Summer, stop acting like a child.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “I’m acting like a child? Simply because I don’t want to have sex with you? In my parents’ house?”

“You’re not even a virgin,” his words twisted something in my chest, and it was the way he said it so confidently. “It’s nothing new if you have sex with me. I’m pretty sure a lot of men have already had a taste of the cake you’re trying to hide.”

His audacity scorched my skin, reminding me once again of the burning hatred I had for him. Maximilian was an arrogant and self-absorbed man.

How could I forget that?

“How dare you even try to question my dignity?” I spat in his face, flinching his hand off my arm. “Just because the media carried something indecent years ago doesn’t mean I’m that promiscuous.”

If only that stupid incident hadn’t happened. He’d never have the confidence to hurl such insults at me.

And Father… he was the biggest piece in this puzzle. If I weren’t desperate to break my wings off his claws, then I’d never have been pressured to name a random man as my fiancé.

Maximilian stared at me with his huge eyes, and an expression I couldn’t fathom was etched on his face.

“You know there’s evidence,” I struggled to keep my breath stable after he’d uttered that. He retrieved his phone from his pocket, waving it in my face as he drew the words out. “I could search it right now to back up my claims.”

That was the most humiliating moment I’ve ever experienced, and for once in my life— I couldn’t find the words or confidence to defend myself.

Tears began to well up in my eyes, and my lips kept quivering when I tried to speak up.

“I thought… I thought Father got them deleted.”

Max reached for my waist, shoving the phone back into his pockets, his face a few inches away from mine.

“The internet never forgets, Summer,” I shut my eyes as he brushed his lips over my ear, his fingers trailing on my exposed shoulders. “And besides, you’re right— we shouldn’t be doing this.”

He pulled away immediately, returning to the usual cold and stiff behavior I associated with him.

I remained in that spot, my eyes blinking back the tears that threatened to fall against my will. Amid the whole situation, I could hear my Mother calling my name from the door.

And that reminded me of the ordeal I was torn between.

“Summer? Are you in there?”

I exchanged glances with Maximillian, totally unsure of the next step or where we stood on the engagement decision.

He’d tried to disrespect me and blackmail me with my past. But, at the same time, I had a tingle of assurance that he couldn’t do any of that.

Even if he could— it was better than being with Alessandro, who constantly abused me in every way possible.

“Where— where are you going?”

I rushed to him as he strolled to the door, his hand already on the knob. My eyes gazed at him while pleading silently— he couldn’t just walk out like that.

I didn’t want to face my family without valid proof of having someone else.

He smirked, still clutching the knob tightly while my mother continued to knock softly.

“We just admitted our hate for each other,” he began, his teeth digging into his lip before continuing. “We’re rivals, Summer. And I’m a jerk, I’m not going to deny that fact. I suck when it comes to committed relationships, and I’ve never had one to begin with. I hit and move to the next girl— also very good with sweet little white lies that make women fall on their knees within seconds. So…”

I stared at nothing but his lips, ignoring for a moment— the warnings he was trying to give me.

“I can’t be your fiancé.” He finalized.

“Fake fiancé,” I corrected, placing my hand on his against the knob, my mind pushing me to go further than what I was trying to do. “And who said anything about real commitment?”

He paused for a while, doing nothing but holding my gaze with a straight face. Slowly, I retrieved his hand and mine from the knob, guiding them towards my waist.

“Miss Foster. You really want to do this?”

Anything to get Alessandro off my back? Yes.

“I don’t care what I have to do,” My voice came out determined and defiant. “Let’s make a deal— six months, nothing sexual, no strings attached. I’ll think of an additional payment later.”

Mother kept pounding her fists against the door, but I ignored her, awaiting Maximilian’s response with curious eyes. Even though I could hear Father’s authoritative voice questioning her.

He wrapped both hands around my waist in a way that comforted me, lured me closer into his warmth, but I refrained myself.

I wasn’t going to sleep with this man.

“How about you add this offer— step down from the exclusive position and offer.”

I frowned, realizing what he was referring to. I’d worked hard to earn that position and spot, and I wasn’t just going to give it away for… this.

“No way.”

“Then no deal—‘’

“—Fine,” I could feel Mother’s anger from where I stood. “I’m not promising anything, but I’ll reconsider.”

A sly smirk broke out on his lips, and I felt them brushing against my ear before whispering.

“Deal.”