Chapter 4: The Deal

OLIVE BECKETT

“Oh! That’s Easton right there!” someone said, pointing to the back of a man. I immediately ran up, grabbed him by the back of his hand, and spun him around to look at him.My face hit his shoulder from the impact.

“Owwww,” I screamed, my hair falling over my face.

“I’m terribly sorry,” he said, touching my face to check. He pushed my hair behind my ears and stared into my eyes.

My eyes shone as I stared back at him. That pervert from the hotel?! I nudged him in the chest.

“So… prove it,” Freya said. The whole crowd had already walked up to us. Elliot and Jane stood side by side in front of me. The audacity of him bringing her here as his date.

“What’s going on, Olly?” Elliot asked. My hands shook as I held Easton. I tried to look anywhere but Elliott's face.

“Are you dating Easton Carter? Since when?”

I couldn't help the way my chest still felt heavy. My heart hurt in a different way.

“Easton and I have been seeing each other for a while,” I blurted.

“You know, Olly, if you’ve been bluffing, we can tell everyone it’s a joke. I know how hard it is to find out your boyfriend is getting married to someone else, and that’s fine…” Jane’s voice trailed off.

The way she spoke, with so much confidence, like she hadn't betrayed me and run away with my boyfriend. She shouldn't even speak to me. I still couldn't imagine why she would do this to me. I had been nothing but an amazing person to her. Where had I not noticed her jealousy?

Easton held his hand to where I had hit him and was about to speak when I clamped my hand over his mouth.

“Thaaaat was our love language. Sure, Easton and I are in a relationship,” I said, pausing to look at Elliot.

“Did you think I didn’t have a man of my own? Did you think I was as pathetic as you, without someone else too? You must be joking, Elliot.”

Wow, that felt good to say.

Jane swallowed, and then I looked back at Freya and the crowd.

“You wanted proof? Here’s your proof! I’m dating Easton Carter, the hockey star,” I announced. Easton’s eyes went wide as he mumbled into my hand. Immediately, I pulled us out of the curious crowd and their questions, into the restroom.

I shut the door behind us.

“Ow, is your hand made of metal?”

“You should be glad I took it out on you. So why are you here? To stalk me?”

He straightened his perfectly beautiful sweat shirt and looked at me.

“Excuse you. Should I remind you that we were just outside a few minutes ago? And like everyone knows—including you—I’m a hockey star. So I have other things to do than stalk someone.”

I didn't believe him one bit.I laughed, and he just looked at me like I was crazy.

“Do you think I’m stupid? After handing me money to what? Keep my mouth shut after our night together?!”

He paused. “What night?”

“What?”

“What night together? We didn’t sleep together. You’re aware of that, right?”

What was he talking about? He had taken advantage of me that night!

“Stop lying and own up to your mistakes.”

“That’s not a mistake. We didn’t sleep together. If you need me to jog your memory, I will. Here you are, blaming an innocent man for taking advantage of you when the first thing you do to a man you just met is throw yourself at him? Seduce him?”

He took slow strides toward me, and I backpedaled until we reached the door.

“B-but…you tried to give me money to shut up.”

“No! I tried to give you money to call an Uber because I was fucking late. I had just missed my game because of you!”

I shook from his words. I didn’t…I don’t remember.

“Oh my God,” I said, realizing the extent of my mistakes.

“I’m so sorry that I made you miss your game and accused you of taking advantage of me.”

“It’s fine. I just wish you’d drop the subject now, right?”

“Sure.”

A few seconds passed, and he stared at me with a cocked eyebrow. I couldn’t let him leave, or everyone would know.

“So…? Let me go?”

“I can’t.”

“What is it this time?”

“I can’t let you go out there when I announced to everyone that you’re my boyfriend.”

“Simple, we’ll just tell them the truth.”

“I can’t do that,” I said, worry etched on my face.

“Why?”

“Please,” I folded my hands and begged. “I can’t tell everyone I just lied. It would ruin everything.”

“Why did you lie to everyone out there?” he asked.

“That guy who stood in front of us…the one that held a woman beside him. He is my ex. He broke up with me that night, and that woman was my best friend. I don't need anyone to make fun of me. They've laughed at me enough; I don't want that. You don't have to do anything with me but just go along with the lie that we're dating. I would do anything.”

“This is crazy,” he commented and stepped back, shoving his hand through his blonde locks. He was really beautiful, like model-like pretty. The kind of guy you could cheat with if you were ever in a relationship.

In secret, of course.

“I need this fake relationship, at least for a while until I know what to do next.”He paused, deep in thought.

“I have no idea who you are, but—”

“Are you going to make a decision, or are you deliberately leaving me here to feed your ego?” I spat.

“For someone who badly needs my help, you're not showing it right now.”

What was I even thinking? He would never agree to this.

“You know what? Don't bother. I'll go tell everyone that it was all a lie.” He shoved past me and was about to leave.

“Wait! Alright then. I’ll agree to this fake relationship on one condition.”

I looked up at him as he had a grin plastered on his face, a look I didn't think he had.

“What condition?”

“I don't trust you one bit, Ms. Olive. Why? Because I don't trust liars. But you are not wrong; I do need your help.”

“So…? What do you say?”

He walked closer…too close. I was sure I counted my breaths at every step he took. He looked clean, dressed in nothing but a black sweatshirt and sweatpants. He smelled like a million dollars too.

I bet he's one of those rich kids; it shows.

“This would be a contract. One that binds our fake relationship to an end date. Once we've made use of each other for whatever we want, we call it off. You could say I wasn’t good for you and you had to move on to someone better.”

“Okay, that seems like a good plan. What do you need me for then?”

Saying that alone irked me for some reason.

“I need you to be ready by 7 a.m. tomorrow.”

With furrowed brows, I asked, “Why?”

“We are going to stop an engagement ceremony.”