Page 20 of He Falls First

“Maybe I could wear one of those little black dresses,” she muses, lost in thought. “Or something with sequins. Do people still wear sequins?”

There’s that jealousy again. It stabs at me at the thought of her going on real dates, dressed to kill with some other guy. The thought of some rando touching her, smiling back at her the way she’s smiling now—it twists my gut in knots. It’s ridiculous, and I hate myself a little for it. But I can’t help it.

“Sequins are fine,” I say gruffly, trying to focus on the task at hand. This is business, after all. Nothing more.

She continues talking, planning out every detail of our fake dating life. Meanwhile, I’m trying to ignore the nagging voice in my head. The one warning me that I may be in over my head with this arrangement.

Elizabeth is unlike any woman I’ve dealt with before, and these unfamiliar feelings she stirs up are dangerous territory. But it’s too late to back out now. I’ll just have to tough it out.

No matter how complicated things get.

Chapter 8

Elizabeth

Istare at my phone, scrolling through the engagement contract for what feels like the hundredth time. The details blur together as I tap my foot anxiously against the barstool.

“Earth to Lizzy,” Allison says, snapping her fingers in front of my face. “You’re the one who dragged us out for a girls’ night, yet you won’t put that phone down. What gives?”

I glance up guiltily. Neon beer signs bathe us in a red glow. Allison and Cora watch me expectantly amid the chatter filling O’Malley’s bar.

“Sorry,” I say, setting my phone face down. “It’s just… I may have agreed to something crazy.”

Cora raises an eyebrow. “How crazy are we talking?”

I take a deep breath. “See, it’s my boss, Hendrix…” I let out a nervous chuckle. How do I put this? I guess there’s only one way, really. The truth. “Basically, I’m fake engaged to my new boss so he can get control of his company.”

Allison chokes on her margarita. “You’re basically what now? Doesn’t sound like anything basic about it.”

As I explain the deal with Hendrix, their eyes grow wider and wider.

“And you haven’t signed the contract yet?” Cora asks.

I shake my head, pushing my phone toward them. “I’m not sure if I’m insane for considering it. You tell me. Does this have red flags or green dollar signs?”

Allison has a penchant for spotting trouble in my dating history. She used to run a whole podcast about toxic relationships. And she’s pretty much never been wrong with her predictions about the guys I date turning out to be losers. But it’s not my fault I didn’t listen to her warnings—she based her predictions on silly things like wearing socks with sandals.

Am I so wrong for wanting to give a guy a chance when his only red flag is questionable footwear?

Allison scans the terms, whistling under her breath. “I mean, a year’s salary to play wifey for six weeks? Usually, I’d be flashing red like a stoplight at a four-way intersection. But this is… unexpected.”

“Right? It’s nuts. But there’s a lot of money on the line.”

“I’d do it.” Allison waggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Especially with a boss who looks like Hendrix.”

“Allison,” Cora chides. She turns to me, brown eyes gentle. “Ultimately, you have to do what feels right for you, Lizzy. Don’t compromise your values.”

I nod, stirring my drink thoughtfully. Their contrasting advice mirrors my own conflicted feelings. Diving into this scheme could be crazy… or it could be the boldest choice I’ve ever made.

“There’s something else,” I say, rushing to tell them before Allison gets to that clause in the contract.

“More than getting your share of the wealth of the gods?” Allison tips her chin.

“Hendrix would give me, uh, dating lessons.” I gulp my drink, the gin sharp against my tongue. “He’s supposed to make me, quote, ‘irresistible to men.’”

“Really?” Cora whistles. “Talk about ‘He Falls First.’”

“Yep!” I nod. “That’s the whole point, the pledge. He’s going to give me lessons, so guys will finally fall for me first.”

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