Page 11 of Biker Bride (Hell on Heelz MC)

He just chuckled, leaning in close. “Remember, we’re in love now. Keep up the act.”

With a big breath, I forced a beauty queen smile.

“I’ll be gone most of the day,” Vince said, his hand warm on my back as we walked through the house. “You’ll have plenty of time to settle in,” he said loudly, letting his voice trail down the hall. Then he was quiet. “I’ve set you up with a task—online shopping. You’ll need to look the part, after all. Computer is in my office and your password is sybil. Change it or don’t. My credit card’s saved in the browser, and I’ve bookmarked someacceptable purchases, you’ll just need to put in your size. You do know your way around the internet?”

“What year is it?” I gave him a look that could peel paint, but he just grinned and kissed my cheek.

“See you tonight, love.”

The second he was out the door, I let out a long breath and headed down the hall to find his office. The room was a hot mess, but it worked. The walls were covered in bookshelves filled with all sorts of books, from classics to business guides. In the middle, there was this sleek desk with a futuristic computer setup that looked like it came from a sci-fi movie. I flopped into the leather chair and began poking around.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door, and in walked the maid. She was a tall, stern-looking woman in her fifties, with sharp eyes and an even sharper tongue.

“Mr. Mancini asked me to help you with anything you need,” she said, her tone making it clear she wasn’t thrilled about it. “Name’s Margot.”

I gave her a nod, trying to be polite. “Thanks, Margot. Just trying to figure out this shopping thing.”

Margot’s eyes narrowed as she looked me up and down. “You don’t look like the type who does a lot of shopping.”

“I manage,” I said, forcing a smile. “Gotta look good for Vince.”

She sniffed, a faint sneer curling her lip. “I can smell that you’re trash. And don’t think I believe you’ve been dating Mr. Mancini for a month. I would have known.”

My eyes narrowed right back at her. “My life is none of your damn business, Margot. Speak to me like that again, and you’ll be out on your ass.”

For a moment, she just stared at me, then she gave a tight nod. “Very well, ma’am. Let me know if you need anything else.”

With that, she turned on her heel and left, leaving me fuming. I spent the next few hours scrolling through endless pages of designer clothes, feeling more out of place with each passing minute. Finally, I selected a few outfits that seemed fancy enough for Vince’s world and shut the computer down.

When Vince came home that evening, the house seemed to come alive with activity. Margot and the other staff bustled around, preparing a fancy dinner. I met him at the door, a forced smile plastered on my face.

“Welcome home, honey,” I said sweetly, feeling like I was going to puke from the slushy tone.

He leaned in, kissing my cheek, his lips lingering. “How was your day?”

“Interesting,” I replied, keeping my voice light. “Did some shopping. Margot and I had a little chat.”

He looked surprised but didn't ask any more questions. “Good. Dinner’s almost ready.”

We headed to the dining room, where a beautifully set table awaited us. Candlelight flickered, casting a warm glow over the room. Margot served us without a word, her face a mask of professional indifference.

As we ate, Vince pulled his seat close. Quietly, he filled me in on more details of his plan. “Our main objective is toconvince everyone, especially my family, that this is real so in a week, we will fly out to the estate and stay there for a couple of weeks. You’ll need to act the part of a devoted fiancée as wedding preparations are finalized. We’ll get married next month and leave for a honeymoon. Give it a couple weeks after that once my position is firm and you can have your freedom back.”

I swallowed a bite of steak, my mind a mess. “So, until then, I have to be here all the time? And what about my sisters? They’re going to think I’ve lost my damn mind.”

“You can come and go as you please, but Margot is going to keep an eye on you. If anything seems off, she’ll report back to my mother.”

“You some pussy or something? Scared of your mama.”

“Far from it. Let’s just say I like my lifestyle and want to keep it. I don’t produce an heir, I’ll be out on the street.”

“Have a child? I thought this was simply a fake marriage. Now, you want to breed. Hell, no.”

“Don’t worry about that part. As soon as we’re married, the torch will be passed to me and the fortune that goes along with it. We’ll go our separate ways.”

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my cool. “And sleeping arrangements?”

"You'll sleep in my bed," he asserted, his tone final. “But don’t worry, this is just for appearances.” He smiled, raising his glass in a toast. “To our partnership, Sybil. Let’s make it a successful one.”

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