Page 10 of The Fake Family Deal

“Three weeks is a big commitment. I need some time to think.”

“We need an answer now. We have to agree to do the show soon, or else they’re going to pass on us. This is a great deal, for both of us.”

“Right now?” My breath catches in my throat. This is far too big of a decision to be making on a whim. But for three million dollars…

With three million dollars, my daughter could have everything she could ever need or want. We could be happy. We would never have to worry about a thing again.

Clearly, Ellis is desperate for me to say yes, because he adds, “Two million. Two million a week. You pretend to be my wife, your kid pretends to be ours, we play happy families for a while, then we all go home, happy as a lamb.”

I can hear some murmuring in the background, which tells me this was a spontaneous offer. I bet his marketing team are scrambling to see if there’s a way he can take it back, but instead he just says it again. “Two million a week. What do you say?”

“I want that in writing,” I say quickly. “I won’t agree to anything if it’s not on paper. If it’s in writing, I’ll do it.”

After all, the last thing I want is for this to turn out to be a con. I need something I can use to sue the ass off him if this turns outto be a lie. If I’m agreeing to this, I’m getting the money out of him somehow.

“Deal,” he says like it’s nothing. “Swing by the office tomorrow. We’ll draw up all the paperwork today and have it all ready to sign then.”

Before I can say another word, he hangs up.

I choke out a dry sob, my heart pounding, my palms sweating, my legs shaking like they’re about to crumple out from beneath me. I don’t know if I should feel sick or not. I feel half like I’m about to throw up and half like I’m the happiest woman in the world.

Six million dollars. That’s more than any normal person could ever imagine having in their bank account. We’ll buy a house. We’ll move out and buy a nice house somewhere in the suburbs. I’ll get Lila into a good school. I’ll make sure she has everything she could possibly need. I’ll finally get to stop worrying.

It feels like there must be a catch in here somewhere.

I suppose the catch is having to spend three weeks with Ellis, but for six million, I can suck up spending an awkward three weeks with a grumpy man, play-acting at being some perfect little housewife or whatever it is he’s got planned for us.

Shaking, I pick Lila up and cradle her to my chest, finally allowing myself to sink down to the floor before I fall. I kiss her head, and her crying calms. “Oh, baby girl,” I whisper, “you and me are about to have the weirdest month of our lives. But it’s going to be worth it, I swear. You watch, baby. You and me, we’re going to have everything.”

CHAPTER 7

ELLIS

“For God’s sake, have you never signed a contract before?” I snap, shooting a glance at the woman. Marina. It’s not like I care to learn her name, but seeing as she is about to become my “wife,” I probably need to.

I could do worse, I suppose. As far as wives go, at least she’s hot.

Marina’s taking her sweet time reading every single page of the contract I got Priscilla to draw up yesterday. She ignores my rebuke, pushing her glasses up her freckled nose, squinting her warm brown eyes at the page. She should stop doing that if she doesn’t want to get wrinkles. She’s too pretty to spoil her face with frown lines.

“Let her read it,” hisses Priscilla under her breath, and I grunt, rolling my eyes.

Honestly, how long does it take to read a few pages? Surely she’s read at least one contract in her life? She was a PA. Her whole life must have been reading contracts just like this and getting them signed. She must know what they look like in excruciating detail.

Maybe it’s made her paranoid. Maybe she’s hunting for tricks.

That idea makes me bristle. No matter what people say about me, I’m honest. I wouldn’t try and fool her into anything. If she keeps silent and does her part, she’ll get the money. It’s as simple as that.

She doesn’t even have to try very hard.

Marina painstakingly turns over another piece of paper, absorbing every single word. Then she must hit one she disagrees with, because her face crumples in confusion before she looks up at Priscilla and me.

“It says here you’re going to own all rights to any images taken of me and my daughter. You can do what you want withmyimage, but I don’t want Lila to be everywhere.”

I raise an eyebrow and remind her, “You are agreeing to be on TV. You know, the thing people watch?”

Priscilla side-eyes me with the force of an elbow to the gut. “Unfortunately, that’s one of the TV contractor’s clauses,” she says gently. “If it helps, we won’t be using them ourselves. The TV company just wants to know that they can use all these pictures for advertising.”

Marina frowns, her pink lips pouting. She has her auburn hair tied loosely back, which draws attention to her long, pale neck. She really is a stunning woman. I bet the constellation of freckles on her cheeks goes all the way down her shoulders and chest. Not that you’d ever know, because she’s decided to cover up her body with a hideous green jumper that she must think looks professional but actually just hides every curve she ever had.

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