Page 18 of The Wrong Promise

“My question was directed to London. I was under the impression you needed a change, and when I helped set up a job, I assumed you would take it as the first step in a career change. Yet I get the feeling you’re on a gap year from college and working to pay for your party lifestyle.”

“What?”

I take a sip of whiskey without looking at her, as I know I’m getting on her nerves. “You’re still living in a hotel and probably blowing your money.”

“What do you want me to do? I knew no one, and affordable rent was hard to find. I’m making new friends and asking if anyone wants to share a place with me.” Now she’s really pissed. “For your information, I am taking on extra projects and working on them some evenings. You simply don’t see it. Besides, we don’t all have access to the Hendricks’ limitless funds.” She throws back her drink and stands, tossing my jacket on the chair. “Thanks for the evening. It’s been pleasant as always.” She glares at me when I don’t respond. “You’re an ass.”

In perfect timing, the door buzzer sounds. I get up and sidestep her, purposely ignoring Zara’s remark. “You might change your mind about me being an ass after you taste the dish I ordered.”

“You know what you can do with your dish…” she calls out as I leave to answer the door.

I laugh to myself. We’ll see. I tip the pasta into fine China and get her some cutlery, tossing the bamboo fork in the trash. “Despite what you think of me, try it before you say no.” I hand her the bowl and take a seat beside her.

She mumbles what sounds like ‘thank you’ before taking a bite and closes her eyes, making a pleasurable sound. “Oh my God, this is divine.” With each mouthful, she releases a groan, sparking something inside me.

I wait for her to take the next bite to say what is on my mind. “I have an offer for you since you’re a friend of the family.”

She swallows the pasta. “Yeah? What is it?” she asks quickly without looking at me.

“You could stay here, rent-free. Save your money and climb the corporate ladder since you’re more qualified than anyone else in that office.”

She chokes on the last mouthful. “What do you know about my office?” She pokes her fork toward me. “I havebeen working hard late at night and some weekends to appeal to my boss as a dedicated worker and in good stead for the next promotion.” Her eyes round. “Wait. You want me to live withyou?” she questions condescendingly. “Are you mad? We’ll argue all the time, and you’ll get evicted,” she says and laughs as though imagining it.

I wait for her mind to calm before saying more. “While the offer is to stay here rent-free, I would need a favor from you in return.”

“Here we go. I knew you wouldn’t do something that didn’t help you in some way. What is it? I want to know, even though my answer is never in a million years could I live with you.”

Ouch.

“Firstly, you wouldn’t be living with me all the time. I’m here for a week once a month. So you get three weeks to yourself. While I am here, we’ll still live our own lives.”

She tilts her head, listening yet not convinced. “I can do the math.”

“I’ll work long hours, which is to your benefit. But there will be rules like no parties. It’s the building’s rule, not mine.”

“It’s irrelevant, but you haven’t mentioned the favor?”

“I’m building relations while merging with a finance company here. To keep it short, I liaise with Harrison as he manages everything. However, his father, Sir James, owns everything and oversees it to the point of having the final say.” I check she is keeping up. “He’s a family man, and for some reason, he doesn’t trust me.”

She laughs, and I give her a moment to revel in her glee. “Oh, my God, you’re serious. I think I like Sir James already.”

“Good. Because I need you to pretend to be mygirlfriend and accompany me on dinner dates with Sir James’ family.”

Zara’s eyes widen, and her mouth falls open. “Are you high?”

It’s the reaction I was expecting. But I’m desperate for Sir James to consider my offer, and for that to happen, I need to appear settled in my personal life. It seems the man can smell a playboy a mile away, and he thinks I’ll treat his company with the same abandon as my lovers. “Before you say no, let me show you around the apartment. You’ll see how we’ll easily manage residing together with our living quarters so far apart. Think of it as a business agreement and helping each other out.”

I stand to lead Zara inside, but she doesn’t make a move to follow. “I don’t care how luxurious your penthouse is. I can’t pretend to be your girlfriend. It will be a disaster, and Sir James will see through the lie. It won’t end well for either of us.”

6

ZARA

The man is insane.

Jobe is many things, and desperate isn’t one of them. “Surely, you have a string of girls lining up for dinner dates.” I imagine beautiful models and actors—at the same time—as I have listened to the rumors surrounding his personal life back home.

He gives me a typical Jobe look, then indicates for us to head inside, locking the terrace doors behind me. “I need someone I trust. Someone the family can count on.”

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