Page 19 of The Wrong Promise

“Why are you bringing the family into this? You’re talking as though it’s a personal favor from Penny because it’s me.”

He pours another drink. “I’m sure Penny has told you about our father’s expectations. This is building the Hendricks’ portfolio.Ido not want to be the one to mess it up.”

“Sounds like most of the pressure is on me, and none ofit has anything to do with me. Besides, fancy dinners are not my thing. I’ll embarrass myself, then embarrass you. Your plan will backfire.” My heart speeds up thinking about it.

God, why am I even here? I should go…

“Hey.” Jobe is suddenly inches away from my face watching me carefully as though he is alerted to my pending anxiety attack. “You need to give yourself more credit. You’re beautiful, lively, and perfect to be my partner.”

I snort a laugh, but his voice is serious. “You really think I can do it?” I don’t know why I said that because I’m not considering it even though Jobe has a convincing way about him.

“I trust you, Zara, if nothing else. I know you won’t bring any harm to the family.”

Shit. He struck my Achilles.

I shake my head. I’m so confused. If we were back in LA, I would say no without hesitation. For the last few minutes, a voice in the back of my head has been saying to stay and experience opulence even for a week until I find somewhere to move with my work friends.

“Think about it,” he says gently. He leans closer, and I hold my breath. Only he moves past my face to my ear. “Ipromiseit will all be pretend. Besides, you do owe me one,” he whispers.

I close my eyes as his breath caresses my neck and quickly compose myself. “For sending one email?” I shoot back because my credentials did the rest. Yet, he does deserve some thanks in return. “One night. I’ll do it for one dinner date. If, and I mean it’s a bigif,I find it tolerable because I can’t imagine it being at all fun, then we try it on a week-to-week basis. If I want out, then you tell your boss we broke up.”

He frowns at me. “Then I’ll ensure it’s fun.”

I snort and laugh again. “You’re delusional, Hendricks.”

He smirks as if he knows a secret I’m not in on, and I don’t trust what he’s going to say next. “If you stay here a week, I’ll make a wager you’ll want this arrangement to work.”

Arrangement.“I’m not bought that easily.”

Jobe shoves his hands into his trouser pockets. “Everything has a price, Zara.” When he grins, I want to slap it off his face.

“I’m doing you the favor, not the other way round. We are still negotiating the terms of the arrangement, and I’m still at theit will never happenend of the scale.”

His expression shifts, and I hate the way he is staring at me. It’s like he wants me, and it’s giving all the wrong information because, like he said, it is merely a business agreement between us.

“All right, let’s start with a tour of where you’ll sleep.”

“For one night,” I repeat more to myself than him. Then, I pour myself a drink before I make the dumbest decision of my life.

Five bedrooms.

Seven bathrooms.

Seven.

What universe am I in?

My hands have a nervous tremor, so I grip the rail as we descend the circular staircase with what appears to be a gold railing. I glance up at the ceiling, which is double the height of any room in my hotel. Everywhere I look, there is classical elegance. While the amenities are modern, the old-world charm remains with the wooden paneling and original decorative plasterwork. Floor-to-ceiling glass French doors open from the kitchen to the stone terrace.

“I decided to keep some of the original design though I asked Penny for some insight in remodeling some other rooms.”

Please stop talking about Penny like she is ammunition to convince me to stay.

“Down this hallway is the cinema room and the study.”

I lean on the kitchen counter. “I don’t need to see everything tonight.” I let out a long, overwhelmed sigh.

“I have not shown you where I sleep.”

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