Page 14 of A Win-Win Situation

I had hoped to run into her again at the hotel, but seeing her now feels like fate, like it’s God’s way of saying,"Hey, there she is."

Her eyes sparkle under the lights, and her hair is styled in soft waves that cascade down her back. She’s wearing a sleekblack dress that accentuates her form, making her look like a goddess among mortals. There’s something pure and innocent about her that intrigues me, and I can’t stop myself from imagining what it would be like to have her sway those hips against me. But then reality snaps me back to attention.

She looks like a girl who romanticizes life—a life I can't offer right now. I'm not here for love or romance. I'm here on a mission: to find a woman who will sign papers, stay married for a year, and then disappear.

I finish my drink and stand up from the table, ready to continue my search.

It's just business, nothing personal.

But as the night wears on, I can't shake the feeling that tonight won't be the night I find the one. The crowded bar is buzzing with energy, but I feel like an outsider looking in. That's when Julien sidles up to me with a grin on his face.

"What's up, man? Why do you look like someone stole your puppy?" he asks, his laughter echoing around us.

I look at him, my brows furrowing. "I'm not in the mood for this tonight. I need another drink."

I make my way to the bar and after ordering another one, I hear a soft voice. I turn to see the girl standing there, her big green eyes hesitant.

Lobby-Girl.

What are the odds?

"Hi," she says with a small, nervous smile on her lips.

Leaning in closer to her ear, I whisper back, "Hi." Staying close, I continue, "Do I know you?" I haven’t been able to shake her from my thoughts since I laid my eyes on her, but she doesn’t have to know that.

"No, you don't know me," she says softly, her eyes boring into mine. She tries to flirt with a bad pick-up line, and I can't help but find it endearing.

"Leora," she introduces herself with a soft smile. I take her hand in mine, and I feel a jolt of electricity shoot up my arm as our skin touches.Leora, I’ve never heard that name before.

I like it.

"Lucas," I reply, holding onto her hand for a moment longer than necessary. Her eyes meet mine, and I can see the spark of attraction that I'm certain is mirrored in mine.

Leora's voice is sweet as she leans in to compliment one of my tattoos. Her eyes fixate on the inked wings adorning my forearm, and a genuine smile graces her lips. I nod, a hint of nostalgia in my eyes as I look at the wings. It’s the tattoo I got with Liam, twenty years after our parents’ passing.

Leora's gaze softens, and she must have noticed the melancholy on my face. Swiftly, she changes the subject, steering the conversation toward a lighter topic.

"So, Lucas, can I buy you a drink?

I look down at the glass in my hand and politely decline, offering to buy her one instead.

She tells me she's here with her friends and then she points toward two girls at the end of the bar, one with dark hair and the other blonde. I recognize them immediately. They were standing in line to the club when I was walking in. Those two were facing me while the third girl—whom I assume was Leora—had her back turned. I overheard them talking while I exchanged pleasantries with the bouncer. They mentioned some kind of mission and that one of the girls was supposed to go up to a guy in the club. At first, I brushed it off as something silly. Why would any of them need a mission to approach a guy? And for what?

But then it hits me,shemust have been the girl who got the mission, and I’mtheguy.

Which means she’s only talking to me to complete her mission—to gain some brownie points with her friends. Not because she has any kind of interest in me.

My smile fades as I realize the truth. I shouldn't have let my guard down so easily.

"Do you want anything else?"

"I’m sorry?" Her eyes widen as she blinks, looking completely caught off guard.

I lock my gaze onto hers. "Well, sweetheart," I say, leaning slightly closer, my tone firm, "let me put it simply for you: we talked, I bought you a drink, and that's the end of this transaction."

Before I get the chance to turn around, she throws her drink at me. The liquid splatters all over my shirt, and I feel the sting of the alcohol in my eyes. Leora storms off, leaving me standing there in shock. The people around us are staring, and I can hear someone snickering in the background. My hands curl into fists as I try to control the anger bubbling inside of me. I won't let her get the best of me. As I make my way to the bathroom to clean up, I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, but I try my best to ignore them.

I walk back to my table, my shirt still wet, but before my ass even reaches the sofa, a scratchy, drunken female voice reaches me. "Lucas, is that you?"

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