Page 12 of Never Fake Date the Financier
Ella leans forward and says, “I want you to say, ‘I need you.’ I know it must be difficult for you to admit you need someone else’s help.”
“Interesting,” I mutter, leaning back in my chair.
“What’s more interesting is how hard you’re avoiding a simple phrase.”
I shake my head, momentarily allowing myself to smile. Briefly.
“Is that all you need?”
“It’s not about what I need right now.” She leans back, folding her arms across her chest, and I’m fighting the urge to glance. What I wouldn’t give to drag my tongue across that small swath of skin. Tear every button off that blouse. Taste…
“I need you, Ella.”
I want you. And I refuse to let you walk out that door without securing a second chance to see you again.
Color spreads across her cheeks, neck, and chest as she repositions herself on her chair. “That wasn’t so hard, was it? It sounded sincere, too.”
My jaw ticks. “It was sincere. I need your help. Will you help me?”
She opens her mouth, but closes it again, briefly. “I’ll consider it. But I need a little more information. I’m struggling to believe that someone like you hasn’t found a plus-one for a wedding.”
“You’re right. Finding someone isn’t difficult, but making the relationship seem convincing to my family will be.”
“Because you’re cold, thorny, and aloof. Got it. So I’ll be carrying this fake relationship.”
I laugh.Deeply. I can’t remember the last time I laughed like this. Genuine and full-throated. “You’ll need that spark with my family.”
“IfI accept.”
“When. Because I think you’ve already accepted my offer in your mind. You’re only refusing to say it out loud.”
“Yeah? A real mindreader, huh.” She stands up and then heads for the door.
I jump to my feet. “Okay, point taken. Ella, will you hear me out?Please?”
She pauses after the last word.
“Please? That must’ve burned your tongue,” she says, turning around. “And now I know just how much leverage I have.”
I snort. I like her. A lot. A.Lot.And she’s wrong. What leverage she thinks she has is a hundred times that. Nothing’s off the table.
“I should have you in the negotiating room.”
“I’m not sure you could afford me. Well,” she says, swallowing as she returns to her seat, “I guess you could. Can’t say I’ve interacted with many billionaires before.”
Can’t say I’ve interacted with my future wife until now.
The voice comes from deep inside. I should be uncomfortable, but I’m not. I want Ella more than I’ve wanted anyone in my life.
“Why does it matter if you have a date to this wedding anyway? Would it be so bad if you showed up without one?”
“It’s complicated,” I say, drawing out the last word. “My brother is marrying my ex.”
Ella’s eyes widen as she gapes at me, but all I can think about are those lips. How they’d taste. How’d they feel. How’d they’d look wrapped around—Jesus.I need to calm down.
“Okay,” she says after a few moments. “That is a little complicated. But why would you go to the wedding at all? You have to bepissedat your brother. Your ex. Oh, god, is this going to be some Red Wedding type stuff? If that’s the case, you can count me out.”
I smile. How can I not? Ella’s gorgeous, intelligent, funny, and intriguing.
