Page 13 of Never Fake Date the Financier
Mine.
“No need to worry about that. There’s no bad blood. And your reaction makes me want to do this even more. Make it even more convincing. Because I have to admit, this will not be an easy task… for reasons.”
“Okay…” Ella repositions herself, crossing her legs.
I swallow hard, and my gaze dips to them, lingering a beat too long before I meet her gaze again. Her eyes narrow as a ghost of a smile graces her lips for a brief moment. She caught me, but she doesn’t seem to mind.
“Care to elaborate?”
I clear my throat and fill her in on how all of this came to be, focusing on her eyes, ignoring the fire they ignite inside me. She seems receptive, nodding along as I let the strands of the story unfurl.
…Until I reach the part about me fabricating little lies about my non-existent girlfriend. The slight chink in the armor. The little complication that will make everything more difficult because I can’t remember everything I told my family about her. And my mother never forgets. Memory of an elephant… too bad I took after my father.
“Gabriella…” she says, tilting her head towards me. “Gabriella Barbera. Seriously? Where in the world did you come up with that?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Uh… huh.”
She shakes her head as her gaze flits to the door. For a moment, I think she’s going to try and escape again. But when she looks back at me, her lips spreading into a perfect smile, she proves me wrong. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to live up toMs. Gabriella Barbera. Especially because you can’t even remember half the things you told your family. Seriously, Adrian you’re a CFO. I’d think you’d keep meticulous records.”
Good god, I love the sound of my name on her lips.
“Point taken,” I rasp, readjusting my position yet again. It’s a good thing I’m not standing. “But I believe you’ll be able to hold your own. I’m sure you can give a good performance. You’re an actress after all.”
Her teeth tug at her bottom lip as her nose scrunches adorably as she considers it. “I’ll need to think about it.”
Do I need to beg?I nearly ask her.
I’m not above it if it means I get to spend time with her. Give me a few days. A week. I’ll prove to Ella that we’re—my family.I should be focused on them, but instead I’m focused on her. My gaze drifts toward her neckline, to her delicate collarbone. I never realized how sexy a collarbone could be until I saw Ella’s peeking out from beneath that blouse.
“Don’t think too long,” I say, drawing my eyes back to hers. “We leave tomorrow.”
She snorts a laugh. “You’re crazy. How can you expect me or anyone else to… to convince anyone that we’re together. We literally just met. “
“I can be very convincing.” And when it comes to Ella and me, there won’t be a single question in anyone’s mind about our status. Ella included. “You have my offer. Now I need your response by tonight.”
She stares at me for a long, agonizing beat from the other side of the desk.
“Production Assistant job,” she says finally. “Full year’s salary upfront as a bonus. Meetings. Auditions…”
I nod along as she lists everything she wants. I’d be lying if I said I’m listening intently. I’m wondering what she’d look like underneath me. How she’d feel bent over my desk. The way her ass would light up from the palm of my hand. There’s not a single thing she could list that I wouldn’t rubber stamp.
“Put it in writing,” I tell her. “And I’ll sign off on it tonight.”
She sucks in her lips and then lets out a soft sigh. “One more thing.”
“Anything.”
“I want you to make good on your promise.”
I raise a brow. “My promise?” I don’t recall making a promise, but whatever Ella wants, she can have.
“I want to see your plan. I want to see what you have in place to prevent another Eugene.”
“You have my word.”
“I want it by tonight or else my answer is no.”
