Page 35 of Ruling Scar
He’ll piss me the fuck off. But he won’t bodily harm me. At least. . . not more than he already has.
He must understand what I’m thinking because he tips his chin down to stare at the drink in his hand. “And what will Gia think of all of this?”
“She won’t.”
He raises a mocking eyebrow.
I sink in my seat. “I mean does she have to?”
He looks off again and I hate this trick. He’s not deep in thought. He’s giving space for others to form their own trap.
This time I keep my mouth shut.
“You’re very secretive these days.” He pets Albert’s head. “In order for this to work you realize this Leopold will need to know we’re a couple.”
“He just needs tothinkwe’re a couple,” I mumble.
Elijah’s almost disappointed. “And how do we do that? A few photos on social media? A stern talking to? One or two dates. No, I’m afraid for a scoundrel like Leopold it won’t be enough. The only way to make someone believe the lie is to live the lie.”
He wears a mask of boredom, but there’s a spark of mischief in his gray eyes.
“I’m not going to really date you.”
“Why not? Do you have any other offers of marriage Leopold needs to know about?”
When I think too long without answering, he adds, “You came to me because you wanted a solution. I’ve presented one to you. Turn your nose up at it, Leonora. What’s it to me if you marry Leopold.”
My fingers curl into fists. His eyes flick down, noticing, and I quickly play with the hem of my dress. From his angle on the couch, it feels like my legs are on show.
“How would it work?” I slowly ask.
“Simple. From this point forward you’re my girlfriend.”
An exasperated girlfriend.
“What does that mean?” I ask. Janis taught me about boundaries. This situation calls for some.
“For starters you don’t go out on dates with other men.” Albert lifts his head at the words. “I’ll have to punish you for that, but once?—”
A pillow smacks him in the face. It falls on his lap, leaving a stunned Elijah.
He frowns. “What was that for?”
My fingers curl around my kneecaps. “I’m here because Leopold’s an ass. There’s no need for you to be one too.”
“I’m not an ass.”
“Do you punish all your girlfriends?”
“Yes and they beg me for it.”
Heat pricks my cheeks. “Well, the only punishments around here will be fake. Just like this relationship.”
“I thought we already established there is no faking anything.”
“No punishments, fake or otherwise.”
“Are you certain, Leonora? I think you’d like it.”
