Page 7 of Fake Fiancée for Dad's Best Friend
“Can I speak to you, please?”
“Sure.”
“Please don’t call the website,” she says.
I take a minute to understand what she means. “Why?”
“Because I need the money. Five thousand is enough to pay for the first installment of tuition at AFAP, the school in Paris.”
“What?”
“You are going to pay that much for the fake date service, right? I heard it when you did the calculation.” She blushes a bit.
“Yes,” I say, not at all annoyed at her eavesdropping. “But you heard your dad. He doesn’t want you to.”
“We don’t have to let him know.”
I blink as I realize what she means. “You mean we’ll lie to him?” I ask incredulously.
“Uh-huh,” she nods as she gazes at me with her innocent eyes. “You’re going to lie to your parents anyway. What differences does it make?”
Damn. She has a point. But I feel like a jerk. Lying is an adult’s privilege. I’m not supposed to lure a child into doing the same, even though Vivian isn’t exactly a child. She’s still young and innocent.
As I hesitate, the girl continues. “Please. I want to go to Paris for the MFA, and I don’t want to burden my dad anymore. He has a new family to raise. You know?”
I’m touched by her consideration. “If you need money, Vivian, I can loan you…”
“No, I don’t need charity. I want to earn it.”
“Okay, then work for me as an intern.”
“I will, and that’s for the rest of the tuition. The first installment is due in two weeks if I want to matriculate in the fall. Please, Alex. Help me. All I need to do is to spend a weekend with you at your parents’ house. I get to see California in the meantime.”
I’m tempted. “But I can’t do that to your dad.”
The feisty girl doesn’t give up. She blows a puff of air with frustration and says, “You’re a famous person. You can’t just randomly pick someone online. What if they turned out to be gold-digger? What if they used it to blackmail you?”
Hell. She’s right. I’m lost for words. I can’t find a good reason to discourage her other than her dad’s objection. In fact, I want her to go with me. Hell. The whole thing isn’t even an ordeal anymore if she’s my fake fiancée. It’ll be fun like she said. “Are you sure you want to do this?” My mouth feels dry.
She nods with enthusiasm. “I am!”
“Okay, then. I guess you’re in.”
“Yes! Thank you so much, Alex!” she hugs me again.
I stroke her back this time, and to my surprise, she shivers. When she pulls away, her cheeks are flushed.
“No problem, Vivian. But give it some thought and let me know if you change your mind. I don’t want you to regret it later. You’re coming for an interview tomorrow, right?”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, but I won’t change my mind!” she says firmly, eyes sparkling with excitement.
The girl is undoubtedly passionate about fashion and Paris. I like that. “Okay, then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Chapter 3
Vivian
“Make yourself comfortable,” Alex says to me as soon as we get on his private jet, on our way to Santa Barbara, where his parents’ estate is.
