Page 7 of Undercover Billionaire

The smile vanished from his lips, but not from his eyes. "My apologies, ma’am. Please go on."

Kaitlyn cleared her throat, "Basically, he’s different that you. Now I need you to become this person. You should..."

"Follow your every whim and obey your every word?" He winked.

"Not interrupt every two seconds," she countered.

He grinned widely. And for some strange reason, she did, too. "So…" She straightened. "Are you up for the task?"

The man watched her, boldly taking in everything. How could a mere look affect her so? Her body leapt to awareness, as he finally drawled, "Can you explain the tasks involved in being your loving boyfriend, ma’am?"

Sizzling heat ignited her blood. This was how women fall, and this man probably swatted them down like flies. "There will be no tasks required beyond those specifically laid out to you, sir." She gave a curt nod for emphasis. His eyes glowed with surprise, and to her shock, approval. "Cynthia is expecting a timid, considerate man, and that is precisely what you will portray. Remember, I will be paying you."

For a moment, he said nothing. "And what exactly is the salary, ma’am?"

Newfound suspicion burst forth. Perhaps he required a refresher on the exact role, but to have forgotten hissalary? Wasn’t that what every struggling actor remembered?

Still what ulterior motive could he have? His eyebrows rose when she told him the number, but he said nothing. Would he try to raise his fees, ask for an increment that would put his services out of her price range? If so, he would be disappointed. She’d dipped into her savings as it was; any more would be impossible. Thankfully, he didn’t comment on the issue further when he responded, “Can you give specifications about the role?”

Of course, he would need more than the commandBe My Boyfriend, Act I.Yet how to describe the part? "Basically, you need to convince Cynthia you are my boyfriend. You are desperately in love with me, as I am with you. We’ve been dating for several years. I–"

"Hold on a minute." Drake raised a tanned hand. "Several years is a long time. You realize we would know each other pretty well."

Something unsettled churned in her stomach. "Of course, we’d know each other pretty well. So anyways…" She barreled forward. "I've made arrangements for you to stay at a local hotel. Of course, you can’t go tonight, but it should be adequate for tomorrow and the remainder of the–"

"You want me to stay at a hotel?"

Kaitlyn folded her arms. Was he going to fight her on every issue? "Mr. Alexander, you clearly have the wrong idea. I hired you to convince someone you’re my boyfriend, not to actually prove the point. There’s no need to vie for an Academy Award when not in her company. I am your employer, and you are my employee, and the relationship ends there. No matter what, I require strict professionalism. As much as it might shock you, you are not and will never be invited for anything more. Is that clear?"

His expression changed, but instead of the regretful apology she expected, he smiled like a clever cat who stumbled upon a bathtub of fish. "Why do you think I'm unhappy with the hotel? Did you assume I was suggesting we explore our roles?"

She stiffened. "I'm not going to explore anything with you."

"Not for a moment did I suspect otherwise."

His smile grew wider, and she faltered. "If that’s not why you’re so stricken by the prospect of a hotel, then what is it?"

Drake ignored her question. "This cousin of yours, Cynthia, you say she’s pretty smart?"

"Enough to make this a challenge," she admitted. "But what does that have to do with your living arrangements?"

"Well, here’s the thing." He folded his arms against his chest, tightening the shirt.Well, look at that–She swallowed, forced her eyes back to his face, as he continued, "I wasn’t concerned about the sleeping arrangements, but instead by the integrity of the role. Isn't Cynthia going to find it strange I live elsewhere when my loving girlfriend lives in this nice apartment with more than enough room for lil ole me?"

"Lil ole you?" She raised an eyebrow.

"All right, big ole me," he revised. "But think about it. We've been dating foryears, but we don’t live together in Greenderland? You see my point, don’t you?"

She scowled. "First of all, the city’s name is Greenfield, not Greenderland."

Drake merely smiled and shrugged. “My mistake.”

“Secondly... secondly…" She breathed out deeply. "You might have a point." But the alternative was entirely unacceptable. "We can’t pretend to stay in the same home together!”

"I don’t want to pretend. Weshouldstay together."

Live with Drake? In the small apartment, with no barrier between him and her? "There’s no space," she protested. "There’s only one bedroom."

He smiled.

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