Page 62 of What Did Your Last Maid Die Of?

“Great.” His eyes shone as he stared at me in satisfaction. “Everything is working out as it should.” I nodded and smiled back at him, but I couldn’t stop the slight feeling of anxiety that suddenly filled me. Was this a good idea? Was Ben going to be convincing? And how was I going to tell Ben that he was going to have to pretend to be my boyfriend at the work party? All of a sudden, I wasn’t feeling as happy and excited as I had been just a few moments previously. Things were quickly spiraling out of control, and I knew I was wading into dangerous territory and I wasn’t sure how to stop myself from drowning.

Chapter18

The smell of bacon awakened me on Friday morning. Chelsea had slept over the night before after helping me to pack for my work trip with Max. We were leaving on Saturday morning, and I’d had no idea what to pack.

“Morning.” Chelsea sauntered into my room with a plate of eggs and bacon. “I made you breakfast so you can summon up the courage to tell Ben that you need him to pretend he’s your boyfriend tonight.”

“Ugh, I guess, I have to tell him now.” I sat up in the bed and took the plate gratefully. “He seems really nice. I hope he doesn’t cancel on me now.”

“You guys have been messaging for the last couple of days now. It’ll be fine.” Chelsea sat on the side of my bed. “Are you excited to go to California tomorrow?”

“Yes and no.” I bit down into the eggs. “I’m excited to fly first class and to stay in a luxury hotel, but I’m nervous at the work Max is going to ask me to do.”

“It’ll be fine.” She grabbed a piece of bacon off of my plate. “He knows your limitations.”

“Yeah.” I bit down into the hot buttered white toast. “Okay, let me message Ben.”

Ben: Morning, Sunshine, I can’t wait to meet you tonight.

Polly: Oh, I was about to message you. I can’t wait to meet you tonight as well.

Ben: Oh, what were you going to message me about?

Polly: Well…

Ben: Did you dream about me?

Polly: Why? Did you dream about me?

Ben: Would you believe me if I said yes?

Polly: No, haha.

Ben: I was thinking that if we hit it off tonight, we could go to Miami this weekend?

Polly: Oh, I’ll be out of town on a work trip. :(

Ben: Maybe next weekend.

Polly: Maybe.

Ben: Some of my college friends are meeting for a thirty-year reunion, and I thought it would be fun to show you off.

Polly: Aww, how sweet! :)

“What’s he saying?” Chelsea tried to glance at my screen.

“Oh, that his friends have some sort of reunion this weekend and he wants me to go.” I stared at her. I was reading his messages very carefully because I was so nervous and agitated. “Okay, I’m going to ask him now.”

“Go for it, girl. This guy likes you.”

Ben: Did I scare you off?

Polly: No, no. I was just wondering if you could pretend to be my bf tonight? It’s a long story and I’ll tell you more later.

Ben: Oh, that sounds juicy. Sure. I also have something to admit to you tonight as well.

Polly: Oh?

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