Page 26 of Chase

“So, you want me to pretend to be in a loving relationship in the hopes that I will want it for real?” I shake my head over her naivety. Perhaps she’s been at the romance novels again; the ones that used to make me laugh when I stayed over at her place for the night as a kid. “You can’t force people together like that, Nonna, it doesn’t work that way. Plus, I’m not meant for love; I don’t know how to.”

“I know you believe that, darling, but it’s only because you’ve been dealt a raw deal. Trust me, Theo is the right deal for you, child. If I’m wrong, it’s six months of your life. You’ll live here, instead of in some damp, squalid flat in a bad part of London, and you get to look at him every day,” she says with a wicked smile on her face, to which I can’t help but laugh a little. “Then you get a small fortune, which, if nothing else, will infuriate your family.”

“Although I like your thinking about my family, Nonna, you know I’m not fussed about money.” I look at her as the only person I can show my real self to; she knows I would never value money above all else.

“I know you aren’t, but if you had that money, you wouldn’t need to charge your clients so much,” she says with a smile that tells me this is her final winning card. “You can help all those people you relate to so well, and without that awful feeling you get from charging them to cover those expensive London rental costs.”

“Oh, crap,” I huff at the same time as she leans back in her chair, looking ever so proud of herself. She’s got me and she knows it. “You crafty old broad, Nonna.”

____

Theo

“Do we have an agreement?” Grandma asks, and I slowly nod my head. She smiles with immense satisfaction over my answer. “And you are not to tell her any of it?”

Again, I nod in confirmation.

“I’ll fetch her back in, shall I?”

I rise from my seat to find Izzy sitting on one of the chairs in the kitchen. She’s picking a bread roll apart without actually eating any of it, at the same time as wearing an anxious expression.

“Frustrated?” I ask with a mischievous grin, pointing to the deconstructed bread roll.

“Bored,” she lies, “are you finished?”

I nod as she brushes all the crumbs off the table with herhands before putting them in the bin and walking past me without a word. The next six months should be interesting, that’s for sure. We then enter the living room and sit in front of Grandma as she smiles proudly over all her meddling.

“So, have we come to a decision?” she asks us both, even though she already knows my answer. However, Izzy doesn’t, so I let her speak first.

“Six months?” she clarifies with Grandma, to which she nods. “Ok, but I’m not pretending we’re married, that’s just ridiculous.” She crosses her arms defiantly. “We haven’t seen each other in over a decade; you don’t just marry someone like that. If I’m putting on a performance, I’m at least going to do it properly.”

“How about engaged then? Does that suit you, darling?” I grin smugly at Izzy, coaxing her with the same act she likes to give to everyone, but she merely turns and delivers me a cold, hard stare.

“I’ll accept that,” Grandma says. “Here, have this, myownring. Adds a touch of authenticity does it not? And let’s say you’ve been in contact for the past two years and have been meeting up during Theo’s many business trips over here. You can say you’ve been using this house to form a relationship; the one that was stolen from you when you were teenagers,” she giggles to herself, enjoying Izzy’s many disdainful facial expressions.

“Why doyouneed her money anyway?” Izzy asks, turning to face me with a look of disapproval. “You look plenty wealthy enough, what with your own business and all. Or are you just greedy like the rest of them?”

“Expansion,” I reply bluntly, then cough to clear my throat of the lie I just fed her. “I want to turn the business international,and this money will at least help to begin that process.” I can’t help but fiddle with my shirt cuff all the while she rolls her eyes. “Why do you want it? You’ve never been money-orientated, not like your sister.”

“Now, now, I know lots of secrets about both of you,” Grandma interrupts, “but it’s up to you to find them out about yourselves, so don’t even think of coming to me for extra information. That is part of the deal. You will also refrain from any other personal relationships, even behind closed doors, and if you can’t convince the others of your relationship, or you end the agreement before the six months are up, the money goes to Tilly and Ethan!”

She turns serious for a moment while Izzy gasps in horror over what she’s just said. Grandma knows this will stop her from pulling out or breaking the rules; she’d rather I had it all than either her brother or sister. I bite back a smile, thinking how well played that was.

“Seriously? You would give those two even more money?” Izzy stands, sounding and looking utterly furious over the notion. “You said you didn’t even like them!”

“I know, and they are the last people who deserve it, but if I gave it to charity, it wouldn’t give you the same incentive to stick with it,” she explains. “The knowledge that they will gain if you fail should be enough to keep you going, my darling.”

“Grr… I only have to act loved up in public, right? Behind closed doors, I can be me, right?” Izzy clarifies once again, to which Grandma nods with a huge smile on her face. Izzy closes her eyes in defeat before silently nodding.

“Lovely,” Grandma practically beams. “Well, I best let you go and get Izzy’s things from her ‘apartment’, if that’s what youcan call it. A health hazard is a more apt description, but there we are. Theo, I trust you will go with her to help?”

“Of course,” I reply, standing to lead her out, “what kind of fiancé would I be if I let her go by herself?” I smile smugly at Izzy behind Grandma’s back, only to see her angry, narrowed eyes and a scowl on her face. I then walk Grandma to the door where her driver is waiting to take her back home.

“Look after her, Theo,” she says, dropping the smiley act she just gave Izzy. She looks so concerned; I fear for her mental health as well as her granddaughter’s. “I’m counting on you.” I nod firmly. “And try to have fun! She won’t keep you standing still for long,” she giggles, and we hug goodbye before she gets into the car, and I wave her off.

I then walk slowly back inside with my hands in my pockets, preparing myself for Izzy’s reaction to all that’s just transpired. She’s still in the living room, but she’s talking to someone.

“No, no, that’s ok…” she says with warmth in her voice, a complete contrast to how she’s been speaking to me. “I’m glad she did, how can I help?”

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