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“She's had a few interviews on blogs and TikTok, probably why she’s so good with marketing and PR. And her parents own a bookstore where she’s worked since she was a kid.”
I already knew that too.
“According to her dating profile, family is her first priority, but she also considers her career to be important,” Drew continued. “She enjoys reading – which makes sense for obvious reasons – going to the theater and baseball games. When asked what she’s looking for on the site, she said, ‘a partner who wants to spend the rest of our lives building a happily-ever-after.’”
Shit.
He took another bite of sushi, chewed, and washed it down with water before continuing. He glanced at my plate. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
I’d forgotten I even had food. How did I go about getting the woman in my bed if she was the happy-ever-after type?Fuck.
“So, when are you going to tell her?” he asked.
Downing the sake in my cup, I poured the last in the bottle and debated ordering another.. “Tell her what?”
“That you want to ‘fake’ marry her?”
I leaned back, surprised at his question. “MarryJessica Ellis? Are you nuts? Didn’t you just explain to me that she is the total opposite of who I am? Opposite of everything my books teach?”
“Come on. You like her. Don’t try and pretend that’s not why you asked me to look into her?” He shook his head. “It makes her perfect for your little social experiment when you think about it. You have your view on what relationships and marriages are and why they’re a waste. She has a completely opposite viewpoint. A real challenge makes for a better book.”
“You think so?” I sipped on my drink and turned the idea over in my head. Ididwant the experiment to be the real thing.
After a minute or so of silence, Drew added, “You can put your opinions up against hers and see if you can find ways to counter whatever arguments she makes. It’ll make for a better book, and I know you like a good challenge.”
I nodded in agreement. I did love a challenge, and his reasoning was sound.
“It could work…ifshe agrees to it. This book could be huge. Bigger than anything we’ve done before,” he said.
And that cinched it.
“That’s what I like about you, Drew. You keep your eye on the bottom line. Let’s do it.” Toasting him, I drained my glass, and decided I didn’t want more to drink or eat. I had plans to make.
Drew set down his glass. “We’d have to be very careful with how things are worded. There can’t be any question of consent to come back and bite us in the ass. It all needs to be legal and aboveboard. No possible loopholes.”
“Of course.” I smiled. “It’ll all be professional. Business contracts written and checked by legal. We’ll negotiate with Jessica. She’ll agree to our terms, and in return, we’ll offer her something she wants.”
The best part was, I already knew exactly what she wanted, and I was the only person who could give it to her.
“And if you end up hurting this woman?” Drew asked, his voice somber.
“How? She has everything to win and nothing to lose. How could she possibly get hurt?” I pulled out my wallet and dished out a couple of bills. “What does it matter, anyway? She already thinks I’m a jackass. I can only work up from here.”
* * *
Forty-five minutes later, the rough draft of a business plan lay in front of me, and Anamaria was escorting Jessica Ellis into the office.
I’d had my assistant bring in some croissants from the bakery across the street, and as Jessica took a seat, Anamaria offered coffee. Jessica declined, her face a polite, professional mask, although a hint of wariness lurked in her eyes. I could only imagine what Jessica thought she was doing here.
Once Anamaria closed the door, I smiled at the woman across from me.
She didn’t return the smile. Crossing her legs, she smoothed a hand down the front of a pair of slim-fitting trousers that ended a few inches above her trim ankles. They were a cheerfully bright shade of green. Too bright, in my opinion, and paired with a patterned top of white with detailing in the same green with some hot pink thrown in. It was bold and I wondered if she’d done it purposefully to look different than how she did yesterday. The fact that her hair was down, a riot of curls reaching just below her shoulders.
One thing, however, was the same. She looked cool and collected, her lips unsmiling. She still didn’t like me. As I continued to study her, her mouth tightened slightly.
My cock twitched, remembering my vivid imaginings about those lips.
“If I’m being fired, Mr. Thomas, please just come out with it and say so. It’s a pretty nice day, and I wouldn’t mind spending the rest of it outside if I have the time off.”