Page 50 of Brazen

I heard my voice. “Yeah, I had questions on being your fiancée.”

“Shoot.”

He wasn’t in the coffee shop the day I'd talked to Charlie. I would have noticed him.

“Would I have to live with you?” I heard myself ask.

“It would be best.”

Patterson shrugged. “Boring butler talking …” He fast-forwarded. “Let’s get to the next part.”

“Stop,” I said and hugged my waist. My feet were like lead.

Charlie asked me, “Okay, so can I answer anything else?”

“Does the job come with food?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then instead of writing me a check, which will make me feel like a whore?—“

“You’re not. You’d never.”

Tears formed in my eyes. I was toast.

Patterson said, “See, you called yourself the same thing.”

“Stop now.” I swiped at my face. My tears would only fuel his anger.

Patterson shrugged. “Fine, let me fast-forward to the end.”

“Charlie, you have yourself a six-month fiancée.”

“So we have a deal?”

“Yes, yes, we do.”

So Patterson knew Charlie and I were a lie. I rocked in my seat. “How did you get this?”

He shrugged. “I bugged your phone when I was fucking you, so I would know if you were cheating on me.”

“Eww.” I closed my eyes. Patterson was clearly a stalker and probably a criminal. Even if Miley got it taken down, he would still ruin my life.

Patterson said, “When I read the papers, I figured I should go and listen. So now let’s make the deal.”

I wasn’t sure I could move at all. My eyes felt like glass as I stared at him. “What deal?”

He folded his hands on the table. “You give me ten million dollars, and I go away.”

Might as well ask for a billion. My bank account was close to zero. I shrugged. “I don’t have ten million.”

He scooted his chair back. “Well, then you have twenty-four hours to meet me right here.”

Then he backed away to order himself a latte. I took a deep breath then ran out. As I made it to the sidewalk, Avril clutched my arm. “I took a lunch break. Are you okay?”

I hugged her. “Avril, yeah. I need to go and tell Charlie what happened.”

“What happened with Patterson?”