Page 2 of Hired By the Enemy

I can’t screw this job up.

The plane touches down with a jolt.

I switch my phone back on to find an urgent message from Erin.

Sorry, I just realized I sent you the wrong profile. I’m sending you the right one now.

My stomach does a nosedive. Great. So my client isn’t Preston. I’ve got about five minutes to quickly look over the info about my actual client.

Unfortunately, when I open the attachment, it comes up blank.

I frantically dial Erin’s number, but she doesn’t pick up.

Fuck. Looks like I’m winging it.

The nerves multiply in my stomach, and I fight them back.

I’ve got this. I can hang out at a resort and play pretend boyfriend to some loaded guy for a week. It actually doesn’t matter who the guy is. I can nail this.

The instructions on the job sheet are that I’ll be met at baggage claim by my fake boyfriend, and we’ll travel to the resort together as a chance to get to know each other. So when Istep into the baggage claim area, I immediately start scanning for… Who am I actually scanning for? Not Preston. That’s all I know.

Another flight has just arrived as well, so there’s a lot of talking and laughing people.

How am I supposed to find my client? Fuck. I haven’t messed up the first step, have I?

I finally move so I can see past a large group of Australian tourists, and tucked behind them is a guy holding up a sign with my name.

Relief shoots through me.

Until my eyes drift downward, and I clock the guy holding the paper.

Then, the emotion inside me is the opposite of relief.

Holy fuck.

You’ve got to be joking.

Chapter Two

Matthew

I arrive at the airport, breathless.

Shit.

Have the time gods smiled on me? Have I made it on time?

There doesn’t seem to be a good-looking guy hovering unclaimed around the baggage claim, so it looks like I have.

Thank god.

I unfold the sign in my hand. I made it before I left the resort, borrowing a pen and a piece of cardboard from reception. It was ridiculous how much time I spent carefully handwriting William’s name, as if the success of this week depended on my perfect penmanship.

My overfocus on the details is my way of coping with my nerves. I’m still embarrassed about my decision to hire someone to be my date.

But I didn’t know what else to do.

This is my annual retreat for my senior management team, and as a result of our stellar year, I’ve splurged on taking everyone to a Hawaiian resort.