Page 34 of The Husband Contract

“And why is that?”

“Because I don’t want to be a bad guy. I feel… manipulative.”

“Why is that?”

“Because she looks at me like her feelings are real. She’s really responding to me, and it makes me feel bad.”

“So what you’re telling me is, this girl is like the next Angelina Jolie or Halle Berry?”

“Yeah, she’s like Cameron Diaz—only hotter and funnier.”

“Wow. You sound like you’ve got a thing for her.”

“I don’t,” I insist. “I just understand why Sergio was drawn to her. She’swarmin a way a lot of women aren’t. She asks real questions. She listens. And I’m not used to that. I’m not used to women wanting to know about me as aperson, as opposed to what I have or what I can offer.”

“So she’s smart. She hasn’t brought up your money?”

“Not once.”

“Has she asked you what you do for a living?”

“No.”

He pauses. “That tells you everything right there.”

“What do you mean?”

“What’s the first question most women ask a man? His name. After that, his age. And then, Sebastian, they ask what he does for a living.”

“Fine,” I mutter, knowing he is correct.

“But she hasn’t asked you, has she?”

“No.”

“And you know why?”

“No, but I think you’re going to tell me.”

“She hasn’t asked because shealready knows.She already knows who you are because she screwed over Sergio. She knows your family has money. And she’s thinking her luck has quadrupled—because now she’s got the older brother, who’s better looking, has more money, and actually seems into her more than Sergio was.”

I exhale heavily. “So what you’re saying?—”

“What I’msayingis,” he interrupts, “you went there for a reason, Sebastian. And that reason wasn’t to fall for the same woman who took your brother for a ride.”

“You’re right.” I pause. “You do realize that’s why I called you this morning. I was feeling conflicted. Like maybe she wasn’t so bad. Maybe she wasn’t preying on Sergio.” I sigh. “But I have the data. Louisa did the research. She’s the one, and she’s done it to multiple men.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to make her fall for me. I’m going to make her think I’ve fallen for her, and then I’m going to pull the rug out from under her feet.”

“You’re going to pull the rug out from under her feet?”

“Not literally.”

“I know that.” He laughs. “So tell me this, do you think you’re going to sleep with her?”

“I don’t know. What Icantell you is that I want to,” I admit honestly.