“It doesn’t?” Did she find him attractive on any other day? Was it just right now she didn’t? Her gaze stayed focused on him, but he’d certainly mentally undressed her a few times, even in the unflattering uniform she wore.
“No.”
“It’s a good thing I don’t need to look attractive to get you to do something for me.”
“I don’t like you.”
“Not a lot of people do while I’m negotiating. You’re like a bunch of people I know.”
She closed the door. “Do you want coffee?”
“Yes. Non—”
“Non-dairy milk, I know.”
“Another little tidbit you learned about me.”
“You’re a vegan, Caleb, it doesn’t take a genius to realize you don’t drink dairy.”
Her apartment was small but beautiful. He loved the scent of lavender.
Leaning against the kitchen doorway, he watched her. He paid careful attention to her also drinking the same kind of milk as he did. Strange.
“You’re here to convince me to lie to your parents and family.”
“You don’t have to see it as lying.”
“It is what it is. There’s no way I’m going to pretend to be your girlfriend.”
“Why not?” he asked, indignant.
“I would never, ever, you know, do anything with you.”
“You wouldn’t?”
“No.” Blunt. No hesitation.
“Why not?”
“You’re not my type.” She forced a laugh as if it was so obvious. To him, it wasn’t.
“You’ve got a type?”
“Even you do. Mostly they’re as rich as you are. I can’t even believe I’m still talking to you about this. It’s not going to happen. You’re talking about lying, and with your little trick down there of convincing the press to follow you, you make me realize it will be like that if I agree to this.”
“It wouldn’t.”
“Don’t lie. World-renowned asshole bachelor settles down and takes a girl home. Please, I can already see the front cover. Not to mention all the nasty things they’d say about me. I’m not blind.”
“I had no idea you talk this much when I hired you.”
“You didn’t. I was the only one you haven’t complained about.” She handed him a cup but rather than stand, she went into her sitting room and he watched her curl up in her chair, staring at him.
“I’m not going to make this easy for you. This is your pitch. Not mine.” She blew across her drink and he happened to notice how plump those lips were. He really shouldn’t be thinking about her lips or about anything like that.
“I want you to be my girlfriend.”
“No.”
“It would only be for a couple of weeks.”
“Tell me why you need a girlfriend.”
“Not going to happen.”
“Look, if this is in any way to impress your father or your position at your company, do you really think I’m so stupid to believe that once we’ve convinced your parents, it’ll all be over?”
“Yes.”
She burst out laughing. “I thought you were a smart man, Caleb.”
“I am.” He scowled, not happy with her humor at his expense.
“Do you really think if whatever you’re hoping to convince your parents of, they won’t instantly revoke or stop whatever it is you want as soon as they realize your loving girlfriend ceases to exist?”
“Oh,” he said.
“Yeah, oh. Finally. I think I got through to you. Took long enough.”
“It doesn’t have to be like that.”
“Yeah, it does.”
“Look, all I need is for you to play the loving girlfriend and it’s a start. I don’t put an end date on this, and I treat you like a queen.”
“You’re asking me to lie, and I’m a terrible liar.”
“It can’t be that hard. Come on, is there something you want but you can’t afford?”
“Not going to happen, and no. Everything I have, I’ve earned, thank you very much.”
“Stop being so difficult.”
“Caleb, you’re asking me to lie. I pride myself on being truthful about everything.”
“Little white lies are perfectly fine.”
She rolled her eyes.
He shouldn’t be finding that cute. “This will help my father,” he said. “It could also help me.”
“Why?”
“Well, I can’t just go and find a steady girlfriend. I don’t want him to be worrying about the company every single day.”
“You’re being truthful right now?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand,” she said.
Lying was the only way. “My dad needs to retire because if he doesn’t, his heart won’t be able to take the stress.” What the fuck was he doing? His father hadn’t even had a heart attack. He was fit and healthy, and raring to go.
“I don’t recall hearing anything bad about your dad.”
“We keep that information close. It’s personal. The last thing we want to do is … upset him.”
He felt her gaze on him and he knew he was the worst kind of an asshole. What man used his father to get what he wanted?
“I don’t like you right now,” she said.
“Is that because you’re going to cave?”
“You’re serious? He’s in serious danger if you don’t prove to him that you’re in a stable relationship?”
He nodded. “The whole board knows what I’m like. They only see the playboy and I don’t know how to stop them from looking deeper at me.”
He was a first-class asshole, but he was willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
****
The next day
Lauren felt sick to her stomach. She shouldn’t have agreed to this.
As she entered Caleb Turner’s apartment, her hands were clammy, and she just wanted to clean and get the hell out of there.
“Yes, I’ll take it easy, Dad. I promise. No, no need to come over. I’m sorted. I’ve got everything I need.”
She stopped at the sound of his voice.
Why did he have to have an ill father? She’d tried to look for any kind of media coverage on his father’s failing health, but like he’d promised, she hadn’t found anything. His father was well-respected and they’d actually listened to his case to not publish anything that could jeopardize the company.
It was really sad because she admired Timothy Turner.
“Love you. Bye.” Then to her, he said, “You made it.”
“It’s my job. You like to have your place cleaned every single day apart from weekends.”
“And you’ve got nowhere else to be?” Caleb asked.
“Nope. Just here.”
Caleb had complained enough about the standards of the cleaners that she was granted all day to clean this penthouse apartment, five days a week. She could have been at multiple places, but instead, she busied herself with his place and it was immaculate. She even wondered if she was going to turn into someone who chased his dust before it landed on the surface. “I don’t think I can do this.”