Vincent Luciano (P.O.V.)
Hook, line, and sinker.
The moment I made my offer and saw Riley's face go blank I knew I had successfully won her over. Money could buy anything, after all.
"So, what are the terms?" she asked, and I found myself grinning widely.
"Let us discuss them, shall we?" I suggested.
I unlocked my phone and found the contract I created over the week.
Liam stood up from the table, deciding to give us some privacy. He went over to the counter to keep the other girl company as she stared wistfully over at us, obviously curious, but not wanting to invade our privacy.
Riley watched me warily and I could almost see the inner struggle she was having. While I could not blame her for having trouble agreeing to this, I still could not understand why she would even have a problem with it. I do not see much wrong in what I offered I think it is a great opportunity. We were using each other. It is literally how all business deals worked.
"Do you not think ten thousand dollars is a bit much?" she asked.
"Not at all," I responded truthfully.
If I was completely honest, I doubt I would even notice the money missing from my account. Not wanting to be too immodest, I kept that little bit of information to myself. Riley let out a little laugh that sounded more like a sigh.
"Alright, if you are so sure about it I guess."
"I have all of the basics laid out here," I started, setting my phone down on the table and pushing it over to her.
"Read through it and let me know if there is anything that you would like to change." She pushed a lock of her blonde hair out of her face, inspecting my phone.
"You constructed a contract?"
"Yes, this is a business deal after all." I reiterated.
"I just thought that we might as well do it the right way. I outlined what we will have to do together. We will be seeing each other multiple times per week. I want to be as convincing as possible. All monetary needs will be handled by me, that is, meals, clothes, and food. If there is anything else that comes up, it will be on me so there is nothing for you to worry about."
Her head snapped back up.
"Clothes?" Riley asked.
I nodded.
"I will purchase the required attire for you."
"Um, may I ask what is wrong with my clothes?"
"I mean if you already have dresses, I will check them out, but if I do not find them suitable I will have to buy you something else."
I could tell from Riley's expression that she was probably feeling very defensive, and I fought a smile. I figured it would be like that. I do not understand why some people had such a problem with other people buying them stuff. I could never figure that out.
"What? Do I not look rich enough to be with you?" she said sarcastically and rolled her eyes at me.
"Yes," I answered simply and bluntly because it was the truth.
Before Riley could speak, I cut in and I added, "I am not trying to offend you in any way, but we need to fool my mother into thinking you are of a higher class. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with you, Riley. As you said I know nothing about you. However, I do know my mom and she will not hesitate to stick her nose into our business if she does not believe you make a good figure annually." I explained.
Riley pursed her lips together, looking a little embarrassed. I do not know why she felt embarrassed.
"I do not know." Riley trailed.
Was she planning on changing her mind again?
"If you are worried, just know that we would not have to interact with my mother often."
If Riley were to go through with this business deal with me, then I will have to keep Riley's exposure to my mother very much limited. Even I did not want to interact with my mother often.
"If I have to change my wardrobe then I will buy my own things," she told me.
I frowned a little.
"I am sure you do not have the money to waste, so please do not worry about it."
Her cheeks became tinged with pink.
"If you are going to keep making comments about how poor I am then I am not willing to go through with this. It is not like I am homeless and starving and I feel like it is quite embarrassing for you to constantly act like I am."
"You work two jobs though," I said.
"Yeah, so I would not homeless and starving," she snapped back at me. "I make enough money to live by. Just not enough to live as lavishly as you."
I sat back in my seat a little, watching her. She was quite the spirited girl.
I liked it.
"How old are you?" I asked her as the thought crossed my mind. I honestly should have found out her age before I proposed this deal.
Her mouth almost dropped.
"That is right! You do not even know my age! What if I an under-aged? You did not even think about that, did you?"
"I know Michelangelo's would not hire anyone underage, so I know that you would be at least twenty-one."
She looked young, so I figured she could not be much older than twenty-one.
"How old are you?" Riley asked me.
"I am twenty-five, turning twenty-six this year," I answered.
"On Christmas," she said.
I was surprised she remembered. It sent a little bit of warmth through my body. Usually, the only person who remembered was my mother's secretary.
"At most our age gap is four years, which is a pretty common difference."
She pressed her lips to one side of her face and looked away from me.
I took a sip of my coffee, enjoying the acidic taste on my tongue.
"Do we have to kiss?" she suddenly asked, turning back to me.
"As it is a common thing for couples to do and we need to sell this then yes."
Her eyes grew round.
"Maybe this would not be a good idea."
Was she that worried about a kiss? Kisses were nothing. I grabbed her hand—noting how soft it was— and swiftly pressed a kiss to it.
"That was not so bad was it?" I asked with a grin.
She seemed to be in shock for a moment, her cheeks coloring slightly. She then wiped her hand off on her apron.
I raised an eyebrow.
Why did she need to go as far as wiping it off? Many people were dying for a kiss from me.
"I will not kiss you any more than what is necessary," I promised.
Secretly, I would not mind kissing her more though. She was cute and seemed hygienic enough.
"Mainly around my relatives if we happen to be around my relatives."
"You have thought this through already haven't you," she muttered.
I shrugged.
"Well yeah, I would not want to marry someone that I do not love," I said.
Partial truth. I also did not want to get married, period. However, if I were to do this, then I might as well go for the romantic facet.
Nodding slowly, Riley pushed my phone back at me. I knew she had not read all of it, but I did not say anything.
"I may not know what your life is like, but I do not think anyone should be forced to marry someone else, but I digress. I also need the money, so I will help you."
Perfect.
I knew she would not be able to resist for very long. My offer was more than gracious. I could have probably found someone else and paid them way less than what I offered her, but I did not want anyone else. She was the perfect candidate. I know for sure that I would not mind spending the extra money on her.
"On a condition though."
This was unsurprising. There were always conditions.
She leaned toward me a bit, a tactic I would use to appeal to someone.
"When all this is said and done, I want you to tell everyone I broke up with you and not the other way around," she presented.
Just then, I caught myself leaning toward her too, but I quickly straightened my back.
"Why?"
"Hmm, something about the poor girl breaking the rich man's heart appeals to me," she responded, a playful smile crossing her face.
I nodded.
"I think I can agree to that term."
Besides, I think it would also be easier to explain why I was so heart-broken to my mother if she was the one to "break up" with me.
"But you have to agree to one of my conditions." I stated.
"What is that?" Riley asked and watched me wearily.
"You most definitely cannot fall in love with me," I said, holding her gaze.
Her pretty eyes widened slightly at my words, but they quickly narrowed.
"Trust me, that will not be a problem because first of all, you are not my type. I should be the one telling you not to fall for me."
She flipped her hair over her shoulder on the last word, holding her chin up high.
I was not sure how to feel. I was not her type? I was everyone's type. Why was she being so arrogant? I found myself folding my arms over my chest.
"You are not to my standards."
She raised an eyebrow and smiled a little.
"Then good. There should not be any problems."
Why did she sound so confident? Did she really not find me charming at all?
That is a good thing, I reminded myself. But still, I wanted her to find me a little bit charming.
"Sign the agreement," I said, pushing the phone back at her. "Right at the bottom."
"Is this really necessary?" she asked but swiped her finger across it anyway.
Satisfied, I took my phone back.
"Only as a precaution. I doubt you will back out anyway. Believe it or not, I make a pretty good boyfriend. Pretend or not."
"I will be the judge of that," she replied.
"Put my number in your phone and save it. The number on the receipt is my cell phone and that is where I can be reached. I want you to send me your work schedule so I can work around it. I also want you to write down your address, bank account number, and your body measurements,"
I listed, trying to remember everything important.
She watched me with an apprehensive expression on her face and I paused, waiting for her to comment. I knew she wanted to.
"Body measurements?" she said slowly.
"So, I can find the right size clothing for you," I replied.
My eyes scanned over her body. She looked to be five feet and maybe four or five inches tall. Medium build and breasts that were perhaps a bit too big for her form. I would not be able to estimate her size. She shifted and my eyes snapped right back to her face.
"I do not want any clothes that are like, made for my exact size if that is what you mean. Clothing from Target is fine."
Clothing from a chain store? Is that what she wore? Maybe that was why her breasts pushed against her white button-up so tightly.
"You cannot be seen with me in clothing from Target. And besides maybe if you got your clothing tailored to your custom measurement, your breasts would not be trying to escape your top like they are now. They are a bit larger than normal for your frame," I informed her wisely.
Her mouth dropped and her cheeks turned red. She opened and closed her mouth for a moment as if she was at a loss for words.
"Get out," she finally said.
"Excuse me?"
"Get out!" she repeated, her voice rising a few pitches.
I winced a little.
"Why—"
"Leave," she interjected, standing up from the table and grabbing me by the collar of my shirt and pulling it.
A little dumbfounded, I quickly grabbed my phone and allowed her to pull me out of my seat. Then I remembered how much the shirt I was wearing cost and I made her release it. She then decided to shove on my back, pushing me toward the door.
"What?" I asked, turning my head back to look at her.
She was glaring at me.
"Just leave. We are done for today."
Liam came up to us, looking just as confused as I felt. Riley blew out an angry huff of air at me and pointed at the door.
"Out now."
"Why?" I repeated, a hint of indignity in my voice.
Liam put a hand on my shoulder.
"Let us take our leave for today."
"But why?" I tried again, but he was already pushing me out the door.
It closed behind us with a slam and a tinkle of the bell. Once outside, I smoothed down my shirt, muttering under my breath. No one had ever pushed me around so much in my life. Where did Riley think she got off with the right to do so?
"What did you say to her?" Liam asked.
I turned to look at him, meanwhile glaring at him too. He thought this was my fault.
"I did not say anything bad. I just said that she should not shop at Target and that her breasts were too large for her shirt, and it was too tight."
He almost immediately burst out into laughter.
"What?" I asked.
Shaking his head, Liam placed a hand over his mouth, trying to smother it.
"What?" I said again, now irritated. Like how many times am I really going to ask for an explanation and not get it.
"I knew there was a reason as to why you were my best friend," he responded, clapping a hand onto my shoulder.
"Let us leave for today mate."
Still wondering what I did wrong, I walked to my car, the sound Liam's laughter following along behind me.