"Did I say something wrong?" he asked.
Was this how rich people lived?
I'd been struggling for years to pay off my student loans. I had to squat with Lindsay---who turned out to be the biggest bitch on earth---because I couldn't afford to rent out a place and there he was, offering to buy me a house. It was almost unfair.
I didn't even have the luxury to be offended. I was homeless, in debt and couldn't even afford to pay Mom's hospital bills.
Damien had her moved to McPherson Hospital--the most exclusive hospital in the country. Just like that. Apparently, the owner was a friend of his.
He bumped her up into a VIP room and paid for the entire wing to keep her undisturbed.
"I'm grateful for everything you've done for Mom, but I'm not doing this for the money," I said.
It was important to let him know that. I knew he had good intentions but my pride was a little bruised. I felt like a sellout.
"I know that."
I raised a brow. "You do?"
"Yes. I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this for me," he said.
"To make this work, we need to keep up appearances."
That was true. "Okay, then."
He passed me the document. "Now that we've come to an agreement…"
"Another thing," I said.
He sighed. "What?"
"There is no way in hell I am carrying your heir."
Bella's words from the other night haunted me. 'As a Brown, you're expected to bear an heir.' Like we were in some kind of medieval movie.
"Rule number 2 rules that out, don't you think?"
No sex.
I grabbed the pen he handed to me, my eyes narrowing. "One last question."
"What now?"
I placed the pen down and held his gaze. "Why are you doing this?"
"What?"
"This," I held up the paper. "This whole marriage scam. I'm doing this because I want to get back at Lindsay and Drake."
I put the piece of paper down. "Why are you going along with this?"
"There's something I need to find out," he said.
I remembered him saying something like that before, but he never went into detail.
"What is it? And why do you need me to find it?" I needed to know.
"Will that change anything? You knowing?" he asked.
I shook my head. "But it'd help me understand."
He sighed. "Fine."
I leaned closer and waited.
"I need to find out the truth about how my mom and brother died," he said.
I'd heard about the death of his brother from Oliver. I couldn't imagine how he felt to have heard the news.
"I heard it was an accident," I said.
He stood up and walked towards the bar. "It's what they'd like you to think."
They?
"Who's they?"
He poured the drink silently and took a gulp. "The thing is, Aria, I don't think it was just an accident."
"You don't?"
He shook his head and leaned on the bar. "I don't. Which is why I need to get to the bottom of it."
"I see." I paused. "Where do I come in?"
"You, Aria, are the key to finding out what really happened," he said.
My brows furrowed in confusion. "I am?"
He walked towards me slowly, a knowing look in his eyes. "Dad doesn't trust me yet. He's always wanted me to take over the company."
"I never wanted to. I always thought my brother was the best fit," he said.
The pieces were starting to come together bit by bit. "And you think your dad has something to do with his accident?"
It didn't make sense. Why would Mr. Brown want to hurt his son?
He paused, a sad look in his eyes. "I hope not."
I watched as the thoughts swirled behind his eyes. His jaw clenched as he stared into space. He looked like he was holding something back.
"Anyway," he shook his head. "I need to get to the bottom of it, which is where you come in."
"I see."
He sat down. "You need me to get back at your ex and I need you to gain father's trust. This marriage is beneficial to both of us."
He took the pen and held it out to me. "So, what do you say?"
I grabbed the pen, our fingers slightly brushing. A shiver ran through me at his touch.
I stared at the document, at the dotted line where 'signature' was written on it.
"Deal."
I wrote my name on the piece of paper and passed it to him. He took it with a smile and wrote down his name.
"Great!" he sealed the contract in a brown envelope and walked to his desk. He slid it into a drawer then turned to me with a smile.
"Let me show you around your new home, Mrs. Brown."
Mrs. Brown. The name felt weird to me. I was supposed to be Mrs. Wallace, not Mrs. Brown. I couldn't believe I was married to my boss.
I walked behind him slowly, staring at the huge paintings on the wall.
"Do you live alone in this big house?" I asked.
He nodded. "Pretty much."
He opened a door and my mouth dropped open. The room was twice as big as the house I grew up in.
It was painted blue, with golden ornaments hanging from the ceiling and a gigantic painting of a deer beside the bed.
There was an entire living room in the bedroom.
"This is your room," he said.
"All mine?" I couldn't believe it.
"All yours."
I sat on the bed; the mattress was soft and fluffy. It smelled like roses and cinnamon.
"Do you have anything you wanna bring with you?" he asked.
"All my stuff is still at Lindsay's," I said.
"I'll buy you new ones."
"What?"
"New clothes, shoes…" His gaze softened. "Lingerie…"
I stared at him, unimpressed. "Is that your solution to everything? Money?"
He looked taken aback by my tone. "Yes."
"I see."
I stood up and walked towards the door. "Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to catch some shut eye."
He nodded, catching my drift. "My room is across the hall if you want anything."
He paused. "Goodnight, Mrs. Brown."
I shut the door behind him and heaved a sigh.
Mrs. Brown.
My new identity. For a whole year.
This should be fun.