[Bianca]
It should have been great to see my oldest friend in the world. It wasn't. I was lying about who I was. Now so was she. This would not end well.
All four of us sat down at the table. What felt like an intimate, cozy space moments ago, now felt suffocating. My Brianna Chase magic was waning. I had just enough left to get my message across.
"No," I said abruptly, when Olivia made Brianna the offer of a lifetime.
Mind you, it's not that I was a stranger to accepting deals in Brianna's stead. That just wasn't what I came here for. I was still seething. She did not get to use me anymore.
"No? What do you mean no? Being the face of Hunter Airways will put you on the map," said Olivia, aghast with shock, her tone getting louder and more agitated by the second.
I couldn't keep my eyes from traveling to and settling on Cole, who was looking at me too. From the corner of my eye, I caught Olivia frantically looking first at Macy, then back and forth between Cole l and I. At this rate, the girl was going to give herself whiplash.
"What she means is—" Macy jumped in, desperately trying to salvage the situation.
I glared at Macy. The penny dropped. Macy 'Jones', Brianna's so called agent, was here to use me too. Well fuck that noise. A pang went through my chest. How could she ask me to help Brianna, knowing what I had been through?
"I think Miss Chase can speak for herself," said Cole, stupidly cool, calm and collected.
He sat there with his fingers intertwined and his legs crossed, completely at ease like some Greek god sitting on a throne.
Instead of putting me at ease, he had me doubting myself. Even though I knew very well that my answer could not be changed. Signing a contract in Brianna's name was fraud. I was in enough trouble as it was.
It was never my intent to go this far. All I wanted was some time away. Macy nudged my arm, then gave me a pleading look. I decided to avoid looking directly at her from then on.
"Brianna Chase would never give up an opportunity like this. That would look suspicious, wouldn't it?" Macy quipped with a put on laugh, not so subtly unveiling to me how this must look to them.
Was she threatening to out me to them? Blackmailing me? No, surely not. Exactly what happened to you if you're found committing identity fraud thousands of miles from home? My lawyer brain ticked off charges that could be filed against me in my head. I raised the wine glass toy lips and took a huge gulp.
"I'm on vacation," I said sheepishly, with both women now gripping one of my arms each. "Offer me the job back in LA. Brianna Chase doesn't work on vacation," I reaffirmed, nearly choking on the wine.
Olivia tossed my arm aside and draped both of hers around Cole's neck.
"Cole," she whined with a pout. "Say something. She will listen to you. Billy's not above sleeping with you to seal the deal," Olivia insisted, nodding her head frantically.
"Nor is Brianna," Macy concurred, which was the truth.
My sister would have dropped her panties for Cole Hunter with or without the contract offer. No coaxing needed. A bead of sweat went down my spine.
"I absolutely am," I exclaimed anyway. "People change," I added feebly.
Cole smirked and my cheeks turned crimson. He had me feeling naked somehow as he eyed me up and down. I rubbed my thighs against each other.
Please, floor open up beneath me and swallow me whole.
"How do I change you back?" Cole asked, still smiling as he looked down at Olivia. "Kidding," he said with a wink.
I fanned my face as subtly as I could with my hand.
Was he kidding? Didn't sound like it.
"This is a legitimate offer, Miss Chase. You charmed the wits out of me in Milan.You don't have to whore yourself out to me. Unless you want to," he said, voice velvety and husky.
My heart constricted. He brought up Milan again. That actually was me. Brianna flaked on the job that would end up opening doors for her. Naturally I took her place. I never thought much of it. Clearly I made an impression on him though. He kept gushing about it. Fuck me for being flattered.
Olivia's arms around Cole's neck. His annoyingly perfect, pearly whites being flashed at her. The heat radiating from my cheeks. I alternated between Olivia pulling on Billy's tie as she continued her childish tantrum and Macy. She bore an urgent, albeit apologetic and yet still pleading face. It always worked before. Why wouldn't she try and manipulate me into this?
"If my brother's not your type, what about me then?" Olivia asked, whipping herself towards me and leaning in as she grabbed my hand with both of hers. "I'm more than happy to get the job done, if you know what I mean."
Olivia looked at me the same way men did everytime they approached me since I got here.
Bedroom eyes. Puckered lips. Too close. Did she just proposition me?
"Sorry Liv, from the looks of it no one but your brother can get that job done for my girl right now," said a very unhelpful Macy.
"Brother?" I asked, the word slipping out of my mouth unintentionally as my mind struggled to keep up.
By now Cole had tears collecting in his eyes from how hard he was choking back the laughter.
"Brother. Same last name and everything," he confirmed with a coy nod.
Was I that obvious? My mortification had reached the point where I could no longer look him in the eye.