"One million to be your fake fiancee?" I finally said. It came out more like a statement than a question.
"That is correct. Oh, and there's one more thing–no falling in love. This is strictly business." Adrian stated.
I scoffed. "Are you afraid I'll fall for you? Please, I have standards."
He stood. "This is no joke Ms. Hart. I can't afford emotional complications."
"Rest assured. That will never happen." I smiled.
"Glad we made that clear." He paused. "So…do you accept it or not?"
A voice in my head kept shouting that this was a bad idea despite the rules. I shouldn't get involved with this man. I made up my mind and I replied–
"Deal." I said, stretching out my hand.
_ _
Back home, I found Hazel waiting.
Her face lit up like fireworks. "Okay, let me get this straight." She started pacing. "You were at Adrian Rossi's penthouse." She stopped and stared.
"I was."
She resumed pacing. "Adrian Rossi–as in the well known billionaire? The one who is every girl's dream?" she stopped to look at me again.
"Debatable. But yes, that one."
She spun again. "Not only did you see him, he asked you to be his fiancée!" She says fiancée in a high pitched tone.
"Umm…fake fiancee."
"And you accepted."
"Yes?"
She froze, eyes wide open. As if holding her breath.
"Umm, Hazel?"
She exhaled dramatically, then her face lit up again. "I don't know, M. This is only—"
Her eyes sparkled. "The best news ever! I mean, it's kind of an act, but still… it's Adrian freaking Rossi!"
Then she did a dramatic "oohh" and collapsed like she'd fainted.
I sighed and shake my head. "Nope. I'm not dealing with this." Then I crossed her and went into the bedroom to go freshen up.
_ _
A few hours later
"You can't seriously pretend like nothing happened!" Hazel appeared behind me while I was making the bed.
I sighed. She wouldn't shut up about him.
"I mean, Adrian Rossi!" She said it like she was struggling for breath."
"I know, okay?!" I screamed, then sighed tiredly. "But he offered me a watering amount of money. I couldn't reject it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Hazel face became calm. "I just want to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into. You know I only want what's best for you."
"I'll be careful." Then she gives me a hug.
"So…how is he in person?" Her face lit up again.
I rolled my eyes. That one's easy. "He's–" but then I paused. How is he? The words that were supposed to come to my mind were arrogant, snob and jerk. But for some reason they didn't. Instead my first thought were charming, enticing, alluring.
"That good, huh?" Hazel smirked.
"What? No. Strictly business. And he's not my type."
"Oh, come on. I saw the look on your face." She eyed me.
"There was no look on my face." I crossed my arms.
"Look M, I know after everything your ex did, you've lost your faith in love but–"
"There's no buts, Haze. He's off limits."
She raised her hands in surrender. "Okay. Alright." Then she laughed and hopped on the bed. "Goodnight M."
The next day
It's already eight in the morning. I just came out of the bathroom and I'm dressing up. Hazel already left for work. Adrian said his lawyer will be meeting me soon, so I have to get dressed.
If Adrian's lawyer wants to meet me, he's going to make me as I am–ripped shorts and all.
I threw on my crop leather jacket over a green halter top, paired it with my favourite high-waisted denim and black flats. Casual, confident and just rebellious enough to remind them that I'm not here to be toyed with.
I was brushing my hair when the doorbell rang. "Oh, he's here already?" I go to open the door. But it wasn't Mr. Sparrow…
"This is the house I told you about. Please follow me." Thomas said to the man whom he came with.
"What the–" he caught me off guard. "Mr. Thomas!"
The person he was with was scribbling something on a note book. "So…?" my landlord asked the tall, middle aged man.
"The value of these furnitures is just enough to cover the debt."
What?! I go to where they're both standing. "These are my furnitures! I demand an explanation!"
"This is my lawyer." My landlord stated. "And we're here to assess which of your valuables can be sold to cover your debt."
"What? You have no right!"
"Your three-day extension is over Mia." He looked at me like I was wasting his time.
"Failure to pay rent on time is a breach of your lease agreement." The lawyer beside him says.
"Mr Thomas, I told I'm working on getting the rent. You gave me three days, today's the third day and it's not even noon yet!"
"I'm sick of your excuses!" He burst out. "I'm going to sell whatever I can to cover what you owe. And then you're out of here."
"Our primary concern is recovering the unpaid rent. Your personal feelings are not our concern." His lawyer said.
Anger was already building up inside of me. "Evicting me won't solve anything."
"Maybe, but it'll teach you a lesson. You're nothing but a lousy tenant. A lost case, a deadbeat, a–"
"I'd choose my next words carefully, if I were you."
A familiar voice. I quickly turn around. There he was, with his arms crossed in front of his chest, looking even better than I remembered him. Adrian. I sucked in a breath.
"This is a private matter. Stay out of it." Mr. Thomas blurted out.
"This doesn't look like a private matter when someone is going through someone else's belongings."
"I can do whatever I please. This is my house." At this rate the landlord's face was turning red from anger.
"Ah. We can take care of that." Adrian brought out his phone and dialed a number. Then he spoke to someone on the other side of the phone about a contract on an apartment. My apartment. "Very well. Thank you." He ended the call. "Not anymore."
"W-what do mean?" The landlord looked pissed.
"Don't you hear me? I just bought the house and I'm throwing both of you out."
"What?!" Now the colour from the landlord's face is gone.
"That incapable lawyer of yours can check it out."
"What nonsense is he talking about?!" He questioned his lawyers.
The lawyer looked shocked. "Mr. Thomas, I'm afraid he's telling the truth."
"Mia, the house is now yours." Adrian told me. "You can keep it, burn it, do whatever you please with it."
"But-but." The landlord stuttered.
"Personally, I think a renovation would be nice though. We can talk about that later. In the meantime," he turned to the now ex-landlord, and his lawyer. "You two can see yourself out." His voice was deep, and commanding.
I stare at him, still trying to digest what just happened. He can be quite the gentleman when he's not a jerk. The two men leave… or stormed out, actually.
"Come on, Mia, let's get our of here." He walks out, and I quickly carry my purse and follow him.