Page 23 of Try Me

“No problem.”

“And you have to do everything I tell you to do.”

Pearl laughed. “I do what I like.”

“You won’t make it without me,” he said.

“Sure I will,” she said. “It might take a little longer, but I’ll get there.”

Nate cracked a smile. “I like your determination.” His eyes flicked over her. “I think we can make this work.”

The waiter came to the table to take their orders.

“They’re famous for their onion tart,” Nate said.

“Fine,” Pearl agreed. She wasn’t planning on sticking around to eat anyway.

When the waiter left, Nate stabbed out his cigarette, then pulled an envelope from his pocket. Pearl saw her name printed on the front.

“You came prepared,” she said.

“It’s the secret to my success,” Nate said.

Pearl opened the envelope and pulled out a multiple-page contract. She read over it carefully, noting the percentages and the terms.

“This looks good,” she said, folding her hands over the papers. “But I want something else, too.”

“What?”

“There’s a talent exhibition before the Duke contest in Oahu. I want to be in it.”

Nate offered her a pen. “Anything else?”

Pearl took the pen and scrawled her signature. “No.”

Nate gathered the papers and placed them aside, then drew out another stack of folded papers. “Fill that out,” he said.

The first page was standard employment information. Name, address, birthdate, but the second page was a non-discloser agreement. Pearl looked at it closely.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“It’s a non-disclosure agreement,” Nate said. “That means —”

“I know what an NDA is,” Pearl interrupted. Her eyebrows drew together as she stared down at Declan’s name in print. “Why is Declan mentioned?”

Nate took a moment to pour champagne. “There’s a job I need you to do while you’re in Oahu.”

“What job?”

“Sign the NDA and I’ll tell you.”

Pearl read the agreement closely, picked up the pen and signed. Nate gathered the papers, folded them and put aside.

“I need you to be Bishop’s girlfriend for the week,” he said.

“What?” Pearl asked, confused. “I thought he had a girlfriend”

“That blonde bimbo?” Nate asked, sneering. “No. Not really.”

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