Page 31 of Mr. Aster
“You wouldn’t do that. I’ve researched you, and of all those bottom-feeding dumbasses you’ve been writing about, this will be your biggest story by a mile.”
Her expression told me I was right.
“You need this as much as I do,” she said.
“Do I?”
“Hmm,” she said in an exhale of nervousness and frustration. “Fine, but this is only to help my parents.”
I grinned, knowing she had no idea what she was in for, “Excellent. Now, I will inform my parents and Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell about how we’re in love—you more with me, of course?—
and remove my name from their roster of stallions to be auctioned.”
“No,” she instantly shook her head. “Jim and Avery can’t—well, Avery can’t know about this.”
“Theymustknow about this. They’re attending your ridiculous event.Everyonewill know about this,” I said somberly.
She was nervous, and I was already enjoying watching her squirm in her hatred of me for ruining her plans, “You don’t understand. Avery and I were talking, and?—”
“Oh?” I smiled. “Perhaps she was already predicting a love affair blossoming between a grieving widower, such as myself, and a spoiled brat, such as yourself?”
She didn’t like that. “Oh, you know that, huh?”
“That’s what women do, isn’t it? They see fairytales in every situation.” I stood, “However, I am no goddamn prince, and I will be rescuing no one. I’m just trying to survive this horrific life since mywife died, all while people are trying to take advantage of me and force me into brutally uncomfortable situations.” I picked up my phone from the table and slid it into the inside pocket of my suit coat. “You will stand in as my fake girlfriend, Darcy Burke, and you’ll play your role. Our firstdouble datewillbe with The Mitchells and the people in their circle, and you’re going to make sure everyone knows that you positively adore your new boyfriend.”
“And your parents?” she said through gritted teeth, standing up and looking like she wanted to punch me in the face. “What will they think of you dating someone like me?”
“They will be outraged and disgusted. I do not doubt that,” I said. “That just gives me more fuel to go through with thisbusiness planof mine, which is more successful than yours because, unlike you, Darcy, Idomy research. I know everything before I throw out ideas and hope they will stick.” I slid my hands into my pockets, watching her seethe and feeling the same. “I hope you’re proud of yourself for involving me in your petty little game because if you hated me before you left to go chum it up with all those people, you will despise me now.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” she snapped.
“You shouldn’t be,” I answered her outburst of frustration. “But what you will be is miserable until after that ridiculous event. That should concern you more than fearing me.”
“Go fuck yourself,” she said. Her rage replaced every comeback she wanted to give me, but she couldn’t think.
“Perhaps I’ll haveyoudo that if you try to pull anything else like this on me again.”
“Ugh,” I heard her say after I left her to process everything I’d roped her into.
I couldn’t help but smile, knowing that everyone who’d planned this, thinking it was in my best interest, would soon find out it was the worst thing to expect me to do. If that’s how they wanted to play it, I would ensure everyone was as uncomfortable as me.
No one had any regard for my grief because they’d decided it was time for me to move on. The outrageous part was that they thought the best way to open me up was to make a joke out ofme, standing me on a stage and auctioning me off like a prized hog.
Fuck no. I had more self-respect than that, and everyone was about to find that out, especially Darcy Burke.
Chapter Thirteen
Darcy
Istormed into my room like a pissed-off four-year-old who had her Barbie’s hair ripped out by a nasty little boy on the playground. I slammed the door shut, leaned back against it, and slid down until my ass landed on the painted concrete floor of my room.
“This fuckingdick,” I told myself about Sebastian, completely trapped but not ready to give up.
He caught me off guard, that’s for damn sure, but he would not win. Well, the only way hewouldwin is if I were all about the money he’d baited me with to date him—money that would be made off the article, which would give me everything I wanted as a journalist. It wasn’t about the money the article would make, but Sebastian’s story would be the biggest exclusive ever, catapulting my notoriety and giving me tons of new business opportunities in respectable fields of journalism. I could finally leaveLifestylesand start my own magazine—or publishing company, for that matter—with the earnings I’d make, andmy name recognition after that would open doors that weren’t within reach to me now.
It was very tempting. On the flip side, working at Lifestyles for the rest of my life and making chump change might be worth not having to date that bastard. Not to mention, I wouldn’t have to eat my words with Avery about how I wasn’t attracted to Sebastian.
I meant what I said to my friend, and now this piece of shit was forcing me to lie to her because he was an entitled baby billionaire who couldn’t be bothered to go on a straightforward date with someone who’d made this winery a shit-ton of money? I mean, who cares? It would be like a business dinner, and this guy was throwing a tantrum like I’d recruited him to be on the newest season ofThe Bachelor.
