Chapter 14
Vanessa
I’d sold my body and my soul.
To the devil reincarnated.
A handsome predator with a killer smile.
All while being decked out in Armani.
My blood should be curdled from the thought instead of feeling a rush of heat.
The sad truth that I wouldn’t admit to anyone was that I wasn’t as disgusted with myself as I should be.
I was highly intelligent with a wicked mind. Dealing with six months of being married to the man should be easy for me.
Child’s play.
With my throat still clenched, I held the phone with a shocking firmness that threatened to crush the plastic and metal.
The ache behind my eyes was increasing.
My pulse was rabbiting in my throat.
“I don’t have time to talk, Vanessa. I’m about to board my flight.”
My father’s voice was the same as always, devoid of any emotion.
Except for annoyance.
He was the master of acting as if he didn’t care about anything or anyone when necessary. My third and most insistent message had finally made him irritated that I’d bothered his precious work schedule. I’d told him more than once he should be in politics given his ability to keep a game face.
“You don’t care about your family, Dad?” I was hot for several reasons including his inability to show any emotion for what his son was going through.
His sigh was heavy and I heard an announcement in Spanish in the background. At least I knew he wasn’t lying about his location or his trip.
The red flag regarding his itinerary remained in the forefront of my mind.
“Donovan did this to himself. He’s been a troublemaker for years and now must pay for his sins.”
He made the comment as if my brother, his son had been a bad seed from day one instead of a young man who’d had his life stripped away.
“He’s your son, Dad. He needs help, not incarceration.
” I didn’t know why I was bothering. Maybe to find some reason to void the contract that already held my signature.
I’d yet to tell my father I was about to become Christian’s wife.
I wasn’t entirely certain if I was holding it as a bombshell to be used against my father as some kind of leverage, or simply because I didn’t have the energy to try to lie about the reasons.
“He stopped being my son the day he took his first drug.”
“You mean the one prescribed in the hospital. As I seem to recall, you and Mother gave your blessing for his treatment.”
At least I could tell my snarky retort had his attention. Too bad if he was annoyed. I was fisting my hand, pacing the floor of my bedroom while Amelia stood watching me with her eyes wide open.
“He’s a drug addict, Vanessa. Make no mistake about that. Perhaps doing time in prison is exactly what he needs.”
“He needs an intervention. He needs a decent drug rehabilitation program that you can pay for from the interest earned on of your many offshore bank accounts alone.” The defiance in my tone was increasing.
I’d shocked him. Bonus points for me.
Yet what the hell did I expect? That he was going to have a change of heart? Not possible because my father didn’t have one.
Did that mean my pea brain was thinking Christian had one? What was the saying about the devil you knew?
“How dare you insinuate that…” He didn’t bother finishing his sentence. “He’s on his own, Vanessa. I’ll give you a piece of advice. Don’t allow that boy to ruin your life. You’re already doing a damn good job of doing so all on your own.”
My father’s barbs were always the same. He believed my company was trite, a girl’s fantasy and not worthy of anyone’s time.
Including his. Usually, his words put me in a very bad mood.
But in a rare plus I was already in one and my backbone was stronger than normal.
“As my mother told me a long time ago, Dad. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. However, in this case, be mindful of the bridges you burn with your words. One day you might regret them.”
For the first time in my life, I hung up on my father. I was finished with being a dutiful daughter, respectful at all times no matter the circumstances. After I tossed my phone onto my bed, I spun around in a circle, groaning as I pumped my fist into the air. “Goddamn that man.”
“That bad, huh?” Amelia asked in her soothing voice, which usually calmed me down.
Not today.
Today was the first day of the rest of my nightmare. One I’d allowed myself to be lured into hook, line, and sinker.
“My father is the most reprehensible man when it comes to family. Why did he bother having children if he was going to toss us aside the moment we didn’t conform to his expectations?”
“It’s very sad, but at some point, your father will see the light.” Before I had a chance to say anything, she waved her hand. “I know. I know. Too little, too late.”
“You’re damn straight. Now, I need to finish packing while I’m still hot or I might chicken out.”
“Oh, come on. Think of this as an adventure.” She giggled when I shot her the bird. “With a hefty buyout plan.”
“Do you think that makes me feel any better? What was that movie starring Demi Moore? Where the happily married couple is stupid enough to try and gamble to win funds only to meet a rich billionaire who eventually offered the wife one million bucks for one night.” Fuck.
I was rambling, my words running together.
I started slinging my clothes toward one suitcase, the conversation with my father eating at me.
Her sigh was as heavy as my heart felt. “You mean Indecent Proposal with Robert Redford?”
“That one.” My words were more of a snap the second I slammed something into the case with enough force she jumped. “You know how that turned out.” I snorted as I rolled my eyes.
Then we both looked at what I’d grabbed at the same time.
A crimson lace teddy.
“God. What am I doing?”
She inched closer. “Hey, think of it this way. You’re not married so there are no infidelity issues. Wait. I mean you’re not married yet. I know you will be. To him. Him, the man you’re getting paid five million dollars to sleep with.”
As my body shrank by a few inches, I tilted my head and glared at her. “You’re not helping even a teensy-tiny little bit.”
She grimaced. “Sor-ry.”
I grabbed something from the closet, making certain what I’d selected wasn’t sexy in the least. He really believed I was going to sleep with him… no, fuck him every night. The audacity was… Why was I shivering? “I think I stand by a statement I made months ago. I hate all men.”
She shook her head and grabbed one of my favorite dresses from the closet, neatly folding it when I’d been shoving clothes into the two suitcases, not caring if they wrinkled.
Maybe the rich asshole would make good on his promise that all expenses were paid.
Maybe I’d insist on a Ferrari. Oh, that would be nice.
Red in color. I took a few seconds to envision myself behind the wheel of a hot sports car. I’d look damn good.
“You don’t hate men, Vanessa. What you hate is anyone who acts like their shit doesn’t stink. I know. Like your father. Try and think of that when you spend time with the hottest bachelor in all of Miami.”
“Then you marry him.”
“Don’t make that offer twice,” she cooed. I’d be damned if she didn’t have a dreamy look in her eyes. “For five million?” Now her tone was as sheepish as the way I felt.
I’d orchestrated a portion of the deal, so I only had myself to blame for it spiraling out of control. I should have known he’d gain and keep the upper hand. The thought of the man touching me ever again was…
Debilitating.
Not only because I should feel absolutely disgusted, but also because I could still feel his lips on mine.
I remained hot all over, incapable of shoving thoughts of him aside.
That had been a full day before. My pussy had throbbed half the night even as I’d envisioned skewering him with metal prods.
Nothing had worked and sleep had evaded me.
At least only the best defense attorney in town had made contact. We had a meeting tomorrow where he was going to try to have the charges dismissed with the caveat that Donovan agreed to a long-term stay at a respectable facility.
Tonight, my first decision as the fiancée of the rich and handsome Christian Elliot was choosing which center my brother would reside in for at least three months.
Ugh. The thought was both a relief and disturbing.
That would be the second step in selling my soul.
There would be many others in the six months. I already felt strangled.
The marriage contract had arrived on my desk before I’d left from work that afternoon. His attorney had been thorough, so much so everything was spelled out, including that I was to move in with him as soon as the contract was signed.
That had occurred by noon the next day after my attorney had been pressured to review things quickly. I’d been provided with all the reasons I needed to be careful entering into a fake marriage in general, let alone one with potentially damning results.
Repercussions against my business. Scandal. Total family alienation. Financial ruin.
And my favorite.
Losing my heart.
My attorney obviously didn’t know me very well. When I set my mind to something, I stuck with it.
Thank God Amelia was here to ground me. If that was possible.
She’d followed me to my house, helping me pack several bags, even offering to take my plants home with her. The entire situation was sad and ridiculous, the whirlwind of events creating more stress in my life than I’d ever experienced.
“That’s the fifth time you’ve shoved that in my face,” I teased as I struggled to close one of the bags, finally yanking the zipper until I heard a slight ripping sound.
Who cared if the damn thing broke? I could get a new one or a thousand of them with all the money that would flow into my bank account.
“Yes. His success in this business adventure is worth that much money to him.”
Somehow, I’d use that to my advantage.
“I still can’t believe it. For six months of work. Maybe not too much work. At least you’ll get to go to fancy parties. Imagine the food. Maybe you’ll end up on the yacht for your honeymoon.” When I gave her a hardcore look that I should reserve for my… fiancé, she blushed.
“There will be no honeymoon unless it’s over my dead body.”
“I’m sorry. I know this will sound horribly off-putting, but he’s hot.”
“Yes, it does, but you’re right. The money will help. I hate to admit anything positive about that man or the situation, but it will.”
“There’s nothing wrong with having money, girl.” Amelia winked.
Maybe not. “With my endowment already deposited into the bank, I transferred two hundred thousand to the corporate account. Why don’t you go ahead and pay the rent for the next three months? I’ll wire more later when I get settled.”
“Oh, two hundred thousand. Pennies.”
This time I laughed and sat down on the bed. “What am I doing?” I dropped my head into my hands.
“What’s necessary to help your brother get better and to keep the business you adore and are good at afloat. Six months will go by in a flash. By the way. Is that what the money is being called, an endowment?”
I laughed, nodding profusely. “A little corny, huh? No pre-nup since the contract is ironclad, but I’ll have a tidy divorce settlement in addition. I wheeled and dealed.”
“You didn’t!”
“I did. I was getting back at him for… For forcing me to be married to him in every way.” I wrinkled my nose and she huffed. “What?”
“You could do worse. Try and think of it that way. Besides, you’ve already tasted the merchandise and from what you told me, it’s not too bad.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“I am, but at least I speak the truth. I’m going to miss you.”
“Girl. I’m still your boss and I will be coming to the office like normal.”
Amelia pouted. “But it won’t be the same. We won’t have girl’s nights.”
“I don’t know. Maybe you can come over for a sleepover.”
We both laughed and I finally rose to my feet, sweeping the room to see if I’d forgotten anything. “This should be all I need for now.”
“You do know what this calls for. Right?”
“What’s that?”
I suddenly knew what she was going to say. We both did together in the same funny voice as used in the cute song and commercial. “Tequila!”
We even did the cha-cha line dance on the way into the kitchen. One drink wasn’t going to kill me. Besides, a bracer might be the only way I kept from killing him.
I found the tequila while she turned on some festive music. There were so many reasons to have anxiety about the deal I’d made, but the only one that kept my stomach filled with butterflies was being required to spend time with Christian.
Alone.
While I had my morals and my resolve, he was quite persuasive as well as charming. Damn it.
After quickly making margaritas and handing her a glass, I held mine into the air.
“What are we toasting to?” she asked, licking salt off the rim as she studied me.
“To marriage. What else?”
“Hey. What about a bachelorette party? We gotta have one of those. And I am going to be a bridesmaid at least. Right? I should really be your maid of honor, come to think of it.”
“You do realize this is a fake marriage. Right?”
She hid behind her glass. “Are you so sure?”
I dipped my fingers in my drink, flinging liquid into her face. “I’m positive. Six months and I won’t ever need or want to see him again. You can take that to the bank.”
“All I’m advising is never say never.”
In my mind, there was only black and white when it came to the law and to love. If you couldn’t wait to see the person you intended on marrying, dreaming of the day you could begin spending the rest of your lives together, then I was all for marriage.
But if there was nothing but mutual attraction enveloping your hatred of each other, then the fragile ecosystem would crash and burn.
At this point, I expected nothing but a fireball.