Chapter 3
Theo
Holland Flanagan. She’s irritating the hell out of me. No one fucking ignores me, especially not a woman. They’re always eager for me. Flat on their backs. Down on their knees.
But Holland? She’s playing coy, waiting to be coaxed and I don’t have time to waste playing her foolish games.
I sent my attorney by her apartment with paperwork saying I’ll sue the fuck out of her over the dress. Stolen property, financial loss to the company, you name it. I had everything I could think of thrown in there.
Then an hour later, an attorney responded on her behalf announcing a countersuit. One from my own damn company, the dumbass who’s about to be searching for a new job.
“Attorney Fare is here,” my secretary, Linda, announces in the crisp tone she uses. She’s been with me since I first took the position. Linda is a dragon. Fierce and protective.
Plus, she’s efficient and not afraid to piss off anyone who tries to weasel their way into my office if I haven’t arranged a meeting.
She’s pushing seventy with no plans to retire any time soon. I hired her because I wanted someone older who wouldn’t think she’d end up in my bed or with my last name.
“Send him in.” I lean back in my chair as the attorney opens the door. He scuttles across the floor with a hunched shoulder walk.
He’s young. With one of those gullible I-studied-law-to-save-people faces.
I tap a finger on the thick file I have on Holland. “Explain why you’re representing Holland Flanagan after she stole from the company.”
His throat bobs as he swallows, but he eagerly explains, “She was wrongfully accused.”
He makes the statement passionately like he’s a superhero defending the downtrodden. “It’s her friend Heidi who took the dresses.”
“Still, why are you representing her?”
“Heidi works for the company, and since she’s the one who took the dresses, as an employee, one of the perks is free legal counsel regardless of what the matter is. It’s in the employee handbook which HR—”
“I know what the fuck is in the handbook.”
He pushes his glasses further up his nose and stammers, “H-Holland didn’t know the dress was stolen…er…borrowed.”
“Borrowed? We’re not the fucking library, Fare.” I rise, irritated that my morning hasn’t gone the way I’d planned.
Shit. I need to talk to Locke to see what he knows about Heidi working for us. I’m the head of the company’s new fashion and beauty department and I personally approved each employee. Except her.
I stride to the door and shrug into my jacket, then straighten my tie.
“Linda, reschedule my afternoon meetings. I’ll need you to—”
I stop as Holland rounds the corner carrying two dresses and two pairs of heels.
She’s in ripped jeans and her sun-golden skin shows through as she walks.
“Fare!” I bark out.
“Sir?” He materializes at my elbow.
“Get the fuck out of my office.”
He scrambles past me mumbling an apology and dashes down the hall.
“Your dresses,” Holland says, plopping them onto Linda’s desk with an attitude that says everything is settled now.
My secretary is speechless for once.
Yeah, Holland had that same effect on me when I first laid eyes on her.
She pulls a piece of paper from her pocket and thrusts it at me. “Write something acknowledging you have the dresses back and sign it.”
I move to one side. “Step into my office.”
“I don’t have time. I have to get to work.”
“I’m not asking.” I turn on my heel and stride back to my desk.
She follows me in with a huff of breath.
“Good girl.” Our eyes lock. There are so many scenarios playing in my head where I say those words to her.
You like my big cock? What a good girl. Take me deeper into your mouth. Good girl.
“Have a seat.”
She frowns, then tugs her lower lip between her teeth. “Can’t.” She rattles the paper she wants me to sign. “I’m busy.”
“Busy? I could have you and your friend arrested for theft. You’d spend at least one night in jail followed by a court appearance. Then you’d beg me.”
“Beg you?”
She looks at my crotch and I get hard. “You’d beg me to make a deal with you.” I cross my arms and lean against the desk, not attempting to hide that I want her.
I smile because I know she’s cornered. “So, Thief, you can’t afford not to take time to hear me out.”
“Thief?” She smiles as well. “I’ll say you bought the dresses for me and I’m returning them because I dumped your ass. It wouldn’t be right to keep an expensive gift.” Her tone is sugary sweet, her eyes wide like she’s a pro at the I’m-so-innocent act.
I’m impressed. “That’s perfect.”
“What?”
“Your ability to answer quickly. My instincts were correct. You’re the right one for the job.”
Her eyes narrow in suspicion. “Job?”
“Job,” I repeat firmly. “I overheard you at The Royal Crown and Garden. You said you’d be willing to be a psycho ex-girlfriend if the money is good. I want to hire someone to play that part.”
Holland pulls out her phone and moves to stand beside me. Putting her head against my shoulder, she rests one hand on my chest.
I stare down at her bold move. She looks like she’s seconds away from crying as she takes a photo. Then she straightens and taps out a text message.
“There. I saved this. See sad me snuggled up to you? We look like we were in a relationship. I’ll use this as proof of our breakup after I returned the dresses.”
“Playing hard to convince doesn’t suit you. At the restaurant, I noticed you looking at my pants, wanting my cock.”
“True, I did.” She puts her hand over her heart. “However, I’ve realized our worlds are too far apart. We’re too different for our relationship to survive. I’m free spirited and you have a personality like a wedgie.”
What the fuck? Did she liken me to a wedgie?
Holland takes a deep breath and exhales heavily. Theatrically. She dabs at the corners of her eyes. “Goodbye, Theo.”
I laugh and the sound surprises me. I can’t remember the last time a woman made me laugh. Not even with Eleanor was I—I quickly shut off that train of thought and play the ace I’m holding.
“I can save your grandmother’s house.”
She pauses at the door, her hand on the knob. “How do you know about my grandmother’s situation?”
“I investigated you. You need money. I have plenty of it. Take the job, Holland.”
She hesitates, but then says, “No thanks, because all this sounds weird and despite what I said, I don’t do freaky.”
I name the sum I’m willing to pay.
She stiffens and slowly turns to face me, her eyes wide. She swallows. “How freaky do you want it?”
I move closer. “As freaky as you can go.”
She breathes faster and I catch a hint of mint on her breath. I want to taste it on her lips. I want to pull her over to my desk, bend her over and plunge into her. But I’m not the kind of man who takes without being invited.
“What do you want me to do?”
I have no doubt she’ll invite me. That she’ll beg me. I’m so fucking hard.
I redirect my attention away from her lips. “I want you to fake break my heart.”
“What?”
I indicate a chair and she walks over to sink into it.
“If I don’t marry, I’ll lose my position as CEO which will also knock me out of the running to take over the company when my grandmother retires,” I explain.
She wags her finger. “Oh, no, no. I draw the line at marrying you.”
“I have no intention of marrying you or anyone else,” I scoff. “To buy myself some time I told my grandmother I wasn’t over my ex. The story is I’m trying to win her back, but of course I’ll fail. Once my heart is broken, I’ll need time to heal from the pain and marriage will be off the table.”
Understanding dawns. “Ah. So that’s the job you want me for.”
“Exactly.”
“And how long will the job last?”
“Shouldn’t take longer than a month,” I assure her.
“Why did we breakup?”
I frown. “What does that matter?”
“Did either of us cheat?”
“I don’t cheat.”
“Were you bad in bed?”
“I…what the hell? No.”
“I’m not sure I believe that. You might be writing yourself glowing reviews, but you’d be biased, you know?”
“Why would I write…” Then I laugh as she smiles because I realize she was joking.
Since I told her how much I’m willing to pay, she seems a lot more relaxed.
“You’ll need a story as to why we broke up unless you already explained that to your grandmother.”
“I didn’t go into much detail. I only told her I loved this ex deeply and it was my fault we parted on bad terms.”
Holland studies me, then takes a deep breath.
I force myself to keep my attention on her face and not on those tits I’d like to see.
“Okay,” she says finally. “I think the freaky ex act is doable.”
I’m relieved she thinks so. There’s a lot resting on it. “We’ll need to get our relationship story straight before the weekend.”
She stands when I do.
“I’ll send a driver to pick you up tonight, and we’ll go over the contract then as well. Once you sign, the money will be deposited into your account.”
She holds out her hand. “I look forward to taking your money and breaking your heart.”
I take her hand in mine. Hers is small and delicate. The connection sends a spark racing up my arm. “If there’s anything reasonable you want in the contract, text it to me and I’ll get it added before we meet.”
“Reasonable…reasonable…” She taps her chin. “Just put in there that you won’t fall in love with me.”
“If someone’s falling, it’ll be you.”
“You’re rich and handsome…tall and sexy…I can see why you’d think that way,” she says. “But honestly? You’re not my type.”