Sell that we were a couple? This was going to be an interesting trip. A couple will be loving toward each other, show affection, hold hands in public. Was he ready for that sort of thing?
“Just to be clear, you want me to hold your hand in front of your family?”
“Well, yeah, whatever people normally do in a relationship. Honestly, I haven’t been in one in over five years. I can’t remember a thing about them.”
Poor guy must be lonely. Five years without affection. How did he do it? There would be no way I could go that long. Kudos. I commended him for being able to hold out that long. Although, I highly doubted he hadn’t had sex in five years. He was a man. Men had needs that had to be fulfilled. I looked into his eyes, trying to get a feel for him. I needed to know he was going to be up for this. I leaned over and took his hand in mine, looked into his eyes, and attempted to kiss him subtly to sell that I could play the part.
He pushed me off. “What the hell are you doing?”
The way he looked at me was with disgust. I couldn’t believe he just shoved me off him. This would never work if he was going to be like that. “You said you wanted to see if we had chemistry. Shouldn’t we try to make sure we both enjoy the little things we will often be doing in front of others? You can’t look at me like that when your family is around. They will catch on instantly.” I had a point. If he looked disgusted every time we kissed, no one would buy that I was his girlfriend. He needed to lighten up.
“I didn’t mean tonight. To be honest, I don’t enjoy the thought of you touching me, but I’ll have to get over it for this trip.”
Wait, what? What the fuck was that supposed to mean? No man had ever insulted me like that before. “Excuse me?”
“You are hired to help. Don’t touch me unless it’s part of the deal which tonight it’s not.”
My cheeks grew hot as I was filled with embarrassment. What an arrogant asshole. Privileged much? He just called me hired help. This trip would be harder than I expected. I hated that Matteo was so good-looking because it kept me from wanting to kick him in the groin a couple times. Plus, the thought of a $10,000 paycheck was nice too.
First, he basically asked me to kiss him with his need to be a loving couple and checking our chemistry and when I obliged for the sake of it, he flipped as if I wanted to kiss him? Bastard.
The rest of the dinner was spent with factual information on his family. His mother was a meddler, plus the bride and groom were his best friend and sister. He went into the flow of functions we would have to attend together.
I didn’t have anything else to say to him. Mostly, I just didn’t want him to say anything that would warrant me slapping him and walking out. I had a bit of a temper. He was not what I was expecting going into this. In his picture, he looked like a kind man. He was the complete opposite. I knew why he had to pay someone for company. Who the hell would want to be around that man willingly?
He dropped me off at the edge of campus and handed me a ticket and a time to be at the airport in the morning. Honestly, a horrible thought crossed my mind walking back to my dorm. What if I got stranded out there? What if things went so horribly wrong that I didn’t have a way back? It was possible I might not be able to put up with his attitude for a week. I needed to have a backup plan. I called Dr. Shepard at once.
“Lacey, is everything okay?” he answered.
I looked down and realized it was getting kind of late. “Yes, I just wanted to make sure that if this doesn’t go well, that I won’t be stranded out there. He is nothing like I thought he would be.”
He laughed into the phone. “Honey, I could have told you that. You picked him. But yes, your plane ticket is a round trip. If you need to come back sooner, just take it to the airport, and they will put you on the next flight back.”
I started to reply, but he cut me off. “But, Lacey, for the amount of money he is willing to pay you, I would ride it out. No man is going to pay that amount to any girl here. You got a damn good deal for this trip. Do whatever you can to make it work.”
Sadness started to settle in. What was I going to do? I knew he was right. Who in their right mind would pay someone that much? Although, who was I to complain since I was in desperate need of that sum? How could I turn it down? No way in hell! I couldn’t pass up the chance just because he was an asshole. I just needed to deal with it. Surely, I could deal with him for a week.
“You’re right. I am being idiotic. I will count my blessings that he chose me for this. I will do what I can to make it work. It’s just a week. Thanks!” I sighed and hung up the phone, completely exasperated by the turn of events.
I just needed to focus on the end game. My tuition paid. I put my phone on the charger and let my mind wander a little bit more about what could happen during that week with Matteo.