Chapter 6
Lacey
Our flight was set to leave at eight a.m., but I wanted to be early because security would be crazy to get through. I made sure to arrive ninety minutes prior to ensure time to check my bags, get through security, and get coffee. When I arrived at the gate, Matteo was in the corner, flustered, yelling at someone on the phone. Why did he already have to be in a bad mood? Five hours was a long flight when sitting next to someone who had a piss-poor attitude. Not exactly the best way to start off my morning.
I took a seat, awaiting the onboarding, and soon after Matteo sat down next to me. I didn’t open my mouth because I knew he was frustrated. We sat in silence for a good twenty minutes before he broke it.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked me.
He gave a little smirk for a split second, and then it was gone. Was I ready for this? Once I got on that plane, this was happening. I wasn’t going to be close to safety. I would be flying across the country with a man I barely knew to stay in a hotel with him. Was I insane? No, I needed that damn money. I knew the moment I touched down in the Bahamas, I was going to have to act happy and in love with him. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
The airline employee came over the speaker to board first class. I looked at my ticket and saw coach while Matteo got up and boarded the plane. Did he really buy me a ticket for coach when he was flying first class? My temper was trying to make an appearance, but I stopped it. In the back of my head, I just kept reminding myself about the money. I could deal with this asshole for a week for $10,000. Shit, I’ve had to do it for years for free. At least I’m getting compensated for my troubles.
I boarded the plane with a bad attitude, but today was my lucky day. The seat next to me was empty. I wouldn’t have to deal with some asshole or a screaming baby. Hell, I think I might just take a nap. Who knew what I was walking into when I got there? I never thought to ask Matteo about his family. Did they even get along with each other? I could be walking into a shitshow.
Five hours later, the flight attendant announced our descent. I cringed at the thought of being stuck with Matteo here. If anything happened, Dr. Shepard would be the first person I would call.
When we left the plane, I headed toward the baggage claim. I needed to find Matteo, so I knew where we were going. Aside from feeling lost in a country I had never been to, I had no idea where we were staying or where to go. He left me in the dark on that part of the trip. I started to feel like a dumbass as I walked in circles. He could be a murderer and just lured me here, and I fell for it.
“Stop freaking out!” I muttered to myself. Shepard knew where I was so if anything happened, he would report me missing. Oh, fuck! Wait? My mind started running over scenarios, a symptom of watching way too many crime shows. Right as I was coming to the prime of my overwhelming fears, I turned and noticed Matteo staring at me with his right brow raised. “Hey, where are you going? We need to be headed that way.” He pointed in the opposite direction.
Of course, toward the transportation exit. Sighing, I trailed behind him, unable to form words to express my discontentment. It looked like I was going to be stuck with him. Taking a deep breath, I tried to forget all the crazy scenarios my head had cooked up.
A limousine transported us to the hotel which was beautiful. It was a resort on the beach where the rooms led out to the sand. I’d never been somewhere so beautiful before. Honestly, I had only been to the beach once when I was little. As we walked up the walkway to the hotel, I could see people out on the beach with sand that looked incredibly soft. I wanted to run directly over there and stick my toes in it. So I did. I ran toward the beach, dropping my purse, not caring if he followed me. Stepping onto the sand, it felt like pillows beneath my feet. Almost like I was walking on clouds. Remembering back to the only other beach experience I’d had, the sand here seemed so much better. What was so different about it than the other? I found myself wondering while squishing the sand in between my toes.
“Come on, we need to check in. You can do that later,” Matteo yelled at me.
Such a buzzkill. I could tell this wasn’t going to be a fun trip. The rest of this trip I would probably have to follow him around like a puppy dog. I was in the Bahamas, and it killed me to know I might not even get to enjoy it. In the back of my head, I told myself, you will, you better.
We walked up to the front desk, and a young brunette woman handed him a key.
“There is a pull-out couch in the room as well if needed,” the attendant said as she noticed how uncomfortable that made me. I was glad I was that obvious.
Why was I so stupid? Of course, we would share a room. His family thought we were a couple. If we had separate rooms, it might raise suspicion. I could do this. It was only a week. Afterward, I would go home and resume my normal life.
We made it to our hotel room, and all I wanted to do was feel hot water against my skin. I dropped my suitcase on the bed, then pulled out underclothes, jeans, and a tunic. A nice hot shower would make me feel better. I didn’t even let him know I was getting in the shower. I turned the shower on and let it warm up while I got undressed. Stepping into the shower, the water hitting my breasts, felt amazing. I felt disgusted after traveling all day with him. His attitude was unbearable. I noticed myself thinking about him while I was standing in the shower naked. Stop! I focused on cleaning myself and getting as much time alone as I could. A shower might be the only time I would get time by myself while being here. I might as well enjoy it to the fullest.
A couple of minutes later, he barged in, asking me to hurry up. Damn, did he have no patience? I wanted to jump out of the shower and slap him, but I was naked. No way I was giving him the satisfaction of seeing me bare. So I just yelled at him from behind the door, “Get the fuck out! Don’t just come in here while I’m in the shower. You sick fuck!” I wanted to say so many other things but figured that would get my point across just fine.
“We are supposed to be down for dinner in an hour. You going to be able to get ready fast enough?” he asked like it was going to take me hours to get ready.
“I don’t need to wear a bunch of makeup, right? I’ll be ready in time.” I yelled as he inched out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
I didn’t really like his tone much. I knew he was paying me to be here but still, he could treat me with some respect. You didn’t walk into the bathroom while someone was showering. How fucking rude could he get? I asked myself this, knowing it could possibly get a lot worse. Keep it together. Do it. Put up with it. Go home and collect your paycheck. I desperately needed that damn money. If I didn’t, my ass wouldn’t be here. Hell, I wouldn’t have made it past the first ten minutes of dinner that night if I wasn’t so desperate.
Once out of the shower and dressed, I walked out to see him in a very lovely tuxedo. I looked down at myself, realizing I needed to look more formal. Well, he could have said something.
I pulled a red gown on and black strappy heels and waited for his approval on the outfit. He looked me up and down, and said, “I guess that will work. The first impression of you with my family is going to mean everything. Make sure to smile and laugh. You need to look happy for this to work.”
It wasn’t like I was an idiot. I knew what I was getting paid for, and that was to make them believe a lie. Why he didn’t have a girlfriend, I could never guess. Oh wait, being by his side for this long, I already want to gouge his eyes out. Being single for him made sense.
We walked downstairs to the resort’s restaurant to an outside deck where his mother introduced herself with a huge smile. His mother was decked out in diamonds, and the dress she wore looked like it cost a pretty penny. Matteo grabbed my hand eagerly. I looked happy, but he didn’t. I elbowed him and gave the evil eye. If he fucked this up, I was still getting paid for doing my part.
“Mom, this is my girlfriend, Lacey.” Matteo introduced me. Although, he didn’t seem very sincere. You are going to have to do a better fucking job than that!
“Hi, dear, I’m Lorraine. I’m so glad to meet you. I was surprised to hear Matteo had a date for the wedding. He has never been the type to have a girlfriend for very long. Hopefully, you stick around,” she said with a sincere voice, but her eyes were wary, looking for my flaws. I could tell she was protective of her little boy.
At this point, I wanted to laugh so bad and let her know it was all just a scam, but I didn’t. I kept the thought of $10,000 in the back of my mind. It was the only thing that was going to get me through this trip safely.