Even though I was practically nose-to-nose with the woman in front of me, close enough to see the tiny hairs on her face, my mind was totally focused on the two bodyguards outside the alley.
I pondered, 'Who's this woman? And why are those two bodyguards chasing her?'
Judging by the sound of their footsteps, it seemed like the bodyguards had run off.
I wanted to check out what was going on, but the woman in my arms had already passed out. If I let go, she'd definitely hit the ground.
So, I had no choice but to scoop her up and head to the alley entrance, peeking out to see if the bodyguards were still around. When I didn't spot them, I felt a wave of relief and carried her out of the alley.
But it was late, and I had no idea where to take her.
I wandered the streets aimlessly with her in my arms until I finally found a 24-hour hotel.
"Hey, I need a room with a big bed," I told the front desk, still holding the woman.
"Sure, can I see some ID?"
I handed over my ID, and the front desk clerk quickly checked me in and gave me the room key. "Your room's on the 9th floor, to the right."
"Thanks." I grabbed the key and carried the woman while heading to the elevator.
Once we got to the room, I gently laid her on the bed, ready to leave.
But just as I was about to let go, she woke up. She stared at me blankly and clung to my arm, making it impossible for me to pull away.
"Hey, can you let go, please?" I reminded her.
She snapped out of it and quickly released me. "You saved me, thank you."
"No big deal, just helping out. Since you're okay now, I gotta leave now."
I rubbed my sore arm and turned to leave, but she grabbed the corner of my shirt.
"Don't go," she pleaded softly. "Please."
Her voice was so gentle, almost begging, and it made me feel bad for her.
With a sigh, I turned back and sat on the edge of the bed, letting her hold my hand. "Go to sleep, I won't leave."
"Promise you won't leave even after I fall asleep," she said, her eyes locked on mine, her tone firm.
I was baffled. Why was she so insistent? Was she genuinely scared and needed me to stay, or was this some kind of trap?
"Why do you want me to stay? We don't even know each other."
"I'm Catherine Price, the daughter of the wealthiest tycoon in the city. My dad wants me to marry a guy I've never met, but I don't love him. It's good for the family business, so he's forcing me into it. I ran away, but my dad's bodyguards found me and chased me. I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend until my dad gives up on this marriage thing." Catherine's eyes were filled with determination as she explained.
Shouldn't this have been good news for me? She was the daughter of a tycoon, beautiful, young, and in great shape. If I pretended to be Catherine's boyfriend and she actually fell for me, I'd be rolling in dough. No more working at that dead-end job, no more sharing rent with roommates.
But if I agreed too quickly, it might look like I was just in it for the money.
I was about to say something, but Catherine, getting impatient from my silence, upped the ante. "If you help me get my dad off my back about this marriage, I'll give you a million dollars. Deal?"
"Money's not the issue," I said. "But you need to tell me what I need to do as your boyfriend."
"It's simple. Just come home with me, meet my dad, and make him believe you're my boyfriend. I'll handle the rest. Here's five hundred thousand dollars as a deposit. It's yours no matter what."
The offer was tempting, but I wasn't exactly broke. Sharing an apartment was just a convenience for my late-night escapades with Scarlett.
So, the money wasn't the main thing for me.
"I can do that, but I'm a regular guy. If I'm pretending to be your boyfriend, I might have to cut ties with other women to make it believable. That could be a downside for me since I don't really need the cash."
"So... what are your conditions?"
"If we're going to pretend to be a couple, we need to act like one, including the physical stuff. Can you handle that?"
Catherine's cheeks turned red, her eyes darting to the pack of condoms I had bought. "So, all this stuff you bought is for... that?"
I nodded. "Yeah, and I have a pretty high drive."
I was upfront about my needs. If we were negotiating, I had to be clear about what I wanted.
"I'll give you three seconds to decide. If you don't answer, I'll take it as a no." Seeing her hesitate, I started counting down. "Three... two..."
"I accept! As long as it keeps me from marrying someone else."
"To make sure you don't back out, let's start tonight," I said, looking at her with a determined gaze, which seemed to say that once she agreed, I would have her right on the bed. Catherine glanced at me, then at my crotch, her face flushing. But under my intense stare, she nodded.
As soon as she gave the signal, I pushed her down on the bed. She was wearing a loose white nightgown, and in my haste, I accidentally exposed her sexy shoulders.
I pressed against her, burying my face in her neck, taking in her scent. As the daughter of a tycoon, she was quite delicate and stunning, her skin smooth, her scent luxurious.