Marry Me For Money: A Billionaire Fake Fiance Novel Page 15

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “Well, models have short shelf lives. She’s probably looking for financial security. You’re her sugar daddy. How old is she?”

  “Twenty-eight.”

  He shrugged. “She’s a little young for you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “She’s not that young.”

  “I don’t know man. I think she snowed you. She made you want her. She showed you one side of her to get your guard down. Now you know the real her. They’re all the same.”

  I shook my head. “She’s not the same,” I defended.

  “Obviously, she is. I don’t know. Do what you want, but you damn well better secure that inheritance. Has your lawyer called you back yet?”

  “Nope. I’m still waiting.”

  “You need a better attorney. I don’t see how he can’t find a way around all those bullshit clauses. There’s no way your dad outsmarted everyone.”

  I scoffed. “I think he may have done just that.”

  I drank my scotch, trying to forget all about the problems that kept plaguing me. I couldn’t believe I had let myself get taken in by her beauty. One thing I knew she wasn’t lying about was her virginity. She couldn’t have faked it that well. I was torn between believing everything she said and questioning everything she said.

  “Phone,” Zach mumbled.

  “What?”

  “Your phone is buzzing.”

  I looked at the table and saw it vibrating. I expected it to be Hailey. I wasn’t ready to see her yet. I picked up the phone to silence it and saw the word lawyer on the screen.

  “Shit, it’s Jim,” I said, quickly answering the phone.

  “Terran, it’s Jim,” my lawyer said.

  I nodded my head. “Yes, Jim. What have you got for me?” I asked hopefully.

  There was a long pause, and I knew it wasn’t going to be good. “I don’t have anything. I’m sorry.”

  “You’re serious? How can a guy who charges me five-hundred bucks an hour not find a way out of this mess?” I growled.

  “I have had every one of my paralegals on this as well as the other partners. This thing is ironclad. I can’t break it. No one can.”

  “I don’t believe that,” I spat.

  “You’re welcome to have someone else take a look at this thing, but I can tell you, it’s rock-solid,” he insisted.

  I groaned. “What do I do? What are my options?”

  He cleared his throat. “Your only option is to get married. An engagement would work as well. The engagement needs to be verified by the executor of the estate. Be cautious; if he suspects you’re trying to pull a fast one, he can demand you actually marry the woman to fulfill the obligation to what is outlined in the will.”

  “Fine. Thanks for your help. I know you tried,” I said, softening my voice.

  “I’m sorry, Terran. I really am. An engagement can always be broken,” he added before hanging up.

  Zach was looking at me, shaking his head. “I can guess. It was the lawyer, and you’re on the hook.”

  I nodded my head. “Yep. The only way I keep my company is to get engaged.”

  “Are you going to stick with Hailey or start over with someone new?”

  I shrugged a shoulder. “I guess I’ll stick with her. I don’t think she’s going anywhere anytime soon.”

  He grinned. “That’s the spirit.”

  I ordered another scotch. Hailey wanted a man with money, that’s what she was going to get. When I inherited my father’s estate and became the rightful owner of the ad agency, I was going to have a great deal of it. I would not let her get a cent of the money. I would lead her on, just as she was leading me on. I’d let her think she was getting married to a rich man and would be set up for life.

  “I guess I have an engagement to plan,” I smirked.

  Zach grinned. “Are we going ring shopping?”

  I laughed. “I guess we’re going to have to. I think I’ll get a cubic zirconia.”

  He shook his head. “She’ll know. Women always know.”

  I nodded. “True. I guess the ring will be her parting gift when I kick her gold digging butt out the door.”

  “I’m sorry, man. I know you really liked her. It’s too bad it has to be this way.”

  I shrugged, taking another drink of scotch, hoping to dull the pain that I felt around my heart. “It’s all good. I should have known better. I got taken in by the pretty face. It won’t happen again.”

  We ordered another round, the liquor barely taking the edge off of my frustration and pain that went along with what I felt was a betrayal. While she had never outright lied to me and I hadn’t exactly been all that honest, it still felt like I had been used or was about to be used. Maybe it was history repeating itself. She certainly wouldn’t be the first woman to want me for my money and connections.

  It was an age-old problem.

  Chapter 24

  Terran

  The blue sky bleeding into the blue water had captured my attention. I couldn’t look away. I wanted to chase the horizon, go where the sky and the water became one. I stood on the sandy beach watching the waves roll in and out, my surfboard tucked under my arm. It was so peaceful. The sun was setting lower in the sky, changing the blue hues to deep oranges and yellows. I could pretend my life was perfect. Forget about everything and just be.

  “Gonna stand there all day?” Zach said to my left.

  “Can I?”

  “I don’t get the appeal. You’ve seen this exact same scene a million times.”

  I didn’t look away. “And I want to see it a million more times. Don’t you ever like to imagine what it would be like to set sail and never look back?”

  He scoffed. “I’ve done it. It gets boring after a while.”

  “I wouldn’t get bored.”

  He chuckled. “I think your girlfriend would have something to say about that.”

  I shrugged a shoulder. “She is very easy going. I could see her enjoying an escape from the world.”

  “But where would she go shopping?” Zach quipped.

  “She’s not like that.”

  “Isn’t she? Isn’t that why you’re staring off into the sunset right now?”

  I sighed. “I don’t know. I mean, she likes nice things, but she is also really down to earth. I’m trying to figure out who the real Hailey is. I don’t know if I’m being played. I don’t think I am, but then again, the evidence is right in front of me.”

  “Is it really all that bad that she wants you for your money? It isn’t like you actually need to give her your money,” he pointed out.

  “True, but I thought she was different.”

  “She isn’t. Get your money and move on.”

  I nodded my head. It had been a blow to my ego to realize I had fallen for her good-girl persona. I didn’t think she was necessarily bad or manipulative, but she wouldn’t have been with me or given me her virginity if I didn’t have a fat bank account. That was what was bothering me. My wealth had persuaded her—not me.

  “I’m figuring it out.”

  Zach stood beside me, both of us staring at the horizon. “Are you going to tell her soon?”

  “I don’t know.” I groaned.

  “Why? Every time I talk to you, it’s not today or I will tomorrow. You are right up against the wire. You know you are going to do it, so why are you dragging your feet? You could be done with all of this. Put a ring on her finger, show the lawyer, get the money and be done with it. If you want to keep hooking up with her, do it, but don’t tear yourself up over this girl another day. I don’t like seeing you all moony and shit over a woman,” he complained.

  My gaze focused on the rolling waves. I imagined my life as one of those waves. It seemed to be ebbing and flowing just like the water crashing into the shore. I had rolled along, living an easy life, but now, everything had changed. I had Hailey in my life, and as much as I wanted her to stay with me, I knew it wasn’t likely to last. We had gotten together with each
of us wanting the other for different reasons.

  “She’s in it for the money,” I said with a sigh.

  “And we’ve already talked about what to do about it. You get engaged, you get the money, and you cut her loose. It’s that easy,” he stated.

  I shook my head. “It isn’t that easy.”

  “Because you fell for her.”

  I raked my fingers through my tousled hair. “Maybe a little, but now that I know what she’s about, I know it isn’t real. I keep thinking what if I never find anything real.”

  “I thought you weren’t interested in settling down?” he reminded me.

  “I don’t know. Being with her, I can see the benefits of having a woman to spend my nights with. But, now that I know I can be easily fooled, I’m not so sure I can trust anybody to be with me for me. Maybe not getting my inheritance wouldn’t be a bad thing. At least then I know the woman that falls in love with me would love me for me.”

  Zach let out a long whistle. “Man, she got to you.”

  I sighed. “Maybe she did.”

  “If you want her, talk to her. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think it’s better you two talk and get all this stuff out in the open if you really want her.”

  “It doesn’t really matter what I want. She’s not who I thought she was. I wanted the woman I had believed her to be.”

  Zach reached out and clapped me on the shoulder. “I don’t think you have an option at this point. You have a month before you lose everything or gain it all. She may not be your dream woman, but she is your only real option at securing your future.”

  “I know.”

  “Is there a chance you can have both?” he asked in a low voice.

  I thought about it and slowly nodded my head. “Probably. I mean, I’ve put in the time. I’ve been the perfect gentleman. I know she cares about me, and she wants a life of luxury. Right now, she thinks I can give her that. I’m almost positive she would be more than happy to be Mrs. Terran Maddox,” I said, not telling him why I knew she was looking for the proposal.

  She hadn’t held on to her virginity for that long to give it to someone she didn’t plan on marrying. She had given it to me with the expectation she would get something in return. If I had been a better man, I would have turned her down that night. I wasn’t a better man. I had wanted what she was offering and had felt like the king of the world when she willingly handed it over. I had been a fool.

  “Then do it! Let’s be done with this back and forth!” he exclaimed.

  I let myself imagine a life with Hailey as my wife. I knew the sex would be great. Would she want children? Did I want children? Could I be with a woman that was interested in me because I was wealthy? I didn’t think I could be. I had rejected women who had gone after me solely for the money. I hated that materialistic bullshit.

  “I know she’d say yes.”

  “Good, then what’s the holdup?”

  I shook my head, not wanting to talk about Hailey anymore. It was something I was going to have to figure out on my own.

  “I want to get out of this wetsuit,” I said, quickly changing the subject.

  Zach laughed. “Fine, but you’re not off the hook. I want a beer and a burger.”

  “I’ve got a change of clothes in the car. Let me change before I start to chafe.”

  He chuckled again. “Don’t want that to happen.”

  We went back to our cars, each of us grabbing a change of clothes and used the bathrooms to change into shorts. I had cut out of work early to get down to the beach. It was becoming a habit with me. I kept thinking about the will and what happened if I didn’t marry. I would lose everything. Putting in ten and twelve-hour days would all be for not. I didn’t want to waste my life at a company I wasn’t going to have in a month.

  Or, I asked Hailey to marry me.

  We deposited our gear and grabbed an outdoor table, ordering a couple beers and burgers.

  “I’m having dinner with Hailey next weekend. I’ll ask her then,” I blurted out.

  “Next weekend. I thought you guys spent every waking moment together.”

  “I’m here with you right now, aren’t I?”

  He shook his head. “Only because I begged you.”

  “I want to take a step back, plus, we both have a busy week. I think the time off will be good,” I explained.

  “Are you trying the set her free thing?” he grinned.

  “No, I’m trying the I need a break thing. We have been spending a lot of time together. l need to focus on work,” I explained.

  Deep down, I wanted to cool things down because I was getting in over my head. I had fallen into an easy pattern of going to work and then going to her house or her coming to my place. We had spent most nights together. We chatted throughout the day. It was screwing with my brain. A few days of no Hailey would help me clear my head and be able to think like the old Terran again.

  “I’m glad you’re going to finally do it. We can put all this behind us. I have to tell you, I’ve been worried about this probably more than you.”

  I laughed. “Why would you be worried? Your inheritance is secure.”

  “I don’t like the idea of all your wealth being stripped away and given to charity. That just isn’t right.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “That’s what bothers you?”

  He nodded his head. “You were born into the family. You were born wealthy. It’s your birthright. You don’t know how to be poor, and you shouldn’t have to learn when the money is right there for the taking.”

  I chuckled. “If only my dad would have felt that way.”

  “It’s the natural order of things. The rich should stay rich. Giving all that money to charity just doesn’t seem right. It isn’t like it goes directly into the hands of the people that need it. You’d be better off just handing out hundred-dollar bills on the street.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Seriously, you deserve that money. You would flounder as a poor man. The rich stay rich and the poor can work hard to get rich. That’s the way I see it,” Zach said as if he knew all the answers.

  I nodded my head, but deep down, I didn’t feel that way at all. Money wasn’t the most important thing in life. In my opinion, it had a way of bringing out the ugliness inside people. I enjoyed having money and appreciated the peace of mind a healthy bank account provided, but it wasn’t everything. It was hard to find genuine people when their vision was clouded by money. Even Zach was driven by money. He certainly didn’t befriend those that were flat broke, and he would never date a woman that wouldn’t fit into his lifestyle.

  Like Hailey. I had hoped she was different. I thought she was. I don’t know why I assumed she was a struggling model. Hell, I knew how much my company paid her. It was her. The way she came off so kind, caring and genuine. I couldn’t decide if I was more pissed because I had misjudged her and fallen under her spell or I was mad because she was like every other woman I had ever dated. I bit into my burger, doing my best to put Hailey out of my mind.

  “Want to hit the club tonight?” Zach asked around a mouthful of burger.

  “Nah, I’m going to call it an early night.”

  “You’re getting old.”

  “I am, but I’ve been burning the candle at both ends for a long time. I want some time to kick back, watch something horrible on TV and do nothing.”

  He shook his head. “Suit yourself. You’re missing out.”

  I scoffed. I doubted that. I knew what was out there. Been there, done that and was over it. Maybe I was having a midlife crisis. Whatever the problem was, I was over it. It was turning me inside out.

  Chapter 25

  Hailey

  I walked down the hall to Mandy’s office, excited to see her for the first time in what felt like forever. I felt like a horrible friend. I had been spending so much time with Terran, I had all but dumped her. I knew that was common, but I hated that I had done it.

  I knocked once on her door before pushin
g it open.

  “Hi, I’m sorry, have we met?” she said with a grin.

  “Ha, ha. I know, I’m a terrible human being. Please forgive me.”

  She got up and walked around her desk to give me a hug. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too. How’s everything going?”

  Mandy’s smile got bigger. “Good, great actually, but first tell me how it’s been with you and Terran. I’m assuming very good since you’ve disappeared the last few weeks.”

  I laughed. “It has been a lot of fun, and I really like being around him. We talk, laugh, eat and other stuff,” I said with a wink.

  Mandy laughed. “I had a feeling it would be like that for you once you got that first time out of the way. You’ve gone full nympho on me, haven’t you?”

  My cheeks turned red as I blushed. “Not entirely. That’s not all we do.”

  “Good. I’m so happy for you. I knew you’d find the man you’ve been waiting for all these years.”

  I sighed and sat down in one of the chairs. “What about you? You texted and said you were seeing someone. Is it serious?”

  She thought for a second. “I don’t think I’d call it serious just yet, but it is moving in that direction.”

  “Who is he?”

  “I met him a couple weeks ago at one of our open houses. He works for a food supply company, one that wants our business. We got to talking and just kind of hit it off. We exchanged phone numbers and have gone out a few times since. I like him,” she said with a smile that lit up her entire face.

  “I’d like to meet him.”

  “Maybe we could do a double date,” Mandy suggested.

  “That would be fun. Next week or something. I’ll have to talk to Terran. He’s busy most of this upcoming week,” I explained.

  “What?” she asked with fake shock.

  I laughed. “Yes, we’re taking a few days off.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  I nodded. “Yes, he’s got work stuff, and I’ve got that meeting with the agent and some jobs lined up.”

  “You guys are getting pretty serious,” Mandy said with a smile on her face.