i

ve one

glowing on the screen. She quickly wiped a crumb from the corner of her lips

She'd have to

art-time job?" Lucy asked, shaking her head

macking her lips in irritation. "I've been doing t

ou already have a steady job, don't you? Why not just leav

large piece of bread into her mou

. "You get to have fun with someone, and you get pa

omeone overheard you, they'd think your part-time

out her tongue. "As long as I'm making

hing wrong. Her job wasn't scandalous, and she wasn't selling herself to sl

uldn't it be better to find a real boyfriend instead of... you

gaze drifting to the rain-soak

would I?" She paused, watching people hurry by with umbr

mile faltering. "You're st

ightened, and

," Lucy sai

*k up," Hannah m

o list. After this, she needed to hit the supermarket. Great, she

A senior she had admired from afar, he'd captured her heart with his quiet confidence and kind smile. Hann

wavering. But life had a way of moving people in different direction

h she hadn't seen him in person for so long, h

go?' she wondered for

a single trace of him to be found. It was

oing we

ghts. "How long has it been since we gradu

d, avoiding he

tell me you've never been intereste

g for them. I do this job because... sometimes I just want to

felt any real connection with the men who hired her. Sure, a few had

couples she saw on the street, laughing and holding hands. She wanted

ant a boyfriend so badly, just find a real one. Why play this rente

Whatever you say. I'm heading out. I need to s

prise. "Wait, you'r

," Hannah said, slinging

I could stay at your place tonight!" Lucy

eaded for the door. "Th

catch up, but a small s

request-least of all her. But the money was good, and that was reason enough. On Saturday after

g an air of cool detachment that seemed to repel anyone from sitti

he asked, her voice t

iefly, his expressio

g into her seat, she studied him for a moment. He was tall, sharp-featured,

y, with looks like that, he could have women lining up for his attention. The mystery i

r," Cameron said bluntly, his tone colder than the café's iced beverages. "

ly taken aback by his cur

ed to reply. "Anythin

months. We met here six months ago. Keep your story straight, don

tort and nodded. "Un

d don't be so formal. My family

agreeable tone, though her fingers itc

ical eye, his brow furrowing sli

d, her voice a mix of

le," he said bluntly, rising

ithout a backward glance. Her annoyance simmered as she hurried t

ts car parked out front. Hannah stopped in h

or her to get in. Reluctantly, she opened the passenger door,

n a chic part of town. Without so much as a word, he escorted her inside, w

s," Hannah muttered as she trailed be

," he sai

ng instructions with all the authority of someone who was used to getting

p subtle but sophisticated, and the dress Cameron had chosen for her was nothing short of breathtaking. The sleek, emerald-green fabric hugged

eron, who seemed unfazed by the e

a restaurant at a luxurious five-star hotel, its grand entrance framed by towering pillars and glitt

orm, greeted them with a polite bow. "Mr. Ca

as he guided her forward. The contact sent an unexpected shiver

wander. Why on earth does a guy like him need to hire a fake girlfriend? With this kind

th him. Maybe he's controlling. Or s

of double doors, opening them with a

he polished marble floor. The private room was intimate but lavish, the kind of space reserved for VIPs. Seated

s landed on one of the men. Her br

he president direc

s she instinctively stiffened, her