FALLING FOR THE CEO's LIES

at all. I couldn't get Cole

at stake

father. Everything I had put so

leaded for an extension, called every bank I could find, and even thought about selling off

sitting on the table. I gazed at it until the te

s just another day as the light was just beginning to rise, bathing the vi

y thoughts as my phone

ou decide

me on the screen. I didn't respond. Rath

ering how my father used to do the same, I stroked my fingers through the leaves. He wou

what would he think? If I accepted the bargain, woul

was sitting in the living room by nightfall, looking at Cole'

ria." He sounded cool and smooth as

mp in my throat and hesit

poke more softly, as if in r

my annoyance erupting. "I was

ith a means of escap

way out that

ever, that doesn't mean it

ht, and I

made an effort to soun

more professional and efficient. "At seven,

I spoke inc

s a good debut, so we need to make this look real."

"A public gatherin

rrive, I'll give you a rundown on

before I

s I gazed at the phone.

-

se when I was outside my house at seven o'clock. Like Co

, I slid in as the d

sible for me not to gape when we pulled up. Perched on a hill overlooking the city belo

as I stepped out once th

orway. His confidence radiated like a force field, a

tone, he said

hot out, "You didn't

ips quirked. "Enter now.

e, but I followed him inside. Marble floors, high ceili

clean up well," as we entered wha

without trying to

the information you require. Our relation

rned the pages. "You h

anything to chance if we want to convin

words *madly in love*. It was n

acknowledged, "I'm not sur

unmistakable tone. "And y

he was able to ge

d, scarcely raising my

eyes somewhat softening

-

packed with individuals who seemed to fit in C

Cole guided me through the mob with a gentle touch on my back.

ar, he said, "Calm down

ould make me uneasy, and h

ne covers as we went about. Charming and self-assured, he

ht when I felt I was b

red behind

turned. She had a beautiful smil

le stated in

and piercing as she looked

s hand grew a little tighter

smile wavered, but it soon

strain and the wei

, I said, "It's a p

ee right through me as her eyes

ief, it left me feeling shaken.

that?" I

, he remarked, "She's l

e disco

ble when he looked a

ngled at wh

eement would end up costing me more than I ha