Chapter 3

Ethan stares at me.

“One million.”

“Correct.”

“For an explanation.”

“For publicly implying I’m a corporate spy.”

Vanessa steps closer.

“Ethan, don’t pay her.”

He doesn’t even look at her.

“Send it.”

His assistant hesitates.

Ethan turns.

“Now.”

A moment later, my phone pings.

I open my camera roll.

Three photos fill the screen.

One wide shot and two close-ups.

All of the giant chandelier hanging in the Cole Holdings lobby.

I turn the phone toward them.

“My mother is redecorating her dining room.”

I swipe to the next picture.

“She likes dramatic lighting.”

Vanessa’s face goes white.

I look at Ethan.

“Should I delete these before national security gets involved?”

His eyes move to Vanessa.

“Apologize.”

She stiffens.

“What?”

“You accused her without proof.”

“Ethan, I was only worried about you.”

“Apologize.”

Her lips part.

For the first time since she walked in, the hurt look slips.

Something much colder flashes underneath.

“I’m sorry.”

I pull up the voice recorder.

“Again.”

She stares at me.

“What?”

“I wasn’t recording.”

Her eyes widen.

I press the red button.

“Go ahead.”

“You cannot be serious.”

“Next false accusation costs double, so I recommend getting this one right.”

Vanessa looks at Ethan.

He says nothing.

Her face burns red.

“I’m sorry.”

“Perfect.”

I save the file.

Vanessa grabs her purse and storms out.

The door slams behind her.

Silence.

Then Ethan turns toward me.

“What?”

I ask.

“Who are you?”

“Your most expensive bad decision.”

He walks toward me.

I take one step back and my shoulders hit the window.

“I thought you were just after money.”

“I am.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Then ask a better question.”

His gaze drops to my mouth.

Then he leans in.

I turn my head.

His lips brush my cheek instead.

“Kissing costs extra.”

He stops.

For a second, neither of us moves.

Then he gives a short, disbelieving laugh.

“How much?”

“Ten thousand.”

“Per kiss?”

“Now you’re learning.”

His hand settles at my waist.

“And this?”

“Five.”

His fingers tighten.

“This?”

“Ten.”

His expression darkens.

By the time we leave his office, he has spent more money touching me than most people spend on a car.

I consider the afternoon productive.

Later that week, Ethan comes to my apartment.

The first kiss costs him ten thousand.

By the time we make it to my bedroom, he has stopped asking what everything costs and started paying whatever number I give him.

I discover two things that night.

Ethan is very good in bed.

Worse, he knows exactly how good he is.

When I make the mistake of letting him hear how much I’m enjoying myself, the smug look on his face makes me want to raise the price out of spite.

“Don’t look so pleased with yourself.”

“You’re the one smiling.”

“I’m thinking about the money.”

“Liar.”

He shifts me beneath him.

I catch his shoulder.

“New position. Ten thousand.”

Ethan actually stops.

“You’re charging me now?”

“Especially now.”

He stares at me for a second, reaches for his phone on the nightstand, and sends the money.

“Happy?”

“Very.”

By the time we finally stop, both of us are breathing too hard to pretend the sex wasn’t good.

That still doesn’t make it romantic.

He wants Vanessa’s face.

I want his money.

The fact that we both enjoy everything in between is just a bonus.

“This is an arrangement, Ethan. You want someone who looks like Vanessa. I want your money.”

“At least you admit it.”

“I admitted it the first night.”

He goes quiet.

Later, Ethan lies beside me with one arm thrown across my waist.

Neither of us has bothered getting dressed.

Then, out of nowhere, he says,

“Vanessa is getting married.”

I turn my head.

Seriously?

We just had sex, and now he wants to talk about her?

“Good for her.”

His jaw tightens.

“That’s it?”

“What else do you want me to say?”

He looks away.

“Her family needs the Mercer family.”

I understand immediately.

“A business marriage.”

He says nothing.

“So she chose them over you.”

His face gives me the answer.

I lean back against the headboard.

“And that’s why you found me.”

Still nothing.

“You wanted someone with her face while she married somebody else.”

His eyes snap back to mine.

I shrug.

“Honestly? That’s sad.”

“You think this is funny?”

“No.”

I look at him.

“I think it’s expensive.”

His mouth twitches despite himself.

“You make everything sound cheap.”

“I make everything sound accurately priced.”

He reaches for me again.

I put a hand against his chest.

He looks down.

“What now?”

“Post-date emotional support is a separate service.”

For the first time since we met, Ethan actually smiles.

Then he catches my chin between his fingers.

“Claire.”

“What?”

“You’d better always be this sharp.”

I smile back.

“As long as you keep paying.”