Chapter 5 Find Out If You're Good Enough
741 Words
Her phone pinged with a message. It was from Jason Carter, her father's doctor, who always kept her updated about her dad's condition.
Mario had been in a coma since his accident. Vinnie wondered why Jason had contacted her so late.
With a frown, Vinnie opened the message. After reading it, she let out a sigh of relief. It was just a reminder about hospital fees; thankfully, her dad was stable.
But then her anxiety spiked again as she remembered her bank accounts were frozen.
Damn you, Ruben!
St. Mary's Hospital was the best private hospital in Los Angeles, and with her funds inaccessible, Vinnie couldn't afford the mounting medical bills.
Why did everything have to fall apart now?
Vinnie bit her lip and started messaging friends with whom she had been close, hoping to borrow some money.
However, either they didn't answer, or they flat-out refused.
Ever since her father's hospitalization and the subsequent business takeover by Ruben, which resulted in a fallout between them, people had distanced themselves from her.
To them, a Catmore family heiress without any financial or social leverage was no longer of any value.
Vinnie dialed her assistant, Wendy, and asked, "How are we doing with the bank financing?"
"One bank rejected us today, and we've yet to hear from another. The bank manager doesn't even return my calls," Wendy explained, sounding distressed. "Vinnie, any other strategies in mind?"
Vinnie bit her lip. Funding was once a breeze for the company. Her father's coma had complicated everything.
What now?
She had to ask Dr. Carter for a few more days, regardless.
Vinnie was thoroughly exhausted. Mulling over her options, she tightly clutched her phone and succumbed to sleep.
This tiring day had drained her completely, and the medication quickly pulled her to sleep on the couch.
When Borys finished his business and returned to the living room, he found Vinnie asleep, her long hair spread out, cheeks flushed, and her rosy lips striking.
His heart fluttered for a second, but he quickly averted his gaze, chuckling to himself. "Why would I ever fall for this woman? What's so special about her?"
Borys stared at Vinnie again, sizing her up. Her bust wasn't as large as Taylor Swift's, and her legs weren't as long as Anne Hathaway's.
He stroked his chin. Yet, Vinnie was bustier than Anne Hathaway and more alluring than Taylor Swift, and her face was just as lovely as theirs.
Hold on. Why am I comparing her to celebrities like Taylor and Anne?
With his hands in his pockets, Borys approached awkwardly and checked her forehead. Fortunately, her fever had subsided.
He remembered the details his assistant had compiled about Vinnie; she had faced considerable hardships recently.
Vinnie was a light sleeper; she startled awake at his touch, grabbing his hand suddenly.
It took her a moment to realize where she was. This was Borys' apartment, not that private club, and she hadn't drunk the spiked drink.
Now fully sobered, she looked up at Borys and proposed, "Borys, I could enter into a sham marriage with you and help you fend off some troubles. What do you say to a partnership?"
The rumors were that Borys was impotent; she could serve as a marital shield, a facade to cover his shame.
"What trouble could I possibly have?" Borys scoffed.
Vinnie cautiously suggested, "Like blocking an arranged marriage from your family." She dared not mention the city-wide gossip about Borys' impotence!
Borys scoffed internally. Did he, Borys, really need a woman as a shield? Absurd!
But as he studied Vinnie, he found himself unable to voice his refusal. He leaned down and stroked her cheek. Her skin was immaculate, making him unable to let go!
"I have high standards, and I don't marry just anyone, not even for a sham," Borys murmured as he traced the graceful lines of her neck, collarbone, chest, and waist.
He felt her body tremble under his touch, clearly terrified and repelled, yet she held back from pushing him away.
A thrill of conquest surged within Borys; he was curious to see how long this woman could maintain her façade.
She had just firmly rejected him, and now she was attempting to entice him.
A sham marriage? What made her think that he, Borys Conroy, would need a sham marriage?
He then lifted Vinnie, hoisting her over his shoulder. "I need to find out if you're good enough first."
- Writer
