Don’t Fall Inlove With Me
1065 Words
AURELIE
"I can't believe I'm saying yes to this."
I'd never been in a professor's office before, never had a reason to. Now I was sitting in a leather chair, staring at the man who'd taken my dignity in one fell swoop.
"Say it again," he said.
I rolled my eyes. "I can't believe I'm saying yes to this."
"Perfect." He murmured, leaning back in his chair. "I was worried you'd be difficult."
"I am difficult. I'm the most difficult person you'll ever meet."
"Good. I like a challenge."
I wanted to throw something at his head. Instead, I crossed my arms and tried to look like someone who made good decisions. "Aren't you scared? That people will find out?"
"About the bar or about the deal?"
"Either. Both. All of it."
He was quiet for a moment. Then he stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the campus below. I told myself that I only said yes because I needed him to tutor me and I couldn't afford to lose the scholarship but something tells me it's something else.
And somehow I was scared of what would happen if someone found out about it... I could lose my scholarship. Max could lose his job.
But looking into those eyes, I didn't care.
"I've told you the reason I am doing this," he said.
I sighed. "That's not what I asked."
He turned and looked at me. "I'm scared every day," he said. "Of my brother. Of my father. Of the one mistake that finally brings everything crashing down."
I nodded. "So what's the plan?" I asked. "We just... show up places together? Hold hands? Make googly eyes?"
"Googly eyes?"
"Don't judge my terminology."
He smiled. It was different from the bar smile, softer, more real. "We pretend we're not pretending. That's the key. If anyone asks, we're just two people who happened to meet and hit it off. That's all. Just... chemistry."
"We have chemistry?"
"We had s*x in a car."
Heat flooded my cheeks. "Fine. Whatever. When do we start?"
"Tonight..." he said and my jaw dropped. I wasn't expecting to be entering into the role so soon. "My father's expecting me for dinner tonight. It's a family dinner."
He grabbed his blazer from the back of his chair. "You're coming with me."
"I'm what?"
"You're my girlfriend. Girlfriends attend family dinners."
He was gone before I could argue.
With a sigh, I grabbed my bag and walked out of his office, making my way home.
There was a package sitting in front of my door when I got home.
Thankfully, my parents or worse, Chloe, hadn't seen the package. I opened it and a gasp escaped my lips at the sight before me. It was a gown... Long, black, silk, with a V neck that probably went a little bit low.
There was a note pinned to it:
For tonight. Don't argue. —M
I swallowed hard, anxiety washing over me as I stared at the dress. It was so beautiful. Far too beautiful. How did he even know what I'd like?.
Suddenly, a knock sounded on my door, bringing me out of my thoughts. Who could it be now?
I opened it and immediately regretted it.
Chloe stood in the hallway, holding a bouquet of flowers. Wilted roses.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
She shoved the flowers into my hands anyway. "I am sorry about everything I said.”
"You're sorry?”
I laughed. I couldn't help it. It came out sharp and broken. "I don't need your apologies. I don't need your flowers." I stepped back, grabbed the door handle. "Keep your trash, Chloe."
I closed the door in her face and plopped down onto bed.
The dress lay across my chair, its black silk catching the afternoon light. I stared at it longer than I meant to, replaying everything that had happened since last night.
"What have you gotten yourself into, Aurelie?" I muttered.
A sigh escaped my lips and I stretched out on the bed, intending to close my eyes for only a few minutes.
The next time I opened my eyes, the room was darker and my phone buzzed on my nightstand.
I picked it up and saw that it was a message from Max.
‘I’m outside’ it read.
My breath caught in my throat and I rose to my feet immediately. I hurriedly put on the dress, fixed my hair with trembling hands, slipped on a pair of heels, and took one last look at myself in the mirror.
There was no backing out now.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my bag and made my way outside while silently praying that no one sees me.
Max was waiting outside my apartment building, leaning against a black car that looked so much expensive.
He was wearing a gray suit. No tie. The top button of his shirt was undone. His dark hair was slightly tousled, like he'd been running his hands through it.
I stopped breathing. He looked... Looked handsome. Handsome didn't feel like the right word.
"Like the dress," he said.
"Like the suit."
"It's just a suit."
"Hmm"
He opened the passenger door for me. "Get in. We have an hour drive, and there's a lot you need to know."
The car interior smelled like him. I sank into the seat, trying not to think about how right this felt. How natural. How dangerous.
"Rule number one," he said, pulling out of the lot. "Don't let my father provoke you. He'll try. He'll say things about your background, your education, your family. Don't react."
"Easy."
"Rule number two. Don't be alone with my brother, Ethan. Ever. He's charming and he's a snake, and he'll use anything you say against me."
"What about your mother?"
"She died, ten years ago. Don't bring her up."
I swallowed. "Okay."
"Rule number three." He glanced at me. "Don't fall in love with me."
"Excuse me?"
"It's a fake relationship. Feelings complicate things. I don't want either of us getting hurt."
"Trust me," I said, staring out the window. "I'm not the falling-in-love type."
"Good."
"Good."
We drove in silence for a while. The city gave way to suburbs, then to trees, then to gates. Huge iron gates, the kind where rich people live.
Max slowed the car. "Ready?" he asked.
- Writer
