Paid To Love

Episode 4

Victoria’s POV

"Zoey, Do you know who the Davies family are?" I asked Zoey , exactly one week after the whole office fiasco at Davies Industries. I got a part-time job, at a coffee shop aptly named Khaffee.

Zoey was my best friend. She may have filled that role solely because I didn't have any other friends, at least not in this city and we worked together a good portion of the week, but I was more than content with her. She was cute and friendly and an all-around good girl. The type of person everyone needed in his or her life.

"If I answer that will you braid my hair for me?" she responded, pointing at her hair tied up in a bun on the top of her head.

"I was already late for work and couldn't really do anything with it." She said worryingly.

"Fine, just sit down."

Zoey cheerfully took a seat on one of the stools at the counter. Fortunately, the coffee shop was pretty dead, as it usually was in the afternoon, so I had plenty of time to fix her hair up.

"I'm actually pretty surprised that you don't know who the Davies Family are," she said to me. "Although, you do live under a rock most of the time."

I tugged on her hair a little harder than I had to. "Is he a director or a big movie producer i should know about?"

"No, why would you think that?"

"Uh, he kind of seems like one."

She turned her head around to face me. I quickly let go of her hair so I wouldn't pull it. "You met him?" she exclaimed.

"Careful your hair!!. And yeah remember when i told you about the incident at Davies Industries? Yeah something happened between us and... You know what just tell me who he is first"

I pushed her head away from mine so i could continue braiding, i locked the braid in place.

"You know them just try and remember. Remember the last time your were in town on your twenty-first birthday?"

As it was a night to remember, I nodded.

"Do you remember where we stayed?"

"That hotel near the casino," I answered.

She turned around to look at me again and nodded. "And what was that hotel called?"

"Davies Hotels. But why..." The connection took a moment. My jaw nearly dropped. It explained so much. I should have known who they were.

“Do you also remember the mall we went shopping at that same day, you should also guess the name.”

“Davies SuperMart..” I exclaimed with surprise.

"Now you know who they are." She giggled.

That’s why he looked so fancy, i thought he was just your average rich guy but this guy was wealthy. This made me think, what did he mean by saying i was going to play his girlfriend. At first i thought he meant in a movie but it doesn’t really seem like that’s what he meant.

"Do you think i should call him?" i asked her without realising that i didn’t tell her i had his number.

“What!, you have his number?”

"Well, the thing is..." I pulled out his card from that day and handed it to her. I'd kept it because I hadn’t made up my mind to call him or not.

Zoey 's jaw dropped as she saw the card with his house address and number.

"Wow, he must've really liked you! “

“I Don’t know, he just asked me to play as his girlfriend”

“ He wants you to be his girlfriend? You didn't mention you two were already flirting” She said smiling sheepishly. “You should definitely call him. And next time you’re going to cause mayhem at a company please take me with you"

I burst into laughter. I shook my head. "No way. I couldn't let someone like you go cause trouble with me. You'd be caught instantly." Still laughing.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're too soft and cute for trouble. I'd be afraid of you getting caught immediately and thrown in jail."

She burst into laughter this time and i joined her.

“Anyway I’m not sure i want to be calling him anyway”

“Why wouldn’t you?, Victoria this is a great opportunity for you, who knows if he really likes you.”

Zoey turned to me, her eyes taking on a serious edge.

"Don’t be ridiculous, why on earth would he like me?, Besides he said i was suppose to play as his girlfriend not be his girlfriend.“

“Well then you should still call him. You might have a surprise talent for acting and besides you know you need the money. How much have you saved up so far?”

Not enough was the answer to that. And as much as I did want to call It just didn't feel right. He was a complete stranger, who knows why he even offered me the job.

"You know how these rich guys are, I’m not even sure if he doesn’t have ulterior motives."

"Uhhmm" she responded, trailing off and gazing out the door. Then her eyes widened and she turned back to me. "Oh my god." She pointed toward the door. "It's... Davies... Look!"

Just as the door jingled, signalling the arrival of a customer, I pivoted to see none other than Henry Davies coming through the doors. I felt like I could spot that confident gait and that trussed up hair from a mile away.

I stood rooted to my spot in front of the counter. What in the world was he doing here?

"Victoria," he greeted me, a handsome smile on his face.

I wasn't sure if I was more weirded out by the fact that he was here, or that he remembered my name. I glanced at the young man he'd come in, it was another really handsome fellow and i think i recognised him. Yeah i saw him at Davies Industries with Henry.

When i was in the bathroom eavesdropping that day i saw him from the door, i think his name was Jake.

“Henry” i didn’t notice when i shouted his name.

He smiled as they walked in. "I'm pleased you remember my name”.

“And i think it's Jake right?”

He had a confused expression on his face, Henry laughed and patted him on the back.

“I’m sorry i meant James” i said embarrassed.

“its ok, but how did you know my name?”

Was it weird that I knew his name? Probably. I was just as strange as Henry now. "I haven't met you yet James but i saw you the day i was at Henry's company, that's how i heard your name,".

Henry smirked. "So you also eavesdrop”

"When i have spare time" I answered, his smug look annoying me.

He immediately dropped it and folded his arms over his chest. After brooding for about point-five seconds, he glanced around the shop, now seemingly interested in it. I followed him with my eyes as he walked over to the painted mural on the wall, then to one of the wooden tables, and then finally to the marble counter. Zoey stood behind it, near the register. She shot a bewildered look at me and I gave a slight shake to my head as if to say I have no idea what's happening.

She brushed her hair out of her face and smiled hesitantly. "Um, would you like something, Mr. Davies?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. Mr. Davies? Why was she being so polite? This guy barely looked older than us.

"Your phone number?" he responded smoothly.

Zoey blushed a bit and I did my best not to roll my eyes. Sebastian shook his head a little bit, but he was smiling.

"I'll actually have an iced Latte. Black, please," Henry said before turning slightly so that he could rest his back against the counter. I thought he kind of looked the type to drink a Latte. All business like and strict.

Zoey went off to make his beverage and I walked over to him, my arms still in my apron. "What are you doing here, anyway?" I asked. How had he known I worked here?

"I came to see you," he answered.

"Why?"

He pushed himself off the counter, closing the distance between us. When he was about five inches away, he stopped. I caught my breath a little, uncomfortable with our proximity. The scent of his cologne wafted in the air between us. It smelt good. A very woodsy smell. "You haven't called me," he stated simply.

I looked into his dark eyes and swallowed nervously. His presence almost felt overbearing. Clearing my throat, I took a step back. "Was I supposed to?, wow i think i forgot" I said trying to act little busy.

"I did give you my card right?."

"Yeah," I told him, pulling it out of my pocket and handing it to him.

“So why haven’t you called”

I paused, staring at him for a second. "I’m not sure what i’m calling you for?"

"Being my girlfriend, obviously."

Wait, he had been serious about that? It wasn't just a joke? "Sorry?"

"I have your coffee, Mr. Davies," Zoey announced, gaining the attention of Henry.

He turned and gave her a handsome smile. "Thank you."

"Woah, wait a second." I turned to James, who'd taken a seat at one of the wooden tables. His head rested against the wall and his hands were folded across his lap as he watched us amusedly. "Is your friend crazy?" I asked him.

He chuckled a bit and shrugged. "Maybe."

"I'm not crazy," Henry said, taking a sip of his coffee. I didn't miss the slight grimace on his face. "I'm only being sensible."

"How is tracking me down and asking me to be your girlfriend sensible?" I demanded. And like every typical girl being asked out by strangers I said, "I don't even know you”

Henry seemed a little unsettled by my response. "Wow, what a surprise reaction, i didn't expect this."

I really wanted to throw my hands up in the air and tell him he was out of it, but I refrained. "Will you please just leave?"

"I won't leave until we have a deal," he told me, walking over to the table James was at and taking a seat opposite of him. "Excuse me, Miss? Do you have cheesecake?"

Zoey pointed at herself and Henry nodded. "We do," she responded immediately. "I'll bring you over two slices. Um, would you like anything?" She directed her question to James.

"Please. Hot coffee, regular cream, and extra sugar."

I wanted to tell Zoey not to get them anything, but they had become paying customers, so I couldn't. I felt like I was the only one unnerved by the situation. Sighing lightly, I went behind the counter to get their pastries.

"What's going on?" Zoey whispered to me as soon as I was close enough.

"No idea," I said.

Her eyes were wide with excitement. "How are you being so cool about this? If Henry Davies asked me out, I would faint."

I wanted to say that there was no way he was just asking me out. There was a reason for it. But what, I wasn't sure. I decided that would be my first question for him.

After plating two slices of cheesecake and covering them with strawberry, I returned to the two young men, placing the dishes in front of them. Then I dragged a chair from a different table over and took a seat. "How did you know I work here?" I asked. "Why did you come?"

"I'm here because you haven't called me back and as for how i found you, this city isn’t as big as you think with the right connections," Henry answered easily. He picked up a fork and cut off a little bit of the cheesecake, inspecting it for a moment before putting it into his mouth. "It's been frozen," he said, making a face.

"We're a coffee shop, not a pastry shop," I told him, a little irritated by his reaction. Maybe he wasn't used to anything that didn't cost more than twenty dollars a piece.

I was going to have to say make him tell me how he found me but that’s pretty obvious now, Money was the only way how.

Sebastian tried to take Henry’s plate away, obviously fine with the pre-frozen cheesecake, but the latter pulled it out of reach. "I'll still eat it. Better to not waste food. Victoria, why didn't you call me?"

"Why would I?"

He gave me a look as if to say who wouldn't?

"We can help each other out. I've been telling you this for the past ten minutes."

"Yeah, but how?" I pressed. I had no idea what I could do for a man who had everything.

"You said you needed money. I have money. I need a girlfriend. You are a girl," he spelled out, pointing his fork at me. "As I said, we'd make good business partners."

I stared at him. "I don't know what kind of person you are, or how you grew up, but you can't just buy me."

Henry frowned a little at me. "I'm not buying you. I'm offering you money in exchange for services."

"Like your own prostitute?" I exclaimed, eyes wide. Was this guy serious? Did he not see what was completely wrong with what he was asking?

"No, not a prostitute, just my girlfriend," he amended.

"Just for six months. All you have to do is show up to a few parties with me, snap a few photos, and act the part. No need for any s****l favours."

I stared at him and he stared back at me, unblinking. His face showed no hint of humour. He was serious about this. I couldn't believe it. "Why?"

He sat a little straighter in his seat, smoothing out his shirt. "Various reasons, but mainly so I'm not forced to marry a stranger of my Dad's choosing."

"So you're going to fake that you have a girlfriend? What good will that do?" Also, I was pretty sure you couldn't force someone to marry anyone else, but I didn't say anything. Who knew what went on in the Davies family?

"He's given me six months to find someone I'm interested in. I figure if I find someone, pretend to date them, say I've fallen in love with them, and then have them break up with me, I can claim I'm too heartbroken to move on," he explained in a rush, not even pausing to take a breath. His lips curved up a little and I could tell he was proud of his plan.

Speechless, I once again turned to Sebastian to gauge his reaction. His eyes were lit up with enjoyment— like this was the best thing he'd seen in a long time. He obviously knew how bizarre his friend was being, but wasn't saying anything to stop him.

"Er... okay," I finally said. Henry’s eyes never left my face and I bit my lip. "So you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend so you don't have to get married?"

He nodded.

"And why me?"

"Right place, right time?" he tried, giving me a hopeful grin. "You caught my interest and I loved the show you put up at my company, i actually feel like you may have the charisma to pull off this fake girlfriend thing."

I was lucky I escaped without getting arrested.

Henry leaned toward me. "Let me help you. Be my girlfriend. It'll only be for six months. I'll pay you as I see fit."

While the idea of being paid to date someone made my skin crawl, I was curious to know just how much money was involved. The coffee shop didn't give me many hours. I'd barely be able to make it by, even with my savings. "Okay, let's say I might do it—"

"Perfect! Let's start with the fine details," he cut in, searching for something in his pocket and pulling out his phone.

"Wait, I didn't say I agree yet," I said, holding up my hands. "There's a lot to think about."

He gave me an expressionless look. "Is there? Why? I'm good-looking. I'm successful. I'm wealthy. What more could you need?"

Well, he definitely had the confidence for his looks. "Doesn't it sound weird to you at all? I'd feel cheap."

"Listen, Victoria," he started seriously, his gaze piercing into mine. "It's just for six months. Just think of it as two friends helping each other out."

"But..."

There was no way I could agree to this. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't stoop that low. I had to uphold some kind of dignity.

"I'll pay you a hundred thousand per month."

I blinked. "Huh?"

"Not bad, right?" he asked cheekily.

Fifty thousand for each month? So in six months that was six hundred thousand? That was more than I could make in four years! Was he serious? Who was I kidding? He was completely serious. That much money was probably chump change to him.

But to me...

Silently, I bid farewell to whatever pride I'd thought I wanted. "So what are the terms?"

Henry grinned broadly at my submission. "Let's discuss them, shall we?"