THE BILLIONAIRE'S BARGAIN

Chapter 3 — Meeting The Steinbergs

I whipped my head to the door when I heard the doorbell ring. It rang again almost immediately.

“Did you hear that?” I said to Tanya

“I’ll go answer it” In seconds, she was back “Aaron is here. Hurry now, so you don’t keep him waiting”

My breathing hitched and my heart raced. Was I sure I really wanted to do this? Maybe I could just back out, I mean there was still time. What if my cover gets blown? What if his Mom doesn’t approve of me?

Tanya noticed the sudden change on my face through the mirror and tossed the bottle of hairspray she was using on my hair on the bed.

“What’s with the sudden worried look? I hope it’s not what I’m thinking it is” She had a disapproving look on her face even though she hadn’t heard what I had to say

“I’m scared, Tanya. This doesn’t feel right. What if I get caught? What if—” I was saying but she interrupted me.

“No what ifs, Khloe. You want the money, don’t you? Besides, you guys already struck a deal. You signed a contract so you can’t back out now. You also don’t want to leave him stranded. He has invested way too much into this or can you pay him back if you eventually back out now?”

“The clothes, the shoes, the bags.…” She trailed off as she used her fingers to count the things Aaron had gotten me since I agreed to be his pretend wife.

“The list is endless, Khloe, so you definitely can’t back out now. I wouldn’t even let you. Think about Rebekah too, before taking any drastic decision”

She was right. I had a lot to lose if I backed out. I breathed in and out as I calmed myself. I had to put in my best and not mess this up. I had come too far to turn back now. The doorbell rang again reminding us that Aaron was still outside.

I quickly picked the red, smudge proof lipstick lying on the vanity table, applied it some more, before smacking my lips. I donned my cologne again and grabbed my purse.

“Hold on, these are important too” Tanya said, fixing a pair of thick latex bra inserts into the bust area of the dusty blue, long satin dress I had on, making my cleavage pop.

I took one last look at myself in the mirror – thigh high slit strapless dress, dyed auburn hair, blue contact lenses, contoured face and of course, the fake mole at the corner of my lips. Nothing could go wrong.

“Run along now, Lourdes. You don’t wanna keep your finacé waiting” Tanya giggled

Lourdes Tarr. Khloe Simmons was long gone.

My six inch, Christian Louboutin strap heels clicked against the floorboards as I headed for the door. I waved Tanya goodbye and stepped out. Aaron had his back to me, left hand shoved into his pocket, his right answering a phone call. He was done almost immediately and turned in time to see me giving him the once over.

He looked very dapper in a notch lapel suit which was the same color as my dress. His cream colored pocket square complimented my purse as well as his shirt whose first two buttons were undone, revealing a glimpse of his hairy chest and a hint of dark ink, suggesting a tattoo. I swallowed hard.

“Ogling much, eh?” He arched an eyebrow, beaming. His eyes seemed to glitter too, like he was happy I swooned over him and he had caught me doing so.

“I wasn’t” I looked away, a slight wave of embarrassment washing through me.

“Deny it all you want, I saw you. I look too good to go unnoticed, so yeah, I get it” He shrugged and I could feel the pride radiate off him like heat. I hissed inwardly.

“We’re running late. Let’s hit the road” He rounded the Tesla Cybertruck, opened the passenger door for me and I got in.

“Your hand” He stretched out his palm to me and when I offered him mine, he slid a diamond ring onto my middle finger and I couldn’t help but admire its sparkle. It must have cost a fortune.

“Fiancée” He smirked before turning over to the other side of the car.

The ignition started the moment he got behind the wheel and in seconds, we were speeding down the road. The silence was unsettling and I sat nervous in my seat. Maybe a conversation or music would help the situation.

“I thought that maybe you’d wear a tux or something” I began, hoping that I didn’t sound quirky

“Waistcoats and ties aren’t really my thing but I’ve worn them a few times. Circumstances compelled me to” I mouthed an “Oh” at his response

“Circumstances like?” I looked at his profile, taking in his chiseled jawline and well trimmed sideboards which ran down to his designer stubble. The stud on his ear shone under the night lights and his textured crop hair polished up his look.

“Board meetings, very formal dinners”

“I see” Silence fell in again until he broke it

“You rehearsed some lines or something? You can’t flop, you know” His hand spun on the steering and he veered the car into a left turning. Something about that was suave and it made butterflies settle in the pit of my stomach.

“Ohm, y–yeah. Yes, I have” I stumbled on my words. I had stood in front of the mirror a million times, rehearsing how I was going to introduce myself when I got to meet his family. Tanya had been such a good tutor too.

“I love what I do to you. The Aaron Steinberg effect” He smiled, not sparing me a glance. I turned red. I couldn’t even hide the fact that I was staring. I couldn’t be blamed. I had not seen him in this fashion before and he just looked too good to go unnoticed.

“You wouldn’t know if you hadn’t been staring too” I countered

“Oh well, the corner of my eyes did and at least, I wasn’t gushing”

Was that an indirect way of him saying I didn’t look good? I mean, in the past month, I had done nothing but keep myself on a strict diet and work out as often as I could just so I could appear trim and svelte.

I knew who the Steinbergs were — old money. His mother, Solené Steinberg owned the second most largest property development firms in the state and managed her late husband’s architectural company while his sister, Olivia Steinberg, was a high profile actress and a talk show host. I knew better than not to come correct, the more reason I looked this sophisticated.

I chewed the insides of my mouth as the thought of not being able to impress them crossed my mind. Pretending to be Aaron’s wife-to-be was a jackpot I had landed and I wasn’t going to allow the opportunity to go to waste.

“We’re here” Aaron announced, bringing me out of my thoughts

He opened the passenger door for me and intertwined my arm in his. My eyes first landed on the rolling lawns, the sparkling fountains next, and an extremely large pool that shone like a sapphire. I couldn’t help but gasp in amazement.

I raised my head to meet towering columns and sparkling windows that seemed to stretch up to the sky. The entrance of the mansion was a sweeping archway with a heavy wooden door that looked like it belonged in a fairy tale. We were welcomed by bodyguards as we walked down the large hallway to the dining.

Everywhere I looked, there were lavish touches: plush carpets, intricate moldings, and artwork that seemed to belong in a museum. The air was thick with the scent of fresh flowers and polish.

We walked into the dining room just in time to see two ladies descend the stairs, about to take their respective seats at the table. The older woman who was unmistakably his mother was in a silk dress while the younger who was his sister was clad in a beige bodycon dress.

“Look who we have here. The prodigal son” His Mom said, opening her arms to him

“Good Evening, Mom” He hugged her, pecking her on both cheeks

“Yo, what’s good?” That was directed at his sister

“I should be asking you same” She replied nonchalantly as she pulled out a chair and sat

“I haven’t seen you in like forever. What have you been up to?” His mother probed

“Been busy” He shrugged, scratching his nape

“Chasing girls. You better get a life or you won’t have your Dad’s company. Somebody of your reputation can’t be a leader. I might as well sell out the company”

“Of course you wouldn’t do that, Mom. That’s Dad’s legacy” His voice was on edge already

“Watch me do it. I said what I said” She pulled out her own seat and sat.

“Is that a threat?” He asked and when his mother didn’t respond, he went ahead to say what next was on his mind.

“Anyways, I brought someone to meet you”. Finally, because it seemed like I had been forgotten and I was already beginning to panic. I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“Mom, Olivia, meet my fianceé” He placed his hand on my lower back, propelling me forward

“Your what?!” Olivia choked on drink, coughing repeatedly. Her eyes popped and her brows were furrowed in surprise.

“Good Evening, Ma’am” I bended my knee, baring my dentition

“Hello, Good Evening” I waved at his sister, but she didn’t reply

Solené first looked at me from top to bottom and from bottom to top, making me wonder what was wrong. Did I not impress her with my looks already? Was there something on my face? Is there something I didn’t do right?

“And you’re?” She asked, still not looking pleased.

“Khloe. Khloe Simmons” I said, my voice coming out in a whisper, I could barely hear myself

Immediately, Aaron pinched my arm and then it clicked. Oh s**t!