His Favourite distraction

Chapter5

"This is some real s**t," Diana said.

"I know."

"I mean—this is real shit."

"I know that."

"This is some real, real shit."

"I f*****g know, for f**k’s sake!" I snatched the paper from her hands, hugging it to my chest like it was a newborn. The document was everything. A golden key. A gateway. Possibly a boyfriend pass. Sure, it technically qualified as blackmail, but a girl’s gotta use what she’s got. I marched to the photocopier and printed a spare, because Arthur was definitely going to rip up the original.

Diana flopped dramatically onto my sofa. "So let me get this straight. Arthur has to lock down a stable relationship, get engaged to a girl if the family approves, or else his father’s company goes to his brother. Correct?"

I nodded. "Bingo."

"And you," she pointed at me like she was in court, "are going to blackmail him into dating you."

"Not blackmail. More like... an offer."

Her brows shot up. "And if he says no?"

I smirked. "Then I hope he enjoys the paparazzi hunting him down about knocking some girl up."

Her jaw dropped. "How the f**k are you going to pull that off?"

"Simple," I said, patting my stomach. "You’ve seen me after a full pizza. I can pass for three months pregnant easy."

Diana groaned. "You’re smart, but you’re playing with fire."

"What have I got to lose? Worst case, you’re out a couple hundred bucks."

Her eyes went wide. "Shit."

"s**t indeed." I grabbed my bag. "Now, I’m two hours late for work, so I need to go charm my dragon of a boss."

Tash didn’t disappoint.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT ON TIME MEANS?" she shrieked, loud enough for the customers to stop mid-sip.

I sighed dramatically. "Tash, I am on time."

"It’s one in the afternoon! You were supposed to be here at nine!"

"Indoor voices," I chided. "And technically, if we were in Anchorage, it’d be nine. So really, I’m early."

Her face turned crimson. "We are not in Anchorage, we are in New York. This is your last chance, Alice, or my grandmother will fire you herself!"

I raised an unimpressed brow. "Empty threats. Can I go work now?"

She sputtered silently. I breezed past her, ignoring the curious customers. May caught my eye mid-order, grinning. She lived for my daily Tash sparring matches.

I ducked behind the counter and started making myself a coffee, because frankly, I deserved it.

"Black coffee. Medium," a voice ordered behind me.

I turned—froze—and immediately turned back.

Oh, f**k no.

"Alice," Arthur said, calm, unreadable.

I pasted on my best innocent look. "Not Alice."

His voice was dry. "Then why do you have a name tag that says Alice?"

Fuck.

I turned back around slowly. No tie. Hair in that infuriatingly perfect styled-but-not-styled mess. He looked like trouble dressed in Armani.

"What do you want, Mr. Cross?" I snapped.

"Like I said. Black coffee. Medium."

"I heard you the first time."

"So why did you ask?"

My eyes narrowed. Sarcasm was my thing. Not his. His smirk said he knew it too.

Grinding my teeth, I made his stupid drink and shoved it across the counter. "Three dollars."

He paid, but instead of leaving like a normal person, he slid onto a stool. Sat. Sipped. Stayed.

So much for storming into his office with his letter. Plan B was on life support. Time to improvise.

"You know what I hate the most?" I asked, leaning over.

"I don’t care." He didn’t even glance up from his phone.

I ignored him. "When my brother gets what’s mine. Like when my mom says I have to do something first, or else it goes to him instead."

Nothing.

"Let’s say my dad has a car for me, but I need a boyfriend before I can get it. Otherwise, my brother takes it."

Arthur finally looked up, eyes narrowed. "Why the f**k would your dad make that a rule?"

I rolled my eyes. "It’s hypothetical. Point is, someone I know can’t inherit his daddy’s company unless he gets himself a girlfriend. And, well, he kicked me out of his apartment before I could... offer assistance."

Recognition hit. His whole face darkened. "How the f**k do you know about that?"

"The tooth fairy told me." I grinned, pulling the letter out of my bra and sliding it onto the counter. "Here."

In two seconds flat, the letter was confetti.

"Don’t you dare—"

"Relax. I’ve got another copy. You can’t stop me." I leaned closer. "I just want to make a deal."

His jaw flexed. Then, unexpectedly, he laughed—short, cold. "Ah. I get it now."

"You do?"

"Yep. You’re one of those money-grabbing whores who blackmail men to get what they want. Classic move. But it won’t work this time."

The words hit like a slap, but I held my ground. "You’re wrong. I don’t want your money."

He stood, leaving his half-empty cup. "You know I’m right. And that’s fine. I won’t judge you."

And just like that, he walked out.

Leaving me speechless.