Lucy

 

I gulped, practically choking when I heard Karen say the words to my face. “We’ve found the client, and you need to be at his home at five this evening. You’re expected to have three days’ worth of clothes, and then your things will be brought to his home, where you’ll live for the next year.”

 

“Wow, that was faster than I expected,” was all I could say. I scanned her face for some inkling as to whether or not he was a nice guy, or if he was some kind of weirdo rich guy that wanted a young girl on his arm. Anything, but her stoic face didn’t provide any clues.

 

“Well, sometimes finding a suitable companion doesn’t take that long, Miss Quinn.”

 

“What else do I need to know?” I said hesitantly. Concern grew as it began to set in just how real this situation had become. I was about to move in with a perfect stranger and pretend to be his girlfriend for an entire year. And, to top it all off, I couldn’t share anything about it.

 

“His name is Ryder Donahue. He’s a very wealthy internet security specialist,” she replied with the same self-controlled demeanor.

 

“I-- I’m sorry. Did you say Ryder Donahue? I-- I-- can’t.” Barely able to utter his name, my jaw fell open, my heart sinking.

 

Apparently not the first time that someone thought they’d back out of a deal, Karen Flores gently raised my chin, ensuring our eyes met. “Oh you can, and you will, Miss Quinn. You have a legally-binding contract with Mr. Donahue. It matters not one bit that you may know him from the past, which it seems you do. For the next year, as far as the public eye is concerned, you are his girlfriend. You will be at his side as he sees fit. What you choose to do behind closed doors is between the two of you.” She released her hand, still maintaining our intense eye contact. “Do you understand?”

 

“Did he pick me?” I asked, thinking for a moment that he’d sought me out.

 

“That is not how Infidelity works, dear. As we discussed previously, you are matched anonymously and only once you are matched, do you learn each other’s identity,” she reminded me.

 

“But, we--” I started to explain before she stopped me.

 

“Miss Quinn, as I mentioned to you moments ago, it does not matter if you knew each other before. What’s done is done, and as an employee of Infidelity, I really must insist that you come to terms with your reservations, and do your job. The job you are being paid quite handsomely for. You really need to get moving if you’re going to make it on time. Traffic this time of day is terrible.” She stood up, indicating our conversation was finished.

 

“So, what do I do now?” I asked, no longer sure what I was doing at all.

 

“You do whatever he asks you to,” she replied. I watched her lips carefully form the words, as I raised my fingertips to my own. Whatever he asks me to do. I couldn’t begin to imagine what he’d ask me to do after what I’d done to him.

 

As Karen escorted me out, I realized that this was so much worse than I ever could have dreamed. The nagging feeling that he knew it was me all along was like an anchor in my belly, and as the storm churned inside me, despair set in. An entire year with Ryder. After everything we’d been through. I knew he couldn’t have forgiven me, and I never would have blamed him for it. But, I also never thought I’d see him again.

 

The sedan that was hired to drive me to my apartment to pick a few things up, and then take me to his place, was luxurious. I’d never had the pleasure of being driven around the city, and certainly not in a private car. I ran my palm against the cool black leather of the seat next to me, contemplating what I would say to him. As we pulled in front of my building, I opened the door to let myself out of the back seat.

 

“Miss, I’ll take care of that.” The driver hopped out, grabbing the door quickly.

 

“I’m sorry. I’m not used to…” I trailed off.

 

“I’m Jacob, Miss Quinn. I’m going to be driving you wherever you need to go, and accompanying you as well.” Jacob smiled at me, revealing perfectly white teeth with his reassuring glance. His salt and pepper hair was manicured perfectly, combed back neatly, and his steely blue eyes had a sympathetic presence to them. He wore a tailored suit, not off of a rack, and it was clear that this wasn’t his first rodeo.

 

“You can call me Lucinda,” I smiled shyly.

 

“Lucinda, we are running a bit behind schedule, so let me assist you in gathering your belongings so that we can get where we need to be on time.” He gestured toward the building in front of us.

 

“Oh, okay. Yeah, sure.” I allowed this stranger, with the kind eyes, to follow me to my apartment, where I quickly gathered a few days’ worth of things into a suitcase. I had no idea what I’d need, but I was told that I needed evening attire, so I also grabbed a pair of gold stillettos that I’d picked up recently. When I saw them, I had to have them, even though I didn’t have an occasion to wear such things. It seemed that maybe now, I would.

 

I had meticulously built a wardrobe of designer attire, mostly secondhand, and as I flipped through the hangers in my closet trying to pick out what to bring, Jacob cleared his throat.

 

“Am I taking too long?” I asked, raising an annoyed eyebrow at him as he stood in the doorway of my bedroom, staring.

 

“All of your things will arrive at Mr. Donahue’s in a few days, so you need only bring the necessities, and attire for dining out.”

 

Rolling my eyes, I sighed. And, here we go. I was being rushed into grabbing what could be the completely wrong outfits for whatever Ryder had in store for me. If I’d been informed that he was the client, then surely by now, he’d been informed that I was the employee, or companion that he was looking for. As my thoughts turned to what had become of Ryder, and why on earth he would need or want to hire a companion, I grabbed a few dresses and called it a day. If my things were going to arrive in the next few days, I’d just find a way to get by. Besides, the five thousand dollars I was paid for my interview was in my account, and I could likely just buy whatever else I needed.

 

Jacob grabbed my bag before I could pull the handle out to wheel it down the hall myself, and as I followed him, the apprehension in my belly grew.  What scared me more than anything, was that there was a small part of me - a part I was trying to hide - that was eager to see him.