“I need her to pretend to be engaged to me,” says the man, with a shrug of his wide, muscular shoulders, as if it’s no big deal. As if he’s asking for a piece of candy in a candy store. I guess money really can buy anything. “And to pretend to marry me. As soon as possible.”
“I… I see,” Sheridan says, obviously at as much of a loss for words as I am. “And will there be other… terms to this agreement? Things that the lovely Miss Veronica will have to agree to? For that amount of money.”
He shrugs again.
“Well, if you’re talking about sex…”
“I’m talking about the pleasure of her company,” Sheridan quickly interrupts to clarify. This guy doesn’t even know you’re not supposed to say the “s” word around here. He must be new. I like to think that he is— that he doesn’t always come here to buy sex, or fake brides, for that matter. “The enjoyment of all the many things that are possible for a man and a woman to enjoy doing together.”
“Well, let’s just say I’m a red-blooded male,” the guy says, and everyone else starts laughing. It seems to be a release of the nervous, pent-up energy we’ve collectively had since this mystery man announced he wanted to an insane amount of money to make me his fake fiancée. “So, I’m wanting to buy everything that’s included in a fake engagement scenario.”
“That scenario is quite unique,” Sheridan responds. “So, let’s just be clear here, so that Veronica knows whether or not she wishes to accept the offer. You would like the pleasure of her complete company. You would like her to be your fake… fiancé.”
“And fake bride,” he says, with a smile.
Even though the set up is crazy, I can’t help but want to smile back at him. His dimple is so damn cute and his body is so hot.
“And fake bride,” Sheridan continues. “How much of a period of time would this cover? And how much time would you be needing from Veronica to carry out this fake… courtship?”
The mystery man shrugs.
“Look, I’m not one for rules,” he says. “I just know I need to do this thing. She’ll have to have dinner with my dad, if he’s able to get out of bed. Some days are better than others.”
The way he says this breaks my heart. I guess it makes me think of my mom during the hardest phases of her condition and her treatment so far.
“And then we might have to put in another public appearance or two so it seems semi-believable. Even though Dan and Ed here are clearly in on the scoop, we don’t want people running their mouths wondering how such a short engagement can be possible, and causing my dad to question anything.”
His friends high five him, and I’m not sure what secret they’re in on, but I have to admit it sounds rather intriguing. This guy is so hot I’d probably do it for free, just for fun. To live a little, to have some adventure, as Stacy always urges me to do. But to think that I’m getting paid two million dollars to do it is mind-blowing. I suppose he wants my virginity as well, but from the wetness in my panties I have a feeling that’s something I’d give him for free as well.
“Alright then,” Sheridan says, as if she doesn’t know what else to say, and I don’t blame her, as I would be at a loss of words myself. “Are there any other bids?”
No one says anything, and then the man in the front says, “Well dude, I really wanted her but you obviously have your own strange fantasies to fulfill and you’re willing to pay a lot more than I even have, to carry that out, so, have at it.”
“If we can please refrain from talking to other clients during the bidding,” Sheridan reminds him.
After no one else says anything, she asks, “Alright, Veronica, with your knowledge of the terms of the request… or, as detailed as we’re able to decipher at this point in time… are you willing to accept the bid? Please understand that you don’t have to. We could go with the lower bid and pick up the auction from there, with alternative terms in place.”
“I understand,” I tell her. She’s probably worried about getting sued or something. Her face looks confused and apprehensive, as if she fears she might be selling me to a very deranged man.
But as I look back at the man who has just offered to pay a fortune to make me his fake wife, I decide that if he’s deranged then I’m deranged too. Because I want to see where this takes us. Not just because he’s hot, and not only because my mom desperately needs the money and this amount is more than enough to pay for all her treatments, but also because I’m sick of being shy and self-conscious and playing it safe.
I look back at Stacy and then at the beautiful blue eyes of the mystery man who I suppose will no longer be a mystery to me. My entire body tingles at the thought of him taking me for his very first time. And with the knowledge that I’m the one he has chosen to be his pretend wife.
“Do you accept the offer, Veronica?” Sheridan prods me, done worrying about my fate and eager to move on to the bidding for the next girl. “Do you want to be this man’s… fake fiancée? Fake wife?”
His eyes are the color of a sea I could get lost in for the rest of my life. I have no choice but to go along with whatever he wants— no matter how strange of a request it is.
So, without unlocking my gaze from his, I nod my head.
“I do.”