“There is a third way,” Alex says with a grin.
Cindy
“You buy the casino and get your business manager to sneak in after the cleaning staff have left, and anyone else arrives. He attaches magnets to the table you will be sitting at. Then you count your losses to get the results you want.”
I burst into laughter, shaking my head.
“Well, then it’s fair to say that’s not really a new threat I have to watch out for at least,” I say. “You sure were committed to seeing how I handled a potential cheater.”
“I think you handled me admirably,” he smiles. “Most people get distracted by my brutish personality and forget themselves around me … but not you.”
“Not me,” I agree. “I’ve seen far too many psychopaths in here to let them disrupt the running of the casino.”
“Fair enough,” he says.
I think I detect a hint of disappointment on his face. Is he disappointed that I likened him to a psychopath? Did he want me to like him? No, I tell myself, quickly dismissing the idea. The gin has gone to my head and I’m starting to imagine things.
“Now, back to the job,” he says, all business again. He leans back in his chair and studies me for a moment.
I take my chance to get in first. “Not to blow my own trumpet, but I think everything is run pretty efficiently here. Of course, today’s take is going to be significantly lower than usual, but that’s because of your little stunt so you can hardly complain about that.”
He smiles and nods his head.
I go on quickly. “If there’s anything you would like to change I’m open to a discussion about it.”
He waves his hand dismissively. “You seem to know what you’re doing here. I would never have bought the place if it was not a viable business option. But that’s not the job I’m talking about. I have a proposition for you, Cindy. One I think will greatly benefit us both.”
He pauses and I have to admit I’m intrigued. Does he have a network of casinos? Is he going to offer me some sort of area manager position? I’d definitely be open to that.
“I’ll make you a fifty percent owner of The Macau, and after five years you can buy me out at the going market rate.”
My eyes widen in shock. “What?”
“You didn’t hear wrong,” he says softly.
“Why?” I gasp out the word that is going round and round in my head like a dog chasing its own tail.
“In exchange for a few weeks of your time. During that time, you will act as my fiancée, and—”
I jump to my feet so quickly the fabulous velvet antique chair underneath me lands on the ground with a loud crashing sound. Ignoring it I glare bolts of fire at Alex. I’m so fucking angry I feel like I might burst into flames any moment.
“How dare you?” I yell furiously. “You waltz in here all mysterious and flirty and think you can buy me? I don’t know what kind of people you usually employ, but let me tell you something. I am not that kind of woman and I never will be. And quite frankly, I’m disgusted you would even suggest such a thing.”
Alex looks at me calmly as I shout at him. “Do you think it is possible, Cindy, that you could be holding the wrong end of the stick?”
I find that hard to believe. How else could he have meant it? I fold my arms across my chest and raising an eyebrow, wait for his explanation.
“If anything, I should be the one that’s offended here. Think about it, do you really think I have to pay for sex?”
I have to admit it does seem extremely unlikely a man like him would have to pay for sex. He must have a string of women queuing up to get into his bed. And to pay that much for a few weeks of sex was sheer madness. And he didn’t look mad. Quite the opposite. As a matter of fact, more and more he is looking like the sane one in our exchange … but that doesn’t change the fact he’s just asked me to be his girlfriend for a few weeks in exchange for money.
“What exactly could your proposition mean except what I thought it meant?” I ask intrigued, but refusing to show it.
“If you’ll just sit back down, I’ll explain everything, I promise. And once I’ve explained, if you don’t want to do it, then I’ll understand. It won’t in any way affect your job here,” he says quietly.
“I won’t be fired?” I ask, in disbelief.
“No, of course not,” he says, looking slightly annoyed that I would even think such a thing. “This is a personal matter outside of the business. Even if you don’t have the sense to see a good deal when one is offered to you, it doesn’t mean you’re bad at running the casino.”