Fake It For Daddy (Sugar Daddy 1)

“Yes,” Leon says, shaking the man’s hand.

“I work for Maxime,” the man says. “My name is Claude and these are my assistants.” He gestures at the girls but doesn’t give them a name. They barely even look up.

“Where’s Maxime?” Leon asks.

Claude winces. “He sent me instead. He wishes for me to get you into your room, get you settled. Have you been to Monaco before?”

Leon glares at Claude. “No, I haven’t.”

“Well, come, it is a lovely place. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

Without another word, Claude and his three assistants start walking toward the terminal. Leon gives me a look and I can see how annoyed he is. I’m guessing he expected to see Maxime, but instead we’re being passed off to this strange, thin man instead.

I follow Leon as Claude talks. He tells us about the history of Monaco, about how it has turned into a thriving economic powerhouse despite being a tiny place in comparison to other countries.

“Strict control, my friend,” Claude says. “And the highest standards. That is how we stay relevant!”

“That’s how you stay filthy rich,” Leon grumbles.

Claude’s smile wavers for only a second before he continues rambling on.

We get a private limo from the airport and it takes the scenic route. Monaco is a port country and the views are incredible. Long sweeping cliffs, brightly colored buildings. Not a scrap of trash on the ground. It’s like a pristine place, probably because so much money is concentrated into such a small space.

“We will be staying in Monte Carlo,” Claude says. “You are familiar, yes?”

“Yes,” Leon says curtly.

That doesn’t stop Claude from launching into an explanation that I can only half understand. I know Monte Carlo from James Bond. I know it’s like the richest, most elite part of Monaco, and the casino there is like the cream of the crop. We’re not staying there, of course, but nearby.

I’m not disappointed though as we pull into the hotel’s front lot. It’s a lavish place in an old colonial style. Fountains and flowers and trees line the immaculate courtyard. Claude leads us inside while his three mute assistants stay in the car.

“I leave you here,” Claude says in the lobby of the hotel. I’m too busy gaping around to notice how annoyed Leon’s looking.

“When will we see Maxime?” he asks.

“Soon, soon,” Claude says. “I promise, very soon. You stay here, enjoy, have some fun. Go to casino, yes? Win a fortune?”

“I already have one of those,” Leon growls.

Claude smiles and excuses himself. Leon stands there glaring around him like a caged tiger, but I barely notice.

The hotel is gorgeous. Sweeping marble, plush carpets, beautiful plants, priceless artwork. I’m blinking around like a moron when a porter appears and takes our bags without saying a word.

“Come on,” Leon grumbles at me. “Might as well go to our room.”

I blink up at him. “Room?”

“Maxime only booked us one. Since we’re together, of course.” Leon does not look pleased about anything right now, but I feel a flutter in my chest.

We follow the porter up an elevator and down a short hall. The suite he shows us to takes my breath away.

It’s even more beautiful than the one we stayed in back in New York, if that’s even possible. Where that was modern and chic, this is old world and reeks of money. Crystal vases, crystal glasses, a big crystal chandelier. The sitting room has beautiful velvet wing-backed chairs and antique fainting couches. I walk around looking at everything, barely suppressing an impressed giggle.

This is the nicest place I’ll ever be in my whole life. It’s by far the gaudiest and over the top and just…

Rich. This is what the richest, most wealthy, elite people in the world must live like, and I’m getting a taste.

I’m too overwhelmed by the room to notice Leon’s mood. He stalks to the window and looks out, not speaking as I look around like a giddy schoolgirl.

Finally, he clears his throat. “Paige.”

I look over at him and I can see the mood etched into his face. I frown a little. “What’s wrong?”

“We’re being passed off.”

I blink for a second. “Passed off?”

He growls and shakes his head angrily. “That Claude man? That’s one of Maxime’s assistants, but not even his top assistant. That man is a nobody.”

“Maxime probably didn’t have time to meet us at the airport.”

“This deal is important and he doesn’t show up himself?” Leon is tense, jaw tight. “That’s bad. That’s very bad.”

“I don’t understand.”

Leon walks over to me slowly, his eyes intense and hard on mine.

“You must understand something, Paige. We aren’t back in New York anymore. Things work differently here.”

I narrow my eyes at him. I can feel a spark of anger. “I know that.”

“No, you don’t. Monaco is a tiny state bordering Italy and France, two of the most powerful countries in the world. It has retained its independence through the years because power flows through this tiny place.”