“I see, well thank you for that. I guess.”
“Well, be prepared, my father is secretly hoping for five kids.”
“Five? Oh my god, no. How?” I laughed trying to ease the tension gripping my stomach.
“Just like we’ve been doing, only I get to stay inside of you. So, are you considering this?” His voice raised with excitement.
“No, just asking.” I hated to dash his spirits, but there was no way I was going to fake marry anyone.
“There would be a lot of money in it for you. I’m talking millions of dollars,” he said this as if it were a true enticement.
“No thanks. I don’t roll like that. I don’t need it, nor do I want your money. I’d rather starve than be bought, but thanks anyway.” I smiled hoping he wouldn’t mind my sarcasm. I so wanted to bolt at that point.
“Okay, so money isn’t a motivator, that actually makes me want you more, I’ll have you know.” His expression turned lusty again.
“Well, I’m sure the next girl you pick up will be more easily bought.” I looked down and my food and realized I wasn’t really hungry; the conversation had turned my stomach.
“See the trouble is, I don’t really want there to be a next girl. For me, you’re exactly what I’m looking for. You’re fun and independent, but I’m sure you’d do fine at a stuffy royal engagement. You’re gorgeous and so the press with adore you and me… well, I’ve very much enjoyed everything we’ve shared so far, so I am, in fact, asking you to marry me. I’ll give you a few days to consider it, but I can’t really give you more than that. Remember, you aren’t really marrying me and this wouldn’t be forever. You’d leave me as a mother who was rich beyond her wildest dreams. You’d probably need to relocate to Ireland, but I’d make sure you returned to New York as often as you wanted. Nothing would change…” He started to try and sell me on that nonsense.
“Except for everything. I don’t think it’s my cup of tea, Liam.” I set my fork down, wiped my mouth with the cloth napkin and got up from the table. “I think I should go home now.”
“You promised to spend the day with me. Nothing has changed. I merely stated my intentions and I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer. I’m giving you two days to consider my offer. And one of those two days, I’d like you to spend with me, please. If you say yes, I’ll be getting to know my wife if you say no then I’ll be sharing what precious little time I have with you before I marry someone I truly don’t want to be stuck marrying. So, please, indulge me. I know you want to; I can see the indecision in your eyes.”
He was so right, I felt cornered and I didn’t know what to do.
“Ten million dollars”, I said with the intention to shock him.
“Done deal”, he said without hesitation.
I was out of words.
Chapter 8
Liam
I’d be more than happy to pay ten million dollars. Piece of cake. The important thing for me was, I couldn’t let her escape. She truly was the most interesting woman I’d met in a very long time. I had to impress that upon her. She was standing and ready to collect her things. I’d already had sex with her that morning, so I knew I couldn’t entice her with that, but I did consider my options.
“If I could get us tickets to Hamilton tonight would you indulge me?” I was really grasping at straws and wasn’t above bribes at that point.
“You have got to be kidding.” She cocked her hip and my heartbeat as she threw me a sassy grin I just wanted to kiss right off of her face.
“What? Have you seen it already? What about Mean Girls? Beetlejuice? You name it.” My desperation was palatable.
All she could do is laugh. “I don’t want to give up my job Liam, nor do I want to leave New York. I’d love to go to a show with you and I haven’t seen any of them. Hell, I’d be good with just staying in and having you ravage me, but at the end of the day, you’re leaving New York without me.” She stood her ground and didn’t seem like she’d ever budge which really wounded me.
“Why?” I just couldn’t fathom why she’d turn me down. “I’m offering you money, prestige, press, you can return to your work, you’re young you have plenty of years to achieve fame and notoriety and I said you can design on the sly. It’s unfortunate, but your employment would be an affront to the crown as my wife and queen. Think of it, Avery, you’d be a queen.” I was seriously working every angle.