Over the years, I'd been with a handful of girls presented to me by my mother. They usually had one thing in common: greed. Greedy for the highest fashions, greedy for attention, greedy for the wealth of the heir of a great hotel. I'd cared for them about as much as they'd cared for me. But we also had one thing in common: trying to appease my mother.

That's how I lived my life. I was so scared of losing everything, I could give up anything.

Money was more important to me than cherished relationships. I didn't care what I did, who I hurt, what I ruined— provided that at the end of the day I'd come out on top.

But suddenly everything was different.

Henley was someone I didn't want to hurt. She was someone I didn't want to ruin.

She suddenly because someone I didn't want my mother to ever touch. I didn't know when it'd happened. At first, she was simply an impecunious young woman I needed in order to complete my ruse. I could've cared less about how she felt. But now...

Now I cared more about how she felt than that idiotic, ludicrous plan.

And now she cared more about that idiotic, ludicrous plan than how she felt.

I didn't understand it and it was driving me crazy. Why didn't she want to end the contract? If we ended it, my mother couldn't say another word to her. If marrying a stranger was what it took, I would gladly do it just so I wouldn't ever have to see that defeated expression on her face ever again.

"Why don't you want to cancel it?" I asked because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't understand.

My question seemed to take her by surprise as her pretty eyes grew wide. "Why? Because... because..."

"The money?" I asked because I couldn't help it. Everyone wanted money. How could I expect her to be different, no matter how much I wanted it to be so?

"No," she responded quickly.

"Then why?"

"I..."

"You what, Henley? You better give me a good reason. You were so against this at first. Why do you want to help me now?" I demanded, the frustration I was feeling slipping into my tone. It didn't have to be like this. There wasn't any need for a contract.

It didn't have to be an act.

"I don't like going back on my word," she burst her, her voice high pitched. "I said I'd help you and I will. Something like this won't stop me. Let's just forget this happened and go back to how we were before. We're getting to be pretty good friends, aren't we? I kind of want to rub our relationship in your mother's face. Ha ha ha ha!"

I swallowed. It felt like ice had flooded my veins.

What were you expecting? An even voice questioned.

What was I expecting? This always was and always had been just a job for Henley. That's what I should've expected. It's exactly as the contract said. The contract that I'd written.

Henley just seemed to have a great work ethic. It wasn't about me at all.

"Also... I wouldn't have anywhere to live," she added quietly.

Not for the first time that day, I felt guilty. Ending the contract to her meant more than just never seeing me again. It meant losing a place to live. It meant losing necessary money. It meant Henley appearing weak to my mother and Henley knew that. I was making it about myself.

As usual.

I sighed. "You're right. I understand."

"So you won't cancel this contract?"

I nodded.

She looked visibly relieved. "Okay, good. Let's forget this even happened then. It's embarrassing. I don't usually fish for compliments, so I feel slightly mortified right now."

She wasn't the only one.

What kind of fool hired someone to be their pretend girlfriend and then expected them to want to be their actual girlfriend?

Then her words hit me. "Compliments?" I echoed. "Wait. You just wanted a compliment from me?"

She drew back a little, making a face. "You didn't know?"

All this could've been avoided just by a simple compliment? I couldn't even realize that? Henley didn't care what my mother thought about her. She cared what I thought about her. "No," I answered. "That aside, I'm adding one condition to our agreement."

"What's that?"

"From now on there's no interaction between you and my mother unless I am present."

She shrugged. "That's fine with me. I mean, I didn't even plan to see her that time in the first place."

I hadn't planned it either. It was time to change the locks. For Good. "Go back inside and get changed. I don't want the store thinking you're stealing from them."

She sucked in her cheeks as if she wanted to talk back. "You're coming with me right?"

"In a minute."

"Should I hold onto your phone then?"

I held out my hand for my phone. "No, I'll take it. I won't be calling my mother. I won't risk my position for a fake relationship."

The words stung my tongue and I regretted it instantly. It wasn't Henley's fault I felt rejected. I couldn't take my feelings out on her just because we felt differently toward each other. I may have been scum, but I didn't want to drop that low.

I thought Henley said something in response, but the ringing in my ears was too loud to hear over. I just stared at her, unable to process anything. As bad as it was, I wasn't used to the feeling of not acquiring the things I coveted.

Finally, her face fell and she turned away and I felt my mouth fall open. "Henley."

She glanced back. "What?"

"You should get that dress," I told her. "I'm sorry I didn't say so earlier, but it really suits you."

She grinned. "Thanks, Bennett."

I couldn't find it in me to return it. She noticed and I caught her expression falling again as she turned away from me, heading back to the store. I fell back against the brick wall, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

If Henley wanted to settle the problem like this, I'd let her. I couldn't become another problem in her life. Not with everything else going on as well. I couldn't act like a petulant child.

In six months, this won't even be an issue. I'll be gone and your mother won't have to worry.

I scowled a bit. Was it really that easy for her to say that? Would she toss me away? Sever our ties with looking back? How would she know what the relationship between us would be five months from now?

I paused.

I still had five months with Henley. Maybe...

I unlocked my phone and clicked on Henry's contact. He picked up after the first ring. "Yes, Mr. Calloway—"

"Henry, is my mother leaving town any time soon?"

He hesitated. "She is leaving for California on the seventeenth."

"Come to my house on the seventeenth. Do you know how to change a lock?" I asked him.

"Change a lock? Why—"

"If not, you have the week to learn. I expect you no later than noon."

"Bennett—"

"That's all," I said, quickly pulling my phone away from my ear.

It wasn't quick enough though. "Mr. Calloway!" He called frantically. "While I have you on the phone I need you to come back into work tomorrow. You have a lot of paperwork to do still."

I frowned. Hadn't I done enough today? I still had to bring Henley back to her apartment to clean things up. "We'll see."

"Mr. Calloway—"

"Henry," I started.

His voice instantly quieted.

"Sorry for threatening to fire you earlier."

"Threatening...? Oh! It's okay! No worries! You don't need to apologize, I know you must be stressed with all that's going on," he chattered happily.

"Yeah? Thanks. I'll see you then."

"See you," he responded. Then I heard a gasp. "Hey, wait—!"

I quickly hit the end button multiple times to make sure the call disconnected. "Phew."

"Skimping out on work again?"

The sound of Sebastian's voice surprised me. I twisted around and saw him walking toward me, eyebrows cocked. "Are you okay?"

"Why are you asking?"

"Something happened between you and Henley, right?"

Even if Sebastian was my best friend, I didn't feel like discussing this. "We've settled it."

He nodded. "I'll take your word, then. Don't be too discouraged by your mother, though. We'll think of something to help Henley out."

I folded my arms over my chest. I'd forgotten just how sharp Sebastian was. "I can handle it."

"Mmm."

"What's that noise? You don't think I can?"

He gave me a one-shouldered shrug. "I'm just saying I'm available if need be."

I caught his eye and he gave me a challenging look. Since when were he and Henley on such good terms? What had I missed while I was at work? What did he want with her?

"Of course, I could always help Henley out in my own way—"

"Fine," I relented. I knew Sebastian's methods and I wouldn't let him use them on Henley. Maybe he could be useful.

"Perfect. Let's head back in. I think the girls are getting antsy. And I think Henley said she needed to buy underwear. Would you like to come with us to Victoria's Secret? Maybe choose something sexy for her. You seem to know her size better than her."

I almost choked my own spit. "W-what?"

He smirked. "Pervert."

The back of my head grew hot and I debated on doing some shopping of my own because I knew there was no way I could accompany Henley without imaging her in everything she looked at.

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