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As he passes Nate, he taps him on the back and whispers, “Good luck,” even though I can hear him. My dad has never treated me like a normal child. It’s always like I’m his property or that women are not people to him. It’s not the same as the way he treats Richard or the other men in this company.
“Is everything okay?” Nate raises a concerned eyebrow.
“Yeah, the usual crap with my dad.”
He sits down, fixing his gaze on me. “I know you’re mad about the wedding, but us working together will change his mind.”
“After dealing with my dad, I need some time alone. Do you mind? I’m not in the mood to talk about him or his approval I’ll never get.”
“You better get used to having me around,” he snaps. “Because you move into my penthouse tonight.”
“I’m not moving in with you. I’ll get my own place… or stay at a hotel.”
“If you want people to believe we’re engaged, then we need to live together.”
“Our engagement means nothing,” I shoot back. “And I don’t have to live with you, not until we’re married.”
“You’re moving in and that’s final.”
“Who the hell do you think you are, Nate?” I fold my arms over my chest, staring him down. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. You’re not the boss of me.”
“Technically, I am. I outrank you.”
“Oh, don’t pull rank on me, Nate. Don’t make me climb over this desk and kick your ass.”
He laughs, leaning back in his chair as he scratches the dark stubble along his jaw. “You’ve never lost the fight. That’s the one thing I’ve always loved about you, Harley. You’re a fighter. You never give up.”
One thing he loves about me? Loves.
“Don’t try to sweet talk me. You’re not gonna get me to settle down and play your little games like my dad. It’s not going to work, so just stop it.”
“I’m not trying to play a game. I know this isn’t a great situation. I never even thought about getting married. And I’m sure that was the last thing on your mind, too, considering you don’t even date.”
“I date,” I growl. “I’m dating someone right now.”
He shakes his head. “You were…. and that doesn’t matter anymore. We’re getting married in thirty days. You’re going to be my wife. I’m going to be your husband. And even though every single picture will be fake, every moment will be forced, we were friends. You were my best friend. You were my only friend for a long time. I know you haven’t forgotten that. So, don’t pretend like you hate me. You can’t hate me that much. I know I’ve done some things over the years that have torn us apart, but we were good together. I see this as a win-win for both of us. You get the promotion you want, and honestly, I get my friend back.”
I raise my hand to cut him off. “You left for MIT and it was like I didn’t exist anymore. You created the distance between us. You put other girls before me.”
“Oh, c’mon, Harley. That’s not true. I never put any girls before you.”
“No? How about Anna or Victoria or any of the girls from high school? The second they came into our lives nothing was the same. You were Mr. Popular. You were too good for everyone and forgot about all of your old friends.”
“I could never forget you, Harley. It would be like forgetting my own name. Impossible.”
“You mean improbable,” I correct.
Nate groans. “You know what I mean. And… you know what… I don’t want to talk about the past anymore.”
“Me neither,” I shoot back.
“Anyway, welcome back to Philly. I hope you like your new home. I’ve already arranged to have your things sent to my place.”
“I’m not sleeping in the same bed as you.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“That was years ago!”
He waves his hand to dismiss me. “I don’t want to fight, okay? I have three spare rooms. You can pick which one you want.”
I take a second to consider his offer. What am I doing? Why did I agree to this ridiculous wedding? I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time I made the deal. And the things he just said…. did he mean them? Has he missed me all this time?
“Fine. I get my own room, and you stay in yours. And I swear to God there better not be any women coming in and out of the apartment. I’m not putting up with that shit, Nate. I don’t care what agreements you have with them or if they sign an NDA. You are not to have any women over. If I have to live with you to make this engagement look believable, then you have to hold up your end of the bargain, which means you have to go without sex until this marriage is annulled.”
