Page 34 of Ravaged For You

“And it may sound like the stupidest thing in the world, but – trust me - I’ve thought it through. You would be good for Axel’s image. I know people would like you. Maddie Leaver is a real, typical American girl, not some rich supermodel from LA. This job will be the most insane thing you’ll ever do, but I promise you it’s only for a few months. And, as I’ve already said, the reimbursement for your trouble will be substantial. Very substantial. Enough to make you pause.”

“How much are we talking about?” I ask him.

Lucas jots down a number on his phone, then shows it to me. The number makes my jaw drop. And it does make me pause.

Yes. It’s very substantial.

My thoughts turn to my condo. With the kind of money Lucas is offering in my bank, I will be able to never worry about my bills again. I’ll be able to pay Mom to live in a nicer place back home. I’ll never stress about a thing for the next twenty years.

But, then again, it’s never been about the money for me. I won’t give up my dignity just for extra cash. I’m not about that life. I’ve never wanted to lose my self-respect just to get money from a man.

And, most of all, I can’t imagine being with Axel. The playboy who fucks around. Every time we’ve met, there’s been a tension between us. We’re opposites in every way, and it clearly shows. He smirks at me like a cat toying with a mouse. We shouldn’t even be in the same room together. How could we last faking a relationship for months?

We’d kill each other.

I take in another deep breath and face Lucas. “It’s all a good idea,” I start. “I understand what you’re trying to do with changing Axel’s public image. It’s a solid, if crazy, plan that I think might actually work, but it isn’t for me. I’m not cut out for this. I’m not that kind of girl, even if the money would be very nice to have. So thank you, but no thanks. Sorry.”

Lucas purses his lips together and frowns. I’ve let him down. “I thought you might say that,” he replies.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. You’re very kind, Maddie, you know that? It does throw a spanner in the works. You were perfect for the job. Can I persuade you to at least think about it for a couple of nights?”

This guy’s fantastic at being a hard-negotiating manager. No wonder Ravaged are in the position they’re in. I actually feel guilty for refusing him the opportunity to ruin my life.

I slowly shake my head. “No, sorry.”

“Alright. At least I tried. I’m going to go home and have a headache now.”

“Thank you for the coffee, anyway.”

“Should I drop you back at work?” he asks me.

“Yes, please.”

17

MADDIE

Nothing else eventful happens for the rest of the day at work, certainly nothing that would rival my afternoon meeting and then that weird job offer from Lucas. I just waste away the few hours at my desk until it’s time for me to head home, subtly watching for any news from Winston across the room as to my job status. He doesn’t say a word to me at all, which is either the worse or the best sign.

As I drive home, I think about what he’d said to me after the meeting. I can’t shake the ominous gut instinct that I am going to get fired.

All because some goddamn rockstar can’t control his dick.

I pull up alongside my condo building. I spot a gigantic pile of things outside the front door. It takes me a moment to realize exactly what they are.

Those are my things, all in one enormous mass. Everything I own from inside the condo. My TV, bedding, even my couch. All my stuff is just heaped up next to the sidewalk like trash.

I quickly park and haste across to my things. There are bags containing all my clothes just dumped on the lawn.

“Oh, crap.”

I run up to the front door of the condo building, attempting to use my key to get inside.

But the locks have changed. There’s a note pinned to the front door addressed to me. I read it with crushing defeat.

Maddie,