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“I’ll pay you ten thousand dollars.”
“I make twenty times that working as your mom’s CPA,” I threw out, raising an eyebrow at him. “That’s hardly appealing.” I mean, seriously, if my brother’s best friend, who I just so happened toabhor, was going to reel me into playing his girlfriend, it was going to be worth my time.
Period.
“Okay, but you get a free trip to the Caribbean.” Levi let out a frustrated sigh before rubbing his perfectly defined square jaw, dotted with a tinge of black stubble. “What else do you want from me? I need to prove to Frank Lewis that I’ve matured since I was a reckless twenty-two-year-old.”
“Why?” I retorted, shaking my head in confusion. “You can’t seriously tell me you’re still in love with that salty, high-maintenance ex-girlfriend of yours.”
Levi’s jaw tensed, his face filling with irritation. “Why can’t you just accept the offer? Younevergo on vacation, Ally. I figured you’d accept just for that reason alone. I need someone I can trust—and who has their shitmostlytogether. You’re the best option I have.”
“Wow, I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” I feigned a smile, batting my thick eyelashes at him. “So if it’s not to win Rachel back and crash the wedding, then why do you need to prove to Frank that you’re a grown-ass acting man?”
Which we both know is a lie.
“He’s selling CyberSecure, and Ineedto get my hands on that company. I’ve been watching it for years, and it’s finally my chance to make a name for myself outside of the Lombardi family trust.”
I pursed my lips, studying his face for a few long moments. His patience was waning, but playing with his impatience was more than amusing for me. We’d never gotten along—mostly because he was an arrogant asshole who hated the world ninety-nine percent of the time...
But whatever.
“That’s a multimillion dollar company,” I remarked, the wheels in my CPA brain spinning as I thought of what it could do forme.
“Obviously, I know that,” Levi snapped, rolling his broad shoulders. “You’re starting to waste my time right now, Ally. I have things to do.”
“Ditto, Levi.” I snorted, before gathering up my courage. “I’d like to counter your proposition.”
“You can’t be serious right now. This isn’t a negotiation.”
I swallowed my nerves, ignoring his words. “Forty percent stake in the company, and I accept.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Fine then. Thirty-five.”
Levi pursed his lips, his eyes narrowing. “Fifteen.”
Hope burst through my chest—I had a shot. “Thirty-four.”
“Twenty.”
“Thirty or no deal.” I gave him my best poker face, flipping my auburn hair over my shoulder.
He let out a sigh. “Fine.Thirty-fucking-percent it is. You’re welcome for turning you into a millionaire.” Levi pushed his chair back, shaking his head as he stood to his feet. “I’ll write something up.”
“No,Iwill do the write-up,” I challenged him, leaning back in my desk chair. “Knowing you, you’ll put some stupid clause in there that will ruin meactuallygetting what you just agreed to.”
“Wow.” His eyebrows shot up, and for a brief—verybrief moment, I thought he might actually be a little hurt by what I was implying. “I won’t fuck you over if you don’t fuck me over, Ally. Plain and simple as that.”
I met his gaze, the deep green hue mixed with chocolate brown a little jolting, my heart skipping a beat. There was no doubt in my mind that those eyes swayed a lot of women right out of their clothes...
But not me.
My brother’s best friend didnothave that power...nope. Not over me.
“I’m still going to write something up,” I stated, clearing my throat and looking away. “I just think it’s in my best interest. Also, I think it’s only fair that I write up a few rules as well.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Like what? No bumping uglies, Ally? I don’t think you have to worry about that when it comes to me. Besides, I’ve already seen you naked—remember the Christmas party of fifteen? Yeah, I can’tunseethat.”
