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“Well…” I tilt my head, unconvinced. “You’re still sort of rich. You’ve got this house. And that car. And all your fancy suits…”
Sullivan shrugs. “Appearances matter. The first thing I did with my very first paycheck was buy a proper suit. Nobody takes you seriously otherwise.”
“Is that why you bought me all those clothes?”
“That’s exactly why. And look how differently Angus treated you.”
I bite at the edge of my thumbnail. “I hated how he was acting today.”
“You never like how he acts. At least today, you had the upper hand.”
I frown, crossing my arms over my chest, leaning back against Sullivan’s kitchen counter. “I’m not sure if I agree with that assessment.”
He reminds me, “You did get half the day off work…”
I did. And I was grateful for it, but it was hardly free of strings. Or future complications…
“Yeah, but now Angus is acting all mad and jealous. What if he starts hitting on me?”
“He won’t.” Sullivan grins. “Remember, he thinks you have a boyfriend.”
God, that smile does incredible things to his face. It lights him up and creates the burning impulse inside me to tell a joke or cook or do jumping jacks or something—whatever I can to impress him.
Instead, I shake my head, forcing myself to focus.
“Isn’t that going to complicate your scheme?”
“Not at all. It’s a key part of my scheme.”
My face flushes and I stand up a little straighter, fixing Sullivan with a stern glare. “I’m not going to flirt with Angus to get you what you want.”
“Whatwewant,” Sullivan reminds me. “This is your ticket out of your bullshit job, too, remember.”
“I don’t care. I’m not going to flirt with him to get it. Or anything worse…”
“You won’t have to,” Sullivan assures me. “Fucking Angus is not part of the plan—for either of us.”
That tugs a snort out of me. “You sure? The chemistry was undeniable…”
“I mean, I’ll do what I have to do,” he deadpans, “but let’s stick with Plan A for now.”
“Glad to hear you’re committed.”
“I am,” Sullivan says, all jokes falling away. “But I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. Do you trust me?”
He waits, face open, eyes clear.
Sullivan looks sincere.
Hesoundssincere.
But I’ve already witnessed how convincing he can be.
“I don’t know if I can trust you,” I say at last. “This whole thing is a lie.”
I expect him to be offended by that statement, but he takes my words calmly, nodding his head slowly like he’s considering what I’ve said.
“Understandable—it’s disorienting, playing this game. Especially since Iamthe better actor.” He smiles slightly. “So how about this, Theo…no matter what I have to say or do to anyone else, I promise never to lie to you.”
