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I lean back and look at Elliot. “What did you think of her?”
“You. Charm covering a stubbornness and a manipulative streak. I liked her.”
“So you do like me.”
“I wouldn’t go that far, Ryder…” She flicks to another page on her phone. “But I see where you get certain abilities from. And I think she sees way more and is involved more than you might think.”
“You got that from a polite and brief conversation?”
“I’m very good at my job. And I know when someone is fishing for information on me and my family. Which is what she was doing. Checking to see if I was one of your more problematic women.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You’re a scary-ass female, Perry.”
“And you’re too good looking for your own good. We all have problems.”
I laugh. “I’m the youngest, as you know, and I’m sure you’ve got this all written down. So let’s go with this. We’re all getting letters and tasks. Two down and me and Kingston to go. King isn’t interested in history or sentimental worth. He likes cold, hard cash. But he’s a good guy. We’re all good guys, even if I say so myself. We all work fucking hard and while I might play more than them, I work just as hard and meticulously as the rest.
“We have our own businesses and fortunes we built, and we also share some, so we do get together a few times a week for both fun and for work.”
“So it’s just the rest of the time I need to orchestrate. You can’t go out alone anymore, Ryder. Not for the remainder of the four weeks.”
Annoyance rises up. “There are times when I have impromptu get togethers with clients. And with friends. A lot of those times were like last night. Business and pleasure.”
“Okay.” She nods, but I know she’s not going to let it go. “I know you’re sitting there thinking I don’t trust you and you’re right. But I also don’t trust other women. There are going to be more who pop up for a few minutes worth of fame and you’re an idiot if you don’t know it. Worse, there’s gonna be the ones like the woman you say you don’t know.”
“I don’t.”
“Your family—”
“They know I hired someone. I think we covered this—didn’t we? Even mother knows, and I’m not putting it past her to have worked out you are that someone.”
She sighs again. “This is all good, but you’re not hearing me on this. As I was saying, your family is a help and it’s even better if they all know someone is helping you improve your life. But it’s not enough.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying,” she says, smiling sweetly, “that your life for the next four weeks is mine.”
Something cold trickles through me. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“It means, dear Ryder, you don’t breathe or eat or sleep or blink without me knowing.”
“What happened to life partner?”
“I tried to get someone, but there wasn’t enough time. Welcome to your new girlfriend, your life partner. We’re going to be serious as far as the world, aka the board, thinks. We met recently and fell for each other, and more importantly my family means I fit what they see as someone good for Ryder 2.0.”
“I meant since when does life partner or serious girlfriend or whatever you want to call it mean jailer?”
“Heard of the old ball and chain?”
“Not funny.”
Okay, it is. And the coldness dissipates as her words settle in, along with their meaning. I’m already going to be spending a lot of my time with her during the next four weeks, this just shifts it a little.
I’m okay with it.
I really am. I like her. I like spending time with her. And when you’re not plotting your next lust filled move, things are clear and sweet. So yeah, I can do this.
“Fine,” I say. I glance at her phone. Something in my chest lurches a little at the photo she’s looking at.
