Page 6 of Fake It For Glory

“Have you ever heard of a place called the Faux Agency?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Faux as in fake?”

“Yes. It’s a matchmaking company for the rich and occasionally famous.”

I wrinkled my nose. “You’re writing about a matchmaking company? That does not sound like your typical story.”

He smiled, his eyes flashing with mischief. “There’s a lot more to this story. This company doesn’t really focus on matchmaking. They provide dates. The woman that runs the place has inadvertently made matches, but the whole premise is based on men, and a few women, paying for dates.”

“You mean an escort agency,” I said.

He grinned. “The woman insists it’s not escorts in that sense. It’s a professional date. The women, and a few men, are chosen or selected based on the client’s preferences. They attend a function or date or whatever and are paid a healthy sum.”

“So, it is like a madam?” I whispered.

Dalton raised an eyebrow. “In a way, yes. But it’s all above board and legal. The Faux Agency has been around for years, and it’s been notorious for catering to the wealthy and powerful. The woman who runs it, Della Fontenot, is quite the character. She won’t talk to me. I’ve tried several times. Look at my title. This is going to reel in readers.”

“Playing with Fire: the Heat and Deceit of the Faux Agency,” I read aloud.

“Isn’t that seductive?” he said, grinning. “Come on, sex sells. This is a hot story. It’s got all the elements that earn clicks. Sex. Intrigue. Rich people.”

I laughed. “As usual, I’m sure you’re going to be the star of the show. It’s good. Good job.”

“It’s not finished yet,” he said. “I need more.”

“More?”

“I need to understand how it works,” he said in a low voice. “I haven’t been able to get anyone to talk. I need an inside scoop.”

“What are you going to do?”

He looked at me with a slow smile. “How do you feel about going undercover and checking this place out for me?”

I stared at him with confusion. “What?”

“I’m lacking in the application requirements.” His gaze dropped to my boobs that I had covered with a scarf. At least, I thought that was what he was doing. The girls tended to be obvious no matter how I dressed them up or down.

“Me?” I asked with surprise. I could feel my cheeks turning red. “You want me to apply?”

“I need someone who can get on the inside. Someone who can go undercover and see what’s really going on at the Faux Agency,” he said. “Someone who’s not afraid to use their feminine wiles to get what they want.”

I hesitated. “I don’t know, Dalton. This sounds risky. What if I get caught?”

“You won’t get caught,” he assured me. “I’ll make sure of it. And besides, think of the story you’ll be able to tell. It’ll be the scoop of the century. And who knows? Maybe you’ll even enjoy it.”

I chewed on my lower lip, considering his proposition. It would be a huge risk, but he was right. The story would be incredible. And I could use the experience. “Do I get a byline?”

He grinned. “Look at you negotiating. We’ll see what kind of information you can dig up.”

“You mean we’ll see if I can get in the program,” I countered.

He laughed. “Trust me, you are not going to have any trouble getting in. Dress for success.”

“Say it, Dalton,” I teased. “Say you want me to wear something that shows my cleavage.”

“I’m a gentleman. I would never say that.”

“But you would mean it.”