I don't think it was wise of me to agree to this.

I've met Hayden three times, for less than an hour in each instance. Why would he invite me to a party? That's just weird.

For my extra job, he's handed me a thousand dollars to go to the mall and buy him clothes.

Which is not surprising, considering the state of his closet.

Black workout shirts. Black graphic shirts. Black long-sleeves. Oh, and guess what? Black jackets. I know, so shocking.

"Are you shopping for anyone special todaaay?" The store associate at Nordstrom bothers me the moment I step in.

"Not at all."

"Aw, okaaay. Let me know if you need any help. We're running a special deal right now. It's..."

I nod. I smile. I hear nothing.

"Thank you so much," I say when she's done, then go back to my business.

I've never shopped for a man before. I bought a necklace for my ex-boyfriend once. But he had a mad obsession with his Ouija board. Then he ghosted me, which is ironic, considering he was always looking for ghosts.

Hazel: What size are you in shirts?

Hayden: XL

Bet his condoms are XL too-

Stop. Slap yourself-

Why? Someone else should do the slapping-

Enough, heathen.

"HOUSEKEEPER?" Dania, my best friend, yells at me when I go over to her house. Yes, I stopped by to borrow an outfit for tonight's party. "And you're going out with the guy who hired you?"

"I know, I'm questioning a lot of my life decisions right now."

"Is he interested in you?" She scowls.

"That would be so inappropriate. Of course, not. He just wants me to pretend to be his date, so his ex can stop harassing him."

"How is that appropriate?"

"Uh... that's a good point." Yeah, I got nothing.

"Why doesn't he just take a normal date?"

"You are asking really valid questions that I don't have answers for." I give her a reassuring smile. "But I'll ask him tonight."

Her mom opens the bedroom door and my body immediately tenses up.

"What are you guys doing?" She smiles.

"I'm just helping Hazel figure out what to wear tonight." Dania sighs.

"Oh, is she borrowing your clothes?" She doesn't even try to hide her disapproval.

All because she met my mom two years ago. Dania and I had the silly idea of taking them out on a date, hoping they'd become best friends like us. Oh, boy. It was awkward as hell. They didn't talk to each other at all.

My mom is divorced. Dania's mom is proudly married. My mom has a history of unstable jobs. Dania's mom is a business owner. My mom doesn't take care of herself. Dania's mom is chronically obsessed with outshining her daughter.

And me? I'm never good enough for Dania in her eyes.

"Do you need something?" Dania asks her.

Her mom reluctantly settled her gaze over me. I feel like a cockroach she wants to stomp on.

"How are you? Everything okay?" she asks.

"I'm good, thank you. How are you?"

"Good...How's your mom?"

Like I would know. "Um, she's good."

"Did she find a job?"

"I'm not sure. I'm trying to focus on my own things."

"Okay, tell me if you like any of these." Dania jumps to my rescue, opening her walk-in closet.

Her mom gets the message and leaves us alone. I join her in her walk-in closet and find a black mesh long-sleeve corset with a sweetheart neckline. Goth. Edgy. Sexy. Cute.

"Oooh, that'd go perfect with a mini skirt," she says.

"No, I'm definitely wearing low-rise pants." Need to balance the tatas. Plus low-rise pants with wide-bottoms make my legs look longer and my booty bigger.

I hang out with Dania, talking about everything and nothing, while doing my smoky liner and curling my hair. I run my fingers through it so it turns into loose waves, then clip back a small section from each side, framing my layered bangs around my face.

Hayden texts: What's your address?

Hazel: Why?

Hayden: I'm picking you up

Hazel: No, thank you. I'll meet you there

Hayden: Why?

Hazel: Why not?

Hayden: I invited you

Hazel: Oh my God? Your memory works!

Hayden: Are you Ubering or driving?

Hazel: Driving

Hayden: So you're not going to drink?

Hazel: Ubering

Hayden: Text me your address

Why is he so annoying and persistent and stubborn? (I like it).

Hayden: Hello

Hazel: How you doing

Hayden: Address

I send him a beautiful gif of a skeleton waiting on a bench.

Hayden sends back a gif of cartoon mouse reading a book titled 'How To Kill' which makes me laugh.

Hazel: Where am I supposed to meet you?

Hayden: My place

Fine. At least, I won't have to pay for parking at whatever fancy bar we're going to.

At 8 PM, I show up in front of his door with my hands full of shopping bags.

When he opens, his eyes widen.

I'm not going to lie, I do look pretty hot. It's the first time he's seen me dressed up, and even though I'm not showing a lot of skin, I'm dressed in my own style, and he seems into it.

"I got the drugs!" I lift the shopping bags.

"Shut up..." He glares, checking if his neighbors heard me. I giggle on my way inside. He closes the door behind me. "Did you Uber here?"

"Uh-huh." My car is parked down the street.

He sighs, like he's biting his tongue.

I set the shopping bags on the dining table and put my hands on my hips. "You should change into one of the new button-downs I got you."

"Why?" He self-consciously looks down at his plain black shirt and jeans.

"So your ex sees that you had a glow up! Nothing says you've moved on like a new wardrobe."

His scowl deepens. "That's stupid and shallow."

I widen my eyes. "It's perfect for you."

He deadpans at me. I've never been into grumpy men, but now I get the hype. He's not actually mean, that's the secret sauce. It's like...he doesn't want to like me, but he can't help it.

"Why did you make me buy you clothes, if you're not going to wear them?" I ask. "I put a lot of effort you know, I didn't just buy whatever. There's a reason behind every purchase."

He looks away, then at the shopping bags behind me. Curiosity? Defeat? Acceptance?

I get excited and turn to take out my favorites. "Okay, so you have dark brown hair and dark brown eyes, with a warm undertone. I'm pretty sure that means you're a deep autumn when it comes to color analysis, so I've picked every choice according to-"

"I'm not wearing red." He snaps as I hold up a rich burgundy t-shirt.

Lord, give me strength. "Do you know how expensive this is?"

"Is that supposed to impress me?"

"I mean, no. But it's a high-quality material, slim-cut, and it feels like butter. Touch it." I grin, stepping closer to show off the fabric. "Touch it!"

He frowns like I'm asking him to rub his face on a sandpaper.

"How about..." I rummage through the bags and pull out a midnight-navy button-down. "Hm? It's closer to black, like your soul. But it has that warmth and contrast to bring out your eyes." I give him a giddy, hopeful smile. "Thoughts? Feelings? Yes?"

He watches me, somehow confused, but there's also amusement there. Why?

My heart beat speeds up.

"Uh...I also bought a few black things." I mumble, turning to pull out a black Henley. "Your other long-sleeves look worn out. Why don't you try this on?"

"Fine."

Ladies and gentlemen, you're not ready for this.

Hayden...slowly reaches behind his neck and pulls his t-shirt over his head.

My jaw unhinges at the sight. Thank God he's not looking at me, because I can't control my reaction. Holy crap. My God. Jesus. Pancakes. Switzerland.

The man is fit. I report, the man is illegally fit and I can't be normal around him ever again.

He grabs the Henley from me and I jolt back into my body, then look away and burn to death.

"Hm..." He checks himself out in the decorative mirror by the dining table after he's finished.

He's wearing the Henley. The Henley I bought for him. I made the right choice. It fits his broad, sculpted back and slim, trimmed waist perfectly. Not too loose. Not too tight. Perfectly.

"You like it?" I ask more shyly that I'd like to admit.

"You don't think it's weird that we're matching?" He eyes my all-black attire.

"I think people will understand that you're copying me. I'm effortlessly stylish."

"And humble."

I laugh softly. "Anyway, I was wondering...how come you're not taking a real date? Why did you ask me to go with-"

"I'm not interested in dating."

Oh. Well, then. I completely misread him. Oops.

Hayden rips the price tag and grabs his keys. "Let's go."

"Wait." I fidget. "So...you're not interested in dating. You're not getting back with your ex. You asked your housekeeper to keep her away from you. I don't understand. Is there something I should know about? Something I should worry about?"

Hayden walks back, his steps unhurried, until he is within arm's reach and the smell of his nighttime cologne sneaks up without a warning.

"No. You'll be safe, I promise."

"Why should I trust that?" Why should I trust you.

"You shouldn't."

We stare at each other and a flicker of hurt or perhaps vulnerability passes his features. I wonder, if he tells himself the same thing all the time. That he shouldn't trust people. But isn't he trusting me, in some ways? Why else would he take me with him?

"The moment you want to leave, just tell me," he says. "Don't hesitate. We can even use a secret word or a sign, so no one else knows."

"Like a safe word?" I smirk.

He fucking smirks back at me. "If you want."

It's hot. It's hot in here. "Pretty sure that's for intimate dynamics. Not something for a housekeeper and a construction worker."

"I'm not a construction worker." He glares. "I own the company. I built it from-"

"Calm down, no one wants to date you. There's no need to impress."

His smirk returns. "Fine by me."

"Fine by me too." I stick my chin up, brushing past him to leave. "I'm already violating my professional boundaries by doing you this favor. I never go out on dates, you know."

"It's not a real date."

"To others, it is. How do you think it affects my reputation that I'm dating someone older than me?"

"It's a seven year difference-"

"Exactly. You'll look like a grandpa by the time I'm thirty."

"At least I'm rich." He rolls his eyes. "You're a poor housekeeper who can't even clean."

I gasp like he slapped me across the face.

Ironically, he opens the front door like a chivalrous gentleman.

"I'm glad you're driving," I say with a fake smile. "I'm going to need a lot of alcohol to pretend to like you."

"Good. Maybe if you're drunk, you'll be more tolerable."

He never stops! I hate this guy (I love it).

A/N
I hate him (and love him) too xD
Vote if you like this story babessss