Elias' POV

The limousine slides to a stop outside my house, and I can't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

I'm so ready to put the drama of the retreat behind me and settle back into my normal routine. Actually, scratch that. I'm still "dating" Clark, so everything is far from normal. Shit, wait a minute. I'm eventually going to have to introduce him to my parents and friends.

Damn, I really didn't think this far ahead.

"I guess now will be a good time to tell you that my friends know about my job at Rent a Partner," I tell Clark as he reaches for his doorknob. He pauses to look at me. "They know I'm seeing a billionaire right now, too. I kind of let that slip when you reached out to me."

"Do they know me by name yet?"

"No. But if we're going to continue seeing each other and doing things together in public, they're going to start asking questions that I won't be able to dodge forever. My parents, I can keep in the dark, but my friends are another story. I mean, we live together. It's hard to keep secrets."

"If you trust them, then I have no choice but to do the same. So tell them whatever you want about us, but nothing specific about our deal," he says. "No one can know about that."

I nod. "They won't run their mouths or anything, so you don't have to worry about any scandals."

He laughs. "Good to know."

Clark steps out of the limo first, surprising me by personally helping with my bags rather than having his driver do it. He walks me to the front door, and it's at this moment that it hits me.

I'll be sleeping alone tonight.

I'm missing him already.

"So," I begin, circling back to our earlier conversation, "I don't know what your schedule looks like, but I assume it's probably packed. I was thinking we should go on at least one date every other week. Will that work for you?"

"How considerate of you." He teases, and I roll my eyes in response. "Yes, that works for me."

I'm about to lean in and reply with something cheeky when the front door flies open.

Perry stands there, tall and shirtless, his short black hair tousled and his brown eyes narrowing as they take in Clark and his expensive attire. Even though he's the youngest out of me and Kahlan, they both still treat me like I'm the baby in the friend group, like I always need saving.

"Se ve exactamente como pensé que se vería," Perry grumbles, his protective instincts flaring as he pulls my bags inside. "Thanks for dropping him off," he says to Clark, flashing a smile that's the farthest from friendly.

I open my mouth to respond and tell him to chill, but Clark beats me to it.

"De nada. Además, vengo en paz, te lo prometo," he replies smoothly. "I'm Clark Ashford, by the way." He smiles politely, extending his hand. "And you are?"

"Confundido." Perry laughs, surprise etching his features for a split second before he schools it into a sheepish grin. He shakes Clark's hand and introduces himself properly. "Sorry for sizing you up. Elias has never brought work home before, so I—"

"Clark is going to be around for a while, so please get used to him." I intervene before I die of embarrassment because what the fuck is even happening right now. "Can you give us a minute, Perry?" I snap. He lifts his hands in mock surrender before walking off.

I shut the front door after him, sighing heavily. "That was one of my overprotective roommates and best friends," I say to Clark. "Pay his behavior no mind."

"It's fine. He's just looking out for you," Clark chuckles, sliding his hands in his pockets. "You should know by now that I'm not easily intimidated, in case you couldn't tell."

"I could. ¿Por qué no me dijiste que sabes español?" I playfully hit his chest. "Now I can't talk shit around you because you'll know what I'm saying," I joke. "What else are you fluent in?"

"Italian, a little French, and a little Mandarin," he replies coolly, like it's no big deal. "My grandfather thought it'd be good for business if at least one of us knew something other than English."

"Interesting."

"In a good way?" He smirks, taking another step forward. "¿Esto me hace más atractivo?"

Staring at his mouth, my self-control dwindling faster than the fading sunlight, I know better than to answer that question. So I dodge it like a deadbeat does child support payments.

"I suggest you turn around and leave before one of us does something we can't take back," I whisper. "And by one of us, I mean me."

My heart is pounding in my chest, my back pressed against the front door as he cups my face with one hand and leans into me. I close my eyes, desperate and ready to feel his lips on mine...but they land on my cheek instead. I frown when he pulls away, chuckling lowly.

"See you soon, Elias."

I say nothing back as he walks off. I can't speak. My body is frozen, my mind blank. I remain standing stiff as a board until the limo pulls off and drives out of eyesight.

I exhale a shaky breath and stumble into the house, my knees weak as I walk to my room and collapse onto the center of my cold bed. The thick covers muffle my giddy screams.

Clark Ashford is going to be the death of me, and I'm kind of looking forward to it.

***

I wake up to the delicious smell of Panda Express wafting into my room.

How long was I knocked out? I yawn, stretch, and sit up in bed. I grab my phone beside me and check the time to see that it's just a few hours away from midnight.

After Clark left me flustered and halfway hard, I unpacked, took a cold shower, and then a short nap. But that was hours ago. Now I'm fucking starving. I slide my phone into my pajama pants pocket and make my way into the kitchen where Kahlan and Perry are unloading food.

"Aw! Which one of you bought my favorite?" I ask while reaching for the hot carton of orange chicken, my stomach growling.

"Who else?" Kahlan smiles, tossing me a fork. "A little birdie told me you have some tea to spill."

"Soy yo." Perry raises a hand. "I'm the birdie."

"Of course you are." I playfully roll my eyes and help them unpack and take everything into the living room so we can watch TV together. Kahlan and I share the couch while Perry settles into his favorite dingy chair. "Well, it's like I told Perry. Clark is going to be around for a while."

"Why?" Kahlan asks, then gasps. "Oh, shit! Are y'all dating for real? How did this happen?"

"Relax," I laugh, shaking my head. "It's not like that at all. Please calm your imagination."

"Then what's it like?" He nudges my leg with his foot, impatient for the news. "Perry said you guys pulled up in a limo, and he even helped you with your bags...and also that you were staring at him all starry-eyed and shit."

I glare at Perry. "Really, man?"

"I'm just reporting what I saw." He shrugs, smiling.

I sigh. "I can't get into the details, but it's really not that dramatic. He just needs me to continue to pretend to be his boyfriend for a while. Exclusively. So, I'm going to be taking a step back from Rent a Partner."

"I assume he's going to compensate in exchange?" Kahlan asks, a hint of worry in his tone.

"Very well. He's a billionaire, remember?" I say. "We have to make our relationship look real, so I might invite him over sometimes. Just act normal if you're here, okay? My parents will eventually find out about us, but they can't know the whole truth. They don't even know about Rent a Partner."

"Your secrets are safe with us," Perry says mid-chew. "We got your back."

"Yeah, man. We always have your back," Kahlan adds. "But the second that dude slips up and crosses a line..."

"I know, I know. Things won't get that far, though." I smile, not believing my own words. "Anyway, enough about me. What have you two been up to while I was gone? The group chat has been dry as hell."

"I tattooed a celebrity the other day," Perry says. "At least he said he was a celebrity. He's popular on Instagram."

"That's cool. What's his name?" I ask, curious.

"That I don't remember..."

"You seriously need to cut back on the weed, bro." I laugh, then circle back to Kahlan. "What about you? You barely responded to my texts while I was gone."

"Because Remy and I have been busy as hell, which is a good thing," Kahlan says. "Ever since we got that big donation, we've seen more and more coming in. It's like people suddenly remember we exist all of a sudden."

"Seriously? That's amazing!" My mind immediately drifts back to Clark. Is he still donating anonymously to Unchained Hearts? Or maybe it's Ava this time? "I'm glad things are turning around for you guys."

Kahlan nods, grinning. "Me too."

The three of us hang out until midnight, Perry being the first to fall asleep. Kahlan wakes him while I head to my room. I strip down and climb into bed after putting my dead phone on the charger. It pings with several missed notifications after powering on.

There's only one that I have the energy to respond to.

Clark: Sorry to reach out so late. Just wanted to let you know I'm free next weekend.

Clark: How about dinner Friday night at Le Haut Jardin? The paps love that place.

I open a web browser to do some research.

Apparently, Le Haut Jardin is a trendy restaurant that celebrities frequent. There's a month-long waiting list—if you weren't Clark Ashford—and the reviews are mostly four and five stars. I can already picture the flashes from paparazzi cameras, the murmur of our names intertwined in juicy gossip as people try to uncover who I am.

Elias: Sounds perfect! And sorry for the super late reply lol goodnight ~

I close my eyes and turn over in bed, ready for sleep, but my mind now refuses to wind down.

This isn't just a normal dinner date; it's us stepping into the spotlight as an official couple. Me, a nobody, hand in hand with one of the most eligible bachelors in the city. It's acknowledging that whatever this is between us is evolving rapidly, and part of me doesn't want to stop it.

But the rational part of me can't ignore the impending pressure.

Clark and I will now be under the scrutiny of the media, our every move analyzed and dissected. Privacy will be a thing of the past. Blogs will probably start writing about me, spreading truth and lies. My social media will probably get flooded with follow requests that I'll never answer.

"Dating" Clark will undoubtedly be a challenge. But it also comes with its perks.

I don't have to go on any more random dates for money. My mother's shop will stay open, and if business booms again, we might be able to open a second shop. The perks definitely outweigh the cons right now. And if Clark and I can keep our heads on straight, his business won't end up going bankrupt and I won't have to stress about where my next check will come from.

It's obvious what I need to do.

I grab my phone to schedule a text to my supervisor at Rent a Partner, letting her know I want my profile deactivated because I won't be coming back. Then I send one last message to Clark.

Elias: One more thing—I'm ready to sign whenever you get the contract prepared.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed now that the decision has been made, I toss my phone aside and bury my face under the covers.

I've always been fiercely independent, never asking anyone for help unless the situation was dire. Yet, here I am, getting ready to essentially sign my life away for a year's worth of financial freedom. I have to believe this is the right path for me, that the potential rewards outweigh the risks.

And besides, there's something about Clark that makes me feel safe and secure, like he would never let me fall.

God, I hope he doesn't let me fall.