Elias' POV

Flowers by Elodie, my mother's flower shop, hasn't been doing well.

I've been staring at sales reports for hours, trying to uncover a hint of where it all went wrong. The numbers eventually blur as they march across the spreadsheet, a silent parade of red that's been haunting my dreams almost every night.

"¿Elias? ¿Tienes un segundo?"

I look up to see my mother standing in the doorway. "I always have time for you," I say, offering a tired smile. "Is everything okay? Need my help with something?"

"Not exactly." She steps inside our shared office and takes a seat. Her deep brown eyes—the same eyes I see in the mirror every day—are filled with concern. "I've just been thinking about this for a while now, and I've finally come to a decision."

I straighten in my seat. "About?"

"I don't have the energy to keep running the shop." She reaches across the desk, taking one of my hands in hers. "I'm so tired, son. The stress, the long hours...it's wearing me and your father down. I think it's time to close—"

"Ma, no!" I grip her hand tighter, my mind racing. No way I'm letting this happen. "We can still turn things around. Confía en mí. It's not too late."

"Elias." Her eyes soften, and she squeezes my hand before releasing it. "I love your optimism, but you and I both know we've been struggling for more than just a year. The sales aren't there anymore. Tenemos que dejar ir el negocio."

I swallow hard, my thoughts drifting back to the new job I recently accepted through Rent a Partner, a fake dating service. It's not exactly the most conventional way to make money, but if it means keeping the shop's lights on, I'll do whatever it takes. And if I can rub shoulders with men like Clark Ashford in the process, well, that's just a bonus. If he doesn't turn me down, of course.

"I'm handling things, Ma. I've got a plan that will keep us going for a few more months at least. Just give me a chance to make it work."

My stomach lets out an embarrassingly loud growl, breaking the emotional tension.

"Go eat. The reports can wait." She laughs, nodding toward the door. "We can discuss this later."

"Okay, but I'm meeting up with Kahlan, so I might get back late." I kiss her on the cheek and exit the office with my phone in hand, texting Kahlan to see if he still wants to meet up for lunch.

Elias: Still meeting at that new coffee shop?

Kahlan: Yep! I got here early & already ordered for you.

Elias: Omw! BFF Award is def going to you this year lmao

Purple Hearts Coffee Shop is right around the corner, so I walk there instead of driving.

I spot Kahlan sitting at a table outside munching on a muffin, his dark brown skin glowing underneath the sunshine. I sneak up on him from behind, tugging on one of his short locs before taking my seat.

"What'd you get me?" I ask.

"A fist to the face is what you almost got." He smirks, passing me a thick ass sandwich and a sweet iced tea. "Don't sneak up on me again. I hate that shit."

"Love you too," I laugh, not wasting time stuffing my face. But eventually, the silence gets to me. "Okay, what's wrong? You're never this quiet. Like, ever."

"I didn't want to be a downer, but..." He sighs, placing his phone face down on the table. "You know that big grant Remy and I were counting on? The one that was supposed to cover our operating costs for the next two years?" I nod. "Well, it fell through—" He snaps his fingers. "Just like that. Shit is so fucked up right now."

"Damn, man. Sorry to hear it."

"Thanks."

"What are you guys going to do?"

"We just launched a fundraiser. It's our last hope." He takes a sip of his coffee, shaking his head. "If we can't raise enough money within the next eight months, we'll have to scale back our programs, maybe even close for good."

"Well, I don't have much, but I'm happy to help however I can."

"That means a lot, El." He smiles, then clears his throat. "Thank you. For real."

I can count on one hand how many times I've seen this dude cry, and I've known him since we were babies. If anything can tug at his heartstrings, it's Unchained Hearts.

It's a nonprofit for at-risk LGBTQ+ youth and is Kahlan and Remy's baby. They've poured their money, hearts, and souls into creating resources and safe spaces explicitly for people in our community. I volunteer whenever I have free time. It'll be devastating to see the nonprofit shut down.

"So, how's Mama doing?" he asks, changing the subject. "I feel bad that I haven't been to the shop in a while. Y'all still thinking about opening another one?"

"With the way our money is set up..." I give him the quick rundown of our financial troubles. "I have a plan, though—Rent a Partner. I just landed a date with a fucking billionaire yesterday."

"Hold on. How the hell did you find that company again?"

"You'll be surprised what results come up when you Google search Legal Ways to Make Money Fast—" Our laughter is interrupted by a ping from my phone. I pick it up to see a notification from the Rent a Partner app.

Clark: Are we still on for the meeting tonight?

The butterflies in my stomach kick into high gear as I read Clark's message.

I've been thinking about our upcoming date all day, hoping and praying things go well and that he likes me off paper. He has to. With the shop's finances looming over me like a dark cloud, it hits me harder at how much is riding on me not fumbling this job.

Elias: Yeah! I got the address you sent earlier. See you soon :)

I apologize to Kahlan for having to leave early. "Speaking of my billionaire, we have an introductory meeting tonight. I need to go get ready. Pray I don't blow it, please?"

"You're not going to blow it, man. Just be yourself. I'm sure you'll charm the pants right off his rich ass."

I laugh. "Hey, it's not that kind of meeting."

Walking off, I call my mother and tell her I'm needed for an interview about a second job. It's not entirely a lie, but I still feel shitty for telling it.

I spend the next few hours trying to clean myself up and look good for a man who is light-years out of my league.

***

Later That Night

When I first read Clark's request, I was genuinely shocked.

A man with his looks, wealth, and status, shouldn't have any trouble finding a date on short notice. Yet, here he is, seeking my services for a week-long retreat.

A bit of an inconvenience, yes, but given all the financial troubles plaguing my family's shop and Unchained Hearts, this job could be the lifeline I need to set things right. Partners set our own rates at Rent a Partner, and while the company takes a 30% cut of every date, I can still come out with a substantial amount if I charge Clark more than my usual fee.

The idea sits uneasily in my gut, however, as I sit in this fancy restaurant with a French name I can't pronounce and a menu full of dishes I've never heard of.

I've never been one to take advantage of others, but desperate times call for desperate measures. It's not like Clark will be hurt having to hand over a few thousand.

Ugh, I shouldn't have worn this stupid suit. The man is here to impress me, not the other way around. The suit I picked out feels foreign on my skin, the fabric too stiff. I hate it. None of it is me. Focus, Elias. You need this money...

I scan the menu for the second time when I suddenly hear a voice calling my name from behind. I turn around, then stand.

"Damn..." I whisper, my breath catching.

Clark Ashford definitely looks better in person.

From the fancy designer suit to his perfectly styled chestnut-colored hair, those piercing greenish-brown eyes, and a jawline that's begging to be stroked—Clark Ashford belongs on the cover of a magazine. All the magazines. My thirsty ass would buy every single one.

"Mr. Barnes," Clark welcomes me, his voice deep and eyes raking over me with an intensity that causes goosebumps to rise on my arms. "Glad to see you look exactly like your profile picture. Even better, actually."

"Thanks." My cheeks warm at the compliment. "You look... nice. Er, handsome! I-I meant to say handsome."

"I'll take handsome over nice any day." Amusement, for a split second, passes over Clark's face. "Should I continue to call you Mr. Barnes or do you prefer something else? We don't have to be formal. It's up to you."

"We can speak casually from now on. And you can call me Elias."

"Pretty name." The hint of a smile graces his lips, sending my heart into another wild sprint. "I've been wondering what the E on your profile stood for."

"Yeah, it's Elias. Not everyone approves of Rent a Partner, so for safety reasons, we can't reveal our full names online. Same thing goes for clients as you already know."

But there are only so many hotshot CEOs with the last name Ashford, so tracking him down without his full first name wasn't that difficult.

"I see. Well, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Elias." Clark extends his hand. I reach out to shake it. His grip is firm, his touch warm, but not overpowering. "Let's sit. You can order whatever you want. The tab is on me."

I nod, feeling completely out of my element. I scan the menu again when he picks up his, praying my pick tastes good. "I'll have the...poo-let ah lah crahm?" I say, butchering the words.

"Poulet à la crème. Good choice." To my surprise, Clark cracks a full smile this time. "Though I must say, your French could use some work."

"Shut up." I laugh, feeling some of the tension ease from my shoulders. "I'm a florist by day, not a linguist. Cut me some slack."

After the waiter comes out with our orders, Clark goes on about how good the wine is here. I'm not much of a drinker, so I could care less. I'm too captivated by the way his lips move with each word. How the veins in his hands shift, the dark look flickering in his eyes.

All of it has me feeling and thinking things that, if acted on, could get me fired with a quickness.

"I'll be frank," Clark says, his voice steady. "I need to win over Ava Holmes, the host of the retreat. Getting her on my team is crucial to my company. Your role is that you'll be accompanying me as my boyfriend. I don't need you to do much apart from engaging in casual conversation, so this should be a fairly easy week for you."

"Yeah. It sounds easy enough."

"Excellent. We should probably start brainstorming a backstory for our relationship. No doubt I'll be asked questions after I show up with you on my arm."

"Because you're hella famous and people are nosy?"

Clark gives a nonchalant shrug. "I'm just a very private person. I've never publicized my relationships, so our public appearance will be newsworthy on some level."

"Well, it's harder to repeatedly tell an elaborate lie, so let's just keep it simple," I suggest, using this moment as my time to strike for Kahlan and Remy. "Maybe we could say we met at my friend's fundraising event last year while supporting Unchained Hearts? You made a big donation, and I reached out to thank you personally on their behalf. Then the rest is history."

"What's Unchained Hearts?" he asks.

"A nonprofit for at-risk queer youth. We can say we were there supporting the cause and connected over it. This implies we do things for our community, like you mentioned Ava does."

"I like it. I think Ava will too. At the very least, it gives us something to bond over. So, yeah, let's go with that," Clark says, pausing for a long moment. "About Unchained Hearts, I'd like to help out for real, if that's alright with you and your friends."

"Oh. In what way?"

"Ashford Technologies has been collaborating with various institutions to help us refine Ashford Computers. The newest model will launch next spring. A partnership with Unchained Hearts could provide us with direct and valuable user feedback, and in return, the youth get to work on top-tier equipment at no cost. It's a win-win for both of us."

I'm stunned into silence. I can't believe he's doing exactly what I needed him to do.

"I can also leverage this as a talking point with Ava," Clark continues. "Her endorsement could be monumental for both our causes."

"Clark, honestly, this is beyond generous. My friends will appreciate it so much!"

"Anytime." He pulls out his business card for me to give to them, and I pass along their information as well. "Shall we get back to you now?"

"Huh?"

"Your rates, specifically. I hope you don't mind, but I came up with a figure I think you'll approve of."

Clark reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out a check. He slides it across the table, his expression unreadable.

I glance down at the piece of paper to see, written in neat handwriting, the amount of $60,000. I blink, certain I misread it. But no, the figure remains the same. Sixty thousand dollars! That means I pocket $42,000, which is more than enough to keep the shop going for a while.

"I-I don't understand how you came up with this amount," I stammer, hands trembling. "I was only going to charge you $10,000 for the entire week."

Clark leans back in his chair, his gaze steady. "In your About Me, you mentioned you're a business owner. Plus, the contract you sent me stated that Rent a Partner takes a cut of your earnings. I feel terrible pulling you away from your work, so I'm hoping the amount you're left with after the company's cut will be enough for your time and the inconvenience."

What are words? All I can do is stare at this man and his beautiful face.

"I mean no disrespect," he says quickly, perhaps misinterpreting my lack of response. "If that's too low, I can go higher. Just tell me a number. Any number."

"No!" I wave my hands as he searches for his wallet. "This is enough, I swear. I just...I don't know what else to say right now. This is a lot to process."

"Well, it's nothing you don't deserve." Another small smile pulls at the corner of Clark's mouth, practically screaming for a kiss. "So say you'll accept the money, and that you're ready for us to move forward next week."

"I accept the money," I answer without a second thought. "And I'm ready to move forward."

Am I, though? Because the chemistry between Clark and me is already thicker than the steak on his plate.

But with so much money on the line, I can't afford to sabotage this job by acting on my physical urges. Goddamn this man for being blessed with the genes of a sex god. It isn't fair. None of this is fair. Him looking at me like he wants to take a bite out of me next definitely isn't fair.

Fuck it. I can do this.

I can act as Clark's boyfriend for one week and not let anything get in the way...right?