Hayley woke up languidly. She felt amazing, although a little sore. A grin lifted the corner of her mouth when the memory of the night before.

She raised her head and glanced around. The space on the bed beside her was empty. Sunlight peeped through the curtains that had been drawn shut. She remembered there was a clock on the wall and squinted her eyes to see the time. Eleven a.m. No wonder Gabriel had left: she'd nearly slept the entire morning away.

Flinging the comforter off her, she yawned. According to the invitation, there would be brunch until three, then a party by the pool from five onwards. That meant she had lots of time for a shower. Maybe she'd see Gabriel at brunch.

Fifteen minutes later, she walked downstairs to the dining area dressed in a long, flowy off-white Dior dress with leaf prints. The fabric was even flimsier and sheerer than her dress last night so she wore it over a lace chemise. She thought it was too daring when she first put it on the day before, but today she felt a little more confident, a bit more daring. Last night Gabriel had looked at her, touched her, made love to her like she was the most amazing woman in the world. It was silly to see oneself differently because of a man but there it was. She'd never given her looks too much thought — she was attractive enough, and she knew she cleaned up well if she put in the effort. She had no nagging insecurities of any sort about her appearance, but neither did she have an overwhelming supply of confidence either.

Today, she felt like a butterfly just released from her cocoon. It was stupid thought but she couldn't help grinning as she walked through the house, saying good morning to the other guests. There was even a spring to her step.

Gabriel wasn't at brunch. She didn't see anyone she knew, so she sat down by herself with a mug of coffee and a danish. She had a few messages on her phone, one of them from Jenna.

OMG, I saw the pix of the party on Instagram. Why didn't you post anything?

Hayley smiled as she texted back:

Sorry. Was having too much fun. Next time?

It wasn't exactly true. She did have fun, only not at the party. Jenna always thought these high society parties were so glamorous and exciting. Hayley didn't want to burst her friend's bubble by telling her about that awful scene in the ladies' room and how it had sent Hayley practically running away from the party. And jumping into the pool with Reinheart.

The thought made her grin even wider. Should she tell Jenna about Reinheart falling into the pool? It would be funny, but then Jenna might want to know what happened after. And why he was so drunk in the first place. Hayley didn't think he would want anyone to know.

So instead, she added, Reinheart's here. Want me to post a selfie with him later?

OMG yes, please. What was he wearing last night? Did he have a date

I don't remember what he was wearing, sorry! No, he didn't have a date. 😉

There wasn't any harm in encouraging her friend's crush, was there?

Yasss! Maybe there's still hope for us.

If any women try to get too chummy with him, I'll throw them into the pool.

You're the best, Hayley!

Oddly, there was no reply from Gabriel after Hayley had texted him twice. She thought about calling him but decided against it. If he was too busy to text her back, he was too busy to answer calls. Maybe he didn't even have his phone with him. She recalled the sight of him yesterday rising from the pool wet and half-naked, a mental image that even now made her mouth go dry. Of course. He might have gone swimming.

She finished her coffee and pastry quickly and headed outside.

From a distance, she could see a few people in the pool. The artificial waterfall on one end of the deck had been turned on so there was a torrent of water splashing down the large rocks. As she walked closer, she squinted in the sunshine trying to see if Gabriel was one of the men in the water, but neither of them had the right hair color. There was a couple on one of the lounge chairs in an intimate embrace. Were people just making out in public here? Hayley bit her lip. Considering what she and Gabriel did on the balcony of their room the night before, she shouldn't be so judgmental. But it was broad daylight. The woman was straddling the man, practically draped over him and he was...

Hayley froze in her tracks. Was that ... Zenia? Yes, it was. There was no mistaking her perfect face and lithe body in a white print bikini. The man was in swimming trunks, but she couldn't see his face as it was obstructed by the woman's head. He was whispering something in her ear. Hayley held her breath until Zenia moved and the man's face came into view. A cold hand squeezed Hayley's heart when she recognized Gabriel.

As though he sensed her presence, he turned to look at her. He wore a pair of sunglasses so she couldn't make out the expression in his eyes. Somehow she knew he was neither guilty nor ashamed. He probably thought the whole thing was funny. Caught by his fake girlfriend making out with another woman. And only a few hours before, he had Hayley in his bed panting and screaming his name.

Gabriel didn't move, didn't say anything. Neither did she. What could she say? She wasn't his girlfriend, not really. He was paying her for sex, but it didn't mean he couldn't fuck any other woman he wanted. He could. And it was obvious that he did.

Hayley turned on her heel and ran, her face growing hot with humiliation. Her eyes stung with tears.

Stop it. He's not your boyfriend. He can do whatever he wants.

She blinked and felt a tear roll down her cheek. Of all the women at this party, did it have to be the woman who was awful to her? Granted, Zenia was beautiful and rich. But she wasn't very nice, at least not to Hayley. Gabriel deserved better.

Because Hayley didn't know where else to go, she headed straight to her room. It was childish of her to hope that Gabriel would follow her and try to apologize, but she did. He didn't, of course. She should have just left before he saw her. Now he and Zenia were probably laughing at Hayley's very public embarrassment.

Oh God. Hayley groaned inwardly as she plopped on the bed, burying her face in a pillow. Zenia. It was bad enough that she thought so little of Hayley to begin with, now the woman would have the smug satisfaction of knowing Hayley was aware they were making out behind her back. She was going to be at the party tonight. A party Hayley had to attend. She had no excuse not to — Gabriel was paying her to be with him at parties, not lock herself in her room because she was jealous of his other women.

No, not jealous. Definitely not. Hayley didn't have feelings for Gabriel. She liked him, yes. But she barely knew the guy, apart from how amazing he was in bed. This was a job, nothing more. She wasn't jealous, just humiliated.

She rolled over and stared at the ceiling. While she may not have the right to be jealous, she didn't deserve this kind of treatment. How dare he? He introduced her to everyone as his girlfriend, only to turn around and make out with another woman out in public. Asshole.

There was nothing she could do except quit. Only she didn't want to. She wasn't going to give up two million dollars because Zenia was an awful person who totally deserved Gabriel who was an ass. No way. If anything, she should be even more motivated to finish the job and earn that money.

What she didn't know was how she could have sex with him now. It was easy when she liked him. He was young and hot and he did things to her body that was nothing short of amazing. Sex with him would still be safe, so long as they kept using condoms. But could she be intimate with a man she didn't even like anymore?

Of course she couldn't.

They would have to come to a new arrangement. She didn't want to quit the job, even if he paid her the full million. It was a matter of principle, a work ethic. Maybe she could still play the role of his girlfriend while he find his sexual release elsewhere. With Zenia, for example. Honestly, she shouldn't care where he stuck his dick.

She didn't care, not anymore.

What mattered now was that she could show him that she was fine with him being with other women. She'd do her job and go to the party with him, head held high even when confronted with Zenia's perfect hateful face.

With that thought, Hayley picked up her phone. She unlocked it and began writing a text message.

***

Gabriel had to restrain himself from tossing the woman sitting on top of him to go after Hayley. She obviously assumed the worse of this situation. Probably thought he was an ass for having another woman straddling him out in broad daylight in front of everyone.

But the sound of Zenia's laughter reminded him of what was at stake. Why he had hired Hayley in the first place. Why he shouldn't — didn't care what his fake girlfriend thought of him. She didn't have to like him, she just had to do the job. Feelings made things complicated, and he neither had the time nor the patience for complications.

"Americans," Zenia scoffed. "So melodramatic, aren't they?"

God, she was annoying. How he ever thought her attractive was incomprehensible. Yes, she was lovely. He knew his parents would approve of him dating the daughter of another of Beijing's elite billionaire families. Still, there was no warmth he could discern in her character, nothing interesting in her personality.

"Get off me, Zenia," he said.

"Make me." She flashed him an impish smile.

With a sigh, he swung his legs over the side of the chair. She squealed in delight and wrapped her arms around him as he lifted her.
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Happy new year, loves! Thanks so much for following this story. If you liked this episode, please tap on that star icon to vote ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Episode 21 "New Arrangements" will be available on Friday, 17 January 2020. If you'd like to read ahead, you can find the link to read on my WP author profile.