The Arrangement Anthology 1(85)

I was so utterly wrong that it’s unfathomable.





CHAPTER 9



The car slows in front of a sleek hotel with hundreds of glowing windows. Gabe tells me that he’ll be back and slips out of the car. I slide across the seat to make room for my fake date. From the picture I saw, I know Henry Thomas is in his mid-thirties and all lean muscle. He has that distinct runner’s body, complete with trim waist and narrow hips.

In his picture, Henry’s arms were folded over his chest. There was a smirk on his lips—like he intends to know my deepest secret and that he’ll enjoy teasing it out of me. Henry is an attractive man, although he’s older than my normal preference. Since I don’t have to sleep with him, I don’t mind. I’ve never really had a relationship with someone so much older than me. All my friends are college age. The oldest is a seventh-year-senior that’s coming up on twenty-six. I wonder what Henry will be like compared to the people I know.

Henry steps out of the front doors of the hotel and strides toward the car with that same smirk on his face. I wonder if that smile is always there, so easily strewn across his face?

Gabe says something to him, and Henry inclines his head before the car door opens and he ducks inside. When Henry settles into his seat and looks up, my heart races a little bit. He doesn’t look older than me now. His eyes sparkle like sunlight on the sea. The deep gray color is so unusual that I stare at him a beat longer than I should.

He extends his hand and says, “Henry Thomas. Please, call me Henry.”

I wrap my fingers around his hand and shake. I nod once. “Allison Stanz.” That is my alias tonight. No real names is the normal rule, but since we are supposed to be a couple, it would be difficult to have a conversation—or an introduction to his business associate—without having a first name, so Miss Black said I am Allison.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Allison.” Henry looks up after Gabe gets back into the car. “Head toward the restaurant, but take your time about it.” Gabe nods and pulls into the traffic. Henry looks back at me in my blood red gown. His eyes sweep over me swiftly before landing on my face. “You’re a beautiful woman.”

I smile slightly and tease him. “You sound surprised.”

“Pictures can be deceiving.” His lips curl into a boyish grin. “I suppose you hear this a lot, but you honestly took my breath away. I expected…” Henry sighs and runs his hand through his hair. His silvery eyes sweep over me again before he glances at my face, “I don’t know what I expected.” He laughs. I hear the nerves in his chuckle and want to put him at ease. The jitters don’t help either of us.

I place my hand on his and say, “It’s okay. I’m glad you’re not an ugg-o, either,” and wink at him before leaning back in my seat.

Henry laughs. His smile lights up his face, creasing the lines around the corners of his eyes. “Oh, tonight is going to be fun.” He rubs his palms together and chuckles again, like he can’t wait.

“May I ask what the night entails?” I shift in my seat and smooth my skirt. I can’t really breathe in this dress and hope that I won’t have to think too hard. There isn’t any oxygen going to my brain. I think the gown is shoving all the air into my boobs. I can barely see my lap from here.

“The usual, dinner, dancing, and talking to a complete ass and trying to get him to sell me his patent. You know, nothing too weird.” Henry leans back in his seat and lets out a rush of air like he’s nervous. “This guy is an arrogant son-of-a-bitch. He’s young and I know that’s part of it. The guy is a certifiable genius. The technology he came up with is perfect, exactly what my company needs. I just have to get him to sell it to me and not someone else.”

“Ah, so tonight is to butter him up? Or do we want to smack him over the head with a frying pan and toss him into the fire? Just tell me what you need and I’m there.” I’m half serious, half kidding. I glance up at Henry after smoothing my skirt. For some reason I think it’ll help me breathe, even though it doesn’t.

There’s an easy way about Henry, like he knows how to handle himself most of the time. “You’d whack him for me?” Henry looks up front and asks Gabe, “Did I call the wrong number? Did you people set me up with an escort or a femme fatal?”

“Miss Stanz is not authorized to whack anyone,” Gabe says flatly. He doesn’t look at us.

“Ah, well, that’s brilliant.” Henry’s voice catches and I hear a wisp of an accent.

“Where are you from?”