Chapter 7

Willow, who has been my best friend since I moved to Lake Wisteria in middle school, didn’t ask any questions when I showed up at her lakeside bungalow in the middle of the night with tear-stained cheeks and a car stuffed with my personal belongings. I thought I could wait until morning to pack up my room, but then I considered how it would feel to stay quiet while Nico went about his morning routine, completely unaware of me no longer being his nanny.

So, similar to the time Ava fired me as her songwriter, I disappeared in the middle of the night. That option seemed better than pulling Rafael aside and begging for my job back because I’m not sure if I could survive another conversation like our last one.

I’m not a confrontational person. Sure, I can sass back because I am my mother’s daughter after all, but when push comes to shove, I’d much rather run away than stand my ground against someone who hurt me.

Even if it means never getting closure.

I wake up in the morning to find Willow already in the kitchen pouring us both cups of coffee. After a few sips of courage, I give her a short summary of everything that happened.

Willow leans against the kitchen counter with a frown. “So he just fired you without giving you any chance to explain?”

“Yup.”

“What an asshole.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I mean, listen. He was right to be angry at you for keeping that secret from him, but he could have gone about it a little differently.”

I shrug off her statement. “It is what it is. I was in the wrong, so this is my penance.”

She frowns. “I know things suck right now, but you’re better off without Rafael anyway. He always took you and your time for granted.” The dislike is written clear as day across her freckled face. Her pale cheeks, which were already pink from her morning run, darken into a deeper shade of red as she hesitantly tucks a strand of reddish-orange hair behind her ear.

Since we became best friends in middle school, I’ve never known Willow to hold back from sharing her opinion, so I’m surprised to say the least. “You never said anything before.”

“Because since everything went down with Ava and the record label, you seemed genuinely happy for the first time in months. You had a purpose. Nico was good for you and vice versa, even if his father is too stubborn to see that.”

Unlike Willow, who didn’t miss a beat after Ava fired her because she chose to believe my story about what happened with Darius, I struggled. Hard.

I still feel guilty about Willow losing her dream job as Ava’s public relations manager because of me, even if she’s repeatedly told me she would have left anyway because our friendship came first.

Wherever you go, I go, she had said before packing up her belongings and moving back to Lake Wisteria with me.

The dull throb in my chest transforms into a strong ache.

Willow continues when I don’t speak up. “I don’t care if Rafael was right to fire you. He was wrong for not letting you say goodbye at least.”

“It’s not like I gave him a chance to change his mind before running away.”

“He doesn’t deserve you.” Willow gives my clenched hand a pat. “As it is, I’m surprised you put up with him for this long.”

“He wasn’t that bad.”

“But was he good?”

Her question stumps me. In some ways, Rafael was decent to me. He gave me a job despite my inexperience with nannying and paid me well for my work, although I struggled with his grumpy attitude.

I was willing to put up with a lot from him solely because I love Nico and the financial freedom I gained thanks to Rafael’s generous paychecks. With my monthly salary and a free place to stay, I was saving most of my money in hopes of suing Ava one day.

First, I needed to get over my little issue with confrontation and find a copyright lawyer who didn’t run in the opposite direction as soon as I mentioned her name.

A knock on the front door startles me. “Who’s that?”

“Lorenzo.”

“He comes to your house now? Are you two friends or something?”

Willow recently took Lorenzo Vittori, the town’s newest billionaire resident, on as a PR client. The decision was an easy one, especially since my best friend loves a good challenge, and Lorenzo was the biggest one yet, with his goal to replace Lake Wisteria’s Mayor Ludlow, whose family has been here since the town was founded in the 1800s.

Unlike the Ludlows, who raise their kids on silver spoons and Madame Virginia’s Rules of Etiquette, the Vittori name is synonymous with sinning, debauchery, and a billion-dollar international gambling empire. With luxury casino hotels located all over the world, the Vittori family specializes in all seven deadly sins.

To say he isn’t mayor material is a gross understatement, but unlike me, Willow doesn’t back down from adversity.

She laughs. “No, we’re not really friends, but he sure could use one.”

“Then what is he doing here this early?”

“I don’t want anyone overhearing us talk about Operation Fake Fiancée. You know how quickly word spreads in this town.”

My brows hike toward my hairline. “So getting him a fake fiancée is a whole operation now?”

“Yes, but it’s still in the planning phase, so don’t worry.”

“Why would I be worried?”

“Because the moment Lorenzo hears you’re unemployed and looking for a job, he might try to hire you, but as your best friend, I must insist that you say no. He’s not marriage material. Take my word for it.”

Lorenzo beats against the front door until Willow lets him inside. They share a few hushed whispers in the entryway before my best friend strolls back into the kitchen with Lorenzo trailing behind her.

The temperature in the room drops a few degrees, and a chill rushes down my spine when Lorenzo and I lock eyes. As much as I appreciate Willow’s warning, there is no way in hell I would ever agree to fake-marry someone who elicits that kind of response from me, no matter how attractive or rich they are.

“Hey.” He tips his chin in my direction, showing off his angular jawline as he stops in front of the outdated countertop across from me. He looks out of place with his custom suit, designer accessories, and fancy haircut, yet no one would guess he isn’t perfectly at home with the confidence he exudes.

I aspire to achieve the amount of fucks Lorenzo has to give, which is none.

I lean back in my chair and cross my arms. “I hear you’re looking for a wife.”

He shoots Willow a withering glance. “I thought we agreed to keep that a secret.”

“You can trust her.”

“I don’t trust anyone.”

I point at myself. “Hi. I’m standing right here.”

His dark eyes flick over me without an ounce of interest. “Are you single?”

“Yes.”

“Would you like to become a millionaire?”

A laugh explodes out of me. “Who wouldn’t?”

“I have a proposition.”

“Save it. There’s not enough Vittori money in the world that could convince me to be your wife.”

He doesn’t look affronted, because that would require feeling something other than indifference, but he does turn his nose up at my comment. “Whatever. I’m not into blonds anyway.”

Willow lets out a huff. “That rules out half of the eligible women in this town.”

His clinical gaze meets hers. “Or redheads for that matter.”

“She’s been taken since eighth grade.” I ignore the twinge in my chest at the same wistful look Willow always gets whenever she thinks about her fiancé, who is completing his internal surgery residency in Washington. I’m not jealous of their long-distance relationship or anything, but I do wish for that kind of companionship. The same connection that my mom has with my stepdad.

Instead, I’m being propositioned by a sociopath to play his fake fiancée because I’m single and unemployed.

Lorenzo glances at his watch for the third time since arriving, which is my cue to go. I’ve been enough of an inconvenience for Willow as it is.

“As much fun as this has been…” I slide off my stool and inch toward the exit.

“Where are you going?” Willow points at my half-finished cereal bowl.

“My parents’ place. I want to get there before my mom leaves for work.”

“I thought you were going to stay with me.”

“I’m afraid another night on your guest mattress might screw up my spine alignment.” I rub at the knot forming in my neck.

“You can share my bed!”

“Thanks, but your snoring would keep me up all night.”

She flips me off, and I break out into laughter.

“Add no snoring to my list of requests too,” Lorenzo drawls.

Willow shoots daggers at him before looking back at me. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Positive.”

“If you change your mind, you’ll always have a room available here.” Willow hugs me. She made the same offer when we moved back to Lake Wisteria after Ava hurt me.

I return her embrace. “I know.”

“I could even get a new mattress to sweeten the deal.”

I laugh despite the tears building behind my eyelids. “Save the money for your wedding. You’re going to need it with your taste.”