"I just did." I grinned. "So, yes or no? If you're not going to do it, then I need to find someone else." I reached for the cash, but she snatched it up and pressed it against her chest.
"All I have to do is pretend to be in love with you? And there's more money after this?"
"A lot more." I gazed around the apartment and saw the state of it for the first time. The dingy carpet, the peeling wallpaper, the cramped quarters. There were baby toys on the floor and strewn on the couch. "It definitely seems like you could use it."
"Hey." Her mouth dropped open more. "You come in here and insult me? That's what you think is going to make me help you?"
I stepped forward until there was barely any space between us. "You're being very stubborn, but we both know you'll do it."
Abigail scoffed. "I might say no."
I held out my hand. "Then give me the money."
She quickly tucked it behind her back. "What do I need to do?"
I smiled. "Now, that's what I wanted to hear."
3
Abigail
"I'll only be gone for a little while." I stuffed another dress into my suitcase and glanced at my closet. Did I need anything else?
"I can't believe you're just taking off and leaving us!" Nadia shook her head at me. "And with that sketchy boss of yours, too."
"Piero isn't sketchy." I ran my fingers through my hair and almost chuckled at the obvious lie. The man was entirely sketchy, but at least I knew him. "It shouldn't take me too long to be back. I'm just helping him out for a while."
Nadia folded her arms over her chest. "Men like him want more than help, sis. I'm just saying, I think this is a horrible idea."
I sighed deeply. "What else do you want me to do, Nadia? The rent is due, the bills are behind, and Sarah needs formula and diapers. I'll deal with anything I need to if it means that we get to keep living under a roof and have food in our stomachs. I'm going."
It irritated me that she wanted to throw things in my face, but she was the reason we were in such a mess in the first place. When she'd gotten with her boyfriend I'd told her he was no good for her, and she'd still gone through with it. Now I was left to pick up the pieces. I loved my sister, but that didn't change the fact that there was so much more stress on my shoulders and I was just doing the best I could.
"I'm sorry." Sarah's cries carried into my room, and Nadia stood up. "I'll go get her. Just … be careful, okay? All we have is each other these days, and I don't want anything to happen to you."
I smiled at her softly. "Nothing will happen. I'll be fine. I promise."
I watched her walk out of the room. I didn't want to tell her that I wasn't afraid of Piero, or anyone else for that matter when I was around him. The man could be a cold-hearted bastard sometimes, but he wouldn't let anything happen to me.
I heard the knocking and I knew it was Piero before Nadia even called it out. I quickly finished zipping up my suitcase and snagged my bag. When I looked up Piero stood in my doorway. I jumped and pressed a hand to my chest.
"You scared the hell out of me." I shook my head. "I'm ready to go."
"That's it?" He nodded toward my suitcase. "Just one little bag?"
"How much more am I going to need?" I tilted my head at him.
Piero sighed. "Don't worry about it. We'll go shopping. Nothing you have will do anyway."
My mouth dropped. "You always have to insult me, don't you?"
He grinned. "Whenever your mouth drops open like that, it does make me laugh." He walked over and poked my forehead. "And right there, you get this wrinkle—"
I smacked his hand away. "I do not have wrinkles!"
Piero chuckled and cleared his throat, going serious once more. "Come on, let's get out of here. We'll pick up some suitable clothes and go to my place before we meet up with my family."
"You were serious about the clothes then," I muttered.
"Very serious. My mother is a judgmental woman, and we're trying to make a good first impression. I've already told them some things about you, so we need to make sure we're on the same page." His eyes swept me up and down. "At least you look good."
My cheeks grew hot and I quickly turned as if to check to make sure I had everything. Piero was a pain, but sometimes he said things that made me want to melt into a puddle. When I turned around, his lips held an amused grin.
"We can go now."
I walked past him, but he shot an arm out, blocking me from leaving my room. I glanced up at him. Piero reached out and took my suitcase from me. He nodded.
"Now, we can go."
I shook my head. He was so pushy, but that didn't stop my heart from speeding up when I was around him. Even today, when he'd dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a white button-down, he looked delicious. I'd very rarely seen him in anything but a suit and, on a few occasions, a robe. Those times were the most interesting of all.
When we reached the living room, Nadia was feeding Sarah. I stopped and picked the baby up briefly, keeping the bottle in her mouth while I cooed at her. My lips brushed against her forehead.
"I'm going to miss you most of all, Sarah." I smiled down at her and brushed little locks of brown hair from her forehead. "I'll be back soon." I hugged Nadia. "You two be careful."
Nadia nodded. "We'll be fine." She glanced at Piero. "Just make sure you come back okay."
I shook my head and turned on my heels. Nadia didn't have to say more, but it was clear that she was threatening Piero in her own way. Piero raised a brow but only smiled before we left the apartment.
My stomach twisted as I slid into his car and waited for him. I couldn't believe I was actually going through with this. When Piero climbed behind the wheel, I frowned.
"I just thought of something. Your brothers have met me before, at least once or twice. Won't they remember me?"
Piero laughed. "Not even a little. My brothers are usually more worried about their own problems. I doubt they even remember what you look like." He shrugged. "And if they do, I'll just tell them it was you the whole time. I've thought this through."
I snickered. "You? Thinking things through?"
"I am the brains of the family," he sniffed.
"Maybe when you're not being impulsive. Like telling your family that you're with someone when you haven't gone on an actual date in ages."
Piero opened his mouth and closed it right back. I grinned, and he let out a little growl. That only made me laugh. He really was way too impulsive sometimes. I leaned down and turned up the radio, thinking about this new assignment while we drove. It should be easy enough, right? A little acting and then I’d be set for a very, very long time.
We finally stopped in front of a little boutique. I could tell by looking at the place that it was way out of my budget. I frowned as I stared in through the window transfixed on a red dress that had a strap around the neck and a slit up one side.
“Do you like that one?”