The Cinderella Arrangement by Vanessa Waltz Read Free Book Online

didn’t have the most stable home life, so I acted out a lot.” I knew no one would ever adopt me, and my foster parents would eventually get sick of me, so I threw fits and smashed things to get me transferred as soon as possible. 
    He waited for me to elaborate, but there was no way in hell I would talk about my childhood.
    “Okay, um… I contacted one of the foster parents you were with the longest earlier today. The Kramers. They mentioned that you were particularly—Jessica?”
    Luke’s polite smile dissolved into horror as I crumpled against my will.
    Bill and Shelly Kramer.
    Their round faces swam in my mind. I felt their cruel hands on my flesh, twisting, hitting, and striking me. The belt whistled through the air. The terrifying sound of his leather belt slipping through the loops of his jeans. Their oldest son, Vincent, with his sweet, angelic face. They believed every word out of his psychotic mouth.
    The pressure built from holding back tears made my forehead feel like it would explode.
    How dare he spring them on me like that ?
    I wanted to kick the khaki and blue colored blob sitting on the couch.
    “You talked to them? What did they—what’s wrong with you?” The last words erupted from my throat. “Do you think it’s okay to pry into people’s lives?”
    He appeared in front of me. “It was all in the contract, Jessica,” he said in a kind voice. “You signed it. I do this for all my employees.”
    The rage left me with overwhelming embarrassment. “I need to leave.”
    I grabbed the door.
    “No, wait!” He pushed it shut and used his body to block my path. I turned away, but he took my shoulders. He looked pained.
    “Hey, listen, I’m sorry. Please don’t be upset. I know that what I did was way over the line. Please forgive me.”
    It’s not his fault. He didn’t know.
    I sniffed and nodded, allowing him to steer me back to the couch. I wiped my eyes as Luke sat down in front of me. His hands fidgeted in his lap, making him look as though I caught him stealing.
    “I’m sorry for yelling at you. I didn’t know that was part of the contract. There are certain things I don’t like to talk about and my past is one of them.”
    He nodded. “I understand.”
    He leaned forward and snatched his glass, glad I calmed down. “I’m just going to cut to the chase. I really need your help.” Luke gave me a sharp look. “Remember, all of this is confidential. You signed an NDA.”
    “Just tell me what it is, already.” Some of the anger bit into my voice. 
    He looked nervous. He kept clenching his hands. “Yes. Right. Well, here it is. My dying father is threatening to write me out of his will unless I shape up and settle down. I'll lose my entire inheritance and my job unless I can convince him it’s happening. The disease is advanced, so I’m short on time. I need someone who'll act as my girlfriend. We’ll travel together, get photographed going out, and be in the same hotel rooms—though this relationship will be strictly professional. It’s all an act.”
    Finally everything was out in the open. He wanted me to kiss him in public, hold his hand, and make eyes with him.
    Easy peasy. I would have done it for free.
    He stared at me. “Well, say something!”
    All of it seemed so unlikely. “Would your father do that?”
    Luke huffed. “Yes. Absolutely. My uncle Dominic was co-founder of Pardini Worldwide and each of his five children, my cousins, have shares. It would be a simple thing to write me out of the will, especially with the rest of the family hissing suggestions in his ear. Almost five billion would be distributed amongst them if I were kicked out. They would love it.”
    Five billion?
    My head spun as I imagined a gladiator arena with Luke’s family dressed in business suits all fighting each other to the death. It almost made my foster family life look civilized. They must be constantly at each other’s throats . Anyone would be driven mad by that