“Why the fuck not?”
“Because she likes him,” Lisa says.
I glance at her. I’ve never talked about Kingi other than to say I knew him as a kid. I’ve never mentioned having feelings for him. She lifts her eyebrows at me. I poke my tongue out at her.
“Do you?” Ria asks. “Oh…”
“I don’t,” I protest. “Much…”
“What does he actually want you to do?” Lisa asks.
I shrug. “He was a bit vague. Basically, to be seen together socially. He mentioned dinner, and maybe a nightclub or the theater. And then an engagement party at Midnight.”
“How long would this go on for?”
“Again, he was vague. He has to make sure he gets the position first, obviously. And then we’d wait until everything dies down, I guess, then ‘separate’ quietly. He suggested six months.”
They both think about that. “So you’d be exclusive,” Ria asks. I nod.
“How do you feel about that?” Lisa queries. “What if you meet someone else?”
I hadn’t thought of that. “I don’t know.”
“He’s always in the news,” Ria says, “with one model or another. Do you really think he won’t date anyone else?”
“I don’t know. If he does, he runs the risk of being seen, and losing the position for good. It doesn’t sound as if the board is going to be patient with him if there are negative headlines about him again. So it’s kinda up to him.” A bit like with Mark, I think. Our future is nearly always in our own hands.
“I still don’t quite see the problem.” Ria looks genuinely baffled. “You get the money, and you get to live the high life for a while. This gorgeous guy will take you to exclusive restaurants and you’ll get the best seats at the theater. He’ll want you to look good, so he’ll probably buy you some great clothes. You’ll get an engagement party—he might even let you keep the ring! What’s not to like?”
I put my face in my hands. “It’sPretty Womanall over again. I’ve turned into Julia Roberts.”
Ria giggles.
“Don’t laugh,” Lisa scolds her, topping up my glass with the last inch of wine in the bottle.
“Does he want you to… you know… be his partner in every way?” Ria’s eyes gleam.
My face flames. “No! Jeez.”
“Then how is it the same asPretty Woman? You’re hardly selling your body for money.”
“Maybe not sexually,” Lisa says slowly, “but anything done in exchange for money is a sale, right? And there are always moral implications to that.”
Ria blows a raspberry. “You’re both reading too much into it. Look, you’re his friend, right? He’s genuinely asking you to help him out. In return, all your financial problems will be sorted, and you get to test-drive the billionaire life? I don’t see the problem.”
I bring up my knees and hug them tightly, still holding my wine glass. “I know what you mean, and you’re right of course. Forgetting about Kingi for the moment, it doesn’t solve Mark’s problem. I could pay off all the loans and make sure Mum and Dad are stable and don’t lose their house. It’s tempting just for that. But what’s to stop Mark thinking that if I’ve done it once, I can do it again?”
“You have to talk to your parents,” Lisa says. “I know it’s hard, but you’d have to lay down some ground rules. Emphasize that they mustn’t bail Mark out again, no matter what happens. If they do, next time they have to sort it out. Make it clear that after this, you’re done. There’s no more cash, no more help.” Her expression softens. “You can’t keep doing this to yourself. You’re losing weight. You have dark shadows under your eyes. And I know you’re not sleeping well. You have your own life to live, Chess.”
“With a gorgeous hunk of a human being,” Ria adds. “For six months, anyway.”
I give a short laugh. “That’s kind of the other problem. I don’t know anything about his world. I mean, look at me. I’m hardly a socialite. I wouldn’t know where to start with talking to his friends and colleagues.”
“They’re just people,” Ria scoffs.
“No, I know what she means,” Lisa says. “The highlight of our week is meeting up down the Pioneer for a beer or going for a curry. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been to a top restaurant or nightclub. And I’ve never been the subject of a news headline. It sounds like fun on the surface, but if you agree to this, you’ll have to live that lifestyle for six months, whether you want to or not. I think you’d have to be very clear about what is and isn’t acceptable. I mean, is he expecting you to move in with him?”
“I don’t think so.”