Page 97 of Fake it For Good
She tapped one long, red nail on the envelope. “I see.”
“I appreciate the chance to work for you, but I don’t think I’m cut out for this job,” I said. “I’m too black and white. Operating in the gray is just not how my brain works. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she said. “It’s not a job for everyone.”
“Do I need to do anything?” I asked. “Sign something?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s over. I’ll call Cane and let him know you’ve rejected the money.”
“Thank you.”
I got to my feet and was ready to leave when she stopped me. “Noelle, does he know how you feel?”
“I told him things had changed for me,” I said. “I made it clear it started as a job, but it didn’t stay that way. I thought he might feel the same way. He certainly made me feel that way with the way he talked and acted. I think it’s clear he was just enjoying the perks of the deal.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “I really am. Good luck with your future. And your nonprofit.”
“Thank you.”
I left the agency feeling just a little hollow. Marie had been calling and texting all day. I knew she was curious to know how my night was. I had held back from telling her anything because to say it aloud was going to be painful. I told Della. Now I had to tell Marie. I poured myself a glass of wine and called her.
“Finally!” she shrieked. “I was going to send out a search party.”
“Sorry,” I said.
“How was it?” she asked. “Was your dress a total hit?”
“My dress was a hit,” I said. “The night was great. I got to talk to a lot of people and really enjoyed myself. And then I didn’t.”
“The ex again?”
“She was involved, but it was him,” I said. “I just got back from the agency. I rejected his payment and officially quit. I’m not cut out to be a fake date.”
“Why in the world would you reject the payment?” she gasped. “Are you crazy?”
“I can’t take his money,” I said. “That would make me a whore.”
“Uh, no, it wouldn’t,” she said. “You took a job. You got paid for it. That’s not wrong.”
“He accused me of using him!”
“Using him for sex?” she asked.
“No, to get close to the people he knows,” I said. “He turned into a total dick last night. I don’t know what the hell got into him, but I’m done. I will not be treated like that ever again. While we were arguing, Kelly showed up to drive the knife a little deeper. It was a fucking disaster. I walked out and found my own way home.”
“Has he called you?” she asked.
“Nope. He asked me why I was doing the job or something like that. I told him it started out as a job, but things had changed. I didn’t come right out and tell him I was crazy about him, but I definitely opened the door for that conversation. I thought he was going to tell me he felt the same way. Boy, did I get a big surprise.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “But you should take the money. You earned it.”
“I don’t want his money or anything else from him,” I said. “I’m done with the fake dating thing. There’s a reason they say there is no such thing as easy money. I’ll just find a different job. With the connections I made, I don’t have to buy all the toys. I was making it before, and I’ll keep making it. This is a classic cautionary tale. I flew too close to the sun. I reached too high. All the things. I got burned. I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Dammit,” she groaned. “I should kick his ass. This is a good job. You should keep at it. Reject any long-term ones. Just do the dates like me.”
“No,” I said. “I can’t. I’m going to sulk today and search for a job tomorrow. He’s in my rearview mirror. I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Do you want me to come over?” she asked.
