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She turned back around and looked at the art pieces that decorated the room.
 Are these going back to your houses tonight?
 No, I have that arranged to happen tomorrow. He told her.
 It s dangerous for them to be here, you know.
Conner looked confused when he said,  How so?
 You re inviting in art thieves. These pieces have been on display, being photographed all night. Any
art thief in the world that was paying attention will probably be here, or at least send someone here to
see if they were left unprotected overnight.
 They won t be left unprotected, he said,  I m not an idiot. The room will be locked and the hotel
has security.
She shook her head, he just didn t get how truly valuable his father s collection was.
 What? he asked as they headed back down the hall towards the hotel lobby.
 You just don t get it. The things in that room are unique, one of a kind, irreplaceable& 
 Okay, he said,  Would it make you feel better if I call one of our armed security companies?
 You own armed security companies? she asked.
 A few, he said. Victoria was beginning to wonder if there were anything that he didn t own. She
waited while he went to the lobby desk and talked to the night manager, then he made a few calls. At
last he said,  Okay, all set. Ready?
Earl was waiting for them and as Victoria got into the car he said,
 Did you have a nice time, Miss Standish?
Victoria smiled, she like Earl.  Yes, it was lovely, thank you, Earl.
When Conner got in behind her, she scooted across the seat away from him. He said,
 Why are you so nice to everyone but me?
 You ve given me no reason to think that you deserve it, she told him.
 Really? You have on a five thousand dollar dress and a thirty thousand dollar ring that I bought just
for you. None of that warrants you being nice to me?
 You can t buy people, Conner. I only accepted the dress because you insisted I come to this party
with you. And the ring, she said as she wriggled it off her finger,  Why on Earth would you use a
thirty-thousand dollar ring for this silly ruse?
Conner looked at her seriously and said,  I don t want it to be a ruse, Victoria. I want you to keep the
ring, and be my wife.
Victoria laughed hysterically at that. Conner sat stone-faced the entire time. When she finally stopped
laughing, she said,
 What is wrong with you? We barely know each other and what we do know, we don t like. What in
the world would make you think I would want to marry you?
 Look, he said.  What I m offering you here is not a husband, necessarily, but a business deal. How
many good contacts did you make in there tonight?
 A lot, but& 
 But, if they find out we were just yanking their chains in there tonight, do you think they ll still be
interested in doing business with either of us?
Victoria hadn t thought of that. She had been too busy reveling in the moment.
 But, to marry you? That s just insane.
 I m not saying we run down and see a justice of the peace tonight or tomorrow, but we stay engaged,
and we go from there.
 It s ridiculous, she said, thinking about what Edith Rae s column might say about her if when they
met, she found out that Victoria and Conner weren t really engaged.  I have a flight scheduled back
home to London tomorrow. My rent is due on my flat here, I don t have the funds left to stay longer.
 I ll pay you. He said.
That just made her angry all over again.  You think that you can buy anything, including people. What
was wrong with your parents, not teaching you any better?
Now Conner was mad.  Say what you will about me, but leave my parents out of it. My mother was
the kindest, hardest working most decent wonderful person you could have ever met. Whether what
she taught me stuck or not is not her fault. Besides, Victoria I am not buying you. I would be paying
for your time, like& 
 A prostitute? she said.
Conner laughed,  No, I was going to say a personal assistant. We re just going about it in an
unorthodox way. Most of the people in there tonight were old-school. They wouldn t trust me any
more than they already do if I simply hired an assistant. If they think I m worthy, however, of
marrying an up and coming artist who is very well versed on everything artistic& .well, then they
respect me more. And as you saw tonight, there s much in it for you other than a paycheck.
Victoria had to admit to herself that he was right about what was in it for her. She told herself that no
one had to know she had allowed this man to pay her to pretend to be his fiancé. They could have a
long engagement and break up way before wedding plans were even taking shape. Victoria couldn t
believe that she was actually considering this, but she was, seriously. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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