London Dynasty (The Dynasties #1) - Geneva Lee Page 0,7
assistant?” I balked. Now I knew I was right. I was not the type of person to rely on an assistant. I wasn’t even qualified to be an assistant myself.
He ignored me again. “It will be quite easy to extend the wedding planning, given the grandeur expected for the event, for over a year, which will give my daughter enough time to come to her senses. In the meantime, you will live in our family home in London, attend social functions, and serve as Spencer’s companion in the upcoming social season.”
“Wait.” I held up a hand to stop him. This was an even crazier plot than I thought. “Mr. Belmond, are you telling me that you want me to pretend to be your daughter for an entire year?”
“If necessary. You will be compensated of course.”
“That’s never going to work,” I said, unable to hold back a peal of laughter. “I don’t know anything about your world or your family. People will see right through me. And what about Spencer? Don’t you think he’ll be a little upset if suddenly the real Kerrigan returns and he discovers he’s been lied to?”
“That’s why it’s important that he not discover that,” he said simply.
“I don’t know what makes you think I can con someone like him for that long, but —”
“As I said, you will be groomed to do exactly what Kerrigan would do and say what Kerrigan would say. It might sound overwhelming now, but I think you’ll find it worth your while.”
“And why is that?” I asked defiantly.
“Because in exchange for one year of your cooperation, I will pay you ten million pounds.”
Chapter Four
The room seemed to shrink around me, closing in like it was on the verge of collapsing. The offer rang in my ears, but I couldn’t seem to process what he said. I stared at him, waiting for him to laugh or tell me I was on camera. Across from me, Mr. Belmond waited patiently for me to respond and showed no sign that this was some type of trick.
“I’m sorry but did you say ten million pounds?”
“I believe it’s more than fair compensation for what I’m asking you to do. Of course, perhaps you enjoy your job at the pub and your life here.” He looked around the flat, his eyes sparking with naked disdain.
Why would he offer me so much when it was clear that he didn’t have to? Anyone could see that I barely scraped by on what I made. Ten million was an unfathomable amount to someone like me. He could have tempted me with much less. Unless...
“This is about more than playing dress-up and going to some parties,” I guessed in a low voice. “You wouldn’t pay me ten million for that.”
“Astute observation,” he said, the disdain in his eyes shifting to flinty coldness. “While this marriage has been arranged, and is all but a done deal, no one can guarantee that Spencer won’t back out of the arrangement.”
Of course, poor Kerrigan was expected to do exactly as she was told, but the man could do as he wished. If he’d already agreed to the match, what might change his mind? Maybe he wouldn’t like her company or he had a girlfriend or… A terrible thought occurred to me. Even if the marriage would occur after my ploy ended, there would be expectations before that.
“And you need me to make sure he doesn’t,” I whispered.
“It seems you understand me perfectly,” he said, confirming my fear.
“You expect me to sleep with him?” I asked in a strangled voice. If that was the case, he was asking me to do more than simply play pretend. What he asked of me had a lot of other terms, none of which were particularly polite.
“That is at your discretion,” he said, but a current of desperation ran through his words. “I simply ask that you encourage an attachment and keep him happy. I need you to keep his interest.”
“I doubt that will be possible without—”
“As I said, it will be at your discretion to decide what needs to be done. I don’t need to know any particulars in that regard,” he said, turning slightly puce as if the thought of sex made him queasy. “I’m assuming you can handle those decisions for such generous compensation.”
I swallowed, but my throat felt like the desert. My tongue seemed stuck in my mouth as I tried to work up the courage to respond.
He seemed to sense my hesitation. “If he wanted