The Italian's Fake Fiancée

12

    His eyes were running over her face as though he didn't know where to begin. That thought almost made her laugh in happiness and surprise. Her staunch boss was fumbling for words. He turned to Wesley as though to demand help however his friend shrugged and turned to his phone.
   
    Leo's eyes returned to her. For a few seconds, he did nothing. Paige got the distinct impression he hadn't had cause to seek the help of any woman he wasn't close to in a long while.
   
    Just as she finished that thought, to her utter surprise she saw his face harden, his gaze sharpened. Even his hands on her shoulder had tightened a little in its grip.
   
    "Paige, I know this might come as a surprise to you. But I need you to be my fake fiancée."
   
    If she understands him correctly, he wanted her to be his fake fiancée which meant she would be around him more often than she normally was. Wasn't that asking to be discovered?
   
    She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. "Listen to everything I have to say first before you protest. It's only for two to three weeks." At Paige's look of doubt, he said, "I will pay for it. Double of what you get in the office. Or you can have a vacation instead if that's what you want. Just say you would do it."
   
    "I don't know," Paige muttered. When he had mentioned he would pay her, she had seen a good sum in her head but that didn't mean she would jump right into what he wanted. "This is too much to take in," Paige uttered. She could see his friend standing up to join in the persuasion, and she shrank back. Leo cursed swiftly in Italian, then he held her shoulders.
   
    "Look at me," he ordered. Paige looked into his eyes aware she was drowning in the pool of his magnetic presence. "Paige I know I don't say this often, and I might be a little hard to deal with at the office. But you are a good woman and I need you to do this for me," he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "Please."
   
    Paige was conflicted. When said like that, how could she refuse? Especially not when he was looking at her with those beseeching eyes, his strong hands on her shoulder, given her his full attention and Paige loved every minute of it, lost in the thrill, she opened her mouth and before she knew what she was doing said, "Yes."
   
    Her answer surprised both Leo and herself, especially she. She had not been expecting to say that, but it was already too late she couldn't retract her statement. What has she done.
   
    A look of relief washed over Leo. And he said great and drew her to her feet.
   
    "But what does it entail?" Paige asked, feeling nervous. She needed to know what she was signing up for.
   
    His gaze fluttered to her face. "We will discuss the details on our way there," Leo said over his shoulder. As he was saying this, he was steering her towards the door.
   
    Outside, he handed her to the group he had sent out before. "Do everything you have to do but make her look good. Not like an assistant but a fiancée. I expect a good result." And then he was gone.
   
    "Wait," Paige called out, but the people she had been entrusted to grabbed her arm gently.
   
    "Girl it's alright you are in good hands." That calmed Paige down and she allowed herself to be turned towards a dressing room stocked with clothes, shoes and bags of different design and color, while she watched Leo's retreating back until he faded completely from her sight. Only then did she turn towards the blond guy and braved a smile. "Where do we start?"
   
    "First come sit here." He pushed her into a seat in front of the mirror and clapped his hands, and his staffs came running with several clothes for her to try on.
   
    When she came out she was wearing a gown which was a cross between decent and hot. And a pair of designers heels. Her blond hair had been curled to bounce softly on her back. And shone brightly. Her brows tweezed, her lips painted. Her eyes emphasized in detail of smoky eyes.
   
    She felt she was on a parade as the two men stared at her.
   
    "Wow," Wesley shouted. "She really did change." Wesley who had never seen her in anything but her work clothes was easily impressed. But Leo standing there by the window. One hand in the pockets of his pants. Ran his eyes over her. His eyes gleaming with approval. "Just as I thought," he extended his hand, "Come."
   
    Then he crossed the remaining distance separating them and took her by the hand. Paige quivered at his touch and he turned a look over her. "You don't have to quiver in fear anytime I touch you my family would sniff that out in a second."
   
    Quiver in fear, you say? Paige almost laughed out loud, only if he knew.
   
    Once again, everything happened fast and Paige found herself sitting in his limousine. Leo opposite her.
   
    "What size do you wear?" He had assumed his control. If it was a jacket, she did say he was wearing it now.
   
    "Size 8, why?"
   
    "I have sent someone to buy you some clothes and some lingerie too. You will need them."
   
    Paige almost gaped at him. This is where she would be drawing the line. She might agree to let someone else pick her clothes, but not her lingerie.
   
    "I'll be taking mine from my apartment," she announced.
   
    "Ms Compton we don't have enough time for that."
   
    "Yes we do unless you don't want me as your fake fiancée again."
   
    For a moment he looked horrified she would actually go there, and then he conceded.
   
    Few minutes later he stood in her living room while she was in her bedroom packing this and that. And of course her lingerie. And a moment flash of inspiration, she packed in her swimsuit. It might come handy. She thought. Reaching for a piece of paper, she penned a message and dropped it for Naomi in her room.
   
    Paige came down carrying a heavy bag. When Leo saw her, his eyes rounded at the size. "What do you have there?" He was already stalking towards her.
   
    Shrugging, Paige said, "Everything I will need."
   
    "What's everything you will need." He collected her bag and to Paige's utter shock opened it. When he had asked for the bag she had thought he wanted to help her carry it, she should have known.
   
    He wouldn't ask for permission.
   
    "You can't do that," She said scrambling forward. He held it away from her.
   
    "What's this," he mumbled, bringing out cloth after cloth. "I told you I was going to buy you new clothes you don't need this."
   
    "I know I just wanted something of my own."
   
    "Well, you won't be needing it. My family will never believe we are really engaged if you go with those. Especially my sister."
   
    "Why, because they are cheap?"
   
    "Not that. Well, partially. Nobody is going to believe I am dating you if you are dressed like that and besides my family is very rich and everyone is going to be dressed up if you don't want to look out of place I suggest you leave that behind."
   
    As he was saying this, he was still removing things from her bag. An erotica book fell out, another one fell out. Paige could imagine him shaking his head at the titles. Paige saw his hand going to where her lingerie was placed, and she quickly put her hand and snatched it out before he did. Leo only saw a flash of red, and it was gone, hidden behind her back. An embarrassed blush on her face.
   
    Leo chuckled. "You don't have to hide that. I have bought many of those for women I know."
   
    "Well, you won't be buying one for me."
   
    He shook his head and turned back to the task at hand. At last when he was done what she had left was her documents, her beauty products and her lingerie.
   
    Paige pouted. He had even changed her travelling bag for a smaller one. What a waste.  And his mood had changed into a nasty one because he was hurrying her again.