massive man offered his elbow, and we linked arms. To be honest, this was probably the fourth time we'd used the gay boyfriends ruse. So many men were obsessed with always appearing hyper masculine and straight that very few targets expected someone to pretend to be homosexual for gain. Especially a guy who looked like Blake. It was just one more aspect of life to choose from.
We strolled into the restaurant arm in arm. It was nice enough, but a little understated for my taste. If I was going to drop a couple hundred on a meal, I wanted the environment to reflect the opulent sort of lifestyle I was emulating. Maybe I was pretentious, but at least I was honest about it. It was one of the few things I actually was honest about.
The hostess didn’t even bat an eye at us, which I admired considering we both had at least a foot on her. Just a few minutes later, thanks to a nice-sized tip for a table of our choice, we were seated just a few spots over from Leticia, who was still alone. Apparently her cousin was still running on Bavarian time.
Perfect.
We ordered an appetizer and the appropriate midday drinks. For once, I actually let Blake enjoy the food for a couple minutes before I gave him the signal.
“Seriously?” he hissed, his mouth half full of the seafood quiche. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he sighed, putting his food down. “Bastard,” he muttered. Taking a deep breath, he raised his tone just enough to be slightly noticeable. “Honestly, babe, I don’t understand why you’re being so overly dramatic about it.”
“Overdramatic?” I shot back a hair louder. It was tricky to play the volume game. Escalate too soon, and people might catch that it was an act. Escalate too late, and our target wouldn’t be invested in the story.
And what did bored, rich women love more than a good drama? Especially a drama involving someone who wouldn't be trying to manipulate her romantically?
“It’s not fair that you can just dismiss all my feelings with a wave of your hand.”
“Then stop being so ridiculous. I can’t help how other people act at parties.”
“But you can help how you react!”
Now we were borderline shouting, and people’s heads were starting to turn. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Leticia had one perfectly maintained eyebrow raised in interest.
Perfect.
“Would it kill you to say, 'Hey, I’m taken?' Most people don’t even know we’re dating!”
“I’m not putting up with this.” Grabbing a few more quiche for good measure, Blake threw his napkin down and turned to storm out. I had to give props to him. He never did things halfway. “Get your paints and canvases out of my place. We’re done.”
Now, it was time for me to really sell it. I looked after him piteously, then sank my head into my hands. Here was where it really came down to chance. From what I could tell of my profile of the elite woman, she was relatively intelligent but prone to the sorts of flights of fancy that the rich often went on when they were bored. Hopefully, I had provided the perfect opportunity for her next distracting project.
“Are you alright, dear?”
Jackpot.
I looked up with tears in my eyes to see my mark standing beside my table, the perfect combination of concern and interest on her face. Of course, what Leticia didn’t know was that they were from vigorously rubbing my eyes while my head had been in my hands. Uaine taught me that particular trick when I hadn't been able to make myself cry on cue.
I'd flat-out refused to use my parents' deaths as a motivator.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. That was so tacky,” I blustered, wiping at my cheeks. “I’ll be fine.”
Without waiting for an invitation, she slid into the seat Blake had just abandoned. “I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but he certainly didn’t seem very concerned about your well-being. Did he kick you out? Do you have a place to stay?”
I composed myself slightly, but still kept that edge of dramatic sadness. “I
We strolled into the restaurant arm in arm. It was nice enough, but a little understated for my taste. If I was going to drop a couple hundred on a meal, I wanted the environment to reflect the opulent sort of lifestyle I was emulating. Maybe I was pretentious, but at least I was honest about it. It was one of the few things I actually was honest about.
The hostess didn’t even bat an eye at us, which I admired considering we both had at least a foot on her. Just a few minutes later, thanks to a nice-sized tip for a table of our choice, we were seated just a few spots over from Leticia, who was still alone. Apparently her cousin was still running on Bavarian time.
Perfect.
We ordered an appetizer and the appropriate midday drinks. For once, I actually let Blake enjoy the food for a couple minutes before I gave him the signal.
“Seriously?” he hissed, his mouth half full of the seafood quiche. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he sighed, putting his food down. “Bastard,” he muttered. Taking a deep breath, he raised his tone just enough to be slightly noticeable. “Honestly, babe, I don’t understand why you’re being so overly dramatic about it.”
“Overdramatic?” I shot back a hair louder. It was tricky to play the volume game. Escalate too soon, and people might catch that it was an act. Escalate too late, and our target wouldn’t be invested in the story.
And what did bored, rich women love more than a good drama? Especially a drama involving someone who wouldn't be trying to manipulate her romantically?
“It’s not fair that you can just dismiss all my feelings with a wave of your hand.”
“Then stop being so ridiculous. I can’t help how other people act at parties.”
“But you can help how you react!”
Now we were borderline shouting, and people’s heads were starting to turn. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Leticia had one perfectly maintained eyebrow raised in interest.
Perfect.
“Would it kill you to say, 'Hey, I’m taken?' Most people don’t even know we’re dating!”
“I’m not putting up with this.” Grabbing a few more quiche for good measure, Blake threw his napkin down and turned to storm out. I had to give props to him. He never did things halfway. “Get your paints and canvases out of my place. We’re done.”
Now, it was time for me to really sell it. I looked after him piteously, then sank my head into my hands. Here was where it really came down to chance. From what I could tell of my profile of the elite woman, she was relatively intelligent but prone to the sorts of flights of fancy that the rich often went on when they were bored. Hopefully, I had provided the perfect opportunity for her next distracting project.
“Are you alright, dear?”
Jackpot.
I looked up with tears in my eyes to see my mark standing beside my table, the perfect combination of concern and interest on her face. Of course, what Leticia didn’t know was that they were from vigorously rubbing my eyes while my head had been in my hands. Uaine taught me that particular trick when I hadn't been able to make myself cry on cue.
I'd flat-out refused to use my parents' deaths as a motivator.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. That was so tacky,” I blustered, wiping at my cheeks. “I’ll be fine.”
Without waiting for an invitation, she slid into the seat Blake had just abandoned. “I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but he certainly didn’t seem very concerned about your well-being. Did he kick you out? Do you have a place to stay?”
I composed myself slightly, but still kept that edge of dramatic sadness. “I
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