The Billionaire’s Marriage Of Deception

“Well it is.”

“Cool.”

“Anyway, I was married once, for five days to a fellow agent.”

“Why?” Amanda tried to school the jab of jealousy that ran through her.

“We needed a legit marriage ceremony for a job.”
“Oh.”

“Anyway, other than that, I was in Hanna high school graduated with 4.0 GPA, attended Columbia U; played football in college.”

“Oh,” Amanda said raising her eyebrows to show that she was impressed.

“Got recruited straight out of school.”

“That’s great.”

“Now you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Quid pro quo lady. I showed you mine, now show me yours.”

Amanda sighed, “My dad was super strict and super into not being average. He got into the hair weave business on the ground floor when it was still a new thing. He’d dabbled in other business ventures before that which were moderately successful. But the weave business was just crazy successful, crazy popular. We got the West Coast on lock before anyone else really realized the potential of hair extensions. Growing up, all I wanted to do was be worthy to succeed him.”

Amanda broke off at that point, swallowing hard.

“What happened?” Michael asked gently.

“Car accident. They were coming home from some stupid cocktail party. Got hit by a truck; the driver was falling asleep.”

“I’m sorry.”

Amanda shrugged, “You get used to it. One day it’s fresh grief. Then you go long periods without thinking about it.  Then it’s fresh again.”

“Are you alone now. Are there no brothers? Sisters?”

“Just me.”

Michael reached out and covered her hand with his. She looked down at their linked hands; honey under chocolate..and then she slowly retrieved hers.

“I told you about Calvin? How he lied to me? Made me think I wasn’t alone anymore? And then I found out it was all a lie?”

“I’m not Calvin.”

“No. You better not be.”

“I’m not.”

Amanda stared long and hard at him, “I hope not. Because I have something to ask you.”

“Hit me.”

“Your story about being married for five days gave me the idea. The media knew I was getting married. It was a huge deal and Calvin and I were supposed to be the new Jay Z and Beyonce; power couple extraordinaire. For the public to know that Calvin bilked me would not be good for business. It wouldn’t be good for the company; plus Calvin seems to have some blackmail tendencies and he’s been threatening to spread rumors about why we didn’t go through with the wedding. I need to make a pre-emptive strike. Make his threat empty.”

“And how do you want to do that?”

“By marrying someone else; changing the narrative – giving the people a new distraction. You’re handsome. Mysterious. And I like you; I like having s*x with you. I think you like having s*x with me. We could make it work.”

“Is that the only reason Amanda; that I’m handsome and mysterious?”

Amanda looked down and then back up at him, “Being really hot isn’t enough?”

Michael took a step toward her, “Not in this case.”

“What is it that you want from me?”

“Everything,” Michael said looking her straight in the eye.

Amanda returned his look, not sure where to go from here.

“I don’t trust that fast, or that easily.”

“I know. And I can give you time; if you promise to try.”

Amanda nodded, “Deal.”

“Shall we seal it with a kiss?” Michael asked with a smile.

“Yes please,” Amanda replied coming closer.

*****

Michael brought the tips of their noses together, breathing through his mouth and he could almost taste Amanda’s breath on his tongue when he inhaled. His face was too close to Amanda’s to focus, but Amanda was blinking rapidly now—quick fluttering movements completely opposed to the static press of their noses, of their groins—and then she placed a hand on Michael’s back and Michael ground down slowly, deliberately against Amanda.

Michael swallowed audibly and brought his lips down to Amanda’s at the same time that Amanda lifted to meet him. He opened his mouth, and felt Amanda lick inside in soft, quick motions and then they were kissing for real and he was rutting against Amanda and tangling his fingers in her long curly hair.

Michael pulled back for just a second and Amanda said, very quietly, “Didn’t think you’d . . . y’know this . . . ” and it felt like a warm gust of air against Michael’s lips.

He groaned deep in his throat as he gathered her close. Amanda surrendered to the emotion for once, letting the feel of his hardness and the sensation of having him in her mouth overtake her with all its attendant emotions. She was floating right now, and it felt good. It felt very good.