The CEO's Romantic Wager

Chapter Five: An Exciting Arrangement

Ajax watched his assistant’s face, noting the way his words made her tense, a flicker of fear flashing across her eyes.

Wait, did she think he was about to fire her or something to that effect?

For a moment, the thought amused him, given how her innocent curiosity about his life had left him shaken to the point of reconsidering everything that he’d gotten himself involved in in the past few days.

Hell, he’d even been ready to end the bet and walk away—hand over his wonderful office to Connor and find someone else to play his “girlfriend” for the holidays. Yes, that was how far it had gotten, because as much as Ajax had thought this plan would be a simple, easy feat, Jayla Beckett was proving everything but easy.

But the weekend had changed things.

His parents had paid him an unexpected visit, almost walking in on his fling of the night too in the process, and Ajax wasn’t going to lie, but the entire ordeal had shaken him up a bit.

A part of him had been hoping that his parents were just calling his bluff, hoping that their empty threat would make him panic and find a serious relationship like they’d been dreaming of all along, but they actually meant business.

His father, Timothy Creed, had already drafted documents to make Simon CEO by the end of the year, and while Ajax wanted to beat his chest and act like his wealth was not as a result of the family business, that was not actually the case.

The fear of losing everything had made the decision for him, pushing him to swallow his pride and reach out to Jayla, which brings us to now.

“Mr. Creed?” Jayla’s voice cut through the CEO’s raging thoughts, grounding him in the present. “You were coming clean?” She urged impatiently, her expression unwavering as she waited for him to continue. It was clear that she wasn’t going to let him off easily, and frankly speaking, Ajax admired her for that.

The woman was strong-willed and determined—two things he usually found aggravating in anyone who worked under him, yet somehow, they worked on her.

“Look, Ms. Beckett,” he started, exhaling deeply as he leaned against her desk, “You’ve been here for a few years now, and so you know me… and you know that I haven’t exactly led the best life when it comes to my relationships. The truth is, my parents have been on my back to settle down, to prove that I’m not just the 'reckless playboy' they think I am. They’ve given me an ultimatum. Either I show them I’ve matured and have my life together, or I risk them transferring the company to my brother.”

“Okayyy… and… how exactly do they want you to show this?” Jayla asked him curiously, fearfully.

She didn’t know why, but she had a feeling that the answer to that was kind of tied to her.

“Well, they want me in a relationship by end of year… and that’s where you come in, Ms. Beckett.” He hit her with the news. “You see, I… I need someone who can help me convince them that I’m in a stable, serious relationship. Someone smart, capable, and grounded—someone who they’d believe I’d be serious about.”

“So, you want to lie to them.” She said disapprovingly, narrowing her eyes at him.

Why had he thought coming clean was a good idea again?

“Ms. Beckett, the way I see it, that’s what they get for forcing my hand. They leave me with no other choice. Tell me, why does who I date or don’t date have to be a criterion for me maintaining my position, when the whole world knows how good I am at said job?”

She didn’t have an answer to that.

And Ajax Creed took that as a sign of hope.

He steeled himself, preparing to deliver his closing speech. “Look, I’d be lying if I said you weren’t the first person who came to mind, Ms. Beckett. You’re perfect for the job, given our proximity to each other in terms of work. I really wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t need your help.”

Jayla let out a sharp laugh, one that said she was still more in shock than amused at his confession. “So, you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend to convince your parents?”

He nodded, meeting her eyes directly. “Yes. I know it’s asking a lot, and I know I’ve been a bit… inconsistent with you,” he admitted easily. “It’s just, it has been bugging me for a while now, and I thought that I could pull it off on my own just by finding someone other than you to make it work. I realize now that it would be impossible to look even remotely genuine with anyone else. But with you, Ms. Beckett, I actually have a shot at fooling them.”

Jayla blinked; her mouth suddenly dry as she tried to absorb what he was saying.

A part of her was flattered, oddly enough, but mostly she was just stunned by the sheer audacity.

To think that he was so presumptuous that he hadn’t even stopped to think if she had a boyfriend or if she was in a relationship… and he had just jumped straight into asking her this very weird request. I mean, she wasn’t in a relationship, but it still kinda stung.

“So wait… let me get this straight, Mr. Creed,” she said slowly, trying to keep the bite out of her tone. “You want me to fake being your girlfriend—after ignoring me for a week, might I add—and you think I’ll just go along with it, just because you say so?”

Ajax winced, but he didn’t back down. “I know I messed up, and you have every right to be annoyed. But, Ms. Beckett… Jayla…” He paused, his gaze softening. “I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t genuinely believe you were the only one who could make this work.”

It was the first time he had called her by her first name like that… and for some reason, it felt weird… almost intimate.

Jayla’s arms remained crossed, but Ajax caught the faintest shift in her stance, almost as if she was considering it, even if just a little.

“What’s in it for me?” She asked transactionally, and where it might have disappointed any other man, Ajax found his admiration for her grow some more even as relief flickered in his grey eyes.

“I know it’s a lot to ask, which is why I’m willing to compensate you handsomely for your time and effort. Ten thousand dollars for the entire period.” He told her. “You’d be free to walk away anytime, but at least by New Year’s, my parents should be convinced enough that we can end the act, and break up. It would give me just enough time to tear my assets away from the company name so that the next time they come up to me with this nonsense, I can outrightly tell them no.”

Jayla tilted her head, a small, skeptical smile playing on her lips. “So… no strings attached? No hidden clauses where I’m stuck as your pretend girlfriend forever? I read a lot of w*****d, just so you know.”

Ajax chuckled, sensing a tiny c***k in her guarded demeanor. “No strings at all, Ms. Beckett. Just until my parents are satisfied that I’m serious.”

Jayla bit her lip, surprised that she was considering the proposition.

But wouldn’t you if you were in her shoes?

Ten thousand dollars sure was a lot of money... one that could go a long way in easing up her finances until she got the job of her dreams actually.

Why was she even hesitating?

Ajax, afraid that he was losing her with her silence, tried to appeal to Jayla’s rational side. He leaned forward with a cool, composed expression. “Think carefully about it, Jayla… this is the easiest money you could ever make. I mean, think of all the reasons why you and I could work. I am in no way attracted to you, and I know for certain that the feeling is mutual,” he said firmly, meaning every word.

Ouch.

I mean, it was the truth, but hearing a handsome man boldly tell you to your face that he was in no way attracted to you hurt just a little bit, and while Jayla kept her expression neutral, something shifted inside her at the staunch way he said it.

A weird pang fluttered in her chest at his words, but it was gone before she could dwell on it.

“Alright, Mr. Creed,” she continued, a challenging glint sneaking up in her coffee-colored eyes. “If you’re truly serious about this, you’ll need to make it worth my while. Double the offer amount.”

Ajax gritted his teeth, but he could see there was no point in arguing with her. “Fine, consider it done,” he muttered.

Jayla’s eyes lit up in victory, but she wasn’t done.

“And one more thing,” she added, a devious smile creeping onto her lips as she inched closer to him. “I really meant what I said about the Christmas spirit thing, Mr. Creed, and I don’t care if you’re going to freak out and ignore me again as a result of it. If you want me to agree to this, you’ll have to let me work a little holiday magic on you in the process.”

He arched an eyebrow, letting out a frustrated sigh as he clenched his jaw. “Holiday magic, Ms. Beckett?”

He was already freaking out if his strained voice was any indication, but like she said, Jayla didn’t care.

“You heard me.” She shrugged, her smile widening. “The way I see it, Mr. Creed, you need me more than I need you right now.” She blinked up at him innocently, “And if there was someone else you thought could pull this off and look convincing enough for your parents, you wouldn’t be here begging me to help you out, just as you had rightly pointed out.”

Ajax stared at her, torn between frustration and begrudging admiration.

God, she was stubborn, maybe even a little reckless, but she was also undeniably right.

She really knew her value in this game, and she wasn’t about to settle for anything less than her own terms. As a businessman, he admired the trait… as a desperate man who hated Christmas, though... not so much.

Ajax knew he should have added the confession about the bet while he was still on the topic of truths, but that was going to have to wait another day. He was so close to getting her to say yes to his insane arrangement. Who knew what telling her about that was going to do?

“So, what do you say?” she prodded eagerly, “Come on. Say yes, pleaseeeeee.”

Ajax let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his stubble beard. Before he could even register it, the words were already slipping out, “Alright, fine, Ms. Beckett. You win.”

God, he was so going to regret this.

The instant the words left his mouth, Jayla let out an excited squeal, surprising them both as she launched forward, wrapping her arms around him in a sudden hug, too thrilled at her victory against her infuriating boss to even consider the inappropriateness of hugging him.

She pulled back, eyes shining, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

“You and I are going to have so much fun together this holiday season, Mr. Creed,” she said, grinning.

Her grin was contagious, and Ajax found himself returning it even as he shook his head, half in disbelief, half in amusement.

“Somehow, Ms. Beckett, I think your idea of ‘fun’ and mine might be very different.”