A TEMPTING ARRANGEMENT

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Archer stares at Andrea jaw slacked. He couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. When did he agree to marry her? He knew he had a soft spot for Andrea, but this was taking things too far. Even for him.

“Why?” he asks her. He nervously runs his fingers through his dark hair.

Just how much did he drink the night before?

Andrea smiles sweetly. “Archie, you promised you’d marry me. remember the pact we made as kids?” she asks him.

Archer narrows his eyes on her. Andrea has always been strong willed, stubborn and an overall nutcase, but he’d always reel her in before she went too far. How much did he drink for her to talk him into agreeing to a silly pact they made as kids.

Archer didn’t lie to himself, he’d dreamed of marrying Andrea for years, but he knew she wasn’t marrying because she loved him, she was going to use him to get back at her ex. She’s hurt and angry.

He had to talk her out of burning down Tate’s hotel room last night.

“I’m going to get ready; I have to meet with Joey…” Archer gets up and walks over to the bathroom.

Andrea stops him. “Please Arch…” She begs.

They were standing inches apart. Andrea green eyes staring right into his soul.

Archer takes a step back swallowing the lump in his throat. “I’m sorry Andrea… I can’t, I just can’t…” He turns away from Andrea. He didn’t feel right about marrying Andrea knowing he’d always have the hope of her ever loving him.

“Why not? Is it because I’m not your type? You know, I have no idea who you’re into. Or if you even like girls…” Archer cuts her off.

“It’s not that Andrea. God it’s not. Marriage is something sacred. People marry because they’re in love. Not because you want to get back at your ex. I will not make a mockery out of it.” he shakes his head, running his fingers through his hair again.

“Archer do you really…” Andrea pauses.

Archer shakes his head again. “You know I would do anything for you, you know this. But I can’t in good faith do this…”

Andrea stares at Archer for a long moment. “What’s going on with you? Last night you couldn’t wait to marry me. What…” Andrea’s words die down as she put the pieces together. “Archer…” she sighs.

“No. Don’t.” he glares at her. He walks off the ensuite this time Andrea doesn’t stop him.

Andrea sits down on the bed giving thought to her plan. Last night her and Archer came up with the perfect plan, they were going to get married, and she was going to make Tate pay for what he did to her.

She was so excited to see him pay for the s**t he put her through. But she never imagined Archer would have feelings for someone or be in a relationship. Why didn’t he tell her? She wondered who she was…

For Archer to like her, she must be an amazing woman.

She was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t even hear Archer return.

“Okay… I’ll do it…” Archer says startling her.

============

“You can’t be serious…” Joey looks between the two as if they’d last their damn marbles. Joey’s dark brown eyes wide and his blonde mop hanging over his eyes, Andrea nearly laughed out.

Joey was tall lanky and reminded her of Tate, though Tate had these ice blue eyes that sometimes felt cold and distant most of the time.

“Joey…” Archer warned, his Irish accent was faint at times, but you could hear it most when he was emotional.

Joey shakes his head. “This is a bad idea. The two of you have to be insane. She’s set to marry Andrews in two months, you have to believe me when I say it’s a bad idea. The two of you can’t be serious about this…” he nearly screamed out when they informed him, they were getting married later today and there was no talking them out of it. He could see Andrea doing it but not Archer. He’d known Archer his whole life. He also knew Archer had been in love with Andrea all that time.

Archer glared at Joey. Joey sighed. This was going to be a nightmare. Archer would give up his entire life to help Andrea. There was no way he would be able to talk him out of it. Why Archer agreed to this was beyond him, he couldn’t understand it. He knew Andea didn’t love him.

Just yesterday she was talking about her upcoming nuptials. Now she was planning a wedding to another man.

Andrea’s confidence was slipping, but she’s never felt sure of anything in her life. She didn’t know why, but she wanted this. She wanted this with Archer. She knew Archer would never cheat or hurt her the way Tate did.

Tate had no idea what was coming to him. Once she had it all straightened out, she was going to make Tate and Lacy pay for what they did to her. Marrying the man Tate hated most in this world was selfish she knew that. She couldn’t stop herself. She needed to move on from the man who not only betrayed her trust but the man who planned to use her.

Joey looked at Andrea for answers. “What happened with Tate?” he asks her.

“Joey…” Archer sent him low warning.

Andrea’s face hardens when she remembers what scum did to her. “Soon to be ex... As soon as I get everything those…” she stops herself before she could say anything bad about those two. She didn’t want to even think about them now. She was going to move on from them.

Archer watched Andrea Beckett, daughter to one of the most famous directors in America. He’d worked with her father on many projects. Andre Beckett was like a second father to him. His parents died not long after he and Rebecca finished high school. The Beckett’s took them in and treated them as their own still to this day.

Andre never approved of Tate; he always said the boy didn’t deserve his little girl. Tate took advantage of Andrea’s fame. He owned the modelling agency Andrea worked for. Archer always told Andrea she should leave the agency, but she was so blindly in love she didn’t see Tate’s true nature. Not until it was too late. He’d hurt her. Andrea has always been strong and has always had a mind of her own, she handled her own business since a young age. She didn’t like other people fighting her battles.

Joey stared at his boss in disbelief. This was going to be a huge mistake. Archer was going to fall in love with Andrea, he was going to be heartbroken when she asks for a divorce. Andrea always thought of herself. She’d used Archer over the years, it’s not that he didn’t like her, he just hated how she strung his friend along.

Joey let out another sigh before chucking back his entire glass of wine.

He looked at Archer. He’d have to tell Rebecca about this. Rebecca was Archer’s twin sister, and his beautiful wife. They’d gotten married right out of high school. He’d gone on to work at Archer, as Archer’s assistant and she as an actress at Archer’s entertainment company.

Andrea stared at Joey for a few seconds. She could only imagine what he was thinking. He was always looking out for Archer; she knew he thought she was a bad influence on Archer. She didn’t blame him.

She was out of control at times. Her father told her that all the time. Where her mother would tell her she needed to reign in or if she took things too far, Archer would always be there to fix her mistakes. Maybe she was a bad influence on Archer.

Andrea felt like her life was slowly changing, marrying Archer would change her life forever. She promised Archer she’d give their marriage a real old try. It was his only condition. Archer didn’t believe in divorce. She’d try for him. Archer was her Arch. Didn’t believe in love anymore. She believed she and Archer would be reasonable. She did love Archer, she grew up with Archer, he was one of the only men she trusted in this world, she knew she was going to do everything her power to make this marriage work, she hadn’t even asked his opinion or if he already had a woman in his heart. For as long as she’s known Archer, she’s never seen him with a girl. He’d never had a scandal. Archer hasn’t had a single scandal.

She knew it was crazy. But seeing Tate and Lacy betray not only her trust, but to hurt her in a way she’s never been hurt before. It f****d with her head just thinking about it.

Andrea knew Archer didn’t need her fame or any way of using her, they were in two different fields, he had his own company for God’s sake. He would never use her; he would never betray her.

Archer might never love her or even desire her… Their match was practical, they would build on it. They were perfect for one another. They knew in the ins and outs of one another. It was perfect.

She wasn’t going to use Archer for her revenge, but she wasn’t going to keep it from him either. She was going to make Tate regret cheating on her for the rest of his life.

Marrying Archer was so she would never feel the betrayal she felt last night ever again.

Andrea and Archer quickly needed documentation and headed down to a courthouse, the couple walked out with their marriage license.

The two were quiet in Archer’s car. Joey turned on the radio, so it was so deafeningly silent in the car.

After Joey started the car and started driving back to Archer’s hotel Andrea turned to face him. “Thank you for marrying me. If there is anything you need from me all you have to do is, ask. I owe you big time. I know this.”

Archer shakes his head. She knew what that meant, he wasn’t going to ask anything of her.

“Though I have a few requests please…” she speaks up again.

Pulling on his tie Archer looks at her nodding for her to continue.

"Firstly, I would like to keep our marriage from the public for the time being… I have a few loose ends I need to take care of. Secondly, I know you might not remember everything from last night, but I plan to get those two back for what they did to me. I wasn’t going to let them get away with what they did to me.” Andrea couldn’t keep the anger from seeping through. “I promise I would cheat, or flirt with other men, like I promised you. I will give this a try...” she promises sincerely.

Archer catches on quickly. He nods with a slight smirk. “I will remain faithful as well. I promise not to involve myself unless you ask for my help… Do prepare a good show for me…” he adds. “Though our marriage can’t be quiet for long though. I do hope you clean up the mess in at least a year. I’ll announce our marriage in a year’s time…” he tells her.

"Thank you" Andrea nods. Feeling shy. She’s never felt this way in front of Archer before.

"I want you to move in with me. You can’t go back to the apartment you shared with him. I don’t like the idea of you spending more time with him now that you’re married to me.” Archer tells her.

Andrea nods. She was going to look for a new place anyway. And she trusted Archer with her life, he was there for her during one of the darkest times in her life. He just held her as she cried that fateful night.

Maybe Archer was her one true chance at happiness… If she deserved, it.

After the two were done discussing their future, Archer had Joey drop her back at the hotel, he booked her a room next to his at Glenlo Abbey.

Once she was gone Joey looked at Archer. “Should we head back to the office?” he asks.

Archer watching Andrea disappear into the hotel. “Have someone watch her and protect her. I have no idea what she’s planning and what she’s getting herself into.” he says before looking ahead.

As they drove off his phone rang.

“Mr. Reed a Mr. Andrews is here to see you.” Kayla Mitchell, his assistant says.

“Tell him I’m not available…” Archer didn’t know why Tate Andrews wanted to see him and he sure as hell didn’t care either.

“Okay sir.” She says.

“Where are Wes and London?” he asks.

“At the set. Do you want the address?” she asks.

“Send it to Joey…” Archer says before hanging up.

“Let’s head to the set…” Archer orders.

Joey nods. He’d worked for Archer for years. He and Archer went to school together, he was from Dublin and not Galway, but he soon fell in love with Rebecca Archer’s twin sister, they’ve been friends since they were little. He’d worked with Archer since he started his company.

This was the first time he’d even seen Archer smile. Andrea was the love of Archer’s life. What he wasn’t sure of was if Archer was the love of Andrea’s life. He didn’t expect Andrea to ask Archer to marry him, or that Archer would agree knowing she didn’t love him. He couldn’t figure out what Archer was thinking.