Chapter 4. I’ll Pay Whatever It Takes

People who knew Dave would never have expected him to wear such plain clothes and sit in a modest coffee shop, facing a woman who seemed completely out of place in such an environment.

Such an idea seemed impossible!

“It’s nice to meet you. What’s your name?” Bianca asked, trying to smile despite feeling nervous.

Dave felt relieved that she didn’t recognize him.

“I’m Evans,” he said, only giving his last name.

Bianca figured he didn’t want to share his full name, which was fine with her, so she didn’t ask further.

“Mr. Evans, what drink would you like?” she asked.

“An Americano, please.”

“Sure.”

Bianca smiled and signaled the waiter.

Dave took the chance to study her features: a smooth forehead, a straight nose, rosy lips, and a slender neck. There was a small red mark at the base of her neck, like a flower in bloom.

Memories of their night together flooded back, making him gulp nervously. He tugged at his collar, feeling short of breath.

When Bianca turned back to him after ordering, she got straight to the point.

“Mr. Evans, your appearance fits what I’m looking for. Now, please name your price?”

Name his price?

Remembering the small amount of money she left on the bedside table, Dave chuckled.

“Let’s talk about the job details first.”

“Of course,” Bianca instantly cut in, sitting up straight. She explained, “I need you to be my boyfriend at my engagement party next weekend.”

As she saw the handsome man’s expression change from being intrigued to confused, Bianca realized she had said something contradictory. She quickly added, “You see, I recently found out my fiancé is cheating on me. But I have no proof, and my dad doesn’t believe me. He’s making me marry the guy, so I had to post that ad. Long story short, your job is to ruin the engagement party.”

Dave looked surprised.

Dave never imagined that this woman needed a fake boyfriend to sabotage her own engagement party.

Since the man remained silent, Bianca thought he might not want the job. She tried to convince him, saying, “I know it’s a tough task, and I’m willing to pay you well. How about this? I’ll pay double your usual rate.”

Bianca believed finding a man as handsome as him was rare, and she assumed he needed the money if he was applying for this job. So, she offered a tempting reward.

Finally, Dave looked up, and their eyes met, making Bianca feel uneasy.

Unable to bear it, she pretended to drink water, avoiding his gaze.

But from the corner of her eye, Bianca noticed the man was still looking at her.

It reminded her of the man from the hotel that night.

Bianca shook her head. ‘No, it couldn’t be.’ The world was huge. How could the stranger from that night have seen her ad?

‘The chances of that were like winning the lottery,’ she thought.

Just then, the waiter brought their coffee.

To ease the tension, Bianca took a sip of her coffee, and Dave did the same.

“All right. I’m in,” Dave said suddenly.

As soon as Dave set his cup down, he spoke up, his deep, captivating voice catching Bianca off guard.

“Mr. Evans, did I hear you right?” Bianca asked, surprised.

Dave nodded subtly.

He had chosen to keep his identity a secret and go along with her plan until he understood her true intentions.

“Well, that’s great! Don’t worry. I’ll pay whatever it takes!” Bianca said generously, smiling at him with excitement.

“What exactly do you need me to do?” Dave asked, slightly frowning.

Bianca looked him up and down carefully, then slowly narrowed her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ll get you some better clothes tomorrow,” Bianca offered, beaming at him.

Dave glanced at his casual attire, his expression darkening. ‘Did she think he looked too poor to be with her?’

Bianca, however, didn’t notice the change in Dave’s expression. She kept going enthusiastically, “You already look great, but I want my ‘boyfriend’ to look incredibly wealthy and stunning. That way, he’ll outshine everyone at the engagement party, including my awful fiancé. So, you’ll need to wear clothes that fit this image. But don’t worry! I’ll cover the cost, and you can keep the clothes afterward.”

Dave stopped fiddling with the coffee cup in his hands.

He had never let a woman pay for him before.

“Since the clothes are for me, I’ll pay for them,” he offered.

“No, no, I insist. You’re doing me a huge favor.”

“But-”

“No arguments! I’m calling the shots now, so you better listen to me.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Dave’s eyes, and his gaze toward Bianca shifted.

They chatted a bit longer before Bianca checked her watch and said, “Mr. Evans, it’s getting late. I should head out. I’ll see you tomorrow at the mall, alright?”

Dave nodded in agreement. With that, Bianca stood up and left.

Dave waited a moment before departing the cafe himself.

Suddenly, a sleek, limited edition gray Bugatti car pulled up in front of him.

Dave’s assistant, Zane Miller, quickly stepped out and opened the door for him.

“Mr. Evans, I noticed the lady left, so I came to pick you up.”

Without a word, Dave handed his jacket to Zane, got into the car, and settled in.

Zane took the driver’s seat and handed Dave a paper bag. Inside was a custom-tailored suit.

Glancing at the worn-out jacket Dave had just taken off, Zane sighed quietly. The jacket didn’t seem to match his boss’s style at all.

“Mr. Evans, I think we should get rid of this jacket.”

But just as Zane was about to step out of the car with the jacket, a cold voice halted him.

“Keep it.”

“What for?”

“I’ll need it tomorrow.”

Zane was too surprised to react. With his boss having so many luxury clothes to choose from, why would he opt to wear this cheap jacket?

Shaking his head in bewilderment, Zane couldn’t understand his boss’s decision. ‘He must be out of his mind!’

That evening, Bianca texted him to confirm the time of their appointment the following day. After sending the message, she tucked herself into bed and drifted off to sleep.

She arrived at the designated mall at exactly three o’clock the next day.

This was one of the city’s top-notch shopping destinations, boasting a collection of renowned international designer brands.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Evans,” Bianca greeted Dave as she saw him waiting at the main entrance. His hands were tucked in his pockets, and he was clad in the same jacket he wore the day before.