"Oh, sorry. Ryder, this is my cousin, Adam. And these are my friends John and Dannie."

It's been ages since I last dated someone new, I completely forgot about the necessity of introductions.

Ryder politely shook their hands. Dannie was quite ecstatic to shake his hand but I could tell the squeeze that Adam gave Ryder was a warning of sorts; probably some macho 'big brother' thing. I raised a brow at Adam. He merely nodded at me coolly.

Finally, we said goodbye to them. Ryder took my bag and led me outside towards a sports car and immediately, my breath caught in my throat.

Now, I don't know much about cars but I know an expensive, flashy car when I see one.

He opened the passenger door for me.

"Mademoiselle?"

I smiled at him nervously and then I got into his car. He put my bag in the trunk and then he went around the car and sat beside me on the driver's seat.

"You're staying at the resort tonight right?"

I looked at him. "You're not coming with me?"

"Only if you'd like me to."

"If you left, that would make this all sound fake, right? Although it is fake. But... they don't know that."

"Yeah. They don't." He smiled and I had to keep my breathing under control.

He started to drive. It was going to be a long one to the resort where the reception is going to be.

"What... car is this?" I asked him.

He laughed. "What does the ex-fiance drive?"

"A Porsche Boxster."

He nodded. "Don't worry. If your ex knows about cars, he knows what this car is worth."

"Yeah, he has a thing for expensive cars. But what is it? Just in case somebody at the party asks what car my..." I trailed off, not exactly sure what to call him.

"Your boyfriend for now, your fiance by tonight." He supplied with a grin on his face.

I swallowed hard, somehow, even I couldn't believe that I can score a guy like this.

"Okay. Just in case somebody asks me what car you drive."

"It's an SLR McLaren." He said.

"Mental note taken." I breathed.

"What more do I need to know about you? Brothers or sisters?"

I shook my head. "Geena was the closest thing I had to a sister. And she tore my world apart. She's Adam's half-sister. Adam isn't actually related to me by blood but we grew up together. He's a lawyer, which works great for him since he's probably the most tactless person I know. Says what's on his mind even though it hurts. He was the only one who dropped hints on me that something's happening behind my back. At first I thought he just wanted to make me miserable. I didn't listen. So when the shit hit the fan, he was the only person I trusted. He took me in."

"He sounds like a good guy." Ryder whispered.

I nodded. "I only realized that now. In fact, he's the one writing you the checks."

Ryder just raised a brow at me and then stared ahead.

"Will ten grand cover all... your expenses? I mean, you offered to rent out a room for us. And this car seemed more expensive than what I asked you to rent..."

He reached out for my hand and squeezed it.

"Sshhh..." He said. "Relax, love. Let's not talk about it. I got it all under control."

"And the ring?"

He chuckled. He surprised me by pulling my hand and brushing his lips against my fingers.

"You won't see the ring until tonight." He said. "Pretend you don't even know about it."

I laughed. "Alright."

He intertwined our fingers and it surprised me how relaxed he was. Like he's known me for a long time.

"You're nervous." He said, squeezing my hand. "You need to lighten up a little bit. Remember, you're on a mission. And you need to accomplish it with flying colors."

I leaned back on my seat and tried to relax a little. But inside, my heart was hammering wildly against my chest. Whether it's because I'll be seeing the two people who hurt me the most or because of the tingle that Ryder's hands are sending down my spine, I'm not sure.

"Just give me a recap." He said. "I'm supposed to act in love with you. I can't get my hands off you and I only have eyes for you in the whole room."

I nodded. "Pretty much."

"Okay, so how did we meet?"

I froze on my seat. I realized that I had spent so much time making sure that Ryder had the perfect cover that I forgot that I must also have the perfect love story for us.

"God! I forgot that!"

"Hmmm... how about at the bar. Oil Rig. You're there a lot, aren't you?"

"Yeah I am."

"Okay, so we met through your friend John. He introduced us and I fell in love with you at first sight."

"Wow! You believe in that?"

He stared over at me under those pitch dark shades and even though I couldn't see his eyes, I could feel a blush creep over my face.

"Hey, we're going for the rebound story of the year, why not go the extra mile?"

I giggled. "I admire your imagination. When did we meet?"

"Two months ago. But you'd lost your faith in love then. I was pretty persistent. Let's say I sent a dozen roses to your apartment for a month until I finally got you to go out with me, and I hadn't let you go ever since."

"Have I met your parents?"

He shook his head. "But you do speak to my mom on the phone a lot."

"Where are they?"

"They're in Manhattan. I'm just in town for my latest business venture."

"Where do you live in Malibu?"

"Let's say a few blocks from Adam." He replied.

I laughed. "Okay, I'll say it's the three story house with the huge wrap-around deck facing the beach."

He smiled. "Yeah. It could be that house."

"God, I hope no one in the party would know the owner of that house! Otherwise, we're doomed."

He smiled again. "The city's big enough. You have two to zero percent chances of running into the house owner there to nullify our story."

"Have we slept together?" I asked, laughing.

He squeezed my hand. "Of course! I can't get enough of you."

I laughed. "My ex is going to eat his heart out if he hears that!"

"Why? Was he possessive of you?"

I shrugged. "Let's just say that he also didn't get enough of me."

Ryder stared over at me, as if asking me to elaborate. I smiled and winked at him.

"Maybe that's why he cheated on me." I said rolling my eyes.

"He must be a loser then." He said.

"Why did you say that?"

"Because if I had you, I wouldn't think about touching anyone else."

I forgot to breathe right that instant. When I finally recovered, I forced a laugh. "Right. Keep that frame of mind. You need it to make it all real."

"Not a difficult job, love." He murmured.

"I'm twenty-eight years old, by the way." I said.

He smiled. "I'm two years your senior."

"I'm jobless right now. But I'm looking."

He shook his head. "Why not say you're looking to put up your own business?"

"Me? Put up my own business?"

"Yeah. With me in your life, I have influenced your entrepreneurial skills."

"Wow! It'd be awesome if that were true!"

"Why not? Do you want to be an employee all your life? You've got the skills, the know-how, the contacts, and even the portfolio."

"But I don't have the capital."

"Ah-ah-ah... Are you forgetting? Your rich boyfriend invests here and there. Why can't he invest on you?"