I roll my eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t fall out of my head. “Wow, sexist much?”
Liam smiles. “No one will recognize me. I’m not on the news like my brother. The only time they ever showed my face was when I took over as CEO. Even then, it was a blip.”
I cock an eyebrow, refusing to let him get too smug. “Your last name is recognizable, Valeur. One Google search, and it’s game over, even for those who’ve been living under a rock.”
Mia jumps in. “First names only, people. That’s the rule at The Red Door. No last names, no professions. Just a clean slate.”
Liam shoots me a look that sets my heart racing. “See? Perfect. It’s just you, me, and the hunt. No crutches to rely on. Think you can handle that?”
I narrow my eyes, a spark of competitiveness firing through me. “Oh, I can handle it. The question is, can you? Or are you afraid I’ll outmatch you?”
Liam leans back. “Afraid? Not in the slightest. In fact, I’m looking forward to showing you what happens when I don’t have to play the billionaire card. I can be very persuasive.”
I can’t help the heat that rushes to my cheeks, but I don’t back down. “You talk a big game, Mr. Valeur. Let’s see if you can back it up.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” he says, his voice dropping to a suggestive murmur, “I always finish what I start.”
Why do I feel like I’ve just made a deal with the devil?
A very attractive devil.
No! Stop it, Brain!
“Alright, Valeur,” I say, crossing my arms. “If we’re doing this, we need to set some ground rules. Make it a fair fight.”
He raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’m all ears, Dr. James. What did you have in mind?”
“First,” I begin, ticking off points on my fingers, “no flashing your platinum card or promising private jet rides in exchange for a date.”
He nods. “We already agreed on that. And you can’t use your academic connections or promise lab tours to impress your dates.”
“Ha, ha.” I feign a chuckle. “Second, we can’t tell our dates about this bet. This isn’t some game show where they’re competing for a prize.”
Liam’s smirk widens. “Agreed. Wouldn’t want them to think we’re not interested in their charms.”
I roll my eyes but continue. “Third, no paying for dates orhiring escorts. We’re testing our actual dating skills here, not our ability to open a wallet.”
“Obviously,” Liam scoffs. “I don’t need to pay for company, Dr. James.”
“Fourth,” I press on, ignoring his jab, “we have to find dates outside our usual social circles. No inviting someone you already know or have connections with.”
Liam nods, his eyes never leaving mine. “Anything else?”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the final, most crucial term. “The loser has to do one thing the winner asks. No questions asked.”
His eyes widen, a glint of intrigue sparking in their blue depths. “Interesting. Any limits on this...request?”
“Within reason and legal bounds, of course,” I clarify, realizing the potential danger of such an open-ended clause. But I could make him pay for my research. Help Mia. Invest in my lab without worrying about rent. It’s a dream.
“Of course,” he echoes, his voice low.
“Are you two sure about this?” Mia, who’s been watching our exchange like a spectator at a tennis match, finally speaks up. “It seems risky.”
I catch my reflection in one of the lab’s glass cabinets. My hair is a mess, my clothes are more than damp, and there are dark circles under my eyes from too many late nights in the lab. But there’s something else there too. A spark that I haven’t seen in a long time.
I turn to her, seeing the concern in her eyes. But I’m too far in now to back down. “I’m sure,” I say, my voice firm despite the butterflies in my stomach.
Liam extends his hand, his eyes challenging me. “Do we have a deal, Dr. James?”
