"No." She tapped her foot. "Look, Piero—"
"You're the only one that calls me that. Just call me Peter."
"I’ve worked for you for a long time," she said, completely ignoring me. "And you didn't want to help me at all earlier, so why are you here?"
I sighed. I knew winning Abigail over was going to be hard. She was one of the few people who didn't mind standing up to me, especially when she was pissed. I pulled an envelope out of my pocket and handed it to her.
"I have a job for you. If you do it, then that's just a part of what I'm willing to pay you."
Abby's anger changed to confusion. She opened the envelope and gasped. Quickly closing it, she looked up and down the hall and then let us into her place. She dropped her things off on the dining room coffee table and shook her head.
"Are you crazy? What are you doing running around with this much cash on you in this neighborhood?" Abigail pinched the bridge of her nose. "What do you need me to do? And if it's illegal, I'm going to tell you right now the answer is no."
"Do you ever stop talking?"
Abigail's mouth dropped open again. "Piero! You don't have to be an ass."
I grinned. "You know that's not true." I folded my arms over my chest. "It's nothing illegal. I need you to pretend to be my fiancée and marry me."
Abigail's eyes widened. "Are you doing drugs? What are you talking about?"
I sighed. "My family expects me to bring someone with me to dinner soon, and they want me to get married, settle down. Since I don't want to do either of those things, I need someone who can pretend to be my fiancée and then marry them. I think that should be you."
Abigail blinked. "Why me?"
I shrugged. "You know me in and out. I don't have to hide who I am with you like I would have to do with someone I hire." I nodded toward the money. "And we both know you can use the cash."
She frowned. "That's not fair. You can't use my situation against me."
"I just did." I grinned. "So, yes or no? If you're not going to do it, then I need to find someone else." I reached for the cash, but she snatched it up and pressed it against her chest.
"All I have to do is pretend to be in love with you? And there's more money after this?"
"A lot more." I gazed around the apartment and saw the state of it for the first time. The dingy carpet, the peeling wallpaper, the cramped quarters. There were baby toys on the floor and strewn on the couch. "It definitely seems like you could use it."
"Hey." Her mouth dropped open more. "You come in here and insult me? That's what you think is going to make me help you?"
I stepped forward until there was barely any space between us. "You're being very stubborn, but we both know you'll do it."
Abigail scoffed. "I might say no."
I held out my hand. "Then give me the money."
She quickly tucked it behind her back. "What do I need to do?"
I smiled. "Now, that's what I wanted to hear."