Chapter 1 LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

Lola

Rule no. 1 of the liar playbook, know how to flirt without lifting a fucking finger.

I maintained eye contact with the gentleman across the Vancouver bar, his gray eyes accessing my curves through the skimpy backless dress I had on. He looked about twice my age, sipping slowly on the amber liquid in the glass in his hand.

He has been watching me the entire evening, eyes gawking hungrily at me like I was a full-course meal he was interested in having. 

He walked up to me, drink in hand. “Reid Hayes,” he introduced himself, grinning as he extended his hand.

But I knew who he was already. Billionaire CEO of Hayes Enterprise. Big shot of a man, hanging out with the top dogs of Miami. But what this billionaire casanova didn't know was that he was my target for tonight, and that he was just a step away from getting caught in my trap.

“Sofia Reyes,” I shook him, smiling.

“Our last names are rhyming,” he joked and I let out a soft chuckle. “Mind if I keep you company?”

He set his drink down on my table and my eyes dropped to his hands, ring in his left finger. Very much married. He was one of those shitty bastards who didn't care to honour their wedding vows. But I was about to teach him a lesson he won't be forgetting in a hurry.

“Sure,” I gave him a smoldering look, a sultry smile playing on my lips.

He took the seat on my table, and soon enough, I was laughing charmingly at his not-so-funny jokes. He was tucking my hair behind my ear, staring at my cleavages, stroking my bare thighs.

What a perverted motherfucker.

He also rambled about his strings of businesses like he was trying to impress me, while I told him about my nonexistent corporate firms and billion dollar investments.

And in the next 20 minutes, we were kissing passionately along the hallway of the Orlando hotel, his hands cupping my ass, while my fingers dug into his hair.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” He mumbled as he pushed the door open, shoving me into the dimly lit room.

I pulled my lips away, smiling. “Easy, Papi. Why are you in such a hurry? It'll ruin the fun.” I placed my hand on his chest and pushed him down on the bed, biting down on my lower lip. “I have a surprise for you. I hope you love surprises.”

“I love surprises,” he replied, grinning like a puppy.

“Great, now take off your clothes.”

He quickly sat up and took off his shirt and pants, laying stark naked on the bed. 

I got on top of him and he slid his hand into my dress, stroking my thighs. I caught his hand before he could go deeper, raising it high above his head.

Then I slid my hands underneath the pillow and pulled out pink cuffs, taking his hand towards the headboard.

“Is this the surprise, baby?”

“Yes Papi,” I grinned, cuffing one hand to the headboard. “We’re about to play a fun game called BDSM. You'll love it, I promise.” I raised his other hand up, cuffing it too. Then I did the same with his legs, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

What an idiot.

I grabbed his wrinkled dick, putting it into my mouth. He relaxed completely just like I wanted, his moans circulating in the air as I sucked and sucked. 

Suddenly, bright lights filled the room, the sound of fluttering cameras forcing his eyes open. Reid jerked up with a startled expression on his face, the cuffs restraining him from moving freely.

“Who the fuck are you?” he hissed, wide eyes scanning the other woman now present in the room. “Why do you have a camera?”

I rolled off him and rose to my feet, spitting out the distasteful fluid in my mouth. “That was fucking disgusting,” I made an irked face, wiping my lips with the back of my hand. 

Reid stared at me in confusion, his mouth parted in shock.

“Did you get it?” I asked my best friend, Sky, a sly smirk tugging at the corners of my lips.

“You bet,” she answered, an evil grin spreading across her lips. “And I made the photos extra pretty.”

“What the fuck is going on here, Sofia?!” Reid barked, cuffs rattling as he struggled. 

“Congratulations,” I spat in mock-humour. “You've just been set up.”

“What?” he muttered, that comical look of horror on his face giving me premium satisfaction.

“By tonight, an article is going to be released along with the censored photo of you on this bed with me. And the headline is going to read: “Billionaire CEO, Reid Hayes, caught in a hotel room with his mistress of three years.”

“That's not true.” Fear flashed in his eyes. “I only just met you today.”

“A lie doesn’t have to be true. I just have to create the circumstances that would make it believable.

Which I just did. What do you think would happen if I anonymously post your pics all over social media, and send a few to everyone on your contact list?” I smacked my teeth, offering him a look of mock-pity. “Your reputation will be destroyed. No one's going to care about the truth.” 

“What do you want?” He cried out, eyes reeking of desperation. “Please, I'll do anything.”

“I'm not the one you should be begging, Mr Hayes. My job here is done. Good luck getting out of here,” I smirked, Sky and I heading towards the door.

“Wait!” he yelled out in panic, cuffs rattling as he struggled violently. “You can't just leave me here.”

We stepped out into the hallway, and I turned to him and blew him a kiss, slamming the door. 

Sky and I turned to each other, bursting into laughter.

So here's the thing, I have a rather unusual profession. I lie for a living. Nothing too dangerous or illegal. I was simply hired to help rich people who were desperate enough to pay for a lie. 

Think scandals, crashing an ex's wedding, fake dating a hockey player, bursting a cheating boyfriend in the act, fiancée-for-a-day, CEO’s contract wife, pretend-girlfriend for a high school reunion. 

I also specialized in setups, revenge ploys and breakups. Virtually anything, as long as it didn't involve murder.

And the client who hired me to target Reid Hayes was none other than his wife. 

She knew the only way to break her cheating, abusive husband was to target his reputation, so she emailed me with one request: 

Trap her husband in a scandalous affair so she could blackmail him with the clips and videos, divorce his possessive ass, and run off with a shit ton of his money.

And here we are.

Now that you know what I do, allow me reintroduce myself. Hi, I'm Lola Miranda Beaumont, CEO of Liar for Hire, and I've lived by four rules since I started my lying and hiring agency.

Rule no. 1: Know how to flirt.

Rule no. 2: Never get involved with criminals. 

Rule no. 3: Never take a job that involves minors. 

And rule no. 4, the most important of them all: NEVER EVER FALL IN LOVE WITH A CLIENT.