“A deal. You pretend to be my boyfriend for a few weeks, show up at my house, escort me to social functions and such. Your overall person, manner and opinions should be enough to truly scandalise my parents. You will only need to be yourself, only less… charming.”
Charles gave him a bright grin. “You think I’m charming?”
Edwin ignored him. “And I will act all smitten with you. When they offer you the money to break up with me – and rest assured, throwing money at problems is their only way of handling anything – you will take it. I shall be horribly heartbroken to make them feel guilty and any subsequent romantic partner who is a bit more… mellow than you will be quite welcome.”
Charles stared at him, unsure of how he could’ve ever thought of Edwin Payne as innocent. “Damn… you are a conniving little bastard, aren’t you?”
Source: Love For Hire – Chapter 1, by lucrow – Dead Boy Detectives (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
This is the non-ghost fake dating AU I didn’t know I needed in my life. It sucked me right in, and I enjoyed every moment of the ride. Edwin as a ballet dancer is just too perfect for words!