Last Minute Fiancé

Chapter 4

Addison

Living in a state of denial seemed to be subtly working. That, or I had lost my mind enough that it didn’t matter.

My stomach was still slightly achy, but I had gone over twenty-four hours without emptying it. I had to count that for a win, considering the past week I had been throwing up more often than I was keeping things down.

I still couldn’t believe that I was pregnant.

A doctor’s test had confirmed it, and I couldn’t change that fact. Not that I was sure I wanted to.

I told Luca the truth. I had always wanted to be a mom. It was on my five- to ten-year plan. Getting pregnant with my best friend’s baby? Not the plan. But it wasn’t as if we had done this on purpose. It had just happened. It was fate.

And my life was stressing me out to the point that I wasn’t making much sense.

I had gone right back to work too, ignoring the fact that my life was going to change forever. That was fine, because it felt as if my life was constantly changing. After coming back home from grad school, I knew that finding my place within the company was going to be challenging. Not because I wasn’t talented, but because it was a very complicated and cutthroat business. Not all companies were like that, but this one had a reputation for it, and it also had the reputation for being the best.

And I wanted to be the best.

My parents had raised me like that. I was their only child, and my parents were amazing. They worked hard, they took care of each other, and loved me. They helped me through school, and we made sure that I wouldn’t be in student loan debt for the rest of my life. I was in finance for a reason. I was good at what I did, but sometimes it felt like it was all I did.

Things were going to change, I knew that, but I was going to live in this state of denial for a little bit longer.

I was at my desk frowning over paperwork when someone knocked on the doorframe. I looked up to see one of the junior partners and smiled.

Nathan was a good guy, he didn’t kick anyone’s feet out from under them and he didn’t talk shit about people behind their backs. They couldn’t get him fired or take his clients. He was at the top of the food chain and had gotten there ethically and with honor.

He was exactly what I was trying to emulate. The moral high ground while still being damn good at your job.

Because I refused to be my ex.

“Hey, I was just on my way to get lunch if you want to join?”

I raised a brow. Nathan didn’t ask me to lunch, and I didn’t usually go out with just one of them. In fact, I was very good about making sure that I went out with the guys only in a group—I had even learned to golf though I hated it. We were getting into a pickleball era, and I was much better at that. The fact that I had kicked Travis’s ass one day was the icing on the cake on an already beautiful day.

“Oh. That’s nice of you to ask, but I’m working.”

Nathan shook his head. “Sorry. I meant would you like to talk about our next client over lunch and get out of here while a certain group decides to have a shouting fest in the conference room next door?”

I frowned, looking down at my watch.

“Who is having a fighting fest?”

“The man currently vying for the promotion you should get.”

I stood up quickly, ignoring the dizziness, and grabbed my purse.

“Are you kidding me?”

“I’m not. We both know that either of you could handle that position, but only one of you would thrive in it. You know my stance on it, now we need to get the big boss’s stance.”

The big boss, as in Harrington-Wells III.

I wanted that promotion. I needed it. It was part of my plan. And I could work from home more and set my own hours better. This would be great for the baby.

The baby I was currently denying, but that was neither here nor there.

I needed this, and I was perfect for it.

And if Travis and his goons were going to be working towards getting him the promotion, I needed someone on my side.

And a junior partner? Well, that would be good. Because that was where Nathan was. And if Nathan wanted me to have that position, then I’d work for it.

“I’d love to go to lunch.” I paused. “Just lunch.”

Nathan smiled softly. “I should mention that my wife and her assistant will be at the lunch too. Because while my wife and I love each other and trust each other, and I trust you, I don’t trust whatever the other guys who work here will say if they happen to see us out at lunch.”

Relief flooded me even as I rolled my eyes. “You got to love social dynamics and clawing your way to the top.”

“You don’t claw, but you do climb. So, let’s make sure that happens. And, by the way, my wife would totally trust us out to a work lunch, just like we trust each other. You’re welcome to bring whoever you’re dating to work events, you know, that would probably help the situation.”

I mumbled something under my breath, because I knew he wasn’t actually fishing, he was just being helpful. When we had work events—including the one coming up soon, which was a long weekend event with two overnights—it was helpful to bring your spouse or significant other. Harrington-Wells III would prefer it to be a spouse, and not someone you were just dating. Travis and I hadn’t been dating when we started working here, so we had never had each other to lean on, not that we ever would have. Because that would require trust, and that’s not something I had with him.

Honestly, the only person I had truly ever felt I could trust while dating was my freshman year of college boyfriend. Or at least I thought I could trust him at the time. And then he had run away, pissed off when I’d beat him in classes and also hadn’t wanted to deal with my health issues when I found out that the blood clots I was susceptible to were dangerous.

I was nervous about what that meant for this pregnancy, but the state of denial that I needed to hold on to so I could get through this work lunch and subsequent meetings meant that I wasn’t going to focus on it. Or focus on the fact that more testing may be done, and I was going to have to be careful.

We made our way to the restaurant across the street, and Nathan’s wife and her assistant were already there. Her assistant was a tall man with wire glasses and a soft smile.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Nathan’s wife said as she introduced herself. “I’m Kelly. This is Jeremiah.”

Jeremiah nodded at me and went back to his phone.

“Jeremiah is always working on a thousand things at once, even though I told him he’s supposed to take his lunch off. One day I will take that phone and throw it.”

“And you will get lost without your calendar.”

She rolled her eyes before leaning forward to kiss her husband on the cheek.

“So, is this where we talk about girl power and we try to take over the world?” Kelly asked, and Nathan just sighed.

“I’d rather just take over the world. You know I love your girl power, but I don’t think I’m allowed to be part of that club.”

For some reason, I was completely relaxed. Even though there was a part of me freaking out, the dynamics between them felt right.

“Anyway, I wasn’t sure what you wanted to drink or anything, so I ordered waters, and they should be here soon to get our actual lunch order. I know you guys have meetings to go to. And I have one with a friend of yours.”

I perked up. “Oh?”

“I own a small business with a friend of mine, and I’m going to be working with Paisley Cassidy Renee. They do great PR, and their little matchmaking company on the side makes me happy. Seriously such a great company.”

“You don’t need matchmaking,” Nathan grumbled as he looked over the menu. I just smiled.

“Paisley is the best. My best friend actually works for her too.”

“Devney Cassidy? I always wondered if they were sisters.”

I shook my head. “No, but it’s a long story.”

And not my story to tell. The fact that Paisley was the ex-wife of Devney’s husband’s twin, and Paisley was the ex-sister-in-law of my future baby’s father, was not something I really wanted to contemplate. The tangled webs already woven were ridiculous, and I had a feeling they weren’t even done.

“Oh, well it’s not my business. I’m just glad that she’s going to be working with us.”

I smiled. “The company does fantastic work. I’d say they’re the best, but I’d like to think we’re the best.”

Nathan grinned. “And we’ll be even better with you as junior partner. So let’s formulate some plans around how exactly to make that happen.”

I put my hands on my lap, letting out a slow breath.

“That would be quick though. Right?”

“Yes and no, Addison,” Nathan said after a moment. “I was a little older than you when I was promoted.”

“You say that as if you’re ancient,” Kelly said fondly, and I smiled, though it felt slightly brittle.

“I want this job. This promotion. I know it’s been whispered about for months, but I’m right for it.”

“I know you are, that’s why I’m backing you. But it’s going to be a struggle. I have a feeling that Harrington is going to make his decision with or without the junior partners’ say.”

“That sounds reasonable,” I said sarcastically.

“But we can persuade him, just like the others will try to. This upcoming event is going to be important.”

“I know. I’ve been working on it for weeks.”

It was a weekend retreat complete with meetings, presentations, and fancy dinners. There would also be hiking, and other “relaxing” events.

“I’ll be going to that one,” Kelly said as she met my gaze, and I could tell she wanted to say something else.

“What is it?”

“I am a woman in a high-powered position. And I married a man also in a high-powered position.” She looked over at her husband and smiled. “And I know he works for an asshole who doesn’t like women in the workforce.”

“Kelly,” Nathan warned, and I held up my hand to him.

“No, she’s right. And I want to prove him wrong. I’m doing it just by being there and breathing.”

Nathan sighed but nodded. “You’re right. And it gets under his craw. Just like it does with Travis.”

“However, the one thing you two have working for you is that you’re both single. You don’t have to compete with the whole family thing.”

I frowned, not understanding.

Kelly continued. “If Travis shows up with a woman on his arms and a family on the way, he’s going to get the job. Because Harrington-Wells III likes the idea of legacy. You showing up alone means that you’re a strong woman, and you’re putting your career first, however, you’re also not the perfect legacy that Harrington wants.”

I scowled, and nearly blurted out that I was all about legacy, considering what was currently happening inside my body, but I had barely come to terms with that, and didn’t want to deal with anyone else’s reaction yet.

“Kelly.”

“I know, I know. And all of this is highly illegal and against the code of ethics, but we know how it runs. You know it, Addison.”

“Are you telling me I’m supposed to just pull a fake fiancé out of the blue?”

Nathan cursed under his breath as Jeremiah snorted, still working on his phone, but Kelly gave me a serious look.

“I’m not saying make one up. I’m saying that this job will eat you alive if you don’t have a support system.”

“I do. I have my friends. You’re working with them. I have a good family. And I’m damn good at my job.”

“Good. Nathan has more balance at this position, so when you get this job, not if, know that balance is coming. So maybe figure out exactly what you want outside of that.”

I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say to that. Did she want me to work hard and dominate, or get married and have the perfect practical life that Harrington-Wells wanted?

And how was I supposed to deal with all of this when I already knew my life was going to change—promotion or not.

Finally, the waiter came and took our order, then Nathan laid out our plans—for the retreat, what I needed to do with my current clients, and how I would make my way into this promotion. A promotion that would be good for everybody. For the company, for me, and whatever future plans I had.

By the time we made it back into the office, my mind was whirling, but I was still hyped up. This would be for the best. This would give me more time, more options, and I wouldn’t have to work so many hours.

And then I could come to Luca with a perfectly formulated plan.

I could still hear the denial screaming in my head that I knew that this wasn’t exactly perfect, but it was better than nothing.

It was more of a plan than I had that morning.

I made my way into the conference room for the next part of the project and nearly ran into Travis.

He looked good as always, his tailored suit cut to perfection. His shoulders were broad, his chest thick. He looked damn good in a suit, but he was like a snake in men’s clothing, slithering and hissing when he didn’t get his way.

“Oh, Addison, good to see you finally show up.”

“I was at a work lunch, which I’m sure you know because you like putting tabs on me.”

“No no, no need for that. My fiancée was just at lunch with her boss and told me you were there.”

I froze, trying to understand exactly what he just said.

He couldn’t be saying what I thought he had, right?

There was no way someone was stupid enough to want to marry Travis Armstrong. Then again, I dated him. The worst eight months of my life.

There was this ringing in my ears and my knees went weak, but it was fine.

Travis was getting married. Good for him. I wasn’t jealous in the slightest.

But I couldn’t help thinking about what Kelly had just said.

About the fact that Travis was going to look like the perfect family man on paper.

And I was the cold woman without a heart who had clawed her way to the top.

Neither of those were actually true, but the screaming in my head combined with whatever hormones that were now pumping through my body made me feel like I was a fucking idiot.

And I said the worst thing possible.

“I’m so happy for you. Congratulations.”

“Dory will be at the retreat, and I’m really excited for her to really get to know the company and the family that we’ve made here. She’s used to this type of thing though, since her father is Jackson Ford.”

Bile rose in my throat, because Jackson Ford was a billionaire tycoon who made a shit-ton of money with our company.

Travis’s fiancée was Dory Ford, the brilliant debutante who also made a name of her own, and somehow lowered herself to be with Travis Armstrong.

I knew it wasn’t his dick, I remembered his dick. I bet it was that smarmy smile. Somehow that’s what did it.

But I kept my smile on my face and hoped it wasn’t too brittle.

“Oh, wow. Seriously, congratulations. I can’t wait to meet her at the retreat.”

“I’m sure.”

And then it was as if someone had taken over my body, like I were a puppet on a string, and words were coming out of my mouth that I didn’t approve, that I knew I needed to stop. But the words that I had jokingly said to Kelly poured out of me, and I made a fucking mistake.

“Seriously, I’m excited to meet her. And for you to meet Luca. My fiancé.”

Travis blinked, then looked down at my bare fingers. I wasn’t wearing a ring, because I had just made up a fiancé.

I’m such a damn idiot.

“Really? I didn’t know the happy news.”

“Congratulations.”

I froze at Harrington-Wells III’s voice behind me, and slowly turned, my palms going sweaty. If my morning sickness hit, I was going to throw up all over Travis.

But I plastered a smile on my face and looked at my boss.

“Oh, thank you.”

“Look at that, our top two competitors for the promotion both getting engaged and bringing their future spouses to the retreat. As if this was kismet. I couldn’t have written this script better myself. I cannot wait to meet both of your fiancés. I already know Dory’s father, and he’s such a great guy. I can’t wait to get to know your fiancé too. Luca, is it?”

I nodded as Travis gloated about his fiancée.

He was probably really engaged to her. A real woman, with a real engagement, and a real engagement ring.

I was a liar. A big fat liar.

And now I needed to convince Luca to lie with me.

Oh yes. Because asking Luca to lie for me while we were still not talking about the very large baby-shaped elephant in the room was totally going to work out.

And as if on cue, nausea hit, but I ignored it.

Just long enough for me to break away and run to the bathroom and vomit up all of my mistakes and whatever I had eaten for lunch.

Luca was going to hate this.

I really needed to find a way to make him agree anyway.

I was screwed.