6. Elise
6
ELISE
Elise
I tried to come to terms with the reason Grant wanted me to come on this trip this weekend. It was a business trip, yet not. I’d need far more time to get over how he’d tricked me, but by the time we arrived at the ritzy resort, I considered that perhaps the end could justify the means.
Grant wasn’t manipulating me to confess that I loved him like Keith had done to Claudia. He hadn’t asked me for anything that wasn’t his to have.
I could fake it. I could play along. For one damn weekend, if my boss needed me to pretend to be his fiancée, then I would. And when that deal was through, when Newman Inc. became part of the Bowen Industries empire, this would all be a stupid, silly story to think back on.
Right?
I looked at the ring again and hoped his foolhardy plan could be as simple as that. Oddly, a funny little twinge in my heart suggested otherwise.
True to his word, Grant showed that he’d made a reservation for two rooms. He was on his phone, busy with the head of PR back in Chicago when we checked in, so I handled the tedious check-in routine.
“Here is the key for the penthouse,” the receptionist said, sliding a key card over the marble counter.
Penthouse. But of course. Grant wouldn’t settle for anything less.
“And here is the key for room 1207. Please do keep in mind, though, that the maintenance crew should be finishing the repairs in there shortly. I apologize again for the inconvenience.”
I nodded, exhaling in relief that I wouldn’t need to be pushed so far out of my comfort zone to share a room with my boss. “No worries. What time should they be done?”
“Oh, I imagine it won’t take more than an hour or so, I believe.” He checked the monitor behind the counter. “It was just a repair in the bathroom. Something listed as a mild work order priority.”
Smiling wider, I took the keys and nodded once. “Thank you so much.”
“Should you or Mr. Bowen need anything else, please, don’t hesitate to ask.”
On the tail end of his words, I caught the reflection of a group walking out of the resort’s main restaurant across the massive lobby space. All of them were decked out in dresses and suits, and I realized I would be sorely unprepared for this weekend. I glanced at Grant, still on the phone, then smiled back at the clerk. “One more thing.”
“Certainly.”
“Where can a girl go shopping around here?” I beamed at him, excited to splurge on Grant’s dime for once. He did say I’d be reimbursed… And it was only his fault that I was unprepared for this trip.
After the helpful clerk gave me directions to the nearest shops, I thanked him and turned back to Grant. A bellhop had already taken our luggage up, presumably to his room since mine was being serviced.
“Thanks, Pete.” Grant disconnected the call as I approached. He regarded me for a moment, as though he was trying to figure me out. Deep down, I was struck with a sudden sense of curiosity.
What if this was real? What if he gave me this ring with an actual intention to marry me? What if we were here as a couple, used to sharing rooms and being together beyond a boss-assistant pairing?
I looked at the ring again, like I needed to see it to believe it. No matter how many times I confirmed that it sparkled on my finger, I couldn’t lose this surreal feeling of standing here, in this tropical location, with this handsome, successful man…
I sighed, wondering the most elusive what-if of all.
“What?” He furrowed his brow, stern as he considered me.
What if you meant it? What if this wasn’t fake? What if you wanted me for real? The idea of just the two of us being here and trying to enjoy ourselves…
It sounded too good to be true.
Keep dreaming.
“Nothing.” I shook my head, banishing the memories of the little crush I had when I first met him. This wasn’t an ideal time to revisit the attraction that I thought I’d snuffed out years ago. “But I need to look the part for this weekend.”
He picked up my hand, rubbing his thumb over the gorgeous ring he’d given me. Ignoring the tingle of awareness at his touch, I looked up at his serious expression.
“ This proves your part for this weekend.”
“True.” God. I couldn’t handle the intensity of his gaze on me like that. I wanted to know what was on his mind.
He flinched and blinked, as though he realized he hadn’t released my hand.
“But I didn’t pack for a tropical island. I brought work outfits. Not…” I emphasized looking at a pair of women walking by, both of them gorgeous, slender, and showing off beautiful sundresses.
Grant barely glanced at them. “No dresses?”
“No,” I said as I took my glasses off to wipe the moisture on them, “and you said we’d be at dinner.”
He nodded. “Yes.” Then he took his wallet out and handed me a card. “Get whatever you need.”
“Okay.” Wow!
“Spare no expenses,” he advised as his phone rang again. He groaned lightly.
I spotted Pete’s name on the screen. “Do you need me to handle anything?” I was his assistant, after all.
“No.” He shook his head. “Go ahead and get whatever you feel you need for the weekend. Do you have the room keys?”
I gave them to him. “Are you sure you don’t need anything from me?”
“No. I can handle these calls. Just get something suitable for the weekend. We’ve got a welcome dinner tonight. We’ll probably be hanging around at the resort tomorrow, then the rehearsal and wedding.”
“Got it.” I caught myself from asking if he wanted anything from me.
Because this isn’t real, Elise. Remember? I was still his assistant, not his actual date or fiancée.
Even though I had unlimited funds, I was selective and frugal at the stores. It didn’t feel right to take advantage, even though he’d tricked me to be here.
Trying on dresses, bathing suits, and other island wear took several hours. Grant texted me halfway through it, suggesting that I grab lunch on my own since he was still busy working on something I couldn’t help with.
Fine by me. I added in a little walk on the beach, feeling guilty that I was here in the idyllic sunshine while Claudia was suffering back in Chicago.
Making time for myself was never easy, but I refused to let this glorious day slip away from me.
By the time the evening rolled around, I was happy that I could have my purchases sent to my room. I didn’t go overboard, sticking with only getting what I needed. I had the shops send the clothes I was wearing, too, figuring I could show up at the restaurant in one of the dresses I bought. Light blue and slightly shimmery, it reminded me of the ring on my finger.
Don’t get used to it. It wasn’t like I’d stay like this, falsely posing as my boss’s future wife.
The more I reminded myself of my role, though, the more my stomach knotted.
Can we even pull this off? Most of the Newman employees already knew me as Grant’s assistant, and I worried this would be too tall of a tale to spin.
I swallowed my nerves as I went to the bathroom in the lobby to switch my glasses for contacts. I’d learned the hard way to always have contacts and a small bottle of solution in my purse when I flew. I generally avoided my contacts unless I had to go out, and I supposed this counted. If Grant had a fiancée, he’d want to show her off. I wasn’t sure I was anything to show off, not to his standards, but I’d damn well try to impress.
Back in the lobby, I stood near the restaurant and waited for Grant to show. Fortunately, he didn’t keep me waiting for long. I had only a moment to appreciate the massive water fountain in the center of the open space before I spotted him striding toward me.
In a different suit, he looked like a god among men. Tall, chiseled, and as always, so serious and stern. His long legs easily ate up the distance between us as he stared directly at me.
Oh, wow.
My heart beat faster. I pulled the corner of my lower lip into my mouth and focused on not sweating.
It was Grant. My boss. This man annoyed me daily. His trick to get me here as his fiancée still bothered me. But seeing him like this, powerful and determined to reach me…
I suffered a stupid little hit of lust.
I couldn’t deny this thrilling edge of excitement that this situation put me in. I’d never dressed like this in front of him, in a form-fitting dress intended to flatter me, not water me down as an office employee who needed to blend in. I’d never gone without my glasses for long in his company. And I never, ever felt like such a… sexy, desirable woman in his proximity before.
“Well?” I swallowed, nervous but giddy. Doing a little twirl, I hoped to show off how drastically I’d made myself over with a new dress, leaving my frizzy hair down and ditching my glasses. I spun too quickly, though, proving I was still the uncoordinated klutz he knew back home.
“Easy.” He caught my arm before I bumped into a planter.
I laughed, mostly at myself to ease out of the embarrassment for my attempt to look cute. Classy, Elise. Truly graceful.
“Do I look the part?” I asked, glancing past him for anyone in the Newman group.
He didn’t reply, and after a moment, I made eye contact with him, worried that he found me lacking. Instead, I caught him checking me out, slowly dragging his intense gaze from my sandal-heeled feet to the top of my hair that humidity mocked.
“Grant?” I asked, whispering as I stayed hinged on his reply, waiting for his approval.
“Grant!”
He jolted and turned at the booming loud voice behind him. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me closer so I’d face Mr. Newman with him.
“Vince, hi.” Grant reached out his hand to shake Vince’s.
“You made it.” Vince grinned at both of us. “Ah, Elise. I’m glad he brought you along, too.” He chuckled, as gregarious as ever. “But don’t count on doing any work this weekend.”
Hardy. Har. Har.
“This is a weekend to celebrate family!” the man cheered.
“Aw, thanks, Mr. Newman,” I replied.
“For goodness’ sake, call me Vince already.”
I smiled at him but amped up the wattage for his wife as she came closer. “Hi, Ginny!”
“Oh, Elise! What a lovely surprise it is to see you again.” The tall brunette beamed at me, reaching out to take my hand to squeeze it in a greeting. The second her fingers closed around mine, lines etched on her brow. “What…” —she slowly turned my hand, gasping at the ring on my finger— “is the meaning of this ?”
My smile stayed plastered on my face as she squealed and gawked at me, then Grant.
“Vince!” She pulled my hand to show him. “She’s engaged!”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Vince said, chuckling.
Grant hurried to take my free hand and hold it. He moved so quickly, I couldn’t tell if he was nervous. His smile was polite, as usual. But I couldn’t read him past the typical expression he wore around this couple.
“Grant!” Ginny said as she hugged me close. “Oh, you sneaky man! You proposed?”
“I did.” His smile warmed up a bit.
Liar. Still, I grinned and acted like an excited woman to share the news. The fake news.
“Oh, this is just wonderful!” Ginny released me to hug Grant. “Didn’t I tell you that they looked so darling together?”
When? I’d only seen her a few times when they had meetings and she stopped in. The talks about Bowen Industries buying Newman Inc. had been going on for almost a year now, but I didn’t realize that I’d ever made an impression on her. Or that Grant and I looked like a darling couple.
Vince and Ginny showered us with congratulations, and when more people came near the restaurant for the reservation, I grew more unsettled. Grant had always been so stiff and cool, unattached and not quick to show an inkling of affection.
We were put under the spotlight, coming out with this news that we were engaged, and I worried that he wouldn’t be able to pull it off.
While Reese Newman and I gushed about being brides, even though her wedding was officially this weekend and mine would never happen, her fiancé talked with Grant about wedding preparations. Other friends of the family joined in lively congratulations.
When Samantha showed up with other top Newman executives, Grant laid the charm on even thicker.
And it turned out that I had no room to worry. He wasn’t formal and stuffy like usual. He was laughing, joking, and almost smiling freely. Keeping my hand in his or his arm around my shoulders, he made sure we were always together, touching and showing that we were a couple.
He… acted like a boyfriend. Seeing him in this new light stunned me, but I rolled with it the best I could and tried to maintain the act. It threw me off balance to see him so easygoing, but I wondered how much it cost him to fake it. How aggravated he had to be on the inside. How exhausted he was at being social like this and lying through his teeth.
All through dinner, we looked like a happily engaged couple. We chatted about Reese’s wedding. We smiled at the others sharing their opinions about the island so far. It was a pleasant evening, and I was amazed that we were pulling it off.
They believe it. They accept that Grant and I are suddenly a couple and that’s that.
Before I could exhale in relief, Samantha smirked as she stared at my ring. “So, Grant. When did you propose?”
Shit.
Sitting so close to him, I felt how he tensed. His face didn’t betray his freakout, but I knew he had to be panicking internally. We hadn’t gone over this at all. We weren’t prepared.
“When we were taking a stroll through Millenium Park,” I said at the same time he said, “When we got dessert after a candlelit dinner.”
We froze at the same time, caught lying by speaking over each other.
“Huh?” Samantha arched a brow.
Ginny frowned but remained perched on the edge of her seat, her chin in her hands with her elbows on the table. She was clearly one of those women who loved wedding and engagement stories. “What?” she asked, giggling.
“Um.” I smiled wider, looking at Ginny.
“We—” Grant chuckled once, awkwardly, as he looked directly at Samantha.
Shit. Shit. Shit. “After we had a candlelit dinner…” I said, facing Grant and hoping he could see in my eyes that he should let me talk.
“Yeah. After the candlelight dinner,” he finished for me, “we took a stroll along the Riverwalk.”
Samantha huffed. “I thought she said Millenium Park.”
Damn you! When Grant surprised me with the ring and the expectation to pretend to be his fake fiancée, I’d forgotten that she would be here. His ex didn’t seem eager to buy our line of bullshit.
“I did.” I smiled at her, wishing she’d shut up and stop making this difficult. “After the candlelight dinner, we started to stroll from Millenium Park to the Riverwalk.”
“Yeah.” Grant took my hand and rested them, joined, on the table. “That’s the way we walked.”
Whew. We were fudging it so far despite his awkwardness.
“Oh, so romantic,” Ginny crooned.
Vince chuckled, nodding along. It seemed that as long as his wife was happy and entertained, he was pleased too.
“I thought you said you got dessert,” Samantha said.
Shut up! “We did. We got ice cream cones on the way,” I said.
“Mint chocolate chip, your favorite,” Grant added with a small smile at me.
Huh. I was surprised he knew that. “Yep. Double scoop of plain vanilla for you.”
He smiled back as I shared his actual favorite.
Oh, my God. We are so doing this. We totally look like a real couple!
“I didn’t realize you two had been dating,” Samantha said dryly.
“It was a secret,” I said.
“We wanted to keep it private,” Grant told her.
“Ooh, so sweet. A forbidden love.” Ginny swooned.
“How long?” Samantha asked. She cleared her throat, perhaps realizing she sounded pushy. “I mean. It’s such a surprise, seeing you showing up here with your assistant, now your fiancée. Just yesterday, I saw you at the office like you just worked together.”
Grant shifted in his seat. He draped his arm around me as he picked up my left hand, playing with the engagement ring as he leaned in toward me. “We’ve been careful to maintain a good work relationship and remain as professional as possible,” he countered.
Good save. Good save.
“How long have you been dating?” Samantha asked.
“Yeah.” Ginny’s interest sounded like she was curious and excited, not eager to pick at our stories with doubt. “How long have you been secretly dating? This is just such juicy gossip!”
“Three months,” I said at the same time Grant said, “Four and a half weeks.”
Fuck! We were fumbling this left and right. We should’ve rehearsed. They’d never believe it. The whole sham would be over before we really started it.
Grant’s fingers tightened on mine ever so slightly. Feeling his physical reaction, an equal oh, fuck response to our lines not matching, prompted me to cover for his awkwardness.
Take this, Samantha…
“Oh, sweetheart.” I cupped Grant’s face. “We started dating back in the spring, but we only got truly serious four and a half weeks ago.”
Before he could reply, I urged him to lower his face so I could kiss him.