8. Maia
CHAPTER EIGHT
MAIA
Icouldn’t stop staring at Baird’s ring.
Not just because it was a family heirloom he’d entrusted me with but because it was the most perfect engagement ring in the world.
I’d never seen a sapphire that matched the color of my eyes before.
My eyes were a gift from my dad. A gift I treasured because they were such an unusual color.
Aunt Shannon, dad’s wee sister, had the same violet eyes too.
I didn’t even know this color of sapphire existed.
The sapphire looked around two carat and was a rectangular cushion cut, set in platinum, and flanked by three round-cut diamonds, two hugging the sapphire and one at the base in a triangular cascade into the band.
Six round-cut diamonds in total. It was beautiful but understated.
Baird told me his aunt’s husband had bought it from a jeweler in Austria in the 1960s.
I loved it had history, but I was also taken aback that Baird had bestowed a piece of jewelry upon me that was clearly important to his family instead of keeping the engagement ring for the woman he would eventually marry after we divorced.
One day, I was going to be a divorcée. I wasn’t sure either of us had processed how big that was and how it might impact us down the road.
There were lots of things we hadn’t considered when we impulsively decided to do this. For instance, I certainly hadn’t predicted how attached I’d get to this freaking engagement ring after only a day of wearing it.
Forcing my gaze from my ring finger as the lift taking me up to the Pennington office floor drew to a stop, I strolled across the marble floor, making a beeline for my office so I didn’t have to speak to anyone yet. Well, anyone other than Eli.
I had hoped to come into the office after a good sleep, feeling well-rested and ready to face my entire team with the news, but it had taken me forever to drown out the voices of my family last night.
Having decided it was best I face my dad and Grace alone, I’d left Baird after he’d introduced me to his manager, who was shocked to say the least. Brian seemed resigned to the news, though I got the feeling he wearily accepted this as another crazy thing Baird was doing this year.
He ended our conversation saying he hoped this meant Baird was finally going to settle down and get on with the game and that his performance today gave him hope that might be true.
Brian’s behavior toward Baird irritated me because my friend had been through so much, and his actions of late were clearly him acting out against the fear he’d experienced after his injury.
He wouldn’t talk to me about it, but I thought for sure the men around him at the club would have a better handle on it.
Apparently not. It seemed it might be down to me to push Baird and get him to open up and talk about the lasting effects from the head injury.
Callan and John were lovely, though Callan did remind me I needed to call my cousin Beth to tell her the news.
However, I had my parents to deal with first.
After evading the truth with Callan, John, and Baird’s gaffer, and feeling icky after it, I was so glad I didn’t have to lie to my parents about the engagement.
At least I was at first.
Until my dad shot up from his couch and demanded, “Are you insane?”
My stepmum, Grace, an elegant Englishwoman, spoke with a softness that belied the steel in her spine. “Logan, I don’t think that language is helpful.”
“Insane?” He glowered at Grace. “You don’t think this scheme is insane?”
She glowered right back. “I wouldn’t use such a hostile word, no.”
My dad’s handsome face softened minutely. He turned to me. “Okay, what I meant to say is … I’m worried about you.”
I looked at Grace. She nodded and gave me a concerned but reassuring smile.
“Didn’t you hear what I said about my job? What my boss said?”
“Aye. And it’s illegal. They can’t fire you.”
“Not outright. But they’ll find a way to do it legally. I’ve seen it before. They’re big on loyalty and team player stuff at Pennington’s. I’ve worked too hard to lose my position now.”
Dad slumped into his seat. “So, you’re going to lie to the entire world and get married to a man you don’t love?”
“It’ll help Baird’s image too,” I responded weakly.
“I think this is a very big, fraudulent plan, and maybe I wouldn’t be so worried if it weren’t for the fact that Will broke your heart five weeks ago,” Grace offered quietly.
Dad nodded. “What Grace said.”
Despite my hammering pulse, I firmly pronounced, “I’m doing this. It’s a blip of time in the grand scheme of things. It’s not illegal because we’re not doing it for a visa or something like that.”
“I think you’ll find falsely making a statement in your marriage vows is considered perjury in this country and therefore is illegal,” Grace relayed.
My heart stopped. “Grace!”
“What? I’m just letting you know what you’re really gearing up to do.”
Damn it. I did not know that.
Was it going to stop me, though?
Nope.
“Well, I didn’t want to lie to you guys when I’ll have to lie to everyone else. I told you the truth. But … you can’t tell Lockie.” Guilt consumed me. “He’s too young. He might tell the wrong person and then I really will get into trouble.”
Dad’s jaw clenched before he unclenched it and snapped, “You’re going to lie to your wee brother? What if he gets attached to Baird? You know he’s a Caley fan and already worships the ground that bloke walks on.”
“It’s just for a little while. Stop acting like I’m committing a big crime that’s going to emotionally scar everyone.
” I stood up, trembling. “Except for that one time I went to a club with Layla the sociopath when I was sixteen, I have always done the right thing. The expected thing. I decide for once in my life to take a risk and do something a wee bit mad that will help my career, and you’re acting like I’ve robbed a goddamn bank! ”
Dad and Grace stared at me stunned.
I was stunned.
The first year with them had been the most tumultuous. I was a teenager, devastated about my mum and terrified Dad would fail me; therefore, I’d acted out quite a bit. Until it occurred to me if I kept acting out, I would really push Dad and Grace away.
Instead, I became obsessed with people-pleasing. In a way, I also think it was a form of absolution with other people because deep down, part of me believed I was in the wrong for leaving my mum behind.
I’d people-pleased with Will too. We hadn’t compromised on anything. I’d just given in so I wouldn’t upset him or rock the boat.
Baird, it seemed, made me feel a wee bit reckless.
The fear of upsetting my parents was like a sickness in my gut. I stood there, frozen, waiting for them to react.
Grace sighed heavily. “You’re right, sweetheart. I mean, I still don’t agree with the plan, but it is your life and it’s not like you’re hurting anyone.”
“Lying isn’t hurting? Lying isn’t selfish?” Dad glared at his wife.
Remorse worsened my nausea. I didn’t want Grace and Dad to fight.
“The only people it might hurt are Maia and Baird, and that’s their risk to take,” Grace replied with a bite in her calm tone. “As for selfish … I think Maia’s earned the right to be a little selfish. Don’t you?”
Did I mention I adored my stepmother?
Dad swallowed hard, his words thick as he responded a few seconds later, “Aye. I suppose in that you’re right.”
Suffice it to say I’d left my parents’ house uncertain and filled with guilt at the friction I’d caused. I couldn’t sleep. Hence the need for three coffees before I even left my flat this morning.
The last thing I needed was to see an email from Will when I logged into my work computer.
I’d opened it before I even realized who had sent it.
Maia,
I can’t believe you blocked me. We need to talk. Please. Call me.
Will
I immediately blocked his email address.
My phone screen suddenly lit up and a text message popped up from Baird.
Be there at 12.
Butterflies fluttered to life in my belly as I replied.
Thanks. See you soon.
He sent me the blowing-kiss emoji, and I rolled my eyes, grinning. He was adorable.
My hope was that his presence would bolster me today while we awkwardly explained to my boss and my boss’s boss about the change in situation.
I’d already contacted Christina last night to tell her I needed an emergency meeting with her and Hilary about the campaign.
She’d bluntly responded this morning that we’d meet at noon, and I’d quickly relayed that information to Baird.
Thankfully, his morning training session ended just in time for him to join me here.
Baird called up five minutes before the meeting, and I ran downstairs to the delivery entrance to let him in. Eli took Baird’s call, so they were full of questions and eyebrow waggles, but I had to tell my bosses first before I explained anything to Eli and Liza.
Baird looked incredibly handsome in his black dress shirt and dress trousers. The shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong forearms and tattoos. And it was open at the collar, so he didn’t look too formal. Yet the transformation was amazing. He looked … older. Sexier.
Heat flushed through me. “You look hot.”
Baird chuckled at my confused tone as he stepped into the building, his body brushing against mine. “I’m offended by how surprised you sound.”
“No … I just … I mean … you look different.”
“Thought I’d dress the part. Look responsible and all that.” His gaze moved down my body as I shut the door and locked it. “Is this what you wear to work?”
I glanced down at my cropped white button-down shirt and wide-leg black suit pants.
The shirt had long, stiff bell sleeves and showed a good expanse of my bare stomach.
Ten years ago, my boss would have told me to go home and change.
Now, crop tops were in, and as a fashion buyer, I liked to wear the products I bought for the store.