Chapter 2 #2
I almost laughed. Almost. But the irritation with my brother was still pumping through my veins and I worried I might snap at Cyndee. Taking off my coat, I carried it to the sofa and draped neatly on it.
Needing a minute to get my thoughts together, I start to pace as I so often did when I had a lot on my mind and needed to process.
Cyndee stood back watching me, which was fine as long as she didn’t talk.
Being silent would be a challenge for her, but I had faith in her. After all, she wanted her tip.
“I haven’t had a pleasant holiday season in a long time.” Four years to be exact…
I’d planned to propose to Lucia the day after Thanksgiving.
Everything was planned. I had the ring. A photographer to capture the moment.
After she went Black Friday shopping with her friends, we were meeting up at our favorite Italian restaurant.
I bought out the place, which cost a fortune the day after Thanksgiving.
But at the time, I was madly in love and Lucia was worth the expense.
“It’s awful living in a city that vomits Christmas. I can’t escape it.”
She frowned at me.
“Don’t look at me like that.” I continued pacing. “Every day should be beautiful and cherished, not only during the month of December.”
“I agree,” she whispered.
I almost shushed her but didn’t bother. My mind wasn’t racing as much anymore. I could probably form a coherent thought now.
“You don’t like Christmas?” I asked her.
“I love Christmas, but I agree people should go through each day they’re given with gratitude and joy. Not only during the month of December.”
Hmm, I hadn’t expected her to say that. I stopped in front of her and lowered my gaze to meet hers. She wasn’t very tall. My younger sister, Zia, was five foot five. Cyndee was shorter than her.
“I wish I could snap my fingers, and the month would be over,” I told her honestly.
“Why?” She tilted her head back to look up at me. “I mean, is it really so bad?”
“In my family, yes. It’s awful.”
“Well, often it’s what you make of a situation that makes it good or bad. Maybe if you approached things in a positive manner, the outcome would be better.”
“That’s a nice thought but no chance would it work. There’s a lot of pressure and expectation in my family. You wouldn’t understand.”
“You’re probably right, I wouldn’t.” She studied my face, and I liked having her attention on me. Usually, she stayed professional and kept her eyes diverted. Seeing her relaxed with her guard down was pleasant. “My family is wonderful. But maybe I can help you with your situation.”
“I appreciate your offer, but you can’t help me.”
“You haven’t even given me a chance. What are you the most stressed and worried about?”
“The events I need to attend with my family.” I drank my beer. “Social engagements where it’s expected that I bring a date.”
“Okay, that seems easy enough.”
“For you maybe.” I scoffed. “I haven’t brought a date in four years. And according to my brother, I should be over it and moved on by now.”
“Over what?”
“Catching my girlfriend cheating on me the day I was going to propose to her.” The words spilled from my mouth on their own accord and against my wishes. It was unlike me to open up to anyone.
Her eyes went wide. “That is awful. And that’s why you don’t like the holidays?”
“It was the day after Thanksgiving.”
“Ouch.” She winced as if she could imagine the pain I felt.
“Yeah, ouch.” I finished off my beer and went to get another. “The past few years my family has shown me grace, but that’s over. I have obligations. They want me settled down and starting a family.”
“Surely, they aren’t forcing you. You’re a grown man. You decide what you want.”
“My father controls us kids. Again, you wouldn’t understand. Would you like a beer?” I reached for two bottles.
“No, I really need to go. Celine is waiting for me.” She nodded at the front door.
“Right.” I took out one bottle and twisted the cap off. “I have your tip.” I went to my coat to retrieve it.
“Can your father really control you? What are you, thirty years old?”
“Thirty-three.” I took out a white envelope, stalked toward Cyndee and gave it to her. “My single brothers and I are supposed to produce male heirs.”
“Dang, this sounds like a Mafia movie. The Godfather comes to mind.” She didn’t peek into the envelope. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you. You and your sister have been great.” I tried to smile, but it just wasn’t in me to do so. “You’re not far off with the Mafia. If I don’t find someone on my own, my parents will arrange a match.”
“Seriously? That’s scary. I didn’t think arranged marriages were thing anymore.”
“They are alive and well in my world. My older brother Remo’s marriage was arranged by our parents and he’s miserable.”
“Maybe you can buy yourself some time.”
I hiked a curious brow. “How?”
“Oh, gosh. I don’t know.” She tapped her finger on her plump lips, drawing my attention to her mouth. “Do you have a female friend who could attend the events with you? Or maybe a friend’s sister?”
“Nope, I don’t have either. Any woman in my world would have expectations, like marriage.”
“What about hiring someone to pretend to be your girlfriend. I’ve read romance books about it.”
“Interesting. Tell me more.” A fake girlfriend might work, but who could I get to play the part?
“It’s been a while since I’ve read a story with a fake girlfriend trope, but from what I can remember, it’s quite simple. You both just pretend to be into each other to fool the people around you.”
“That’s it?” It certainly sounded simple, but could it really work?
She smiled brightly. “That’s it. But there’s one caveat you should know about.”
“And what’s that?” I knew there had to be a downside.
“The fake couple always falls for each other for real. They get a happily ever after that neither of them were wanting.” Her warm, golden eyes sparkled, and her cheeks turned pink. “So maybe you should just go stag.”
“I am definitely not looking for a happily ever after.” I snorted and took a swig of my beer. “Of course, the woman would love it.”
“You’re awfully sure of yourself. Not every woman would fall in love with you.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. Her sass gave me an idea.
“What about you?”
“What about me? No way would I fall in love with you. You’re not at all my type.” Her words took me aback. Weirdly, they stung, too.
“Good. Then you’ll be perfect.”
“Perfect for what?”
“To be my fake girlfriend for the month of December.” I watched for a reaction, and she didn’t give me one. She just stood there staring at me. “Cyndee, did you hear me?”
“Yes, I heard you. Were you being serious?”
“I never joke.” I started pacing again. Possible scenes played out in my head. Could I really fool my family into believing Cyndee was my girlfriend? Maybe.
“Oh.”
“You can go with me to my sister’s Nutcracker performance.
She’s with the San Francisco Ballet. Then to my nieces’ choir concert.
It’s children so less formal, but you should still dress up.
The big finale would be the weekend before Christmas.
My older sister has an annual fundraiser in Seattle, and the proceeds go to women’s shelters throughout Washington state.
The tickets are outrageous, but it’s a good cause and one that Lettie is passionate about.
” It also looked good for the Ferrari family.
“Slow down. This is a lot to digest.” She placed her hands on her cheeks. “You want me, your cleaning lady, to be your fake girlfriend?”
“Yes. You said I wasn’t your type.”
“Yes.”
“Well, you’re not mine either so we’d be a perfect fake couple.”
“And how does it all end? I’m going home to Boston for Christmas.”
“Have you bought your ticket?”
“No. I was hoping to do that today.” She lifted the envelope I gave her.
“Perfect. Plan to leave after our weekend in Seattle. My family will have seen you and how happy I was, and you’ll break my heart.”
“Like your ex broke your heart.”
“No, it won’t be the same. Lucia betrayed me. She destroyed me. You’ll still be my cleaning lady after it’s over.”
“That makes no sense. What if someone in your family sees me here?” She shook her head, and I could tell she was going to reject my idea.
“I’ll give you one hundred grand.” Dammit, I should have offered five grand.
“Are you out of your mind? That’s a lot of money!” She put her coat on and looped her tote over her shoulder. “I have another beer. You’re talking crazy now.”
I darted to the door and blocked her exit.
“Don’t give me your answer yet. Think about it.
Consider my offer and what the money could do for your business.
This arrangement would help us both out and there are no strings.
We barely know each other, and we know our hearts won’t be involved. It’s a business arrangement.”
“I don’t make business arrangements like this, Mr. Ferrari.” She pushed me aside. “Have a good evening.”
“Cyndee, please. Think about it. Don’t decide now, but I do need you on board before the Nutcracker next Saturday.” And if needed, I’d make her an offer she couldn’t refuse. But I’d wait to pull out the big dogs until she refused me a second time.
“Fine. I’ll think about it. But don’t get your hopes up. Getting mixed up in your family drama could make for a very awkward working relationship.” And with those parting words, she left.
She wasn’t wrong about that. If it all went badly, I wasn’t sure I could have her cleaning my condo anymore.
Which was why it couldn’t end badly. Fortunately, my family never came to my condo.
They didn’t know Cyndee. I hadn’t even mentioned to my family how great her and her sister were at cleaning my place.
Cyndee was basically a nobody, and she would make the perfect fake girlfriend.