Chapter 16 #2
“That’s really sweet of you. If I had any pride, I’d immediately say no. But obviously, I don’t. I’m being paid to be your fake fiancée. I am the definition of a gold digger,” I say with a laugh. “You’re helping us stay on track with the plan.”
He smiles faintly. “I don’t think you’re a gold digger.”
The truth is, I’m scared that we won’t get the loan because I got fired, and I feel like I’m letting Piper down. Now I don’t know what to do to avoid ruining our whole three-year plan.
“What year are you on in your plan?” he asks.
“Year three. We were supposed to be applying for business loans this year after spending two years making connections and learning how to actually run a distillery and restaurant. We were supposed to be building good work history and cash for business operations.”
“So why were you working here?” he asks.
I smile. “Really, I was the assistant to the CEO of a restaurant and bar supply company. I’ve learned all the ins and outs of the supply chain—who’s who, which shipping companies are the best to work with, and what kind of supply companies we’d use.”
Nash’s eyebrows rise at that. “That’s actually genius.”
“I do have my moments—not often, but occasionally.”
The elevator dings, and the doors slide open when we reach floor eight.
“I’ll just stay here,” I say, waving him off.
He grins at me. “Do you trust me?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Good answer.” He grabs my hand and pulls me off the elevator. “But if you could just pretend for a moment, I’ll take care of something for you.”
It’s the second time he’s held my hand today, and I realize it’s been a long time since I’ve held someone’s hand. It’s been a long time since I’ve dated anyone, and here I am, already engaged. Quick turnaround.
He walks straight toward the door to the restaurant supply business and opens it, pulling me inside after him. I really don’t want to follow him. I have no idea what he’s planning or what he’s doing, but this is going to end badly.
We stop at the front desk.
Kenzie, who’s the receptionist, smiles at me. “Hi, Magnolia.”
Then she looks down at where Nash is still holding my hand. I try to pry it loose, but he hangs on.
“I’d like to talk to your boss,” he says.
Kenzie’s eyes go wide, and she jumps up to scurry toward Isabel’s office.
“Nash,” I whisper, leaning toward him, “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but seriously, she can’t be reasoned with. This is going to go badly for both of us.”
He whispers in my ear, “Remember, you’re pretending to trust me.”
“I never agreed to that,” I shoot back.
But then I see Isabel hurrying out of her office, following Kenzie back to the main desk.
Oh, this is going to be bad.
I wait for Isabel to start in on me, but she doesn’t even look my way. Her eyes are zeroed in on Nash.
“Hello, Mr. Whitlock. What can I do for you?” she asks.
My eyes go wide, and I stare at him. Mr. Whitlock?
She called him mister, not Nash. Not custodian. Mr. Whitlock.
“I heard there was a little mix-up with your paperwork.”
His face is blank, no emotion. Not the real Nash I’m starting to know. Nope. This is Mr. Business Whitlock.
Isabel has a flash of panic before she schools her expression again. “A paperwork mix-up?” She still refuses to look at me. “I don’t know what you mean by that.”
“Well, I understand you fired my fiancée for a mix-up involving paperwork, which was rectified the next day—a mix-up that involved you leaving a hazardous building and asking her to stay. You asked an employee of yours to stay behind and get your papers. You then fired her the next day for a mix-up that had happened when we were running down the stairs and bumped into each other.”
There’s a flash of anger on her face. I watch as Fred walks out of his office. He’s the CFO of Burlinson, and the man who offered to give me a work reference. He smiles when he sees me, but the smile falls from his face when he notices the intense staring contest going on between Nash and Isabel.
“I sure hope that someone leasing an office in my building wouldn’t treat their employees that way.”
Isabel grits her teeth and finally turns to look at me. “You didn’t tell me that Nash Whitlock was your fiancé.”
My eyes go wide when I finally realize what Nash introduced me as. “It didn’t seem relevant,” I squeak out, tugging at the hem of my shirt.
Before I can say anything else, Nash cuts in, “I’m assuming you can clear up this misunderstanding. And that she can be Fred’s assistant from here on out?”
Isabel nods rapidly, her demeanor completely changing. “Yes, yes, of course. She shouldn’t have been fired in the first place. I think it was just a high-stress day, and none of us knew quite how to get back on our feet after having to abandon a very important meeting.”
It was a meeting about paper plates, I think to myself, but there’s no need to make tensions any higher than they are right now.
“She’s welcome to start back today,” Isabel adds.
Nash shakes his head. “She’ll be starting back in another two weeks. I’m sure she has some paid vacation time she can take.”
Fred pipes up, “Yes, she does. She’s never taken her paid leave, and it accumulates.”
I smile at him, and he smiles back.
“I look forward to seeing you in two weeks, Magnolia,” Fred says with a warm smile. He hobbles back to his office.
Good grief, he’s older than I thought when I first started working here.
“Okay, thank you for clearing that up,” Nash says to Isabel. “I just wanted to make sure you knew it wasn’t Magnolia’s fault. I ran into her on the stairs and had my own papers with me, which caused the mix-up—which is why I brought you the other ones immediately the next day.”
Isabel nods quickly. “Yes, of course. I would never place the blame on Magnolia.”
I manage not to roll my eyes at that—by some miracle.
“Come on, sweetie. We’ve got to get home in time for dinner tonight,” Nash tells me as he turns and drags me toward the door. I have to take two steps for every one of his.
We make it to the elevator, walk inside, and he hits the ground floor button before I speak.
“You own this building,” I accuse him.
He has the good grace to look sheepish.
“You told me you were in infrastructure.”
He holds up his hands in a what can you do gesture. “I am…deeply invested in the infrastructure of this building.”
This time, I walk over and poke him in the chest with my pointer finger. “You’re very sly—you know that?” I accuse.
“And I just got your job back,” he says with a smile.
He’s right; he did just get me my job back. And like I told him earlier, I don’t have any pride to spare. I need this job. I reach up, wrap my arms around his neck, and hug him.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
Slowly, his arms come around me, hugging me back. “Of course. I’m sorry the mix-up happened in the first place, but I’m not sorry that you’re helping me with Grandpa.”
He pats my back awkwardly, and I finally let him go.
“Well, I’m glad I met you—and Grandpa.”
“You might not be glad you met my family after tonight.”
“Oh? What does that mean?”
“Well, the thing is, Grandpa and my dad had a big argument, and they were estranged for a lot of years. My grandpa only came back into our lives when I was about eight years old. Now some of the other family members are upset that he brought me back into the family. They view me as an interloper.”
“But you’re his grandson, right?”
“Yes, but I wasn’t raised like the other grandkids.”
“Now you have me really curious.”
Nash shakes his head. “They’ll probably be there tonight, but if anyone says anything awkward or rude to you, please tell me. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, and I’m not gonna let them talk to you that way.”
“You’re so sweet.”
“I’m just grumpy when it comes to people.”
The elevator dings, and the doors slide open. From there, we head back to his car and then to his grandpa’s house.