Chapter 10
Harper
We havea work meeting first thing on Monday and I’m barely awake for it. I’d been up half the night last night just trying to make sense of the fact that I was now officially Alexander Xavier’s fake girlfriend. I’d already gotten texts from his publicist suggesting different ideas for us to get more attention on ourselves as a new “it” couple in the city. Then she’d followed up with a list of events she thought we could potentially attend together, several of which I couldn’t imagine ever being invited to, let alone with Alex and me together as a couple, in public adoring one another for all eyes to see.
“Morning Harper,” my boss says as she sits down, focused on her papers and checking to see if the smart board screen is on.
“Morning.”
“How’d things go? I guess I missed out on the night’s events. A couple of the development folks who were there said there was quite the dust-up at the end of the night.” She finally looks up at me with concern, startling when she sees my face. “Oh my god! And your lip!”
My swollen lip has improved a lot since the night of the incident, but I was still nursing it back to a normal color, and the split wasn’t helping matters at all. Several more people wander into the meeting, and I cringe inwardly when they notice the same wound Eleanor did.
“Oof,” Anderson, one of the other senior curators says as he sits down.
“When were you going to tell us?” The head of the development office raises one perfect eyebrow at me as she takes her seat.
The meeting today was scheduled to discuss how the event went the other night and what we all can continue to do to help get the levy passed. It’s an awkward sort of dance we have to play because as part of the institution, none of us are allowed to outwardly lobby for the levy, but we can be available to answer questions and support other people who want to promote the passing of it. Which was why Violet was heading the event the other night. As a member of the PAC that’s leading the charge, she’s able to do what we can’t.
Without the levy the structural repairs to the building won’t be possible, the inspectors likely wouldn’t approve continued occupancy of the building, and the city will no longer be willing to pay the rent on the massive old building we couldn’t use. Without a building, we don’t have a museum and we’re already facing the need for budget cuts and staff reductions thanks to reduced attendance. We’re all feeling the pressure and it means every one of these meetings is like being thrown into a pressure cooker at the highest temperature.
“Harper?” the head of the development office, Ashley, says my name.
“What?”
“When were you going to tell us you’re dating one of the most famous players in the league?” She raises an eyebrow.
I have no idea why she thinks this is a subject for this meeting, or more importantly how she knows already. That’s something I’m going to have to find out quickly after this meeting. I’m guessing Sam had something to do with it.
“It’s relatively new. I didn’t think there was any reason to share.”
“I mean… have you considered talking to him about our problem? His high profile could get attention and votes.” Ashley gives me a pointed look.
“He was there at Violet’s for the event,” I counter.
“Yes but being there is one thing. He has a huge platform. Millions of followers on social media. People adore him. When he talks, they listen. Like when he wore those shoes last year and everyone had to run out and buy them. They sold out in a week. We could use that kind of star power.”
This is the way it is when things get desperate in the nonprofit world. There was no delineation between your personal life and your work life. Anything and everything had to be leveraged to save the cause. Most of the time I fell in line on that front, but the idea of leveraging Alex’s celebrity for this when we are already in an awkward situation makes me bristle. The last thing I want to do is make our dynamic any more complicated and asking for those kinds of favors is bound to make it more convoluted than it already is.
“As I said, it’s kind of new. I don’t like to ask him for those sorts of things.”
“But you know each other pretty well, right? For a while? You pointed him out to me. Wasn’t your ex-husband involved with him somehow?” My boss offers up.
She means well. Where Ashley is all strategy and cutthroat take-the-bull-by-the-horns attitude, my boss has a sweeter disposition. One where she’s a little aloof and clueless, and therefore offers up details like this that no one needs.
“My ex is his agent, yes,” I say quietly.
Anderson whistles under his breath. I want to kick him under the table. I feel the creep of embarrassment up my spine and I want to die that I’m having this conversation at a work meeting.
“Good for you.” Ashley gives me a sly grin, assessing me as she sees me through new eyes.
“Don’t we have more important things to talk about?” I point to the meeting notes in front of me.
“Sure, but please reconsider talking to him. It really could move the needle.” She shoots me a pointed look.
“I’ll think about it,” I say tersely, annoyed she won’t stop pushing.
* * *
Later that afternoonI’m sitting in my office, holding my phone and trying to think of a way to even approach Alex on this. The last thing I want to do is ask for a favor, but I’m kind of doing him a favor, aren’t I? Being the loyal girlfriend he doesn’t actually have. It’s really just an exchange of favors if I ask for his help. I could do this.
If I needed a favor from you… would you be willing?
ALEX
Depends on the favor, Saint
Well… Since you or Sam decided to let the public in on our budding relationship, someone at my work knows now and I’m being asked if my boyfriend could maybe show some public support for the levy or matching funds. I don’t want to ask, but also, I’m in this situation because we’re together so…
I was going to ask you and Violet what I could do anyway, so no problem. Just let me know what you need.
Really? That easy?
I mean, I’m sure I’ll find a way for you to pay me back.
He sends a little devil emoji after, and I give my phone the side-eye. Not that I would necessarily mind paying him back. Ugh. I knew this was a terrible idea. I’m already having little fantasies about him and his stupid smile and his stupid abs. I need none of it. He is a massive distraction. A thing that could never happen in real life even if we wanted it to because he is who he is, and I am who I am. Plus the laundry list of entanglements he has with Drew whom I want nothing to do with. And that’s all assuming he would betray his friend in the first place.
While I definitely could tell Alex was unhappy with Drew for what he’d done, they’d still been friends for three or four times as long as I’d known either of them. They went way back and given they both viewed women as entertainment more than partners, I doubt he’d risk shattering his friendship over me. The only reason this is working at all is that Drew is in on our little ruse and gave reluctant approval. That right there was enough to irritate me all over again—that I’m doing something with his approval and oversight, still, even after the divorce.
I just hope this stupid game we’re playing is over soon.