Chapter 10 - Clem
The only thing keeping me from obsessing about that kiss, or acting embarrassed around Rurik, was the fact that I hardly saw him in the whirlwind of the next two days. He didn’t bring it up at all, acting like it never happened, which stupidly hurt my feelings.
Of course, I didn’t want to talk about it, and I certainly didn’t want it to happen again, so this was the perfect way for him to handle it. The memory of the kiss kept popping up at inconvenient times, making heat rise up my cheeks, but it had to stay a memory.
There was a new guy staking out my apartment, and no amount of telling myself it was only my paranoia could convince me he wasn’t there to watch me. But why? It couldn’t be…
No, it couldn’t. That was over. There was no way he made it out to LA and found me. No possible way.
It was a cool day, but I was sweating in my new silk top as I headed to the hotel where the Koboyachis had arrived the night before.
I was taking Mrs. Koboyashi to lunch at Rurik’s cousin’s diner, hoping to show them a little American flair before dazzling them with the carefully curated Japanese feast later on tonight.
It wasn’t nerves overheating me. I was well studied on the couple we were trying to impress, and I looked impeccable in the clothes Rurik bought me for our little ruse.
It was the ruse itself. Every time I turned the steering wheel, the diamond on my finger dazzled in the sunlight. The beautiful new clothes hung heavy on me. I did believe we were the best company to bring over the new game system, so it wasn’t the lie that was eating me up.
It was the fact that it was a lie.
That damn kiss had reawakened the crush on Rurik I thought I had snuffed out.
But I didn’t want to be married at all, no matter who it was who put the ring there.
I had fought too hard for my freedom. I was just stressed out about the new guy who may or may not be watching me, and while I finally got confirmation that I could move into my new apartment, there was no guarantee it would be safer than the last.
I knew better than most that something like a coded gate wouldn’t stop someone who was truly determined to hurt me.
Taking a deep breath, shutting down any stress-related feelings for my boss that were definitely not real, I found the petite Japanese woman already waiting for me in the hotel lobby.
In her mid-thirties but looking no older than twenty-nine, she wore a casual top, jeans, and cute sneakers, smiling widely when I introduced myself.
She looked at my silk blouse and dressy trousers and laughed, instantly understanding that we had dressed for what we assumed was the other’s culture.
“I hope this is okay for the restaurant you’ve chosen,” she said in impeccable English. “And you must call me Erina. Mrs. Koboyashi makes me sound like Shin’s mother.”
I greeted her in Japanese, apologizing if I flubbed it. “I think I’m going to try to learn the alphabet,” I said, showing her the app I downloaded.
At the restaurant, I played the perfect wife as she showed me pictures of her adorable school-aged kids, two charming daughters. “They look so sweet. Just what I hope for,” I said, not a lie.
I was relieved when she soon made it clear that she was highly active in helping to run Koboyashi Corp, so I didn’t have to pretend I wasn’t involved with Gavrik Imports.
I tried to warn her not to fill up on the delicious diner food, hinting at what was in store later that night, but she tapped her perfectly flat stomach and laughed.
“I’m not coming to America for the first time and not stuffing myself.”
She was eager to visit Melrose Avenue and the famed Rodeo Drive, and Rurik’s cousin Mila, the consummate shopper, had told her favorite places to look out for us and roll out the red carpet. They weren’t disappointed when Erina spent an absolute mint on new clothes and jewelry.
I had been told to play along to the fullest extent, so the company card got a new workout as well, and we were both laden down with shopping bags when I dropped her off at the hotel later in the afternoon.
Then I had to fly to Khoroshiy to make sure everything was in place for dinner.
The chef was calm and contained while he showed me what he assured me was the freshest, most beautiful dead fish he’d ever seen.
The flowers arrived only a few minutes late, and I was busy making sure no petals were about to drop off or no leaves were even slightly wilted when Rurik showed up.
I sensed his presence as soon as he entered the private dining room, and whirled around.
He seemed to take up all the extra oxygen, but I quickly realized I was holding my breath.
He wore his regular work suit, already high-end and perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders and lean waist, but he had a garment bag slung over his shoulder, containing an even fancier suit.
He certainly didn’t turn bright red as he nodded a greeting to me, then quickly perused the room.
“You won’t find a single flaw,” I said.
“I didn’t expect to.”
Up close, I saw there was still the faintest hint of a bruise, and I grabbed my bag for the concealer I had matched to his skin the other night. “Just a tiny bit. I can still see it.”
He wrestled the small bottle out of my hand and dropped it back in my purse.
“Not necessary. I already had pre-dinner drinks with the big boss, and if Shin noticed, I don’t think it put him off.
” Only then did a grin transform his handsome face to something that should have knocked me off my feet. It almost did.
The man was too damn good-looking for my well-being.
“It went well?” I asked, taking a subtle step back. Smelling his cologne wasn’t helping.
“It went great.” He reached out and clapped me on the shoulder. Hearty, not at all sensuous. He really wasn’t thinking about the kiss at all anymore.
Good. That was a good thing.
“Now go get dressed,” he said.
We both met back in the dining room, and he looked more stunning than I imagined in the new suit, freshly shaved, and with sandy hair neatly contained instead of flopping across his brow. He looked like a classic movie star. His jaw dropped when he saw me, doing a whirling motion with his finger.
I twirled in the turquoise dress that fell to my knees in the most luxurious ripples of fabric, my feet feeling like they floated off the ground in strappy, sparkly heels.
Since I had been shopping to impress conservative people, there was nothing overtly sexy about the dress.
No plunging neckline, the sleeves went to my elbows, and it didn’t show a hint of thigh.
But the way his eyes ate me up as if I was in a string bikini gave me very gratifying tingles.
Only because I wanted to put my best foot forward for the deal.
“I like your hair up,” he said, his eyes moving from the top of my head and then down all over again. “You look… almost perfect.”
Pulling a box out of his inner jacket pocket, he snapped it open to reveal a necklace that made me gasp. Multiple delicate strands of gold were dotted all around with diamonds and turquoise, an oddly beautiful combination, and perfectly matched to my dress.
It was something I wouldn’t have known to dream about or wish for, but now that I saw it, I sighed. “It’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“No, that would be you,” he said, stepping closer to clasp it around my neck.
The way he looked at me already had me blushing, and the compliment set me on fire. His fingers were warm against my skin as he carefully arranged the strands, then his eyes met mine.
“You’re keeping this. No arguments.” His hand slid down to my shoulder, nothing hearty about this touch. “We’ve got this in the bag, Clem, I’m certain of it. And it’s all because of you.”
The praise was better than the compliment. Almost better than the gorgeous necklace I got to keep. A bonus well earned after working so hard to find Koboyashi Corp, and the courage it took to speak up about their game system when I was a mere assistant.
But that was all Rurik, since he stopped treating me like a mere assistant weeks ago, pushing me to my best, giving me the opportunity I never thought I’d get after everything in my life seemed broken beyond repair.
“Thank you,” I said, my throat closing up so that it barely came out as a whisper. I was thanking him for far more than the necklace, but he only touched one of the sparkling stones and stepped back with a brisk nod.
So, no more kisses. That was fine. The Koboyashis were led in by the host, and we started out with drinks as the real couple in the room jokingly wanted to celebrate Erina’s successful shopping spree.
Every course went off without a hitch, and the chef came in to speak in Japanese with them for a few minutes at the end, bowing out of the room with a massive smile on his face.
I breathed easily for the first time in a while, resting back in my chair.
Rurik and I exchanged a glance at the same time, both of us trying not to look too triumphant.
We saw them out to their car and then sat at the bar, where Rurik ordered the best bottle of champagne the restaurant had in stock.
“No, you’ll jinx it,” I said, bouncing in my seat with excitement.
He laughed at me, but he was just as excited as I was. “Impossible. How could that have been better? Erina loved you.”
It was true that we had become close in a short amount of time, something I didn’t expect since I thought she’d be much more reserved.
I honestly liked both of them and pushed aside a twinge of guilt at our subterfuge.
Gavrik Imports was the best company, and Rurik and I made a great team, even if we weren’t a true couple.
He was about to pop the cork on the insanely expensive bottle when his phone dinged, and we stared at each other with almost comical matching expressions of hope on our faces.
“Is it a confirmation that we got it?” I asked as he set the bottle down and pulled out his phone.
His face dropped. “It’s only a thank you message. They’ll be in touch after they meet with the other companies that are interested.”
“Oh no.” I slumped forward, resting my elbows on the bar. “It’s a good thing you didn’t pop that cork.”
This wasn’t in the bag after all. What went wrong? Did I go overboard somehow, or not do enough? I couldn’t bring myself to look at Rurik, who had to be fuming. So much for another bonus.
His hand settled lightly on my shoulder. I stared resolutely at the champagne that seemed to mock me now.
“Clem,” he said firmly, so that I turned to meet his gaze. Bracing myself for the tirade. His green eyes were soft, not full of rage. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Neither did I. It’s business, that’s all. They’ve got to meet everyone.”
“I hope you’re right.”
He laughed. “When am I not?” His hand slid down my arm to rest on my hand as he leaned closer. “I hope you don’t mind staying married to me a little longer. We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”