Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
“I , um—” Liliana pulled back and shook her head as if to clear it. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.” She laid her hands in her lap, a prim position that did nothing to dispel the lustful thoughts racing through my mind. The taste of her lips. The feel of her skin. Using my hands and my mouth to explore every inch of her body until she was begging for mercy.
Jesus, Graham. Get control of yourself.
This was a business arrangement, nothing more. That was all I could offer, all it could ever be.
Before I’d realized what was happening, she’d stood, gathering her purse. “I’ll, um—” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder.
“Sleep on it,” I offered, wondering if she felt as off-balance as I did. “We can talk tomorrow.”
“Yeah.” She looked anywhere but at me. “Yes.” She headed toward the bowl of rice where her phone was resting
“Leave it. It’s not like your phone is going to work right now anyway. I’ll have someone take a look at it and return it to you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, but it’s my problem. I’ll figure it out.”
I placed my hand over hers. “Let me help.”
She appraised me. “If you’re sure.”
“Yes. Now, can I walk you back to your room?” I escorted her to the door, thinking some space might be a good thing. Perhaps she’d been right to pull away. If she hadn’t… I shoved my hands in my pockets, unwilling to let myself consider what might’ve happened.
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m good.” She hovered on the threshold. “Well, um—” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Good night.”
“Night.”
She turned for the elevators, and I braced my shoulder on the doorframe, trying to rein myself in. What the fuck are you doing?
That had been so uncharacteristic. So unexpected and spontaneous. When I’d asked Lily to come back to my room, I’d planned on asking her about her reviews. Not proposing that she become my wife. But my gut had told me to ask her, and my gut was never wrong.
I sighed, watching as she disappeared into the elevator. Then, I closed the door to my suite before grabbing my computer to send a quick email to Carson with some instructions. With that finished, I debated my next steps. I spun my grandfather’s ring on my pinkie finger, tempted to log on to the hotel’s security system to track the cameras for Liliana.
What the hell was wrong with me? I buried my head in my hands.
I’d never been this…concerned about a woman who wasn’t family. But something about Lily had me twisted up in knots. Or maybe it was just the situation.
I had a lot riding on this. It was an unorthodox solution, to be sure. But that was nothing new. I was used to devising creative solutions to complex problems. I had to in my line of work.
Based on everything she’d told me, and everything I’d researched online about her architect, the plans, and the area, I wasn’t worried about my investment in the chateau. My gut told me it was a good bet, and my gut never steered me wrong.
As to my future wife, I supposed only time would tell. Fortunately, we were working with a strong foundation. We knew and respected each other. And our history would make our love story more believable. We definitely had chemistry—that wouldn’t be a problem.
At least, I hoped it wouldn’t. Judging by my body’s reaction to her, I wasn’t so sure.
I took a deep breath and straightened, a restless energy coursing through me. I tapped my fingers against my thigh, beating out a fast-paced rhythm. Shower, right. I need to shower.
I switched on the water, setting the temperature to warm. Steam billowed over the glass enclosure, and I stripped out of my clothes before stepping inside. I pumped some shampoo into my hand, the scent of lavender relaxing and familiar. It was the smell of home. Of my garden and memories of my grandmother. Of hard work, understanding, love.
It had been fourteen years since my grandparents’ passing, and while their loss had become more bearable, I still missed them deeply. I missed my grandfather’s steadying presence. His confidence and surety. I’d always looked to him for guidance and answers. And I’d always turned to my grandmother for her silent understanding.
And now, they were gone.
I inhaled slowly for a count of four and then exhaled on a long, slow breath as I pushed away the memories. I finished washing up and then dried myself before putting on a clean robe. There was a knock at the door—short and swift. Carson.
He’d been fast, or I’d been preoccupied.
I headed over and checked the peephole, then unlocked the door to let him in. “Any issues?”
Carson shook his head. “Two new phones, just as you requested.”
I took the plain one from him. “Thank you.”
I was about to slide it into my pocket when it started vibrating with unread notifications. I silenced it but quickly skimmed the family text thread where Jasper had kindly shared some pictures of me in the pool. I ignored them. I’d deal with the second phone once Carson was gone.
When I glanced up at Carson, his attention was on Liliana’s pile of wet clothes, a curious expression on his face.
“Sorry. I—” His eyes darted between my robe and the bedroom door, which was closed. He lowered his voice. “I didn’t realize you had company.”
“I don’t.”
“Oh.” He rocked on his heels. “Okay. I just assumed…”
He clearly had questions, but he was smart enough not to ask them. It was one of the things I valued most in him—or any assistant—apart from loyalty. Discretion.
“How’d the rest of the event go?” I asked.
“It was great,” he said. “Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves.”
“Good.”
“Did you want to make a statement about the party? Several guests captured photos and videos of the—” he cleared his throat “—incident. But Jackson and I already had them removed from the devices before they were returned to their owners.”
Shit. I hadn’t even considered that. I’d been so focused on Liliana, on my proposal, that I hadn’t even stopped to think about how our fall into the pool might reflect badly on the hotel or overshadow the event and the opening. That was odd. I pushed away the thought, chalking it up to stress over my precarious situation with the board.
That said, the pool incident might not be such a bad thing. All our guests, including my siblings, had witnessed Lily and me together. Maybe we could spin this as part of our story.
“Good,” I said, even more grateful for Carson and his foresight. “Thank you. I don’t intend to remark on the event. But we’ll need to have Liliana sign a statement detailing her version of events and releasing us from liability.”
“Liliana,” he mused. “The woman who fell into the pool. I got the impression you know her.”
“She was my assistant two years ago.”
He arched one eyebrow. It was subtle, but I’d still seen it. “She used to work for you?”
“Mm. You can deliver the statement to the presidential suite tomorrow morning, along with her new phone.”
“Is there a certain time you’d like that taken care of by?” he asked, though I suspected that wasn’t what he’d truly wanted to say.
“Before nine.”
He made a note on his phone. “Will do. Anything else?”
I considered it briefly, then said, “Make sure the private jet is on standby. I might be heading back to LA early. If so, I’ll also need an appointment at Cartier.”
He arched an eyebrow in surprise, but he said nothing except, “Of course.”
“Thank you, Carson. That will be all for now.”
He let himself out.
In the short time we’d been talking, my family text thread had devolved even more. After Jasper had sent everyone a picture of me in the pool with Liliana, Knox and Nate had provided their own quips. Sloan had shared a GIF of some guy in historical clothing climbing out of a pond, and then they were taking a poll between me and some guys named Mr. Darcy and Anthony Bridgerton. I had no idea what they were talking about, but I rolled my eyes and ignored them. I had bigger things to focus on.
I was putting all the pieces into place to act on my plan, but it didn’t feel real. Was I crazy to consider marrying Liliana? Or was it brilliant?
When the arrangement ended, I’d have accomplished all my goals and then some. Even so, I worried there was some angle I was missing. Something that would leave me vulnerable. I glanced at the clock and decided to text Pierce.
Me: Can you come to my room? It’s time-sensitive.
Less than five minutes later, I was letting Pierce in.
He gave my robe a pointed glance. “I’m not used to such casual attire for our meetings,” he teased, following me over to the sofa. “What’s going on?”
“How fast can you draft a prenup and get a marriage license in California?”
Despite Liliana’s reservations, I was positive she would agree. How could she not, given the circumstances? She was desperate.
Was I a bad person for taking advantage of her situation? Maybe. Or maybe I was merely proposing a mutually beneficial arrangement. She didn’t have to say yes.
He spluttered. Coughed. “Come again?”
In the past, I’d always been opposed to the idea of marriage. Mostly because I couldn’t imagine anyone I’d want to spend my life with. I still couldn’t, but Liliana and I would have a business agreement. A partnership founded on mutual goals. Of a limited duration.
I explained, and Pierce listened quietly, only occasionally interjecting. Finally, he said, “I know I suggested this—mostly as a joke. But as your lawyer, I feel compelled to point out the risks.”
“I’m aware of the risks. But without risk, there is no reward.”
And the potential reward was substantial. According to the terms of my grandfather’s will, if I married by the age of forty-five, I’d receive an additional ten percent of the Huxley Grand shares. An equal percentage coming from all board members who weren’t his blood relatives. If I didn’t marry by the required age, I’d forfeit that advantage and have to find another way to gain the upper hand. Or otherwise continually be at the mercy of the board.
In the past, I’d had enough allies on the board. I hadn’t wanted to sour those relationships by taking away their shares, nor had it been necessary to maintain the control I needed. But with Steve gone, and my inability to acquire a majority of the shares, that argument was less and less compelling.
“I get that, but if you’re caught…” He blew out a breath. “You could not only lose the extra shares but your position as CEO. Hell, Graham.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “It’s technically fraud. You could go to jail.”
“It’s not going to come to that.”
“I hope not.” He leaned back. “Do you trust Liliana?”
“I wouldn’t have suggested it to her if I didn’t.”
“Wait.” He paused, eyes flashing to mine. “What? You already talked to her about it?”
“Briefly,” I said.
“Please tell me you had her sign an NDA.” Concern lined his tone and his features. “Her old one expired last year. And unless you’re suggesting that marriage is somehow a trade secret, it’s not covered.”
“She won’t say anything. And even if she did, it sounds so outlandish, no one would believe her.”
“Jesus, Graham.” He groaned. “Are you even listening to yourself right now?”
“I can trust her,” I gritted out, even though I knew he was right. NDAs were essential, especially with something as explosive as this.
“You better hope you’re right.”
Yes, marrying her would help me accomplish my goals. But I’d been driven by a deep and intense need to help her. Not that I was going to tell Pierce that. He’d only be more determined to talk me out of it.
“What about her blog? Her negative reviews on the Huxley properties?”
“It was never about the negative reviews, and you know it.”
“You’re telling me her reviews didn’t bother you at all,” he challenged.
“Honestly,” I said in a calm tone, “I hated that part of me knew she was right. And I was fucking annoyed that I couldn’t figure out her identity for the longest time.”
“And now?” he asked.
“I admire her. I’ve always admired her, you know that.”
The silence was so loud I could practically hear him thinking.
“Even so, I thought you were opposed to marriage, period.”
“I am. Was . But that was because I thought it was forever.” Because my wife would expect something I couldn’t give—Vulnerability. Connection. Devotion. “This…” I sighed. “This would be a business arrangement.” And I knew how to navigate those. Personal relationships, especially romantic ones, not so much.
Though there had been nothing businesslike about that almost-kiss. The feel of her skin was still seared on my brain. It was as if there’d been this invisible thread tugging me toward her. Urging me to touch. Kiss. Claim.
I pushed away the thought, telling myself it was a good thing Liliana had pulled away. It wasn’t like it meant anything.
“A business arrangement. Right.” He scoffed, doing nothing to hide his skepticism.
So, I explained Lily’s project and her proposal that we spend ten days a month at the chateau.
“I know I suggested it, but this all just seems so out of character. I mean, hell, you rarely date.”
“I don’t date.” It was a pointless waste of time.
I detested small talk. And the women I’d dated in the past had always tried to change me and then been disappointed when they couldn’t.
“Exactly,” Pierce said. “And now you’re going to ask everyone to believe you’ve suddenly had this huge change of heart? And right before your forty-fifth birthday. It looks suspicious.”
No shit. I’d rarely dated anyone long enough to introduce them to my family. The few times I had, it had backfired. They’d been charmed by Nate. Enamored with Knox. Infatuated with Jasper. It had only served to magnify our differences and my shortcomings.
But I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I’d exhausted all my other options.
“Wouldn’t spending ten days with her every month in France help with that?” I pointed out.
“I mean…yeah. I guess.”
I only had six months until my forty-fifth birthday. Yes, my marriage to Liliana would likely seem a little too convenient. But I was running out of time.
Hell, sometimes, I felt as if I were racing the clock. I was closing in on the age my dad had been when he’d died in a plane crash that had also claimed my mom’s life as well as those of my aunt and uncle. It felt so long ago and yet as if it had happened just yesterday.
“Even so, you’re going to need to do something more than that.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“A honeymoon would definitely be a good start.”
“Honeymoon?”
“It’s this trip that newlyweds go on. Romantic. Alone. Lots of sex.”
“I know what a honeymoon is, smartass.”
“Good. Then you’ll realize that a honeymoon would not only help cement the legitimacy of your story, it would give the two of you some time away from everyone else and all their questions.”
He made a good point.
“What about the merger?” I asked. “I can’t just leave in the midst of all this.”
“Leave that to me. As soon as you’re married, I’ll get the ball rolling. I’m sure between Jasper, Sloan, and me, we can handle it.”
I knew he was right, but I still found it difficult to step back. Even when I knew it was temporary. When I knew stepping back for the sake of a “honeymoon” would be in the best interest of the company in the long run.
“We could stay at the chateau. That’s romantic, and Lily would be happy to go there sooner rather than later.”
“Yes, but Graham?—”
“Yeah?” I was only half paying attention, my mind already spinning with possibilities.
“If you want people to believe you’re a man besotted with his new wife, then you need to take that time away from work. Otherwise, it’s just business as usual, and people won’t think anything has changed.”
I grimaced, realizing he was right. Damn it. “You make a good point. I just hope Sloan and Jasper will understand.”
“You’ve never taken a vacation. I’d say it’s long overdue.”
“You’re one to talk.” Pierce was just as much of a workaholic as I was.
“Yeah. Yeah.”
“Speaking of your siblings, don’t you think they’ll have doubts?”
I shrugged. “You know how my family is. They might be suspicious at first. But hopefully, they’ll be so thrilled, they won’t question it too much. And if they do, Lily and I will be sure to sell it.”
“You better hope so,” Pierce said in a dark tone. “Because if you do this and something goes awry, you’d want them to have plausible deniability.”
Liliana too . It was part of the reason I hadn’t told her my true motivations for this marriage proposal. I’d told her enough to make my reasons seem believable. She didn’t need to know about the shares.
It was better for me. Better for both of us, really.
“I have a plan,” I told him, trying to project certainty.
“You typically do. But despite your best efforts to plan for every outcome, human emotion is always unpredictable.”
I wanted to roll my eyes. “Liliana knows what this is. And so do I.”
“Okay.” His tone betrayed his skepticism. “I hope you’re right.”
I frowned. “What are you not telling me? Are you concerned I won’t be able to pull this off?”
His silence had my gut churning. If Pierce didn’t think it was possible, then I wasn’t sure it was worth the effort to try. He knew me better than almost anyone.
“I probably shouldn’t tell you this. I’ve never told anyone this, and absolutely no one can know,” Pierce said, and I arched my eyebrow, intrigued. “Nate and Emerson’s engagement was fake at first. And they couldn’t stand each other. But if they could convince everyone they were in love, so can you.”
I remembered the tension between them. But also, the attraction. It had been obvious from the start. I’d always figured that was why they couldn’t stand each other—because they couldn’t have each other.
But a fake engagement? I would’ve believed it of Nate but not Emerson. Plus, Nate was an actor. He had lots of experience playing pretend. Whereas I… I blew out a breath. I hated small talk. I struggled with romantic relationships. And now, I was going to ask everyone to believe I was madly in love? With my former assistant?
Even so, I found myself asking, “You’re serious?”
“One hundred percent.” Pierce’s expression didn’t change. He wasn’t joking. “And look how well that turned out.”
I didn’t ask for details, and he didn’t offer any. Nate was happy, and that was all that mattered. He and Emerson were a good fit, and Emerson was great with Nate’s daughter, Brooklyn. Nothing like his greedy ex-wife.
“I’m just relieved we’re finally rid of Trinity.”
“Thanks to you,” Pierce said.
I shrugged. I was happy I could help in some small way.
Trinity had gotten what she deserved, and Nate no longer had to worry about her manipulative bullshit. Brooklyn—and Nate—had deserved so much better than that toxic, selfish woman.
“Whatever you decide—” Pierce clapped a hand on my shoulder “—I’ll support you. Just remember, things don’t always go according to plan.”