Chapter 12
TWELVE
DENVER, COLORADO
GEORGIA
The baggage claim area at Denver International is standing-room only. I’m standing near the escalator with a sign that reads, “Office Guest Pickup Username: GRB,” and silently rehearsing my list of lies.
My short red V-cut dress and matching stilettos aren’t the slightest bit comfortable, and I regret not wearing jeans and a simple T-shirt.
As a new horde of passengers comes down the steps, my phone buzzes with a familiar 800 number.
“Hello, may I speak to Miss Georgia Grey?” a woman asks.
“Yes this is she.”
“Miss Grey, I’m calling from The Office Guest,” she says. “I have some updates regarding your reservation.”
“Has his flight been delayed?”
“Not exactly…”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing to worry about, Miss.”
I wait for her to elaborate, to say something—anything, but I only hear other people chatting in her background.
“Um, hello?” I say. “Are you still there?”
“Oh, yeah sorry! Um…Who am I talking to right now?”
YOU called me! “You’re speaking to Georgia Grey…”
“Oh, right. The guy you booked had to cancel and he won’t be meeting you anymore.”
“What?” I drop my sign to the floor. “I’m literally standing in the airport waiting to meet him right now.”
“I’m sorry. He actually cancelled yesterday, but our system didn’t catch it until just now.”
Again, I wait for her to elaborate, but she gives me nothing.
“So, is this just a courtesy call to say ‘Sorry we screwed you over, but you’re shit out of luck’?” I ask.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Miss Grey.”
“That’s it?”
“We’re working hard to get you a comparable replacement as soon as we can,” she says.
“We’re currently working on a window of seven to ten business days.
Since we don’t offer refunds, we will also make sure to send our guest along with a special gift box of holiday cookies and treats for you to enjoy this holiday season. ”
I can’t believe this…
“Do you have any questions for me, Miss Grey?”
“Yeah.” I pick up my sign and head toward a waiting town car. “On a scale of one to ten do you have any idea how much you’ve screwed me over for the holidays this year?”
“I’m guessing a ten, but um…Should I take this to mean that I shouldn’t ask you to leave me a good review during the survey at the end of this call?”
“Ughhhh!” I hang up mid-scream.
Taryn
Squee! I’m so effin excited to meet your fiancé today! He better be as HOT as you claim!
Grandma Hattie
Quick question! We want him to join us in our annual flannel pajama photo, so what size shirt and pants does he wear?
Savannah
Do you think he brought an extra charger set that I can use? He’s a businessman, right?
I mute the group chat as my heart nearly jumps out of my chest. Damn near hyperventilating, I rock back and forth on the seat.
“You alright back there, Miss Georgia?” My driver, Charlie, eyes me from the rearview mirror.
“I’m totally fine.”
“You look like you’re about to vomit,” he says. “Should I take you to grab something while we wait on your fiancé?”
“Yes.” I nod. “Take me to the deepest sinkhole you can find and push me into it.”
“What?”
“You’ll need to give me a few minutes to write out my last will and testament, though,” I say. “I have a lot of valuable things to give away to my family.”
“Okay, Georgia…” He shakes his head and turns on the music. “Let me know when you snap out of your latest delusion.”
Shutting my eyes, I weigh my nonexistent options. I’m too close to the holidays to devise another excuse, and I know they’d never believe me. I also can’t risk the real “Dante” getting any satisfaction from seeing me walk around the resort without another guy at my side.
My phone rings again, and I don’t bother checking the screen before answering.
“Yes?”
“Hello! Is Miss Georgia Grey available to speak?”
“She is until she dies later today.”
“Uh, okay then. This is Hannah, a VIP specialist with The Office Guest.”
“Okay.” I brace myself for more bad news.
“Your cancelled date was generous enough to suggest an even sexier replacement, and I wanted to share the new pickup information with you.”
“You found me a new fiancé?” I open my eyes. “Already?”
“We have, Miss Grey,” she says. “Would you still like your ‘guest’ to know you as ‘GBG’ until pickup or would you like us to release your name and information now?”
“I’d like to wait until pickup.” I don’t want to get my hopes up too high for what “even sexier replacement” means just yet. “I’m already at Denver International waiting. Which airline is he arriving on?”
“It doesn’t look like he’s flying in a commercial aircraft,” she says. “It appears to be a private plane, and he’ll be landing at Colorado Springs airport within the next hour. Will you be able to meet him at that time?”
“Yes, of course,” I say. “Thanks for setting up such a nice flight for him and stuff. That was very sweet of your company.”
“Uh, sure thing!” She clears her throat. “We’ll call you again with verification for pickup.”
“Sounds great!” I end the call.
“My apologies about earlier, Charlie.” I let out a long breath. “Can you take me to the private airport?”
“Absolutely, Miss.”
An hour later, I’m waltzing around the private airport in awe. So far, I’ve watched four Gulfstream jets come and go, and I’m determined to add this place to one of my dream boards when I get home.
Assuming that my fiancé is on one of the waiting planes on the runway, I move closer to the windows and watch as they pull in front of the building individually.
A guy steps off the first plane, and I squint, hoping to get an early glimpse of his face.
With his sun-kissed hair and deep brown eyes, he’s definitely a cute replacement and some of my faith is restored in the app.
I smooth my dress as he approaches the door, but a woman in green rushes up to him and kisses his lips.
Sighing, I take a seat and decide to kill time the best way I know how. Calling Dominic.
“Yes?” he answers.
“I hope you’re miserable this holiday season,” I say.
“I hate to tell you that I’m not.”
“How are you spending it?”
“I’m helping my best friend Paul with something.”
“Did you get him a gift for whenever he becomes manager at that hedge fund?”
“I did, but he won’t need it,” he says. “Long story. How are you spending the holiday this year?”
“I’m getting engaged.”
“To who?”
“Does it matter?”
“Hell yes.” He sounds upset. “Does he know that you still call and talk to me?”
“He doesn’t care about that,” I say. “And it’s Dante.”
“The guy who fucking cheated on you last year?”
“He’s a changed man.”
“I doubt it. You can do way better than him, Georgia.”
“Don’t expect an invitation to our wedding.”
“I wouldn’t dare to come anyway.” He sighs. “What did he say to make you even think about going back?”
“I’m not serious about being engaged to him.” I relinquish part of the ruse. “I’m actually getting married to a different guy, and no, he doesn’t know about my phone calls to you.”
“When do you plan to tell him?”
“Before you do, since it sounds like you’re about to threaten me with that.”
“I’m in the middle of landing something,” he says, his voice terse. “I’ll call you a little later, and you need to pick up.”
He ends the call without another word, and I almost feel bad for lying to him.
Almost.
Another plane pulls up to the departing zone, and another business appears at the top of the steps.
Like the last guy, his suit is tailored to his body, but…He looks way sexier, and he looks familiar.
Dominic?
As he descends the step, I realize it’s him, and his usual staffers and a bodyguard are preparing his luggage.
Of course, he’s flying somewhere for the holiday.
I crane my neck and wait to see Amy emerge in one of her usual Versace or Gucci dresses, but no other woman appears.
Not even a flight attendant.
Confused, I call the reservation desk at the estate.
“Happy holidays from the Grace Estate, how may I direct your call?”
“Hey Dana, it’s me,” I say. “Can you do me a quick favor and run a quick name search on all incoming reservations between now and New Year’s Day?”
“Sure thing. What’s the name?”
“Check for Reiss, Reiss Enterprises, Dominic R LLC, and Dom R.”
“Got it.” She hums as her fingers tap against the keyboard. “None of those names are popping up for me. I even extended my search out by ninety days.”
“I appreciate it. Thank you!” I end the call as Dominic steps into the building.
Wherever he’s staying while he’s here, it’ll be second best, which is what he deserves for firing me.
Before I can turn my head, he spots me.
Stopping mid-stroll, he slowly looks me up and down before coming my way.
“Georgia?”
“Get your eyes checked,” I say. “I’m not that person, and that’s not my name.”
He laughs. “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting on my fiancé. We just discussed him on the phone, remember?”
“Right.” He rolls his eyes. “I guess he does pretty well for himself if he can afford to fly into this airport.”
“Yeah, he’s far wealthier than you.”
“I doubt that.” He’s looking me over again, and it suddenly feels like we’re alone in this terminal, like he’s seconds away from picking up where we left off in the office last year.
“Happy Holidays, Dominic. You can run along with your life now.” I motion for him to move, but he doesn’t budge.
“You look sexy as fuck in that dress,” he says. “Does your fiancé know you’re out tempting someone like me with it?”
“Tell you what,” I say, “Let’s call him and see what he thinks. I have to warn you, he’s pretty possessive when it comes to me.”
“I would be, too.” He doesn’t look the slightest bit threatened.
I call The Office Guest’s automated line, giving them the right to release my information to the guest.
“Yes, sweetheart.” I pretend like there’s not a machine on the other end. “I’m standing in the terminal right now, and I can’t wait to fuck you hard multiple times during our amazing hot and sweaty sex, and feel your cock in my mouth. Okay, love you bye.”
Looking surprised, Dominic finally steps away from me, but not far enough.