Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Hope
Okay, I admit it. The bed in his penthouse was comfortable. I blinked at the clock on my bed. The blackout blinds truly worked, since I had no idea it was already ten o’clock.
Time to start the pretense. But I lay in bed, remembering having Charlie beside me in those hotel rooms. The pillows in his house lacked his smell that made me ache, but my body was fully aware he’d been here.
I stood, cleaned up, and decided to grab one of the outfits in the closet.
He’d ordered me some, but when I opened the door, my heart thudded.
Everything was designer. While I wasn’t as fashion forward as my friends, I went up on my tiptoes.
It would be nice to wear clothes that made Isabel say, "Wow.
" I grabbed Valentino jeans and a frilly pink Valentino shirt that had ruffles from the collar to the bottom and all down the way down the sleeves.
As I finished dressing, I grabbed my phone from the charger and read my emails.
My eyes widened as I realized one of the places where I'd send my application wanted an interview. I closed my eyes, smiling. I wasn’t entirely blackballed. And if I got a job, I would have something to fall back.
I tugged on socks that wouldn’t be seen in shoes and headed out to the dining room. As I saw Charlie sitting at a table with a seat set for me, I blinked.
“Did your father already write out the letter of recommendation?”
He shrugged, and his face looked blank. “I told him what happened to you because of me, and he said he wanted to meet you. Why?”
Maybe he was why I needed to be grateful.
Mr. Fuller came in with two carafes. He poured Charlie tea then let me choose.
I pointed to the coffee, and he made me a cup.
Charlie wasn’t blinking at having another guy around, so I said, “Because I have an interview in a few days. It’s marketing for a fashion magazine, which is slightly different than television advertising but totally doable. ”
Fuller left, and Charlie placed his hand near mine on the table. “I’m happy for you.”
I took a deep breath then squeezed his hand briefly. Rehabilitating his image would help my own, and I would be a fool to walk away now. Besides, I liked keeping my word. “If I get it, I promise I’m going to keep my end of the deal.”
“Good.”
My heart was going fast, but I gazed at him. “Can I ask you a question?”
He sipped his plain black tea. “Go for it.”
Goosebumps grew on my arm. I hadn’t realized I would be nervous. I met his stare. “What happens if you’re found out that you hired me?”
He put down his cup and stared at his plate. “Then I have to quit, and I have no more backup plans.”
Charlie was a mystery. I blinked. “Why do you have to quit?”
He folded his hands in front of him. “Because I bet Kir I’d prove I was responsible, or I’d quit.”
I’d been so self-involved and accepted the deal without asking this question. I put honey on my toast. “It’s that extreme with him?”
He stared at me as he had cheese and walnuts on his toast. I then took an avocado slice and had a perfect piece of breakfast.
He blinked. “When he was studying for school exams, I was the one outside looking to run away on my motorcycle, on my Jet Skis, mountain-climbing adventures… basically, anything that didn’t take life seriously.
He also did sports, but for him, it was to forget what was on his mind; for me, it was my life. ”
That fit in with the devil-may-care version of him I’d let into my life earlier.
Now my lips thinned, and I swallowed air as I realized I'd thrown my lot in with him despite what I knew about him. So I had to be mature and honest. “I’m afraid if we’re caught and I take a job, this job that your dad helped me land, then I’d lose it all again. ”
He sat up. “I could ask him today if he did anything.”
“Thank you.” My heart pounded.
We ate our breakfasts, and I hoped I would land another advertising job. It was the one thing I’d ever been good at.
As we finished, Charlie placed his napkin on his plate. “Are you ready?”
“For?” I asked.
He blinked. “My parents.”
I tensed. I’d never been taken home to meet anyone’s family. I knew it was coming, but I hadn’t realized we started our ruse, as I asked, “Your what?”
He stood. “I told you last night.”
All I remembered was how he'd made my friends laugh whenever they’d tried to be serious. He had a gift. “I’m at a loss for what to wear.”
He shrugged. “Suntan lotion.”
I raised my eyebrow. “That’s it?”
He pointed at the door. “We’re flying to the private island, and there will be clothes there to pick from.”
My jeans and long sleeves weren’t beach anything. I shook my head and tugged on my shirt. Then I returned to my room and quickly found a Fendi printed floral and Prada sunglasses. This looked beachy. Then I reached for the Jimmy Choo sandals and headed to the door.
“You look great.”
He was waiting for me and directed me up a flight of stairs. I took a breath. “Thank you.”
My eyes widened as we reached a helicopter, then I looped onto his arm and stood still. “Charlie, can I ask you to be serious before we leave?”
He put his hands in his pockets and nodded. “Sure, what’s going on?”
The crew started the engine. I wasn’t sure he heard me as I shouted, “I have a string of bad relationships where the men I let in my life all… treated me like I was fun for the party but not the kind a guy built a life with or brought to his parents. Why do you think I can pull it off?”
He directed me inside, and when the doors closed and the sounds of the blades lessened, he sat back.
“You’re cute and sweet, and you ask questions about my interests without judging, and I like being near you.
The fact you easily won over those designers in Paris means you’re good in crowds with me at your side. ”
As we took off, I clutched my seat and closed my eyes.
Nothing in this lie felt safe at all, including his answer.
When I finally glanced at him and we passed the Manhattan skyline, I said, “For now. I mean this is all fake, and parents generally have more protective instincts when it comes to their kids.”
His smile caught me off guard. “I was talking about Paris, and my parents will like whoever I like.”
My stomach twisted. None of this felt right. “I’m going to take your word for it, but you were warned.”
I tensed and closed my eyes, holding his hand tightly, as we passed the water. When I peeked in the distance, I saw the Statue of Liberty. But I stilled as I realized we were heading to the airport. Then we switched to a private jet, and I gazed around at the leather seats.
How in the world had he flown back with me on a commercial jet if he had a plane with a kitchen, a bed, a living area, and desks? He didn’t care, though, as he went right to the cockpit.
I knew that was not the place for me. We spent the flight eating together, but otherwise, I was gawking while pretending everything was fine.
We landed on a small island. As we deboarded, he led me to golf carts, and we were whisked to the only house on the island.
The word house was too tame for the white gleaming mansion surrounded by pools and beaches. People were already inside. I grabbed a small piece of chicken on a stick and popped it into my mouth when I thought no one was looking as we walked through.
Charlie took my hand as I finished my hors d'oeuvres we walked right to the older couple in the center of the room. My eyes widened as he said, “Maman, Pedar, this is Hope.”
I squeezed him tighter and whispered, “Don’t let go of my hand.”
His mother wore lace in a way I envied. I was obviously couture, but it was her smile that caught me off guard as she said, “Aren’t you pretty? And I’m so happy for both you and Charlie.”
My stomach twisted, but I wasn’t sure why her words cut through me. “You are?”
“I was worried Charlie was never going to find someone to want to build a life together. He’s struggled for years with his charm getting in the way of seeing that a man only ever needs one woman.” She spoke as I shook her husband’s hand.
I trembled because he was New York royalty in the flesh who clearly knew everyone who was everyone, and he and his wife had created this elegant bubble we were in right now.
I glanced to my side and nodded. “Charlie is a flirt.”
One woman waved at Charlie's mother, so she excused herself. Charlie was horrible with introductions as he walked past a group. “Hope, these are my older brothers and their wives.”
I met the gazes of everyone in the line. “Nice to meet everyone.”
The women all stared at me, and I froze, unsure what to do, though all had kind faces. I needed to get a grip fast. Then we got to the single men’s table.
Charlie stopped and pointed at a dark-haired man. “And this is Kir.”
He blinked then said calmly, “Charlie has told us he’d found someone. I didn't believe it until now.”
I couldn't breathe, and my skin had pins and needles. Fuck me. We can't pull this off . A waiter offered me a champagne, which I took and gulped as I looked around.
Every one of the women was gorgeous, but all the men were in suits, including Charlie. I tugged on my shirt, which was beachy, and raised my eyebrow. “Why is everyone all dressed up?”
“Gerard and Ali are getting married. It’s why we’re here.”
My palm went to my forehead, and I closed my eyes. “Charlie, I asked what to wear. That’s when you say, ‘My brother is getting married.'”
“Sounds like my brother.” Kir laughed and walked away.
Caught. He’d never believe we were a couple now.
Charlie said as he hugged me, “I’m distracted when I’m near you, sweetheart.”
I cupped his face and, for one second, forgot where we were. “I asked a direct question, and I expect an answer.”
“I’m sorry. When I’m near you, I stop caring about details.”
Kir was with the others, and they were all staring at us. Heat rushed to my face, and I took a deep breath. All couples fought. And they thought we were in love. So I smiled up at Charlie instead of continuing. “That’s super sweet of you, but now I don’t know what to wear.”
His mother came and placed her hand on my back. I jumped, since I was sure this was it, that we were done. I turned, and his mother said, “I overheard, dear. We have tons of clothing trunks from designers. Go pick what you want to be photographed in, dear.”
Overreacting was my new normal, it seemed. I tilted my head. “Photographed?”
She directed me away from Charlie. “Every fashion magazine will want pictures of us. So designers offer clothes to be seen in.”
Isabel would have been a better choice for Charlie, but I cringed at the thought. I would never want to share him, but I said as we walked into a huge room full of clothes, “I’m starting to understand.”
Charlie popped his head in. “I promise to share more information with you.”
His mother waved him out with the "women only" line. I glanced around, and there were gowns and dresses, with some hung on hooks but tons just on hangers. Boxes of shoes were in a corner, and honestly, this was nicer than any store on Fifth Avenue.
“Hope, dear, type in your phone number in my phone so we can get you on the family calendar. Then you won’t have to depend on Charlie.”
So she knew her son. I did as she told me, and I typed her name. “Thanks, Mrs. Norouzi.”
“Call me Roxanne,” she said then left.
I sorted through some clothes, and the door opened. I glanced over to see who it was, and I shook my head. He’d been told no, but I wasn’t complaining. Instead, I said, “I like your mom, Charlie.”
He sat on a chair meant for trying on heels, though he seemed completely confident in himself. “See? Everything is going to be easy as pie.”
I grabbed a blue Sachin and Babi jewel-neck sleeveless dress and said, “Let’s not tempt fate there.”
I pointed him to the door. “Darling, what could go wrong?”
I met his gaze and wondered how he tempted fate so easily, but I said, “We’ll talk about that later.”
He left, and I quickly changed. I refused to be the reason a bride waited to get married or to do anything to spoil anything Roxanne Norouzi did. If I had a mom, I would have hoped she was as nice.