5. James
JAMES
You’re an idiot. That was the first intelligible thought that broke through James’s mind. Had he really, truly, just asked his rival to marry him?
But he had. And he’d do it again, in a heartbeat.
He couldn’t stand the thought of Lauren being deported.
She didn’t deserve that. For as long as he’d known her, she’d worked hard, at least as hard as he did — and maybe more.
She was the most competent, capable person he knew, and the fact that she was so torn up about this that she’d cried in front of him showed him just how serious the situation was.
James had wanted to help her find another client, but it was clear that wouldn’t work.
There wasn’t enough time. And she’d never accept a role at his company, even if that made the difference between being deported and staying in the United States.
So, impulsively, he’d suggested the only other option he could think of to keep her in the country.
“What did you say?” The tears had disappeared from Lauren’s eyes. Now she was staring at him as though he’d just grown a second head.
“I asked you to marry me.”
“So, I did hear right.” Lauren blinked, her arms slipping from their crossed position. “I thought I was imagining things.”
There was a long pause, then Lauren rolled her hand in a come on gesture. “Maybe you’d like to explain further? I doubt that you’re secretly in love with me.”
“What’s there to explain?” James closed the distance between them until he was resting his hands on the desk across from her. “If we get married, you can stay in the country.”
“That much I understand,” Lauren said. “What I don’t understand is what’s in this for you. Me leaving is great for you. You wouldn’t have to worry about trying to compete anymore.”
“I like competing with you,” James admitted.
“Our rivalry keeps me sharp. It keeps me focused. You make me think in new, creative ways. You push me to do my business in the best way I can, just so I can avoid losing clients to you. I won the Omial contract because I worked day and night, trying to beat you. Without you, one of the other PR companies that pitched probably would have snagged the contract.”
Lauren leaned forward to rest her hands on the table. “Are you serious?”
“About asking you to marry me?” James nodded. “I am.”
“And it’s really just because you enjoy competing with me?” Lauren asked.
“Yes.” James spoke calmly, clearly, while making eye contact.
He used all the tricks he knew to sell a client.
Inwardly, though, he knew he was lying. He did enjoy his rivalry with Lauren.
She did keep him focused. But there was also a small part of him that didn’t want to imagine his life without her.
James liked seeing her. He liked bantering with her.
He liked imagining that, in another world, there could have been something between them.
Although they weren’t even friends, if Lauren left, she would leave a hole in his life.
“So, this isn’t because you feel sorry for me?”
“No.”
Lauren laughed mirthlessly. “Then you really are delusional. How could you ever think that we’d work as a couple?”
“We wouldn’t be a couple,” James said quickly. “Not really. It would be a marriage on paper only. We’d keep everything separate: our businesses and our lives.”
“It’s not that simple.” Lauren shook her head. “Even if it were just a marriage on paper, we’d still have to convince people that we were actually together. I could be deported if the authorities thought I had a green card marriage.”
“It wouldn’t be that hard,” James said, though Lauren made a good point. A point he hadn’t considered yet. It was true that even a fake marriage came with real requirements. They’d probably have to live together. They’d definitely have to have some kind of ceremony.
“Regretting your offer already?” Lauren asked. There was a challenge in those blue eyes, and James rose to it — as he always did.
“No.” He raised his eyebrows. “Maybe you’re just too chicken to accept.”
Lauren scoffed. She straightened, rolling her eyes as she turned away. “Only you would try to make this into some sort of referendum on my bravery.”
“No.” James circled the desk and stood in front of her so he could meet her eyes. “Not only me. Weren’t you the one who challenged me to a wager based on pride just the other day? This is what we do. We challenge each other. We make each other better. And if you’re gone, that just ends.”
“Maybe it should.” Lauren looked away. “Maybe I just don’t belong here anymore.”
“You do.” James tried to catch her eye. “Come on, Lauren. This would only be temporary. We’d set some kind of cap — a year, maybe. And it would help us both. You’d keep your visa, and I’d keep my best competitor.”
Lauren sighed. Then she met his gaze. “If I were considering this — and I’m not — how would I know that you wouldn’t use this fake marriage to try to take over my company or gain leverage over me?”
“We’d sign an agreement. Beyond that, you’d have to trust me.”
Lauren sighed again. “I can’t do that. We’ve spent the last few years trying to destroy each other.”
“This is different,” James said.
“Is it?” Lauren shook her head. “I’m not so sure.”
“You can think about it,” James suggested. “Though you’re the one with a deadline.”
“Yeah.” Lauren nodded. “You’re right. I’ll take some time. This has definitely been the weirdest offer I’ve ever received. And I still don’t fully understand what you’d have to gain from it. But… thank you. I appreciate you trying to help. I guess.” She looked down.
Seeing her like this was almost worse than seeing her in tears. She seemed so vulnerable all of a sudden, completely unlike the fierce woman he’d gotten to know. Was James really the only person trying to help her? It was hard to imagine how alone she must feel if that were the case.
“Of course,” he said. “And I do mean it, Lauren.”
“You do, don’t you?” She looked up at him.
“For whatever reason, you really mean it.” Then, before James could respond, she stepped around him and headed for the door.
Apparently, she had forgotten that this was her office and that he was the one who should leave.
James could hardly blame her. This situation was completely unexpected, for both of them.
Lauren pulled open the door and disappeared into the hallway. The room felt very empty without her.
James looked around her empty office. She’d decorated it with pictures of natural scenes — waterfalls and redwood trees and snowy peaks.
There were no pictures of family or friends.
Did Lauren have family back in Canada whom she was excited to return to?
Did she have a future there? Maybe she was happy to leave San Valentino.
On her desk, there was a small figurine of a penguin.
It was completely out of place in the sleek, professional office, and James bent down to pick it up.
It fit neatly in the palm of his hand. Instantly, he realized he was snooping after having already seen Lauren in an uncomfortable position.
He was about to set the penguin down when the office door flew open.
Lauren stood, framed in the doorway, her eyes wide.
“You’re back,” James said.
“Tell me once more that you’re serious,” she said.
“I’m serious.”
She nodded, once. Briskly. “Then let’s do this.”