11. Dani
DANI
“This is, um…”
Moment of truth.
Colette already didn’t believe I had a tall, rich, handsome billionaire. Now I have to show that he and I were oh-so in love and had been for the past three months.
I grab Graham’s arm. He looks down at me like, What the fuck?
I release him.
“Sorry,” I say, realizing that sounds weird, then put my hand on his back instead.
It’s awkward. We’re standing too far apart.
“Uh, Graham Richmond, meet… my friends.”
“It’s so good,” Colette drawls out, “to finally meet you.”
She steps up to him, perched prettily in her white five-inch So Kate heels, and gives him a kiss on the cheek, then she runs her thumb over the barely there mark.
“Did Dani tell you we grew up together? Our mothers are best friends, and so are we.” She links her thin arm with mine. “So we’re practically family, her and me. Oh, I have some stories I could tell you about Dani when we were kids.”
“If you tell me all of them, I’ll buy you a drink.” Graham smirks at me over his shoulder as he walks away with her.
Fuck you, he mouths.
No, screw you.
I had to get kidnapped, gosh darn it, to get this man.
“Um, wait… Colette—”
The Girl Squad rolls their eyes, and Colette blinks at me, annoyed.
“Do you know where Jeremy is?”
“You and your mother baby that man. Honestly, you’re lucky we grew up together, otherwise no woman would have wanted him.” Colette twirls her hair and smiles up at Graham. “You better be careful. You might have Jeremy coming to live with you and Dani.”
Graham’s mouth screws up in a sneer. “Dani’s not living with me.”
“We love a king who sets boundaries,” Maya chirps at him.
“And who knows how to wear a suit.”
The Girl Squad titters. They smell weakness.
“Come on. Let’s get you a drink, Graham.” And just like that, Colette swoops in and steals my fake boyfriend.
“I’m just going to find Jeremy,” I say to their retreating backs.
Gosh, they look perfect together—like hashtag couples goals.
Colette deserves Graham. Maybe she’ll have him as her first affair partner when she gets married.
I stab a text message into my phone, looking up every so often and watching the Girl Squad flirt with Graham while he buys them drinks.
I hate that Graham looks so amazing there in the upscale bar, like he’s one of the pieces of expensive artwork.
Jeremy: Why are you texting me? I’m in the car.
Dani: Send me a photo.
Piper: I am in the car with him.
Dani: OMG thank you!!!
Dani: I owe you.
Piper: Great, I have a self-improvement wish list.
I look back at Colette and Graham. She’s staring up at him, and he’s looking at her intently.
I should be mad, and I should be sad, but I’m just resigned—defeated.
This is how it always goes.
Colette is always the girl that all the guys want.
I’m always the girl that guys can’t get away from fast enough.
I should go over there, hang on the periphery as the floater friend, and try to get at least a little crumb of affection from my fake boyfriend.
He looks at me when I trudge over and turns to leave the group.
Colette notices.
I want to sink into the floor.
Graham hands me a glass of wine as he passes by. “Here. You’re more tolerable when you’re drunk.”
“This was such a mistake.” I dig my palms against my eyes.
I’m smearing the makeup that Piper carefully helped me put on, but what does it matter?
I’m pathetic and delusional, and Graham proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’m unlovable—and he’s right, because who loves a girl who is desperate for her kidnapper’s affections?
It’s unfair that he’s hot.
The Girl Squad, plus other women in the office who got the memo about how chic girl-boss investment bankers should look, float around him.
Graham is the main attraction at the party. Even the Svenssons, who usually don’t go to these types of department-level events, have made an appearance just so they can talk to him.
Everyone is chatting to each other, and they keep looking back at me then to Graham.
I tug at the dress Mom insisted I wear. It was actually one of the more flattering options.
Sure, it isn’t the sleek white blouse, black pencil skirt, and sky-high heels that the other women at the office wear.
But I thought it looked a little trendy: black with a wide belt, flouncy bow at the neckline, cinched at the waist.
Graham didn’t even notice enough to give me a snide remark.
Applause breaks out when my brother enters just in the nick of time, dragged by Piper.
Colette rushes over to my brother, making a big dramatic display of introducing her handsome fiancé to her work friends.
“Who wears a white romper like that to a work-hosted engagement party?” Piper grabs my arm.
“Colette, of course. Wish I could look that good. I can’t even hate it,” I say into my wine.
“You look amazing. Your mom actually bought something flattering on you for once.” Piper hypes me up. “You are better than all of them.”
“No, I’m not. I’m unhappy. They are literally better than me. They’re prettier, they bring in more clients, they get invited to cool parties, they can fit in the dresses one would wear to said cool parties.”
“They only get all those things because they put out—which you could too,” Piper says pointedly.
“I can’t just go up to a guy and say, ‘Hey, you wanna get dinner and take my virginity?’”
“I mean, you could…”
“I’m a scaredy-cat. The only way I’m losing it is if some guy climbs in my bedroom—”
“You mean up twenty stories and crawls into the dining room window? Or maybe he can tailgate after old Mrs. Carroway and pop in for a spot of sugar and a fresh cherry.”
“Are you two over here being weirdos?” Colette laughs behind us. “Kidding, kidding.”
But we know she’s not.
Colette links arms with me, muscling Piper out of the way. My frenemy rests her head on mine like we’re besties.
“Your boyfriend is so hot.” She stares over at Graham then pulls back. “You know, I just don’t buy it.” She turns back to me. “You two just don’t seem like you belong together.”
“What? They’re perfect together.”
“I’m not trying to be mean, Piper.” Colette tosses her hair. “I’m trying to be a good friend. Real friends tell you hard truths.”
“You’re not telling her hard truths. You’re trying to steal her boyfriend,” Piper snaps. “You’re jealous.”
“Don’t be so high school. After all, I was Dani’s friend first,” she tells Piper. “I’m her family.”
“Whatever.” She turns her back to Piper. “Where did you even meet? Graham’s so dark and mysterious—I can’t get a straight answer out of him.” She smirks. “Unless it’s something embarrassing.”
“She’s just trying to get in your head because she’s regretting settling for Jeremy.” Piper’s dark eyes flash at Colette.
“What? No! Of course not. I just want a little gossip. That’s what girlfriends do.” Colette smiles sharply.
“There’s no story. I saw her, and I wanted her, and I took her.” Graham’s deep voice booms behind me.
Colette gasps.
Piper fans herself. I kick her.
Graham’s expression stays dark. “I think your fiancé is looking for you.”
“Colette! Pictures!” someone from the marketing department calls. “Where’s Piper?”
“Oh shoot!” Piper pulls out her camera, rushing off. “Coming!” She waves to her boss.
“Here. It’s another St. Clair Reserve—the same one you drank all of at my house.” Graham shoves a glass in my hand.
“Get me a straw and the whole bottle.”
“Then maybe you’ll be tolerable.”
“Excuse me,” I snap. “I didn’t know it was going to be you flirting with other women all night.”
“I knew it.” He grabs the bunch of lace on the front of my dress, dragging me to him.
The wine sloshes.
“I knew it.” His face is inches from mine. “You do want me to fall in love with you. It’s some delusional fantasy.” He scowls. “A normal woman doesn’t just make herself at home in her kidnapper’s lair. They get upset, they cry, they beg for mercy.”
“You served wine with a twist top. You don’t scare me, buddy.”
“Take the money,” he orders.
“Or what?” I retort.
“Or maybe I’ll just sleep with one of your friends. Hm?” He turns me around. “Bet you thought I’d think you were hot in that dress, didn’t you?” He looks me up and down.
I hate him.
“You think just because I kidnapped you that I fell for you.”
“Hardly. Maybe I have a work crush I’m trying to impress.” I cross my arms and turn up my nose.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Kraig.
The security guard’s staring at me.
Graham’s eyes flick up. He moves, circling me, blocking my view of Kraig. He works his jaw. His mouth thins.
“Take the money, and let’s call it. You’re not fooling anyone.”
“I told you we have a number of wedding events on the schedule.”
“No one at this party believes we’re really boyfriend and girlfriend.” His chin jerks. “Tell them we broke up. Tell them I’m an abusive piece of shit. Tell them I wanted to make you do things in bed you weren’t comfortable with.”
“I cannot tell my mom I broke up with a fake boyfriend because he’s too adventurous in bed.”
“Not adventurous.” His teeth almost nip my ear. “Violent.”