15. Mia
Chapter 15
Mia
T his is unreal.
After getting off the plane, Ian’s security team ushered us into one of the three large SUVs waiting for us with almost blacked-out windows and then off to Ian’s home on Hibiscus Island. I hate to admit it, but Ian was right. There were a ton of people standing just outside the hangar trying to take our pictures and yelling all kinds of stuff at us. I didn’t hear any of it, but I’m sure it wasn’t something I wanted to hear, anyway.
He calls this his home, but it’s more like a compound with multiple buildings on the property and a guard gate at the front entrance. It’s beautiful, though. At least from the drive up to the house—mansion — whatever it’s called. It’s certainly not a one-room apartment in a three-story building without an elevator.
The tropical foliage along the driveway is bursting with many different colored hibiscus plants, and they are all blooming. They’re quickly becoming my favorite flower since moving to Hibiscus Harbor. They’re everywhere you look.
The driveway is all pavers in a keystone pattern that leads you up to the front porch that has a line of white, wooden rocking chairs. The hanging ferns give it a soft, homey feel and I could see myself enjoying some time out here reading a book and drinking some tea if the circumstances were different.
Ian scans his palm on a pad by the front door and the door opens automatically. “Welcome to my home,” Ian says with apprehension in his voice. It’s the first thing he’s said to me since we got off of the plane.
I walk into the house and am in a foyer that opens straight through the house and out to the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s mesmerizing, and it draws you in immediately. The blue of the ocean compliments the beachy tones of the décor in the house.
Definitely not what I would have called a bachelor pad. I was expecting black furniture with silver accents and statues of half-naked ladies when I walked in, but that’s just because I watch too many movies and was expecting a stereotypical bachelor pad. This is not that. This is like a beach cottage, just on a grander scale.
“Your home is beautiful, Ian.”
“Thank you. That means a lot to hear you say that.” He looks nervous for some reason. Oh yeah, maybe because he’s basically kidnapped me and offered to pay me two million dollars to play his fake fiancé. That’s got to be it.
God, even my internal voice is sarcastic right now.
“Here, let me show you to your room.” Ian’s got my bag and climbs one of the dual staircases that face the front door and on either side. “It’s right here to the right.”
I follow him up the stairs and to the right and into something that is more than a room, more than a suite, even. There’s a living room, office, balcony overlooking the beach and the ocean, an ensuite with a tub that is almost deep enough to swim in, a walk-in closet that’s as big as my apartment, and a bedroom with a huge king-size four-poster bed.
“This is all yours. Of course, you also have the run of the house, the pool, the gym, the beach house, game room, and whatever else you want.” He places my bag on the couch. “Is this okay, Mia?”
I take in the amazing place and then turn to him. “This is more than I need, but thank you.”
“Anything you need or want, just let me know and I can have it brought in. You’ll be safe here from reporters, stalkers, and the press. I’ve also beefed-up security on the premises, on the island, and on the beach, so you shouldn’t have to worry.”
“Am I in some kind of danger, Ian, because you keep mentioning my security and being safe? Should I be worried?” He’s kind of freaking me out with all this security talk.
He sighs and sits on the arm of the couch. “Whenever you’re in the public eye, you have to constantly be thinking about security. People are unpredictable. With the things that are being said online about you, I want to be extra cautious. That’s all.” He looks like he was about to say more, but decides against it.
“What aren’t you telling me, Ian?”
He looks around the room at everything else before his eyes land on me. “Just that I’m so sorry that I didn’t see this coming. I shouldn’t have taken you to the gala last night. But seeing you in that dress and your smile… I just… I just should have thought this through more and I’m sorry that this is happening. That’s all.”
I only nod because I don’t know what else to say. Is it his fault that this has happened? Not really. I’m the one that kissed him trying to shut up that reporter. Well, the joke is on me now, isn’t it?
“You must be hungry. You haven’t eaten all day, and it’s almost dinnertime. Why don’t you get freshened up and I’ll go make dinner? Is pasta okay? It’s really all I know how to cook.” He looks at me sheepishly.
My stomach growls at the sound of potential food. “Pasta is fine. I’ll be down in a few minutes. I just want to wash my face.” Not really, I just need a few minutes to myself to absorb all of this. We’ve been together since he knocked on the door to my hotel room this morning.
Ian nods and quietly leaves the room, closing the door behind him. This is the first time since this morning I’ve been alone, and I have a lot to process. I open my bag and see my notebook sitting on top of my clothes and crochet.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to start Magical Moments. My very own business. Two million dollars is a lot of money and a lot of dresses, suits, veils, and many other accessories. What Ian had said about being the first bridal shop in Hibiscus Harbor made a lot of sense. If I start it now, perhaps I can even eventually include the wedding planning aspect, too. That part isn’t in my business plan because I’ve always considered it a pipe dream, but with this kind of money, maybe it’s not such a pipe dream anymore.
But if I do this, what am I giving up? Obviously, my privacy, if only for a little while. My security, again, for a while. We’d be lying to the world. That doesn’t really sit all that well in my stomach. Then again, two million dollars can buy a lot of Pepto Bismol.
I look at my reflection in the mirror and notice that I look exhausted. With all that has happened in the last day and a half, perhaps this isn’t a decision I should make on such little sleep. The bed at the hotel was lovely; much better than the one in my apartment, but it still wasn’t home. Plus, I’m a nerd. I’m usually in bed no later than ten. Last night, it was more like two in the morning. Then, with all the stress and excitement of everything today, I’m just exhausted.
Splashing water on my face, I feel better. With my decision to not make a decision until I’ve slept on it, I feel even better. Now, I’m hungry and the pasta sounds perfect.
Making my way down the hall and then down the stairs, I find Ian standing in the kitchen staring at a pot of water on the stovetop. “You know, they say a watched pot never boils.”
Ian doesn’t turn around to look at me but keeps staring that the water. “I can’t look away or I’ll screw this up.”
I laugh at him as I stand next to him. “You really can’t cook, can you?”
He shakes his head. “Not really. I can heat up stuff, but cooking is not my forte, but not for a lack of trying. The last time I set fire to the kitchen, I swore I’d never try again.”
My eyes about pop out of my head. “The last time? How many times have you set fire to the kitchen?”
“Three.” He looks like a little boy confessing his sins.
“Three? Okay, give me that and step away from the stove. I’ve got this.” I take the spoon away from him and push him aside. “Don’t need to involve the fire department as well into this crazy day. That would give the press even more fodder, now, wouldn’t it?” I smile at him.
“Are you sure? I can boil water as long as I watch it.”
“No, I’ve got it. Go sit down.” I point at one of the barstools at the kitchen island.
“Okay.” Ian goes to the other side of the large island. It’s so big, it could be an aircraft carrier. Who needs all this space if they don’t cook?
Speaking of needing things, “If I’m going to stay here, I need a few things.”
“Anything. Name it.” Ian pulls out his phone to take notes.
“I need some clothes from my apartment. Especially my work clothes. I don’t think Mrs. Wilcox would be too happy if I show up for work in the morning in shorts and a tank top.” I laugh as I put the pasta into the boiling water and turn down the heat.
“Ah, Mia. You can’t go to work in the morning. Or any morning, anytime soon.”
I spin around. “What? Why? You’re firing me?!”
“No, I’m not firing you, but you can’t go to the club, either. The press will be there. Actually, I’m not even going to the club. I’ll be working from home this week. I can’t keep you, me, and the staff safe no matter how much security I have in place if either of us goes to the club right now. I can’t risk the staff, too.”
“God. This is such a mess. I hadn’t even thought about that.” How the hell am I going to pay my rent if I don’t do this fake fiancé thing? Maybe Hibiscus Harbor wasn’t such a good idea. Most of my stuff is still in boxes. It shouldn’t take much to move and find a new location to start my life over—again.
The pasta is done, and I heat the spaghetti sauce that Ian had in the cupboard. Assembling it all onto plates, Ian sets the dining room table for two. This feels so domesticated and weird. “Bon appetite.” I say as I swirl my pasta around my fork.
Ian digs in and he must have been ravenous because before I can get three bites in, he’s finished his plate and is going back for seconds. I suppose he didn’t eat today, either, since we both skipped the breakfast room service he delivered.
“What the hell am I going to do all day, then, if I’m not going to work?” I ask as he finishes his second plate of pasta. “If I decide to do this, I will not be a ‘trophy fiancé’ and if you think I am, you’ve got another thing coming. I can’t sit by the pool all day eating chocolate. That’s just not me.”
“Well, if you decide to do this, and I think you should, I assumed you’d start working on Magical Moments. That’s your plan, right?”
The thought never occurred to me. If I do this, I can start immediately working on my bridal shop. Oh, my god, that sounds so unreal, but wonderful.
“I can have a new computer and phone here for you in the morning so you can start on your website, logo, ordering dresses, business cards, finding a location, and whatever else you need to start your bridal shop.”
I shake my head. “No, I’m not ready to make a decision right now. I’m too tired and it’s been a lot to process in a short amount of time. I told myself that I would sleep on it and I’m going to stay true to my word.”
He nods. “That actually makes really good business sense. And if you don’t want to do this, I completely understand, and I’ll have my publicist release a statement setting the record straight immediately. It’ll be a few days before the uproar settles down, but then you’ll be able to go back to your normal life. And Mia,” he waits for me to meet his eyes, “there will always be a position for you at Gallo Enterprises. I promise. No hard feelings. Okay?”
I nod. “Okay. Thank you. That helps.”
“I’ve got a lot of work to get done, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to work for a while. Help yourself to anything you want. There’s a movie room down that hallway,” he points in one direction, “a game room in the building to the left out that door,” he points in another direction, “and of course there’s the pool and the beach.”
I only nod.
“I’ll be in my office down this hallway. Just come in if you need anything. My bedroom is at the other end of the same hallway as yours, so if I’m not in the office, you can find me in there. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Okay?” Ian stands up and puts his dishes in the sink. “And don’t worry about cleaning up. You cooked; I’ll clean. I’ll do it before I go to bed.”
I nod again and watch Ian walk out of the kitchen and suddenly I feel very lonely in this giant house. Never have I wanted a best friend or a mom as much as I do right now. Someone I could bounce all this off of. But then again, I probably wouldn’t be able to. I’m sure there’s an NDA in my future, as well.
Once I have cleaned up the dishes, there's no point in making Ian do it since I have nothing else to do. I decide to skip all the other available activities and just turn in for the night. Besides, that amazing bathtub is calling my name.