CHAPTER 30 ALEXIS
I chose a simple black dress for the meeting, and as my father escorts me into the restaurant, I feel…underdressed.
In a Givenchy.
I paired it with red heels—my well-publicized favorite color—and some diamonds, but the men are all in suits and I’ve never been to this place before but it’s clearly exclusive and fancy.
I get the sudden feeling like I’d rather be at a dive bar drinking beer with Danny and eating peanuts before we toss our shells on the floor. Do places like that still exist?
We’d be mobbed by fans, certainly, but it sounds like the kind of casual good time I’ve never really gotten to experience before.
Instead, it’s always heels and designer gowns and jewelry.
I love the simplicity with which Danny lives his life. He doesn’t care what people think of him. How freaking refreshing. How I wish I could have a little of that rub off on me.
Well, I’d like a whole lot of Danny rubbing on me, but that’s an entirely different conversation.
We’re seated right in the middle of the restaurant because when my father goes out, he wants to be seen. More tiresome predictability.
The meeting isn’t about my next album at all, though. Instead, as soon as we’ve ordered, my father starts in about the merger.
It’s a proposition to Arthur, and the lawyers are there to offer advice. One is my father’s lawyer, and the other is Arthur’s. They’re talking boring gobbledygook about acquisitions and I’m zoning out as I imagine how much more fun this meeting would be with someone like Danny by my side.
He’d slide his hand up my leg under the table…or maybe do something indecent under there.
He’d make me laugh while I pretended to listen.
Or we’d share whispered side conversations since none of what they’re talking about really concerns me at all. In fact, I’m starting to wonder why I’m even here.
It takes a while before it becomes clear.
I eat my fancy appetizer. I slowly sip my glass of wine even though I sort of want to chug it down to get through this insufferable dinner.
My phone buzzes with a text.
I ignore it. I have to. As much as I’d love to pull my phone out because I’m sure it’s Danny, my ingrained manners have taught me that phones are not allowed at the dinner table, and they’d be even less welcome at a business meeting.
And so I sit and wait and wonder.
I pick at my fancy dinner while the men talk, and I daydream about what Wednesday night is going to look like.
I get the feeling that my next album is going to lean very heavily one way in tone.
I already have a list of ideas written down that might eventually turn into song titles.
Daydream.
Fantasy.
Fairytale.
The One.
Waiting.
Wanting.
First Base.
Okay, so I know I can’t really use that last one. But I’ve been to first base with the first baseman, and I’m ready for him to grand slam me all the way home.
I take a sip of my wine as our dinner plates are cleared away, and I glance over at Brooks.
He’s attractive in a classic sort of way. Clean-shaven, preppy, neat. It’s not like I’m embarrassed to be associated with him or anything. He’s good for my brand. He’s been groomed since birth so he knows how to act in public. He has manners. He’s a decent human being.
But he’s just not my type, and my dad is nuts if he thinks I’m going to produce an heir for this merged company. He made his intentions crystal clear. If I want a new contract, I accept the proposal from Brooks.
What wasn’t as clear, however, was whether he actually intends for me to go through with the wedding.
Either way, I should tell Danny. I tell him everything now. Except this. I just couldn’t bring myself to broach the topic when we were apart. My dad said we’d wait until after the tour anyway, and this feels like a big conversation that needs to happen in person.
So I’ll tell him when I see him on Wednesday. After the humping part of hump day is out of the way, anyway, since I’m not totally sure I’ll be in the room more than a total of three seconds before we’re both naked.
At least that’s my hope.
Or maybe it’s not my hope. Maybe I want romance.
I just don’t know how much time I’ll have yet.
I decided to lie about a spa treatment, which is what I put on my calendar so my father doesn’t book up the time block. I even went so far as to book a two hour massage just in case my dad asks any questions. I paid up front and left a generous tip even though I’m never going to actually show up.
Rather than having Gregory take me to the spa, he’ll be taking me wherever Danny is. Hopefully that text that just came through is from him with his hotel arrangements so I know where to go.
I think about excusing myself to the restroom to check, but everyone is done eating so I’m hopeful we’re just about finished here.
Evidently, we are not. Our waiter comes over carrying a tray of desserts, and he sets one in front of me.
I didn’t order one.
I glance down at the little sparkler coming out of the small ramekin of crème br?lée, and that’s when I see Brooks shift nervously before he moves down to his knee in front of me.
Everything is a blur as my hands start to shake.
Oh no.
A small black box with a rather ostentatious diamond sits open next to the ramekin, and the words written in chocolate syrup on the plate finally click in my brain.
God no.
This can’t be happening.
My eyes are on the sparkler as it fizzles out. Symbolic, I think.
Should my eyes be on Brooks as he repeats the words the plate already asked me?
Because honestly, I’m more likely to marry that dessert than I am to marry Brooks.
Unless…
Unless I want that new contract.
I’m in public.
I’m with my father. His father. Our lawyers. And the entire reason my dad wanted a seat at the center of the room becomes much, much clearer to me now.
I’m out of options.
“Alexis, will you marry me?” Brooks’s voice cuts into my thoughts.
No heartwarming speech about our love.
I’m not even sure there actually is love between us. There’s always been this sort of mutual respect, this civility that borders on friendship, but I can’t say I love him. We’re not close enough for that despite how much time we spend together. I’m closer to Gregory than I am to Brooks.
But that doesn’t mean I’d marry Gregory any sooner than I’d marry Brooks.
What is even happening right now? It feels like an out of body experience.
I glance up at my dad, whose eyes are fixed on me. They’re hard as we both know whatever I do here holds a lot of weight over our future.
The actors I could work with. The guest spots on future albums. The opportunities.
My career.
It’s always come first.
Why would this moment be any different?
I glance back down at Brooks, my father’s gaze etched in my mind. We’re in public, and he did it on purpose to leave me without another choice.
“Yes,” I say softly, and he picks the ring up from where it’s nestled in the box and slides it onto my finger.
He pushes to a stand and pulls me up with him, and he tries to kiss me, but I duck away as if I’m overcome with emotion. He hugs me instead, and the restaurant erupts in cheers all around us.
I see phones everywhere as they take videos and snap photos.
Oh my God.
What have I just agreed to?
TO BE CONTINUED IN BOOK 2, CAUGHT LOOKING