Chapter 1 #2
“Because we'll be working on a story that’ll attract publicity. Max has already agreed to mention us in his reports and, with any luck, a successful and high-profile case like this will help us rebuild trust with local authorities. It should also bring in new business. And, if we can prove we have a thriving business, with a staff who are particularly suited to our needs, we might have a chance at getting our visas renewed.”
"There are a lot of 'ifs' in your plan," Violet pointed out.
Rochelle shrugged wearily. "To be honest, it's more of a Hail Mary than a plan. Lake Benson has handed us a lifeline by asking us to support Max's investigation. If it goes well, it could save us."
And if it went badly, it would be the end of the US office.
Damn it to hell. Violet didn't have a choice and she hated being cornered.
So, she blurted out what was worrying her most. “I have no frame of reference for pretending to be a bride. I don't even know what to wear."
Rochelle's mouth quirked. "Generally, you wear a wedding dress."
"Which will mean I have to go clothes shopping," Violet said with disgust. "I can't do the frou-frou girly crap that goes with weddings. I don't know how."
It was her own fault she was so ignorant.
While every other girl she'd known in her teens had been off experimenting with clothes and boys, Violet had been earning two black-belts and studying up on criminal justice.
In a family where the ability to apply makeup was practically a genetic trait, Violet stood out like a sore thumb.
Now it seemed that all those stupid lessons she could have learned as a teen, but avoided because she thought they were a waste of time, would actually come in handy. She never saw that coming.
"Katrina will function as your maid of honor," Rochelle said. "I'm sure she won't mind sorting out your clothes and helping with the frou-frou girly crap. You won't be alone."
"Then there's the romance side of things.
" Violet was beginning to feel a little desperate now.
"Island weddings are all about the romance, right?
Well, I don't do romance. I mean, I date.
Although, I'm not sure you can call two dates in three years a stellar record.
And I did break the last guy's fingers because he got a little touchy.
" Damn, she was beginning to feel lightheaded.
"I don't know how to fake being romantic," she confessed on a whisper.
"I don't know how someone who's getting married acts.
My own sister kept me far away from her wedding for fear I'd break it.
" Her hands were clammy now and her heart was racing.
Hunger. That was the problem. It was probably low sugar because she'd skipped breakfast for this stupid meeting. She scanned the room, hoping a chocolate bar would jump out at her. None did.
"Max has been married before," Rochelle said. "He can walk you through what's expected and how to behave like a bride-to-be. Just follow his lead and you'll be fine."
Was she mad? Follow the untrained client's lead on an op?
"I'm sorry, Rochelle, but I don't think I can pull off the whole wedding thing," Violet said, sounding a little desperate.
"I don't even see the point of getting married.
Apart from the tax breaks and making sure you have legal rights when someone dies, what else is in it for the woman?
At the end of the day, being married just makes it harder to separate when you inevitably split up. "
Rochelle blinked several times before replying.
“You're not actually getting married; you know that, right?
The op should be over, and you should be off the island before you even have to pretend to say I do.
But if everything goes belly up and you have to go through with the ceremony, remember it isn't a real wedding.
Generally, these Caribbean events are purely symbolic, and the legal paperwork usually happens in a courthouse at home.
You just have to go through the motions as though the wedding is going to happen.
" She paused, thinking. "And pretend you're excited about it, because most people think weddings are a romantic expression of a couple's love for each other. "
Whatever. She watched The Bachelor. She knew romance was fake.
"Violet," Rochelle said, her tone serious and earnest. "If you don't do this, it could be the end of Benson Security's American office."
"Well, no pressure then," Violet grumbled, but she already knew she couldn't be the reason Benson Security's Houston office was closed down for good.
She might not consider her team to be friends, but they were still her team.
And she owed them. Even if it meant pretending to be a bride to save their backsides.
"I'm sorry the weight of our situation falls on your shoulders," Rochelle said solemnly. "But you are an excellent operative and I know you can do this job. I have faith in you."
Oh, the poor deluded woman. Of course, Violet could do the bodyguard part of the job.
Hell, she could do that in her sleep. It was the rest of the stupid plan that was the problem.
But this was what happened when you let the client plan an op.
They had no experience and no idea what was needed.
And because of that, she had to pretend to get married.
There was a good chance she was going to kill the client before the op was over.
“Fine," Violet said, sounding every bit as ungracious as she felt. "I’ll take one for the team, even though I don’t like it and it's clear that this plan is doomed before it begins. But if we’re doing it anyway, then I’m laying down some ground rules.
I might be playing the part of a fiancée, but I sure as hell won't be one of those girly ones that squeal every five seconds as they cling to their man. There will be no public displays of affection, no stupid bachelorette party, and no high-heeled shoes.” She stared down her boss.
“This has disaster written all over it but if I have to do it, I’ll do it. ”
“That’s the spirit,” Rochelle said as she stood. "Now, let's go meet the groom."