by Storm, Sloan
10
Business Casual (Lily)
After getting home from my run, I took a much needed shower. It wasn't quite cold but cool. Heat was the last thing I needed. Not only did I need to clean off the grime from my run but also the lingering scent of him on me. One thing's for sure, it was becoming obvious I had an obsession with the guy.
And if it was apparent to me… Ugh, no telling what kinds of dirty thoughts were scrambling around in that cute head of his.
I mean, every free second I didn't spend worrying about the situation with Mom, I wasted daydreaming about him! It was really getting out of hand. The good news is I'd have plenty to keep me busy if I could land the new job. And now that I'd thanked him in person, there wouldn't be any need to see him again.
Seriously.
Speaking of the interview, I had no idea what to wear, and like an idiot, I didn't bother asking Kim what the dress code policy was. My mom suggested 'business casual', but working at the creamery, it didn't matter what we wore when we walked through the front door since they issued us uniforms to wear each day.
Anyway, I didn't own a single piece of clothing resembling 'business casual', and so I had to, yes, borrow some of Mom's decades-old clothes from when she had an office job.
I know. Pretty awesome.
So yeah, after putting on a pink button-down cardigan adorned with budding roses, pleated khaki trousers, and a pair of well-worn flats, I stepped in front of the full-length mirror in my room.
"Ugh," I grumbled, turning from side-to-side. "I look like a freaking librarian."
Whatever. I was already running late.
I finished getting ready and grabbed my things, racing to my car to head across town. I hadn't gone far, maybe a few blocks, when it hit me.
Uh! The resume! Damn it!
I'd been up most of the night polishing it, and now look… After a quick U-turn, I dashed into the house, grabbed it, and took off again.
I arrived with not much time to spare and parked. Reaching for the rearview mirror, I checked my makeup, making sure everything was perfect, when I noticed my hand shaking.
Okay, okay… Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back. You can do this. You will get the job.
I remembered a little breathing trick from a meditation app I had on my phone. Not sure why I quit using it. Anyway, a few deep breaths later, I flipped my eyes open and held my hands up.
No more nerves. Good enough. I got out.
Over the years, I'd passed the lumber yard thousands of times but never realized how huge it was. The facility was massive. In every direction I looked there were trucks and cranes and people moving piles of timber, stacking them nearly two stories high.
I followed a sign leading to the administration building where the interview was to take place. After entering, the contrast between the industrialized mayhem taking place in the lumberyard and the quiet, cleanliness of the office struck me. I approached a reception desk.
A woman who looked to be about my age peered up at me. She took a quick glance at my clothes. I couldn't help but notice she wore jeans and a collared shirt with a Foster lumber logo on it.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, I'm Lily Weischlitz," I began, covering my chest with my palm. "I have an interview with Kim."
"Oh, right," she said, pointing behind me. She eyeballed my outfit before continuing. Great. "I'll let her know you're here. You can have a seat."
Still clutching my resume, I didn't have to wait long when a tall, thin woman approached. She was also not wearing 'business casual'.
"Lily?" she said, extending a hand. "I'm Kim Markell."
Smiling, I stood and took her hand in mine. "Nice to meet you."
After following her into a small office, the interview got underway. It was straightforward. No surprises. Kim asked me a series of questions about my work history, education, and so on. Based on how she reacted to my answers, I started to feel good about my chances. Things got even better when she touched on the topic of my salary which would be almost twice what I made at the creamery. Sweet! Anyway, it really couldn't have gone any better.
"Well," Kim said, jotting down a few last minute notes. "Everything looks to be in order."
My chest tightened. Here we go.
Kim stood from her chair. "All right, so I've just got to finalize some paperwork. Once I do, then we can start the interview."
Huh? Wait, what did we just do? Wasn't that it? I stood up, deciding not to ask any questions.
Kim continued, "Based on our discussion, I feel confident you'll get the position once you meet with the boss."
I pointed at her. "That's not you?"
"No," she shook her head and gave me a quick smile. "Come with me, please."
Well whatever. I figured if I could impress her, then I should be able to impress her boss also. We exited the office, and I followed her down the hall, when my mind started to wander. First to my mom and how relieved she'd be I'd landed the position, and then, unfortunately, to Griff.
Right. I know.
Still, if I did get the job, I had to find a way to thank him. It was the polite thing to do, after all.
Yeah, uh huh. Tiny Me chimed in, unwelcome as ever. That's not the only reason you want to see him!
I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second, cursing in silence. "Not now, this is not a good time!"
Kim stopped, and her voice brought me back to reality.
"Excuse me for one sec," she said, stopping in front of an open office door.
Carrying her notes, she disappeared inside for a few seconds before returning and gesturing for me to enter. "Okay, go right in."
I smiled at her. "Thank you."
She touched me on the arm, leaning in a bit and whispering, "Also, you probably don't want to wear your dress clothes here in the future. It can get really dirty. The guys from the yard are always sweaty and gross, constantly tracking mud and dirt inside. Anyway, we can talk about it. Good luck!"
Music to my ears. I couldn't wait to get home and change out of Mom's vintage nineties wear. God forbid one of my friends saw me or something.
Kim left, and I peered inside the office, noticing it was at least three times the size the one I was in earlier. I walked in and closed the door behind me. Across the room, there was a huge wooden desk with an empty oversized leather chair behind it. Off to the side, an open door to another room with a light on inside.
I took a couple of cautious steps forward, frowning. "Hello?"
With my eyes locked on the doorway, I noticed a shadow moving across it. And then, a man emerged.
Griff? I shook my head. Couldn't be.
Oh it was him all right, but looking nothing like the sweat-glistened hunk who'd saved my life. Gone was the scruffy, rugged beard. In its place, a smooth, clean shave. No more shirtless lumberjack attire either. Instead, he strutted across the room like a peacock, wearing an expensive looking suit and tie.
What the hell is he doing here? Wait. Why am I here again?
He stopped and arched an eyebrow at me. "Never seen you um, dressed up, Sneaks. Not the style I would have expected. It's… different."
What? I still couldn't figure out what was going on.
"Oh," I muttered, looking down at my tacky, ill-fitting excuse for 'business casual'. Great. Of all the people I wouldn't want to be seen by, he was at the top of the list. I choked down a hard swallow. "Yeah, it's a long story."
"Can't wait to hear it then." He chuckled and walked toward the chair. "Ready to get started?"
"Griff," I began, my focus returning. "What's going on? What are you doing here?"
He eased into the chair and leaned back. "Where else would I be? It is my company, after all."
Huh?
He gestured for me to sit in a chair across from his desk. "Let's get this interview underway."
11
Meet The Boss (Griff)
Sneaks sat down, trying to get comfortable, but to be honest, I couldn't get over
the clothes.
Only a beauty like her could make something that ridiculous look so damn sexy. The way she shifted in her seat, fidgeting with them and avoiding any eye contact. Pretty obvious she was uneasy. The bad news for her is that it was about to get much worse.
I picked up the folder Kim left for me and opened it. After giving it a quick once over, I tossed it in a trash can next to the desk.
"Won't be needing that."
I looked at her, watching the expression on her face change from confusion to frustration. I couldn't blame her. Anyway, everything would make perfect sense in a matter of minutes. That is, once I got the idea out of my head I wasn't going to be able to fuck my new pretend-wife-to-be.
Her impatience got the better of her. Sneaks crossed her arms and legs.
"What kind of interview is this? Who are you really? No more cryptic answers! I want…"
I held up my hand. "I'm getting to it."
She glared at me. Hurry the fuck up.
I'd never asked anyone to marry me before, not like this was a real engagement or anything. It was simply a business arrangement. I just had to convince the other party to sign on the dotted line. Been there, done that, though. Making deals. Shit, it's what I lived for.
I sat forward in my chair, folding my hands together on the desk. "You won't be coming to work here, Sneaks."
Her posture hardened, matching the scowl on her face. "What?"
"If you choose to accept it, your real job is going to be in Portland. It's a full-time position, twenty-four hours a day. It pays well, better than anything you're going to find here."
She huffed a frustrated exhale. "Portland. Twenty-four hours a day? What are you talking about?"
I couldn't tell if she took me seriously or whether she was a split second away from telling me to go to hell. But if I was gonna convince Papa I was a changed man, there was no way she was walking out of that door.
"I'm talking about a business arrangement. I need someone who's discreet, trustworthy, and motivated."
"Just get to it," she replied, patience wearing thin. "What do you want from me?"
Here goes nothing.
"I want you to marry me, Sneaks."
"What! I'm not going to marry you!" She shot to her feet, letting out a noise that sounded like a cross between a laugh and a yelp. "I don't even know you!"
I looked up at her. Exactly. "That's the reason you'll make the perfect wife."
She threw her arms in the air, spinning in place and heading for the door. "I'm outta here!"
Shit. I leapt to my feet, moving across the office and catching her before she reached the exit.
"Sneaks." I grabbed her by the shoulder. "Hey."
She jerked free of me, and I backed away. "Look, I get that it's an unusual request, but I don't have much time and…"
"Unusual request!" she scoffed, those emerald greens flashing at me. "Asking someone you don't know to marry you is more than an unusual request."
"Not what I meant exactly. The thing is, I need your help, and I'm willing to pay for it. More money than you can possibly imagine."
Sneaks went silent, nibbling on her lip. At least I had her attention. Stepping to one side, I pointed toward the chair.
"Just sit down and hear me out."
She sighed and edged past me, sitting down a couple of seconds later. I kept standing in case she decided to make another break for the exit.
Not wasting any time, I explained the reasons I needed a make-believe wife. Once I had, I laid out my proposal. The offer would be professional. She'd be my fiancé on paper and nothing more. Although she'd be living with me, there wouldn't be any physical contact between us except for public displays of affection. And of course, sex was off limits. Everything would be spelled out in a contract protecting both of our interests - nothing shady or underhanded.
"Well?" I said, sitting down on the edge of the desk. "What do you think?"
"What do I think?" she replied, looking at me with a bewildered expression. "Seriously? I think you are totally insane."
I nodded at her. "Understandable. I…"
She cut me off, shaking her head. "I don't get it. Why me? I'm sure there're hundreds of women across the entire Northwest who would line up to do this."
Because you're the only one I can trust.
"Sneaks, look at me." Her eyes met mine. "Before you walked in here and saw me in this suit, and before you realized the family I come from, you were already falling for the simple guy with a pickup. The man who came to your rescue that day on the trail. Isn't that right?"
I'd never been more sure of anything in my life. I didn't like putting her on the spot, but I had a point to make. She was the only one for the job. Her cheeks heated before she looked away, a pink hue giving me a reply her mouth couldn't.
It was an obvious yes. I stood from the desk, facing her.
"I know how bizarre this is. I do. But in order for this to work, I need a woman like you. I need a woman who isn't consumed with lust for material possessions. If we are to be believed, we must be believable as a couple."
While I spoke, Sneaks started shaking her head.
"First of all," she began, narrowing her eyes at me. "I am not falling for you, so you can just get over yourself. Secondly, this will never work. How is anyone going to believe it? We only met a few days ago."
Sweet little liar. "Let me worry about that. What's it gonna be?"
Sneaks locked eyes with me for a split second. She sat there, thinking out loud and rehashing the terms of the agreement.
"Separate bedrooms," she muttered. "Public displays of affection only… No sex."
While she tried to make up her mind, I stood there nodding. That is, until she got to the last item on the list. One way or another, it was still going to happen.
Oh yes, we would be fucking.
She cleared her throat and looked at me again, the most important question of all passing between her sweet lips.
"How much?"
Time to close this deal. "One million. As soon as you sign the agreement, I'll give you five hundred thousand. After I get control of the company, you'll get the rest."
That's more money than ninety-nine point nine percent of people will ever see in their life at one time. Not everyone is driven by the almighty dollar, though. Would she take it? The truth is, I had no idea. She pushed herself out of the chair and walked to the other side of the room, pacing back and forth for a good minute.
There was a lot to consider, and I wasn't about to rush her and blow the goddamn deal out of over eagerness.
"Do I have any time to think it over?"
As much as I would've preferred to close the deal right then and there, I was out of time and only had one real option - her.
I decided it was better to bend than break. "I'll give you twenty-four hours."
"Twenty-four hours," she muttered. Then she stopped speaking, eyes locked on mine again. "Hey, wait a second. Was this all bullshit? I mean, the accounting job?"
I shook my head. "No. We really do need someone in that position. You're just a terrible candidate for the job. Seriously. I mean, you don't even have a degree."
12
Believe It Or Not (Lily)
Mom would be home soon. She'd want details.
Did you get the job? How much does it pay? When do you start? When's your lunch break?
Normally, those would be easy questions to answer. But now? Ugh.
No, didn't land the accounting gig, but hey, I got something way better. Yeah, so I'm going to get fake engaged to a billionaire playboy. See, his Grandfather is withholding his inheritance unless he gets married, so he's paying me one million dollars to fool the old man.
How am I even going to begin to explain that?
I walked over to the living room window, pulling open the curtains and watching the street for the first sign of her car.
My thoughts drifted again.
What was it going to be like being with him a
ll the time? It was hard enough spending more than fifteen minutes in his presence. Now I'd have to live in the same house!
Or mansion. Whatever.
What's it like being a billionaire? Not that I would be one. But, I'd be living with one. I grimaced, looking around at the peeling, yellowed wallpaper. Had to be better than this dump.
Then, of course, it would all come to an end. Once Griff got his inheritance, my 'job' would be finished. I'd have the money, but then what? If there was ever a Cinderella moment, this was it. I glanced at my pumpkinmobile, rusting in the driveway. I sighed, letting go of the curtains, when the hardest truth of all hit me.
Mom would never take the money.
Why was I even considering this?
Could I really even trust him?
And also, it bugged me that I felt like the interview was a trick or something. He knew full well he never intended to give it to me. Right there, red flag. But did I get up and walk out?
Nooooo.
Anyway, if I turned him down I could get another job, even if it meant going back to The Junction.
So, that's how I went, torturing myself. Half the time, the idea sounded completely insane. The other half, still insane but counterbalanced by seven zeroes. No wonder you hear so many stories about crazy rich people losing everything.
As far as his 'agreement' was concerned… I appreciated he spelled everything out, leaving no details to chance, but I had a sinking feeling the finer points of the contract might be tricky to enforce. After all, what's a public display of affection exactly?
I mean, I'd already made the mistake of kissing him once.
Was I ready for a steady diet of that?
Hell. No.
And while I'm on the topic, I guess I'm the most transparent woman alive. That comment he made about how when I thought he was just a regular guy, I had feelings for him. I couldn't deny it. But seriously, did I have the word desperate tattooed across my forehead or something?
Now, if I agreed to this, I'd be near him all the time, living a fantasy and having to fend off my darkest urges twenty-four seven.