Romeo for Hire

by Ali Parker

  “You’re so cavalier about your personal life,” she said. “You don’t even see how detrimental that is for the company.”

  “The company is fine.” I waved my hand dismissively. “I talked to Jim this morning, and our numbers have never been better.”

  “It’s not just about money,” Mom pressed. “It’s about appearance, Candice.”

  Fighting the urge to roll my eyes, I sat back and gestured for her to continue. This was, after all, the very reason I’d asked her to come.

  “If the public views you as someone who is incapable of sustaining a relationship, they’ll turn on you. Your target market will go somewhere else, somewhere where the products are just as good and the advertisements just as flashy. The only difference is, they will be sold by a woman who always has a man by her side, who isn’t afraid to be feminine and vulnerable. That is what every woman truly wants, Candice. A man. Love. It’s not just your job to sell makeup, it’s your job to sell a lifestyle, and right now, you’re failing.”

  Rage bubbled inside my stomach, but I choked it down. My chest tightened painfully as I cleared my throat and leaned forward. My dark brown eyes narrowed as I surveyed the self-righteous air surrounding my mother.

  “I am a woman,” I said simply. “And that’s not at all what I want.”

  Mom scoffed. “It is. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”

  “How would you know?” I demanded. “You’ve never once asked me what I want.”

  “Fine.” Mom straightened up. “I’m asking you now. What do you want, Candice?”

  “Success. Independence. Respect.”

  “More than love?”

  I tried to hold her gaze and prove to her that she could no longer affect me, but my eyes betrayed me. I looked away quickly. Blinking back my emotions, I forced myself to face her again.

  “Yes,” I said. “Love is not in the cards for me, Mom. It never has been. So, why would I want to pretend I have something when I don’t?”

  “For the business.” Mom shrugged. “That’s what matters to you, right? Work?”

  I inhaled sharply. “As I said before, the business is fine.”

  “For now.”

  Mom let her threat hang in the air between us. It was impossible not to get emotional around her. All my resolve vanished as a fresh wave of insecurities washed through me.

  “The target market won’t drift,” I said, my voice weaker than I liked. “And even if they do, we’ll pull them back. Our marketing team is the best in the country. I’m not worried.”

  “It’s not just the consumers.”

  “Of course not.” I sighed. “Who else then?”

  “The board.”

  Laughing, I tilted my head back and stared at the ceiling. “You’re really desperate, aren’t you?”

  “Excuse me?” Looking back down, I saw an anger to match my own reflected in her eyes.

  “You’re so desperate to force a man on me that you’re willing to spout threats based on lies. It’s pathetic, Mom.”

  “Lies?” Mom scoffed. “I wish I was lying, Candice. I wish the board saw you as a personable, strong woman, but they don’t. All they see is a cold, calloused heir to a fortune she didn’t earn.”

  My stomach twisted. “I earned it.”

  “Did you?” She raised her eyebrows. “Or was it handed to you by a father who was always too soft with you?”

  “Daddy wasn’t soft.”

  Even I could hear the tremor in my voice. I cleared my throat and forced my shoulders back. Sitting as straight as I could, I narrowed my eyes and prepared for the fight I didn’t want to have.

  “Your father was an incredible man,” Mom said. “But he gave you everything. You never had to work a day in your life. He—”

  “Just shut the hell up.” I held my hand up, and she fell silent, surprised that I would interrupt her. “That’s enough, Mother.”

  “Don’t speak to me that way,” she snapped.

  “This is my office,” I reminded her. “And, I’ll speak to you however I see fit.”

  Her lips parted as shock passed over her face. We’d gone toe-to-toe more times than I could count, but I’d never let myself go all the way.

  “Like it or not,” I said slowly. “This company is mine. Dad left it to me. It isn’t up to you how I run it, understand?”

  “I’m trying to advise you.” She glared. “Whether you like it or not, having a date to the annual banquet will look good to the board.”

  “I won’t be bringing a date.” I rose from my chair and walked around my desk. Standing tall above my mother I added, “If the board can’t see how strong I am alone, then fuck them.”

  “Candice!” Mom’s hands flew to her ears.

  “I’m sorry, have I offended you?” I laughed. “You? The woman who hired a man to be my boyfriend?”

  Her hands fluttered away from her ears and landed heavily on her lap. Tears pooled in her eyes, flooding her gray irises with so much emotion, I had to turn away.

  “You can go,” I said without looking at her. “I’ve said all I needed to say.”

  “Well, I haven’t.”

  The strength in my mother’s voice surprised me. I spun back around to face her. She was standing now. I couldn’t help it, I cowered.

  “I’m sorry I hurt you,” she said. “That was never my intention. But Candice, if you could put aside your stubborn nature for half a second, you might see that I did you a favor.”

  “A favor?” I hissed. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes.” She nodded. “I am.”

  “How can you—?”

  “You were happy,” she said simply. “You may not want to admit that, but Ryan made you happy. He opened something inside of you that you slammed shut a long time ago. So, for that? I’m not sorry, and I never will be.”

  She turned on her heel and breezed smoothly across the room. My anger had suddenly been overwhelmed by a sadness I’d been working so hard to ignore.

  “Ryan didn’t make me happy,” I called after her. “He wasn’t real. He was just an illusion put in my place by you to control my life.”

  Mom sighed and slowly turned back to face me.

  “But, that’s done now,” I said. “You don’t get to control me anymore, Mom. I won’t be taking a date to the banquet. I won’t be dating at all. Period. And, for that? I’m not sorry. And I never will be.”

  Chapter 33

  Ryan

  Paisley woke me up before the sun. Saturday mornings were our time. Even when I had to work, we always ate breakfast together, but for the first time, I didn’t smile at the sight of her innocent green eyes blinking up at me.

  “Wake up, Daddy!”

  “Five minutes, Pea,” I begged. “Daddy is super tired this morning.”

  “No way!” She hopped up on the bed. “Get up! Get up! Get up!”

  Her tiny feet felt like elephants as they stomped on my stomach. I groaned and grabbed her before she could jump again. Tossing her gently to the side, I rolled over and pressed my face into my pillow.

  “Daddy.” She whined and tapped my back. “Why are you hiding? It’s breakfast time!”

  “Pea, the sun isn’t even up yet,” I moaned.

  “It will be soon.” Paisley drug out “soon” playfully and continued tapping out a nonsensical beat on my back.

  I hated myself for wishing she would go away. My body ached. All the tension of the past few days had started to seep into my muscles, and I could no longer ignore the pain. Every time I moved wrong, a sharp twinge in my neck reminded me just how much I missed Candice.

  “Come on.” I groaned and pushed myself out of bed. “I’ll make you breakfast.”

  “Yes!” Paisley pumped her fist in the air, triumphant. She hopped onto the floor and darted through the door. By the time I made it to the kitchen, she was already seated at the table. “Pop-Tarts!”

  “Not a chance.” I stumbled to the fridge.

  “Ah, man!” Paisley slumped down
in her chair.

  I pulled open the fridge and stared blankly inside. A carton of eggs, tons of fresh fruit, and a package of ready-to-cook bacon all stared back at me. It was the makings of a perfect breakfast.

  “You know what?” I closed the door with a thud. “Go get dressed. We’re going out for breakfast today.”

  Paisley’s eyes flew wide. “What?”

  “I don’t feel like cooking,” I said. “Hurry up. Get dressed and meet me back downstairs.”

  “Okay!”

  Paisley darted up the stairs. I could hear her soft footsteps as she flew around her room. She was dressed before I’d even made it to my closet.

  “Where are we going?” Paisley asked through my bathroom door.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “We’ll find something.”

  “We never go out for breakfast!”

  I smiled and glanced at myself in the mirror. Red streaks fanned away from my green irises, covering the whites of my eyes with a sickly look. I squeezed my eyelids closed and pressed my fingers against them. When I looked back at the mirror, they were even more red than before.

  Sighing, I ran my fingers through my dirty-blond hair. It refused to lay flat, but I didn’t care. I didn’t have anyone to impress.

  “You ready?” I asked as I stepped out of the bathroom.

  “Yes!”

  Paisley followed me downstairs. We hit the sidewalk, and she took my hand in hers. The warm spring breeze ruffled her ponytail, blowing strands of brown hair all over her face. She giggled and brushed it away easily, too happy to be annoyed by anything.

  “Is Candice gonna meet us there?” Paisley asked.

  My heart slammed against my ribcage. My breath caught in my throat. Paisley didn’t know anything about what had happened with Candice, and if I had my way, she never would.

  “Not this time,” I said. “Candice is really busy right now.”

  “Why?” Paisley asked.

  “Well, her work is pretty demanding.”

  Paisley nodded. “Oh. So, we’ll see her another day then?”

  “I’m not sure.” I cleared my throat. “She might be busy for a long time.”

  “With work?” Paisley asked.

  “Yeah. With work.”

  Paisley’s face fell, but she seemed to accept my answer. We walked into the city in silence. Guilt once again pressed down on my chest as I realized just how much I’d screwed up.

  After her mother left, Paisley hadn’t had a chance to get close to another woman. Other than her teacher, Candice was the first female role model in Paisley’s life. And now, that was gone. I’d taken it away from her.

  “What about here?” I asked, stopping suddenly.

  Paisley spun around. I pointed to a diner on the other side of the street. Paisley nodded and tugged me forward, pulling on my arm until we made it to the doors.

  We stepped inside and found an empty table. Paisley slid into one side of the booth and tucked her legs under her, so she could see over the table. Grinning at me, she bounced up and down on her knees and looked around the restaurant.

  “Have you been here before?” she asked after we ordered.

  “No,” I said. “My work is right around the corner, though.”

  “Really?” Paisley perked up. “Can we go?”

  Immediately, I regretted opening my mouth. Romeo Rebound was the last place I would ever take Paisley.

  Her wide eyes stared me down as she waited for an answer. Luckily, I was saved from having to give one. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man walking toward us. Glancing up, I frowned as Kason slid into the booth beside Paisley.

  “Kason!” She squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “Hey, kid.” He grinned, not looking at me.

  The waitress walked over with our food. She laid Paisley’s plate down in front of her, and Paisley quickly grabbed her fork.

  Kason reached over and plucked a slice of banana off Paisley’s waffle. He winked at her and threw it in the air, catching it perfectly on his tongue.

  Paisley giggled and tried to copy him. Her banana missed and landed with a soft splat on her cheek.

  “Nice one!” Kason scooped the banana off her cheek and held it out for her to try again.

  “What are you doing here, Kase?” I finally asked.

  Kason popped another piece of banana into his mouth with a grin. Ignoring me, he tickled Paisley’s ribs to claim her attention.

  “How’s school going, little one?” he asked.

  “Great!” Paisley giggled. “My teacher is really nice. But I’m excited to start Kindergarten. Pre-K is for babies.”

  “Babies, huh?” Kason laughed. “You are a baby.”

  “Nu-uh!” Paisley pouted, crossed her arms, and sank back against the booth. “I’m almost five.”

  She held up five fingers proudly. Kason laughed her off and turned back to me. That same, smug grin was plastered on his face. Not for the first time, I wanted to smack it off.

  “How did you know we were here?” I asked.

  Kason shrugged. “I saw you through the window.”

  “You were at work?” I asked.

  “Yup.” He nodded. “B wanted to see me about the Smart account.”

  My stomach dropped. Clearing my throat, I sat up and hoped Kason would have enough sense not to mention Candice around Paisley.

  “So, what’s up?” I demanded.

  “Nothing.” Kason glanced at Paisley pointedly. “Just thought I’d catch up with you guys. I haven’t seen Paise in a while.”

  “Forever!” Paisley chimed in.

  I smiled at her and let go of my suspicions. Before everything with Candice, Kason and I had been friends.

  “All right.” I shrugged. “Well, order something for yourself then. Stop mooching off my kid.”

  Kason waved the waitress over. We ate breakfast, laughing and chatting like the old days. I’d forgotten just how much I enjoyed Kason. He was there for me when Paisley was born and when her mother took off. We’d been friends for years. It was nice to be reminded why.

  As we left the diner, Paisley skipped a little ahead. Her dark brown ponytail whipped back and forth behind her.

  “Hey.” Kason grabbed my arm to stop me. “Wait up a sec.”

  My eyes were still on Paisley. “Don’t go too far!”

  “Okay!” she called back.

  Turning to Kason I asked, “What’s up?”

  “Look, man.” He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “This is awkward, but I just wanted to check in about the Smart job.”

  “You mean Candice?” I asked.

  “Yeah.” Kason cleared his throat. “B wants me to move on her as soon as possible.”

  My fingers tightened at my sides. “I’ve been having a pretty good morning, Kason. Don’t ruin it, all right?”

  “I don’t want to,” Kason said. “I just thought you should know.”

  “Well, thanks.”

  Kason nodded and took a couple steps toward Paisley. She was skipping a circle around a light pole, her tiny fingers curled around the metal. I stood transfixed by the sight of my little girl, but my mind was across town in Candice’s apartment.

  “Hey!” I called. Kason spun around. “Don’t do anything with Candice.”

  He blinked and moved to stand beside me. “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t pursue her.”

  Kason glanced back at Paisley, his eyes narrowing slightly. When he finally turned his attention to me, those same eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them.

  “Back off, Ryan,” he warned. “You’re getting in too deep here. If you keep acting like this, B will kick your ass.”

  “I don’t care.” It was true. Right then, all I cared about was keeping Kason away from Candice. “Candice isn’t just some client. She’s important to me.”

  “You lost the job,” Kason said. “There’s nothing I can do about that.”

  “Let me fix it.”

 
Kason scoffed and turned away. He was halfway to Paisley when I caught up with him. Grabbing his arm, I yanked him back around to face me.

  “Listen,” I hissed, keeping my voice low so Paisley wouldn’t hear. “I can save the job. I’ll get Candice to take me to the damn banquet, okay? Her mother will be happy, she’ll pay Beatrice, and everyone can forget this whole fucking mess ever happened.”

  “No.” Kason didn’t hesitate. He wrenched his arm free from my grasp. “B wants me on this. I can’t say no.”

  “You don’t have to say anything,” I said quickly. “Just let B think you’re working Candice. I’ll take care of everything.”

  “Ryan—” Kason began, but I stepped closer before he could finish.

  “Do this for me,” I begged. “Candice isn’t just some girl, Kason. Paisley is crazy about her. I’m crazy about her.”

  “Do you really think she’ll ever trust you again?” Kason asked.

  He’d hit a nerve, and he knew it. I let my eyes fall shut for a split second too long. Pain coursed through my veins, reminding me just how much I missed Candice.

  Kason slapped his hand down on my shoulder. Blinking, I met his eyes, hating the pity I saw there.

  “Candice is a job,” he said firmly. “She’s not your girlfriend. She never was.”

  “We have something,” I argued. “It’s real between us. She might be pissed off right now, but she knows it too.”

  “Has she talked to you?” Kason demanded. “Even once since it all went down?”

  I didn’t need to answer. He already knew the truth. We both did.

  Still, I wasn’t ready to give up.

  “Please.” My voice cracked. “We’re friends, Kase. Do this for me. I’ll take care of the job, I promise. B will never have to know anything.”

  Kason sighed. “Let it go, Ryan. Before you do something you can’t take back.”

  I already have.

  Kason walked over to Paisley and scooped her up for a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed. I watched from a few feet away as they said goodbye and Kason disappeared into the crowd.