Seven Day Wife: A Fake Marriage Office Romance

by Mia Faye

  I heard the sound of footsteps, and that spurred me into action, snapped me out of the stupor. I quickly pulled my pants all the way up, snapped my bra back on, and buttoned my blouse up. I was sure I looked disheveled, but there wasn’t time to worry about that just yet.

  Cam took the hint as well. He finished getting dressed just as the knock sounded on the door, and by that time, I had already gotten down and gathered the scattered items on the floor.

  “Just a moment!” I yelled. My voice cracked; it felt like I hadn’t spoken in a very long time. I did my best and quickest arrangement, stacking the documents in one semi-neat pile and everything else in a reasonable pile across the desk.

  I glanced over at Cam, and he nodded stiffly. I reached up and patted my hair, making sure it was all in place and that I didn’t look like I had just been pushed up against a wall.

  “Come in!” I said.

  A tall, pretty woman pushed the door open and walked in. I knew her from around the office, but I had never spoken to her. She was, unless I was mistaken, a secretary to one of the senior managers.

  “Sorry to interrupt, Miss Matthews, but a call came in for you. Mr. Cavill. Says there’s a problem with your line.”

  The problem was that someone had swept it to the floor in a fit of passion and probably broken it.

  “Okay,” I said. “Thank you. I’ll call Mr. Cavill back right away.”

  She nodded, turned, and hurried away.

  I picked up my phone and dialed Mr. Cavill’s number. As it rang, I stared in the direction of Meredith’s office. Ten minutes, she had said. I wasn’t about to waste her time when I was already on thin ice with her.

  Mr. Cavill wanted to reschedule. It turned out his Monday wasn’t as free as he had assumed, and he wanted to know if I could make Tuesday morning work. I quickly agreed and hung up the phone. I was far too wired for casual conversation. Or anything else, really.

  My heart was pounding, and my mind kept trying to work out the variety of ways this meeting with Meredith could go. It was bad enough that I was probably going to get fired. I couldn’t even wrap my mind around the scene Meredith had just walked into. How bad we must have looked. How unprofessional. And we had developed such a nice relationship, one I had been hoping would blossom into a mentorship. And now this.

  It was all my fault. Right at the beginning, on my very first day here, I had gone out of my way to stop this very thing from happening. I had told Cam off, refusing to engage in any funny business at work. Yet here we were. I had been so adamant about maintaining a professional demeanor, keeping the personal stuff out of work, and I had failed miserably. Not only had I allowed Cam to charm his way past my admittedly feeble defenses, but I had also let him break the one rule I had promised myself I wouldn’t compromise on. Now, this was going to be the whole story; people were going to talk, as they did, and I was going to be that woman who slept her way to the top, who only got the job because she was fucking the Head of Department. And I had worked so hard to get here.

  Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if I got fired. At least I wouldn’t have to walk past an office full of smirking people who looked down when I met their gaze. At least I wouldn’t have to pretend not to hear their snide comments as I passed.

  I knocked on Meredith's door. I waited until she invited me in, and that drew a smile from her.

  “I should probably have done the same, eh?” she said, her tone surprisingly light.

  “What?” I stuttered, confused by her tone.

  “Come on in, Yvette. Sit.”She pointed out a chair in front of her desk, and I walked to it and sat down. She watched me quietly for a while, then she got up, came around the desk, and sat down in the chair across from mine.“You don’t need to be so tense, Yvette. I didn’t call you here to berate you.”

  “I’m not fired?” I asked in a small voice.

  Meredith reached over and touched me gently on the arm. It was a kind gesture, and its purpose was clearly to reassure me.“Not at all. For several reasons, primarily the fact that I like to think of myself as a feminist, I’m not going to judge you for expressing your sexuality. I mean, obviously, I’d prefer it if you didn’t do it at work, but I understand the thrill. I was young once.”

  I looked at her, my mouth hanging open.

  “Plus,” she went on. “Cam is an extremely attractive man. I cannot say with any conviction that I wouldn’t do the exact same thing if I were twenty years younger, and he looked at me the way he looks at you.”

  It was the second time I'd heard that statement. How exactly did Cam look at me? Why was I the only one who never seemed to notice it? I wasn’t brave enough to ask Meredith to elaborate. Not while I was still getting my breathing back down to normal.

  “I’m sorry you had to see that,” I said. “It was unprofessional, and it won’t happen again.”

  Meredith nodded. “From what I’ve seen of your work, Yvette, you’re an excellent editor. You have that rare ability to shape a writer’s work while removing yourself from it entirely. I think you’re a hard worker, you deliver your work in time, and you get along well with just about everybody— some, clearly, better than others.”She gave me a little wink, no doubt her way of letting me know it was safe to laugh about it all now.

  “I don’t think your relationship with Cam has affected your work, so I have no reason to be unduly concerned. I’m not so sure about him, though. But that’s a conversation I’ll need to have with him.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, unable to help myself this time.

  “About Cam? Let’s just say he’s been a bit distracted. At least now I understand why. Anyway, Yvette. I called you in here to talk to you about the next step of your work. I had asked Cam to find you a graphic designer to work with for the books you’ve already completed, so we can get them out as soon as possible. Is that okay?”

  “Yeah, that would be great.”

  “Excellent. Beyond that, I wanted to talk to you about something else, something more… personal, if you don’t mind.”

  She glanced over at the door as if checking that we were indeed alone. It was a subtle shift, but her demeanor changed almost completely. All at once, she was open and vulnerable in a way that made me feel slightly uncomfortable.

  “Cam told you he invited you to the dinner with my husband at the company retreat?”

  I nodded.

  “I’m sure he mentioned, and you would have noticed this too… my husband is a shell of the man he used to be. The disease has advanced faster than we anticipated, and every visit to the doctor now comes with more and more bad news. I fear he may not have much longer…”Meredith trailed off, and her voice cracked ever so slightly. I was afraid she would start to cry, and I wouldn’t know what to do. I couldn’t imagine the kind of strength and fortitude she had, going through something this heartbreaking and still being as unbowed as she was.

  “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Banks.”

  She snorted, and it sounded like a laugh.“I’ve seen you naked, Yvette. I think you can call me Meredith.

  “Right. Meredith.”

  “Anyway. I’ve been finalizing Wyatt’s projects and clearing his backlog. I’m close to finishing, actually. Now, I’m not supposed to be telling you this, but the board is very interested in Cam taking over in the capacity of COO. I’ve been pushing him quite hard, to be honest; I feel like he would be the perfect fit, and he knew Wyatt well enough to carry on his legacy.”

  So Vicki had been on to something.

  “What I’m getting at is this: As soon as Cam is appointed to the new position, which will be in the coming weeks, I think, I’m going to need someone to step in as Head of Editorial, on an interim basis while we find a replacement. I’ve been so busy with the transition I haven’t really had time to start the search…”

  “I don’t understand. Do you mean you want me to do it?”

  “Precisely.”

  “But Mrs … Uh, Meredith. I’m new… There must be someone more qualified
…”

  “You’re a smart woman, Yvette. Tell me, what is the median age of our staff in the Editorial department?”

  I thought about it for a moment. “Around 40?”

  “Try 50,” she said. “I love what you’ve done with the library. I loved your idea about digital copies and new covers. I need that innovative spirit. Someone who can shake up the department, inject new life into it. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to take no for an answer.”

  I looked at her, lost for words. A few minutes ago, I was sure I was going to be fired. Instead, I was getting a promotion.

  “Tell you what,” Meredith went on. “I’ll let you sleep on it. But I’m very impressed by you, young lady. And I hope you accept.”

  Chapter 20

  Yvette

  I was distracted during my entire commute home.

  It had been one of the weirdest days since I started working at Penguin Publishers. There was a lot to think about, and once I clocked out, my feet went on autopilot, and I let myself drift off.

  I bumped into someone at the door, which was how I knew my mind wasn’t in the present. I barely noticed him; there was only a brief flash of a black and white suit, and then a gruff voice mumbling an apology, and then he stepped aside to let me pass.

  I was flattered that Meredith was impressed enough to consider me, even though it hadn’t even been two months since I started. It spoke to just how well I had settled in, and how much my work was speaking for me. That was the good news. The flipside was that I was now being thrust into a position of leadership, and I wasn’t too sure how I was going to handle that.

  I would essentially be taking over from Cam.

  Cam.

  My phone buzzed urgently in my purse, sparing me the inevitable trip down the rabbit hole of thinking about Cam. I needed to figure that bit out. I really did.

  I thought it might have been Cavill again, but it turned out to be Tyler. My heart leaped. If ever there was a time I needed my best friend, now would be it.

  “Just the person I wanted to hear from,” I said.

  “Oh, look. You remembered you have a best friend.”

  “Don’t even start, Tyler. I’ve had the craziest day.”

  I had stopped by the side of the road, right outside a small café. I thought I saw someone staring at me from inside the café, but I dismissed it.

  “Sounds unbearably exciting,” Tyler said, with just a hint of sarcasm. “But before you get into that… there seems to be a huge amount of money deposited into my bank account, and apparently, it was in your name. I thought someone must have made a mistake, but they insist that there was no mistake.”

  “Oh, yeah. I forgot to tell you about that. It’s not a mistake. I did send you that money.”

  “Vee? What’s going on?”

  “It’s for the restaurant. Obviously. Do you remember? We talked about it when you were here. You said you were thinking about renovating, but you were short of money?”

  “And you just happened to have five thousand dollars lying around?”

  “It’s a long story, Tyler. But you should definitely get started with the renovation plans.”

  “I told you, Vee. We’re selling.”

  “No, you’re not. That was you being afraid to take the risk. Now stop being a pussy and tell your aunt you’re going to make it work.”

  Tyler fell silent, and I knew he was searching for another excuse.

  “Where did you even get that kind of money?” he asked. The classic side-step.

  “I got an advance. I’m being promoted.”

  It was the first thing that popped into my mind. Well, it wasn’t completely false.

  “No way! Really?”

  “Yup. Head of Department. But only on a trial basis, to begin with.”

  “That’s incredible, Vee. I told you you’d kill it!”

  “Yeah yeah. So, you have no excuse not to follow through on the restaurant. Let me call you when I get home, okay? I’m outside this restaurant, and the people are starting to stare.”

  “Okay. Proud of you!”

  Normally, I would take the bus or get a cab if it was too late. But today I felt like walking. I thought it would help clear my mind, but all it did was give me more time to obsess over everything that had happened.

  My thoughts were a jumbled mess. I kept jumping from work to Cam to Meredith and then back in a vicious cycle, without making any real headway. I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. A mild headache was starting out at my temple, threatening to morph into a full-blown migraine.

  And still, no solutions presented themselves to me.

  It should have been simple, really. The promotion was a dream come true. I would be ascending the ladder faster than even my most optimistic projections. It would be a highlight of my career, young as I was, to be given such responsibility. And it was a welcome indicator that I was on the right track after all.

  The simple fact was that Cam complicated everything. It wasn’t just a promotion if he was involved. I couldn’t work with him; I didn’t know how to. I had tried so hard to do just that for the last month and a half, and it had ended with him pinning me against a wall in my office. If I were honest with myself, we were always going to end up on that desk, against that wall. There was too much heat between us, too much sexual tension. I wanted him so badly, and it clouded my judgment, especially in the most crucial moments. I barely knew who I was anymore. The Yvette Matthews who had moved here not so long ago was shy and career-focused and introverted. This woman who looked back at me through shop windows as I strode through the streets; this wild and carefree panther was almost a stranger.

  I was walking past a boutique when I saw him. I almost missed him, as my eyes went from my own reflection to a brightly dressed woman on the other side of the street. But then I noticed the suit, and it hit me as oddly familiar. And then I remembered where I had seen him. He was the dark shape I had bumped into on my way out of the office.

  Except that had been nearly ten blocks back, and there was no logical reason for him to be walking in the same direction as I was. It was too much of a coincidence.

  I continued to walk, but I was watching him now. I took a roundabout route, walking across streets I normally wouldn’t, and taking random turns every other block. Always, when I checked back across the street, he was there, walking a little distance away, trying to blend into the crowd as much as possible.

  He was definitely following me.

  A wave of panic shot straight through my body. I quickened my steps, no longer concerned with disguising where I was going. I just wanted to get home and lock myself in my bedroom. It was getting late, and I had never felt so scared.

  I walked even faster, the temptation to break into a run growing with each passing second. Then, seized by a sudden idea, I looked around me and shouldered my way into the nearest open building I could see.

  Once inside, I pulled out my phone and dialed Cam’s number.

  I hadn’t spoken to him since the incident in the office. Part of me was angry at him, perhaps a bit unfairly. But the second I heard his voice, a feeling of calm settled over me.

  “Someone is following me.”

  “What?”

  “A man. In a dark suit. He’s been trailing me since I left the office.”

  “Where are you now?”

  “I’m not sure… uh… the Macy’s downtown, I think.”

  Cam was silent for so long I thought we had been disconnected.

  “Hello?” I said.

  “Vicki,” he said simply.

  “Huh? What does she have to do with anything?”

  “This is her,” Cam said, and there was so much conviction in his voice. “She threatened me back when she came over for dinner. She said she would hire private investigators to watch me. This must be it.”

  “Why would she do that?”But I already knew why. It was obvious, really. Simple.

  “She doesn’t believe it. The marriage. Or ev
en if she does, she wants to make me… us… miserable, in the hope we slip up.”

  “This was supposed to be a quick, simple thing, Cam,” I said.

  “I know. I know. I’m sorry. I may have underestimated her a bit. But if she’s going to the extent of hiring a private investigator, then it means she’s been rattled.”

  “Do we know for certain, though, that it’s a private investigator?”It could be a kidnapper or an opportunistic thug who had seen me use my phone repeatedly and was waiting for the right moment to pinch it.

  “I’m positive it is,” Cam said.

  “Wouldn’t a private investigator be more subtle? I don’t know… blend into the surroundings? This one is in a suit, and he must be terrible at tailing if I managed to spot him.”

  “That’s exactly why I’m sure it’s Vicki’s doing. She wants us to know she has people following us. She wants us to be aware of them because that makes us look over our shoulders, and we are more likely to make a mistake. I know how she thinks. This is definitely her.”

  “So, I’m not in any danger?”

  “I don’t think you are, no. But let’s not take any risks. Take a cab straight home and wait for me there.”

  Home? As in my place? Or his?

  “You mean…”

  “My place, Yvette. If she has people watching us, then we’re going to have to maintain the façade a little longer, at least until I figure out how to work this to our advantage. I have a quick meeting in the next fifteen minutes, but I’ll be home as soon as possible, and we can talk this out properly.”

  The more I thought about it, the more I realized what a bad idea it had been, agreeing to Cam’s little plan. Not only had it gotten way off the rails, but it was also now actively affecting my life. I hadn’t been to my own apartment in so long I’d almost forgotten what it looked like. It was all very well when we spent long weekends at his place; working days were a different matter. I couldn’t spend the whole day avoiding him at work only to go back to his house when it was over. It was suffocating; I felt like I was in a trap whose jaws kept drawing closer, and I had no way of getting out.