She was beyond counting her words and running them through a filter in her mind. What he was asking her was to lie and cheat.
"I know it's a lot to ask…" he started and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"It's not a lot, it's completely wild. It's crazy. You are asking me to lie, and no matter what the reason, it’s unjust and dishonorable,” she said angrily.
"I’m willing to pay you to pretend to be my fiancée for one night," he said without pausing for a breath.
He was simply relentless.
"That doesn't make it better. ‘Hey Jennifer, I need you to pretend to be my fiancée so this rich man can like me', was the absolute last thing I expected to be asked today!" she exclaimed.
Justin held back a laugh because she had deepened her voice mockingly to go with her imitation of him. Those hazel eyes sparked with fire and she was clearly upset.
"What kind of woman do you think I am?" she asked, a pink- tinted blush washing over her cheeks.
"You’re clearly misunderstanding the whole objective,” he said calmly.
"There are women out there, who are professionals at this kind of thing, women who you can pay to accompany…"
He cut in, "I'm not hiring a prostitute Jennifer. You think I didn't consider all of my options before coming to you? My intentions were not to embarrass you but I’m asking you a favor as your employer. I need your help. Please."
He was officially begging, something he never thought he would be reduce to.
"Don't you have an ex or a friend or someone else who could help you out?"
"None that wouldn't use something like this against me. They will all have their own agendas and I need this to be completely discreet. We already work together and we are comfortable around each other, you know almost everything about me, and I wouldn't ask you if I thought you couldn't handle it."
He saw the cogs in her brain turning as she mulled over his proposal, and he mentally crossed his fingers, hoping that she would agree. He was expecting far more from her than any employer should, but he had his balls in a twist and if he didn’t show up with a fiancée, the deal would be grounded.
She sighed and rubbed her forehead as she stood up and paced the floor, “So what does it all entail?”
"You need to simply play the part of my fiancée for a while. We'll host a dinner and stay together until the deal with Pryor is signed, sealed and delivered,” he stated as he tucked his hands in his pockets.
"What do you mean by “a while”? A week, two, or three?”
"I can't say for sure... a few months at the very least until we can break-up and call off the engagement."
"Will you let me get back to you in the morning?" she asked wearily.
"Sure, take some time and sleep on it,” he said and walked over to her laying his hand gently on her arm, “I swear to you that this was a bitter pill for me to swallow, in asking you to do this, and if I had another way out, I would have taken it.”
“I have to get home,” she sighed and shrugged away from him, picked up her purse and marched out the door.
Justin dragged his hands through his hair and cursed under his breath. He hated what he had become, but Pryor surprised him with his terms, and by that time things were already too far along to turn back. He could only hope that Jennifer would agree to help him.
Chapter 2
By the time Jennifer’s alarm screeched, waking up the entire apartment block, she was still laying in bed staring at the ceiling. Sleep evaded her all night, as she tried to figure out what to do. Worst of all was that she had always liked him; of course, she never showed it. Keeping her work and her personal relationships separate was a rule she lived by ever since she started climbing the corporate ladder. She made the mistake to fall for a senior member of a firm she worked for right out of college once before and it had cost her, not only her job, but her virtue. It took her a long time to finally forgive herself for being so naïve and stupid and she vowed never to fall in that trap again. And the fact that she secretly admired Justin was her own best kept secret. What woman wouldn’t hope for him to notice her?
Justin's target was Eugene Pryor who would only have to see them and buy their act for a night. While that was easy enough, the lack of evidence of them truly being together might make Pryor suspicious. If it was Justin's character he was trying to weigh, he would be looking out for articles about him in the news and tabloids. And if she was going to pretend to be his fiancée, it would mean that every person in the office would have to assume and believe they are together, when it’s all just a big lie.
She could probably pull it off since she so often fantasized about it, but that was then and this is now. Reality stared her in the face like a big bad wolf waiting to devour her, all she needed was a cape and to change her name to Lil Red.
What about his parents, would they be part of the ruse too? And even worse, what about her parents? She thought slightly panicked. She was going to have to either tell her mom and dad what’s really going on so that they didn’t get their hopes up, or pretend all the way.
Giving up on sleep, she got up and let in some bath water, maybe if she relaxed a little she could feel better about the decision she was about to make. She finally slid down into the warm water blocking out any sounds, if only she could get lost in the silence, but her mind was racing. Should she say yes?
She didn't know the answer to the question after her bath, after getting dressed, or after her coffee. She didn't know it after brushing her teeth and she still didn't know the answer when her phone buzzed suddenly, snapping her out of her reverie. She frowned, wondering who on earth would be contacting her that early.
"Hello?"
"We're downstairs. Hurry down. I'll give you a ride." Justin hung up without allowing her to say anything else. She sighed. When he said he'd give her till that morning, he really meant that morning. She trudged down the stairs, her fingers trembling and her stomach felt like it was doing back flips on a trampoline. As she reached to open the door she paused, took a deep breath, and plastered on a fake smile. Outside, in front of her apartment was the hearse that will take her to her own personal funeral. Without a word, she slid into the Bentley beside her boss. He was pristinely dressed as usual, in his Armani suit and tie, and the car was filled with his masculine scent, a mixture of sandalwood and leather. Whatever you do, do not breathe, she warned herself and parted her lips. If she breathed through her mouth, she had no need to inhale his scent and she could actually think clearly. She hoped.
"Morning," he said with a smile that reached his eyes and caught her off guard.
“Morning Mr Dunne,” she attempted with her professional voice.
“Did you have time to think about my proposal?”
He said it as if he had asked her to marry him, if only it was that, but it was nothing but a business deal, and she felt as if she was on auction.
"I did," she said. Looking at him from under her lashes, "But I didn’t expect you to arrive at my apartment, it could have waited till I was at work.”
He chuckled and tapped on the front seat for the driver to get going.
"Perhaps, but I figured the sooner I know your answer, the better," he said and sunk back into the comfort of the seat, not once taking his eyes off her.
"Did you ever once consider that I may be unavailable on account of having a partner?" she said blankly as she stared out the window at the passing scenery.
"If you were, which you’re not, I would have made alternative arrangements,” he said.
She whipped her head around to look at him, "How would you know I am not involved?” she said, crossing her arms. "Have you been spying on me?”
"I wouldn’t call it spying, but truly, you work till late every day, and you’re always the first one at the office, you have picture of your cat on your desk, if you were involved, I would love to meet the lucky man willing to put up with a workaholic. It’s called being observant.”
What an arrogant ass,
she thought and rolled her eyes.
"This is a terrible idea," she said, diverting her gaze to the outside world again.
“Is that a yes?” he asked.
She didn’t respond; for a moment, she contemplated here options and weighed the pros and cons. Doing this will change the dynamic of their working relationship completely.
"Look I'm sorry," he started, "I'm sorry about the way I've gone about this thus far. I should have been more considerate as to how this will impact your life, but I need your help Jennifer. I'm a desperate man with a lot at stake."
"At any given time, there are tons of interns working in various departments at your company. You could have picked any one of them,” she rubbed her hand down over her face.
"No," he shook his head, "I wanted you, you are smart, you can think on your feet and I’m confident that you are the only one who would be able to deliver a believable performance. I'm not going to trust any old wet-behind-the-ears intern with my future.”
Many people were rich. Jennifer knew this. Justin Dunne was not rich. He was wealthy. His riches had levels. From liquid cash, to assets, property, companies, the list went on. Whereas some were born with silver spoons in their mouths, Justin's spoon had been solid gold and diamond encrusted. Having a man that rich and powerful at her mercy should have given her more perverse pleasure but it didn't. She felt almost sorry for him. He was reduced to desperate measures.
"There have to be rules," she said, leaning back into her seat.
"Of course there will be, I have an agreement drawn up, which we both will sign once we agree on the terms.”
He left no rocks unturned, she realized, but if she was going to do this, she was going to make sure her terms were also met.
"Firstly, I don't want your money, I’m not a prostitute. I’m already on your payroll, that’s enough as is," she started.
"Fair enough, but extra money will come in handy."
She ignored that statement and continued, "I won't have sex with you," she said. "We need to look like a couple in public but behind closed doors nothing happens.”
Justin laughed at that and she scowled, “I’m serious, I’m not a whore."
“I had no intentions of getting physical with you, so trust me, your virtue will remain intact.” That stung a bit, he didn’t have to act like she had the plague. Maybe he didn’t find her attractive?
"I don't want this to get in the way of our working relationship…”
"I am going to be having someone else do your duties while this is going on," he interrupted and held up his hand.
“Excuse me? Then what happens when this is all over?”
“You’ll pick up where you left off; I’ll get a temp to take over from you for the time being. I can’t have my fiancée working like a normal employee.”
"And when it's over I get my job back? If this arrangement is going to cost me my bread and butter, I refuse to accept."
"Like I said, your job is safe. You can start again as soon as this is over."
How would she ever face the other staff when she returned? Everyone would be under the impression that they were an item, and if she just waltzed in and took over again, it will raise a few brows. Or worse, they would think Justin dumped her and that’s why she was back at work. She mentally groaned at the potential pitying looks that would be coming her way. But that was a bridge she would cross when she got there. There was always the slightest chance that she could find another job and eventually leave for good.
"Do you have any rules?" she asked.
Justin shifted in his seat and turned to look at her. She was paler than usual, and his gut twisted slightly, but in the long run he knew it will all work out.
"A few, firstly we have to stay in the same house. Same house... not the same bed," he said, seeing her eyes widen. "It gives more credibility to the relationship."
"Makes sense, what else?"
"You can't be involved with anyone else romantically during the time that we are together, I'm sure you can imagine why," he said.
She nodded, “Obviously.”
"One more thing, you have to wear a ring."
She raised her brows and rolled her eyes, “Seriously I don’t think wearing a ring or not would make any difference.”
“Of course it would, what man in his right mind would have a fiancée who doesn’t wear a ring? It’s like a promise of commitment or whatever you want to call it. The first thing anyone looks at is the ring when you tell them you’re engaged.”
She was modest, and he liked that about her. In all the time he got to know her, working with her, she was never one for flashy outfits and daily trips to a hair salon or a spa. Unlike the women he had dated in the past, all of which were always out to wear the most expensive outfits, drive the flashiest cars and owned shoes that would make Prada look like an outback retail store.
"Well in that case I have no problem switching fingers,” she said as she pried her birthstone ring from her right ring finger and put it on her left. It was a cute little piece of jewelry, with a small stone stacked on a band that looked like twined silver, the stone could pass as a diamond to the naked eye, but it was not what he had in mind.
“No sweetheart, that won’t do,” he leaned over and instructed his driver to take a detour to Harry Winston’s. If he was going to make this work, it was going to have to include all the bells and whistles.
Chapter 3
Jennifer had never had any reason before to venture into Harry Winston. She knew that it was a jewelry shop but that was about it. And now she was standing, hand-in-hand with her boss looking at rings. He had looked over four, five, six karat stones asking her opinion on all of them. Only the commitment of her highest level acting skills had kept her from exclaiming loudly that he would be out of his mind to purchase one of those. It was a complete waste of money considering the fact that she’ll only wear it for a few months.
She tried her hardest to remain the calm and serene fiancée as they looked over rings that were more expensive than several years of her salary. She pulled out her best loving gazes and delighted faces in the shop, disguising her real feelings of utter shock.
After finally deciding on a ring that he wanted, and she simply agreeing with, they made their way out of the store. She felt fake, used and excited all at the same time. The kaleidoscope of emotions that flooded her was almost too much.
"Could you not have taken one of the less extravagant rings? Trying to impress people with material things is just a show boat.”
"Jennifer, please. The ring is nothing. I want to buy one. I’ll send for it to be collected as soon as it’s been resized and then we can make it official,” he said as he opened the door for her.
Jennifer slumped back in her seat and sighed. The words ‘make it official’ rang like loud church bells in her mind and she felt a headache slowly creeping up on her. When this is all over she’ll probably be tainted beyond repair, and if she does eventually meet someone, the lie will roll over and over and over. She would always be known as the one who was once engaged. She rubbed the back of her neck and forced herself to calm down. She can do this, she told herself and from somewhere deep down she found the courage to raise her chin and take on the challenge.
"Just by the way… not to rain on your parade or anything, the ring is beautiful and you have great taste but I think a family heirloom engagement ring would impress your future wife a lot more, just saying."
"Oh really?" he asked, amused.
"It’s much more sentimental, so if you ever do decide to propose for real, consider that as a winner.”
"My mother would sooner eat herself than part with Gran’s old jewelry," he said lightly.
"Your parents are still happily married?" she asked curiously. She knew Justin well enough but he had never made any mention of his parents.
"Yes, they will want to talk to you by the way. My mother would never forgive me if she heard about this in the news before we told her."
> Great! She thought as she mentally constructed a list of things to conclude to make this work.
Tell the parents
Tell the news
Tell the employees
Pretend ALL the time
Sign the deal
Break off the engagement
She was sure that the list was going to grow sooner or later, but for now, those were the points she collected.
"Are they going to get the public or private version of the story?" Jennifer asked.
"I don't know yet," he admitted. "Your parents will probably want to know as well. Do they live in the city?"
"No. I moved here on my own. My mother and step father live in North Carolina."
"I didn't know you were from the South."
Jennifer burst out laughing and shook her head, what they knew about each other was minimal, she knew how he liked his coffee, what color ties he preferred, how he liked his eggs and steak. But those were minor details anyone could pick up on in one day. There was a lot more they had to learn about each other in order to look like the ideal couple.
"If you want people to believe we are about to get married there's a number of questions about me you have to be able to answer. I can type them up and send them to you to read at your leisure," she said and shrugged.
Justin chuckled, "That won't be necessary. We have today and tomorrow to get to know each other better. I'm not completely clueless."
"Yeah?" Jennifer sat up. "What's my middle name?"
"Mae. What's mine?" he laughed.
"Franklin. When is my birthday?"
"November 18th. When is mine?"
"Close, it’s November 16th. Yours is December 31st.”
Surprised that he was one step ahead of her, she laughed, "Okay then, so how did we fall in love?"
He looked at her, and smirked, “In my office, you dropped a pencil and bent to pick it up, and I liked what I saw.”
This time Jennifer couldn’t help herself, the mental image of her bent over and him staring at her backside was almost too funny to even consider.
His Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 97