The Engagement Game (Engaged to a Billionaire)

by Gardner, A.

  "Right this way sir," our hostess leads us up the stairs to a private room. My eyes go wide when I see open french doors draped with silk curtains leading onto a candlelit terrace. A table is waiting with two place settings and a vase of yellow tulips.

  "So," Rex comments. "Did I make the right choice?" We are just in time to see the sun disappear from the clear summer sky.

  "Yes." I sit, adjusting the hem of my dress as drinks are being poured. "This is . . . perfect."

  "See," he replies, taking a sip of wine. "Every once in awhile I get something right." A waiter enters our private room and places a small salad plate in front of me. I eagerly eye the sliced tomato and candied walnuts. "I already arranged our meal. I hope you don't mind." Rex was charming, thoughtful, and sexy. Of course I didn't mind.

  "It's great," I answer. "Thank you." I place my napkin in my lap. "So tell me Rex, what do you when you're not . . . I don't know . . . doing this?"

  "Actually," he takes a bite of salad. "I don't have much free time, believe it or not."

  "I can imagine."

  "I travel a lot." He grins before taking another bite of salad. "Not much time for a social life."

  "I'm glad we ran into each other then," I quietly reply.

  "So Kat . . ." His eyes rest at the dimple on my right cheek. "Where do you see yourself in ten years?"

  "An interview," I laugh. "I'm not sure I prepared for this." Or have had enough wine for this.

  "I'm serious," he casually comments. "Let's jump right to the personal stuff. I'm always on a time crunch, remember?" I suddenly got nervous and wondered how much jumping he intended on doing.

  "Well-"

  "And don't just tell me what you think I want to to hear." Dangerous request. I didn't want to ruin my chances by blurting out that I wanted a husband. A rich husband. And a baby . . . or two . . . or three.

  "Hmmm." I stall as long as I can, popping a tomato into my mouth. I came up with a quick solution that didn't involve pouring out my secrets to Mr. Right. This was my first time being out on a date with a billionaire that was actually good-looking (great-looking).

  There was Barry. He was bald and talked a lot. David - he smelled too much like an ashtray. Jefferson couldn't even lift his own fork. I never even told him I was a nurse. Basically I realized years ago that one day I'd have to choose between the ease of having everything I wanted . . . and love.

  Rex represented both. Love and money.

  "Where do you see yourself in ten years?" I cleverly respond. He nods.

  "Married."

  I practically choke on a chunk of cucumber.

  "Really." My instinct is to look around for a hidden camera. No one freely admitted that on a first date. No one. This was more of a fifth date confession.

  "Yes." His voice is firm and unwavering.

  "You're being sarcastic aren't you?"

  "No." He wipes the corner of his mouth with a napkin. "Look, I realize this might seem a tad forward but-"

  "You don't have lots of time," I finish. My stomach rolls into a knot.

  "Exactly." He grins. "I've recently found myself in a bit of a dilemma." I couldn't imagine what type of dilemma a person like him could possibly be in. He seemed to have it all. Seemed. Who knew what would come out of his mouth next.

  "What sort of dilemma?"

  "The kind that could cost me billions." His chest rises a little quicker as he nervously eyes the way my fingers fiddle with my fork. The knot in my stomach tightens.

  "Shoot," I mutter under my breath. "You're engaged?" I scoot my chair back.

  "NO." Rex waves a hand. "No, of course I'm not engaged."

  "Then what?"

  "My mum."

  I twist my lips, wildly confused.

  "My mum has had enough I'm afraid," he continued. "I've been given a deadline."

  "For?" I knew what he was getting at, but I needed him to spell it out. My jaw drops.

  "Marriage," he softly replies. "My father's company needs the promise of a prosperous future, and that means a continuing bloodline to pass on the business."

  "So you need to get engaged by a certain date or your parents will . . ."

  "Well," Rex sighs. "My mum hasn't exactly dissolved my inheritance or anything, but I have no doubt she will start with her horrid tricks when my deadline passes."

  "Wow." But what I really meant to say was and you're asking me to marry into that?

  "Yeah," Rex quietly breathes. "Sorry to spring this on you but I find myself having to speed things up and . . . well, I'm very fond of you Kat." I blush, glancing down at my heels.

  "Well," I gulp. "I'd be lying if said I didn't feel the same way." I glance at the glowing color of his eyes. They lure me in, telling me I'm safe within the walls of this room. The knot in my stomach squeezes my insides and reminds me of an unknown detail. "Uh . . . sorry but I have to ask. When is your deadline?" Rex bites his lip as if hoping I'd forget him mentioning that part.

  "Three weeks."

  My brain flies through the days on my mental calendar. A fall wedding. I never thought my chance at actually following through with the pact I made years ago would spring on me this fast. Then again I didn't think I'd ever lie awake at night stressing about the fact that I would be single on my thirtieth birthday either.

  "Please say something," Rex clears his throat and studies my expression.

  "You're joking." I smile uncomfortably, still waiting for a hidden camera man to jump out from behind the french doors. Rex shakes his head just as I discreetly scratch the side of my arm. A sharp pain shoots up my bicep. I was definitely awake.

  "I'm afraid not." He takes a long sip of his wine. This is what I'd been waiting for. What I'd dreamed about night after night. I could hear Holly yelling in my head. Who cares! Kiss him and seal the deal! I take a deep breath and compose myself, sneaking a glance at Rex's tan skin and perfectly wide set shoulders. I could be happy waking up next him every morning. Eating a handmade croissant from a delicate china plate for breakfast, and never having to pop and bandage a blister on the sole of my foot from a week of extra shifts.

  "Okay," I respond. Rex's eyes go wide as he puts down his now empty wine glass.

  "Okay?"

  "Yeah, I said okay. If three weeks pass and you're still fond of me, I'll agree to an engagement." Now I was the one being forward.

  "And you're sure you're okay with this?"

  I sigh, standing up and gripping the railing on the terrace. The cool breeze did wonders for my burning cheeks. I wasn't getting any younger and I wasn't getting any richer. My savings account was pretty pathetic, as if that weren't apparent by the size of my apartment. "It's not the traditional way of doing things, that's for sure. But yeah. I'm okay with this." Rex stands up. His spicy cologne wafts through my nose as he walks closer. My heart drums as I imagine the two of us engaged - toasting to each other at a lavish party complete with caviar and golden utensils.

  "Honestly," Rex quietly remarks. "I was expecting one of two things." He smiles. "You tearing the piss out of me and storming off or me finding myself tangled in the arms of an obsessive psychopath."

  "I take it you've had this talk with others before?"

  "Perhaps," he chuckles. "But none with a three week time limit."

  "You really think your mom will cut you off for something so silly?"

  "Well." He moves his hand close to mine, making my breaths silently quicken. "I have been sort of . . . procrastinating I guess. I've been busy."

  "Rex," I swallow. "Just how long have you been on the hunt?" His face cringes a little.

  "Awhile . . ." His gaze moves to the seaside view. I knew that look better than anyone. Something was on his mind. Something important. There was something else he wasn't telling me. I take a stab at it.

  "Your mom thinks you're dating someone, doesn't she?"

  Rex looks surprised.

  "How did you-"

  "Just a guess," I interrupt.

  "Kat, my work is very importan
t to me."

  "Then explain that to your mom," I suggest. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ears. What was I doing? Trying to talk him out of the one thing I really wanted? But I couldn't help it. After Chad I'd become an expert advice giver. Though I was crap at following my own words of wisdom. "She won't just up and cut you off after all the hard work you've done."

  "You don't know my mum."

  "Right," I mutter. Rex was rich, suave, sexy, and overall perfect. It only made sense that his family was insane.

  "Listen, if this is too weird for you-"

  "No," I say again. "I mean it is weird, but at least you had the guts to be completely honest up front. You are being completely honest, right?" The worried expression leaves his face allowing a soft laugh to escape his lips. "You don't have an ex-wife and baby too, do you?"

  "Nope," he says, loosening his shoulders. "Now you know everything about me." His eyes move to bare skin on my neck. "Well almost everything." My pulse skyrockets as he leans in close. I'm surrounded by his scent. His arm tightens around my waist and all at once I can feel the blood pumping through my veins. His perfect lips explore the corners of my mouth. I close my eyes as he firmly kisses me. My chest rises and a warm tingle wraps itself around every muscle in my torso. Yes. I could be happy with Rex.

  A flash of light breaks my trance and Rex pulls away, rushing inside.

  "Bloody paps," he forcefully mutters. "Charles!" A man with giant arms and a frightening stare bursts in. I hadn't noticed him before which was probably a good thing since he gave me the creeps.

  "Sir." His deep voice is expected.

  "I thought our agenda was secure?" There is a tone in Rex's voice that demands the attention of everyone in the room.

  "I'll look into it," Charles responds.

  "Sorry darling." Rex squeezes my hand, bringing me back to the trance I found myself in while kissing him. Darling. The way he said it made me blush for the thousandth time. "I was hoping for a romantic dinner with little to no interruptions. But the paparazzi is part of the deal."

  "And the picture?"

  "Yes," he clears his throat. "You might find yourself in the paper tomorrow." He hangs his head, but I pretend that I'm okay with it.

  "A souvenir," I reply. Rex grins and his hand gently rubs my side. I was about to dive headfirst into the world I'd only fantasized about. It was real now.

  * * *

  "Tell me all about him." I take a sip of tea and watch Holly rub her shiny lips together. Her hair always fell perfectly over her shoulders and she always wore a pair of tight jeans or leggings to emphasis the fact that she was fit. Her lips are a dark pink today. They match the ballet flats she'd paired with a skinny jeans and a pink blouse.

  "What a second," she objects. "I'm still waiting on that journal you promised. Remember? Every. Single. Detail." She beams, forgetting about the plate of salad in front of her as she waves her arms and nearly knocks it to the floor. She always talked with her hands.

  "If you want action I'll tell you right now. There was a kiss. Okay, two. But that's it." Our goodbye was quick, especially since we couldn't go anywhere else without photographers watching our every move. That and Rex had an early morning meeting.

  "Geez Kat," she laughs. "I'm only curious. So . . . when are you seeing him again?" Before she can pry for more information, my brain goes on overload with all the details of last night.

  "It's happening Holly," I blurt out. My heart beats just as fast as it had when Rex kissed me. "I think I'm getting married." Holly gives me a curious look. "Really. I might have hit the jackpot here."

  "Uh some clarification, K."

  "Okay," I hesitate. "We sit down to dinner. Everything is perfect and then WHAM. He tells me if he's not engaged in three weeks, his inheritance goes out the window." Holly's eyes go wide before covers her mouth to contain her laughter.

  "Nice one," she giggles.

  "I'm serious." I glance around the cafe, embarrassed by the scene she's is making by laughing even louder. She clutches her sides. I keep a straight face until her laughter slowly dies down.

  "NO." She leans in looking around at the attention she has gathered. "Kat . . . this . . . I mean . . ." She shakes her head, unable to complete the sentence.

  "I know," I whisper. "You think it's a load of garbage?"

  "This is . . . brilliant!"

  "Huh?" I curiously watch as my best friend's mouth drops. "A month from now you could be married. To a billionaire."

  "And a guy I just met," I add. "That doesn't worry you?" She tilts her head and grabs a piece of blond hair.

  "It is what you wanted." She was right. Chad had ruined me. My heart had been set on this and only this for years.

  "I know," I respond. "It's just all happening so fast."

  "Sometimes that's just how life works." She finally looks down at her plate of salad, eyeing a specific bite. "Remember when I couldn't find work and then all in the same weekend three different studios offered me a job?" I nod. "And the time Nordy's sold out of those red Jimmy Choos? And then all of sudden they got a random shipment in just when Cheryl gave me a bonus at work?"

  "Why do you always compare relationships to shoes?"

  "I do not."

  "Like nine times out of ten," I comment.

  "Whatever." She forms the perfect bite on her fork - lettuce, cucumber, olive, and a bit of feta. "The point is." She takes a bite and quickly swallows. "The point is how do you know this guy was really meant for you? I mean, can you see yourself being happy with him?" With a kiss like last night. Definitely.

  "Possibly."

  "And you've both established that marriage is the end goal?"

  "Well, yeah."

  "Then stop over-analyzing it," Holly practically scolds me. "Now, come on. Let's get back to what's really important here. Is he hot?" I laugh, letting myself relax.

  "Very," I reply. She sits up straighter in her chair. "But enough about me. Quit stalling and tell me what happened last weekend." She licks her lips.

  "I met someone."

  "Yeah you did. You've hardly been able to sit still."

  "He's amazing Kat," she beams. "He's everything I've been looking for. Everything."

  "And you met at the recital?"

  "Well after." She takes a breath and forms another perfect bite of salad on her fork. "The recital was part of a charity thing and there was mingling and drinks afterwards."

  "So on a scale of one to ten-"

  "One hundred," Holly excitedly finishes. It had been a long time since I'd seen her so excited about a guy. The last time was when Ben something bought her a diamond tennis bracelet. I raise my eyebrows.

  "You slept with him already?" I whisper.

  "Of course not," she immediately answers. "Geez Kat, I'm not a total slut." A sigh of relief.

  "So what happened?"

  "We talked all night," she continues. "We exchanged numbers, but I couldn't stop thinking about him so I called him this morning." Gutsy as always. "We're meeting for coffee later."

  "That explains the pink and extra blast of perfume."

  "I'm not wearing this." She looks down at her clothes as if she's wearing muddy sweat bottoms.

  "My mistake," I mutter. Who knew what she really thought of the clothes I wore to work every day.

  "I'm planning on changing before." She picks up her phone, moving back to the subject of me and marriage. "So . . . tell me his name. I want to see a picture." She scrolls through news updates on her screen. Her finger stops and she stares at the air behind me like she's in a trance.

  "Holly?"

  She looks up, biting her lip. She slinks back in her chair and sizes me up like she used to do to Judy Watkins in the sixth grade before a soccer game. "Holly," I repeat. "What's wrong?"

  "Rex." The mention of his name sends my pulse into overdrive.

  "Yeah," I reply. "That's his name. Rex. How did you-" My question is answered as she turns her phone around and reveals the picture from last night with the hea
dline hotel billionaire finally checks in. I can't help but look amused. "Oh that."

  "Kat," she sighs. "We've got a problem."

  "How big?" My stomach churns. I didn't like where this was going. "Holly?"

  "That's the guy," she finally says, throwing a hand in the air. "That's him."

  "What? Wait do you know him or something?"

  "No, Kat." Her jaw tenses as she tries to explain. "Rex is my guy."

  "No," I shake my head. "See that picture there? He was my date last night."

  "Kat! I'm meeting Rex for coffee in like an hour."

  It finally clicks. My lungs feel like they might freeze up and shatter into a million pieces. I have to focus just to breathe.

  "No," I mutter. Things were going perfect, but this was the catch. My best friend was falling for the same guy. My guy. The guy I'd fantasized about marrying all night. The guy that took me for a romantic dinner then kissed me on the terrace. "How?" I wrack my brain trying to think of how Rex could have met Holly the same day he met me. "The charity thing your students performed at . . . that wasn't a hospital charity thing by chance?" A light bulb turns on in Holly's head. "Hell just froze over." Holly looks down at her salad. Silence.

  Holly didn't have to say it because I knew she thinking it. She didn't want to back off, even though technically I had dibs. But once her mind was made up it was impossible to change. My heart sinks. It was either say goodbye to my perfect evening or lose Rex to a blonde goddess that happened to be my BF.

  "Another good one gone," I mumble. Still nothing but silence. Would Holly give up her chance at marrying the man of our dreams to make me happy? Nope. "Maybe we should both just-"

  "Unless," she decidedly speaks. I fold my arms, waiting for the dreaded but.

  "No. No. And no. If it involves some kind of scheme that will blow up in our faces later, no way."

  "Don't you want to know what kind of guy he really is?"

  "He's the kind that will be engaged next month. To ONE girl. Emphasis on the ONE. So I take it you're still going to meet him later?" Holly twirls her hair. My chest heaves. Holly looks me in the eye, still with the look she used to give Judy Watkins before she crushed her team on the field.