“Hi, Grace. Sit down,” Charlie said, giving her his absent smile. He was dressed in a black suit and green tie, his hair perfectly gelled into place and his chin perfectly smooth.
She took the seat across from him. “Good morning.”
“How was your weekend?”
“Good,” she said without hesitation. She didn’t intend to tell Charlie the truth about Jamie, as it would only upset him. Besides, he wasn’t technically her boyfriend. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.
“You seem like you’re in a good mood,” Charlie said approvingly. “You look like you got some rest.”
“I did,” she said, plastering on her smile and wondering how he possibly couldn’t see through it.
“How was the trip to New York?”
She waved her hand absently. “Oh, it was alright. Nothing too interesting. The gala went well. Jamie was pleased with it.”
“That’s good news. You’re doing a good job keeping him happy.”
Funny, that wasn’t how she remembered it.
“Did he call you? Have you heard from him?” Grace asked.
Charlie looked confused. “No. Why? Do you need me to talk to him about something?”
“Not at all,” she said quickly. “I was just wondering if you heard anything from him. He’s been quiet today.”
“That’s a good sign, trust me. It means he’s satisfied. I’m proud of you, Grace. Jamie Castleton is a difficult client, and I know how hard you have been working. I just want you to know that it isn’t going unnoticed. You’ve got a bright future here at this company.” He winked at her. “And I’m not just saying that because you’re my girlfriend.”
Girlfriend?
“Uh...” She closed her open mouth, unsure of what to say.
Charlie didn’t seem to notice. He got distracted by an email that appeared on his screen, typing a quick response before turning back to her. “So, what do you say to going out to dinner tonight? Can Caroline watch Jake?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I wasn’t home with him all weekend. If you don’t mind, I’d rather spend tonight at home. I’m afraid that with all of this work, Jake has been a little neglected.”
“Of course. I understand,” Charlie said. “Now, I don’t want to impose, but I have to ask—would you be comfortable with me coming to dinner at your house? I would really like to meet your son.”
Another shocker that she didn’t know how to respond to. She didn’t really mind the thought of Charlie meeting Jake; a week before, in fact, she would have agreed to it without much thought. They had known one another for years, and she trusted him. Now that Jamie was back in her life, however, the thought of Charlie being around Jake just made her uncomfortable. It seemed wrong, somehow.
He just looked at her, cool gray eyes expectant.
“I...” She bit her lip, trying to think of the right words to turn Charlie down without insulting him. “Can I get back to you? I need to think about it. I’ve never brought anyone home to meet my son before.”
Charlie nodded. “I totally understand. Give it some thought. You know where to find me.”
He came around to where she was sitting and kissed her gently on the lips. His breath smelled like mint. She didn’t register much else.
She was scared that she would never respond the way to Charlie that she did to Jamie.
Charlie really was a good guy, though. She was lucky to be his... girlfriend?
That was just weird. She left his office turning the word over and over in her head. She still thought of Charlie, primarily, as her boss. To her, a boyfriend was the guy who held your hair when you got sick and the guy you woke up next to in the morning with no makeup on. Picturing Charlie in those situations was difficult.
She wondered what Jamie would say about this development.
Well, he probably wouldn’t say anything nice.
Back at her desk, Grace completed more work, feeling better with every task she checked off on her list. Catching up on everything she missed last week trying to keep up with Jamie was easy when he wasn’t harassing her with phone calls.
Why wasn’t he calling? Could it be that he was finally listening to her when she said she didn’t want any kind of relationship with him? Maybe he was going to, for once, act professionally toward her.
Still, it made her nervous.
Why was she thinking about him so much?
Grace ordered out for lunch with her coworkers and passed the rest of the day getting all her work done, connecting with the clients she had neglected. When 4:30 rolled around, she smiled, thinking that she would be able to leave the office on time for the first time in a week.
Then, of course, Jamie called. It was just so like him.
“Bradden Media, this is Grace.”
“Grace, it’s Jamie.”
“Hi, Jamie. How are you?”
“I’ve been better.”
She didn’t quite know what to say to that and decided on the professional approach. “I’m sorry to hear it. How can I help you this afternoon?”
He sounded tired when he spoke. “Listen, I know you’re going to get mad at me for asking, but I need a favor.”
She grit her teeth, certain that she wasn’t going to like this. “What kind of favor? Are we going to have to catch a red-eye somewhere?”
“I really hate to do this...”
“What is it, Jamie? Spit it out.”
He sighed. “I’m meeting with a few potential investors tonight. I wouldn’t ask this if I really didn’t need your help, Grace, but I need you to come support me. I don’t have my team here, and I’m concerned about how well of a presentation I can put on for this group. They are really serious guys. Sharks.”
She almost scoffed but stopped herself just in time. “Jamie, I’m sure you can handle it on your own. I don’t see what help I can be to you. You have all the materials I put together. It’s not like I can do the presentation for you.”
She didn’t care that she was being rude. This was just too much.
“I realize that, Grace,” Jamie said, patient as ever. “I’m not asking you to give the presentation. I just think it would make a big difference if I had you there. They would take me a lot more seriously knowing I’m working with an established marketing and advertising firm in the area and that I’m not just some New Yorker with a hotel room trying to make a quick deal. I want them to know that I’m taking this seriously, that I’m really looking to expand our products to this market.”
She pursed her lips together, trying to decide what to do. It sounded legitimate, and she understood his point, but he needed to understand that she couldn’t afford to be at his beck and call after work hours. She had a life.
And he wasn’t a part of it.
Grace thought of telling him off and hanging up on him, the way Caroline would want her to. Telling him to find someone else to work with and leave her alone. She thought about it, but she ultimately chickened out. She would just have to take this up with Charlie and see how he wanted to handle it—as he always said, her personal life wasn’t the client’s problem.
“Fine,” she told him, giving in. “Tell me where to be and when, and I’ll be there. But I want to say, for the record, this is the second time you’ve done this to me on extremely short notice.”
“I know, I’m sorry. Do you have a pen?”
She hung up the phone a few moments later, information in hand, and headed into Charlie’s office. He was hard at work at his computer, motioning for her to have a seat and wait for him to finish. When he finally turned toward her, she could tell that he was stressed out.
“Long day?” she asked.
“The worst.” He rubbed at his forehead. “We may lose the Central Orange account. Marcy got the date wrong on those invitations we made for them and their whole 75th anniversary party is ruined.”
“Shit.” Suddenly her problem didn’t seem so big.
“Yeah. I could really use a drink right no
w.” Charlie sighed. “I trust you’re here with good news?”
“Actually... no.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m afraid we’re not going to be able to have dinner tonight.”
He frowned. “Is this about Jake? You’re not ready for me to meet him?”
“It’s not that.” She shook her head, feeling bad. “I do want you to meet him sometime. It’s just that Jamie called. He needs me to work tonight. He’s meeting with some investors, and he wants me to be there to support him.”
Charlie did not look happy. “That’s ridiculous. That’s not your job.”
“I didn’t want to tell him that,” Grace said, feeling a little justified because he agreed with her thinking. “I didn’t think it was my place. Do you want to tell him that?”
“No, you’re right. We’ve got to keep the client happy. I’m just concerned with all of this after-hours work.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “Has he... you know, tried anything with you? Said anything inappropriate?”
“No,” she lied. “But it’s hard to say what’s inappropriate. We don’t have a typical client-agent relationship. We used to be together. It makes things weird.”
“Yes, I can imagine.” Charlie frowned. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you, actually.”
“What?”
“Is he Jake’s father?”
“Yes.” She didn’t even think to lie. What was the point? “Jamie doesn’t know, and I don’t want him to know.”
Charlie’s eyes widened. “That’s bad.”
Grace shrugged. “He can’t find out. I don’t want him starting a custody battle I can’t afford. Or winning one.”
“Grace, this is insane.” Charlie stood up and started pacing around his desk. “What if he finds out somehow? What kind of position will that put you in? And what about the company? This is bad all around.”
She felt defenses rising and wondered if she made a mistake telling the truth. “Charlie, I can handle it. Jamie is going to head back to New York as soon as the campaign gets on its feet. I’ll never have to see him again, and if I do, it will only be in a professional situation where Jake will never come up.”
“You can’t really believe that.”
“Well, what else am I supposed to do? I’m trying to make the best of a really bad situation. You’re the one who forced me onto this account, even when I told you it was a terrible idea. Please, tell me. What else can I do?”
Charlie groaned. “Hell. This is bad.”
“Yeah, well... welcome to my world.”
“You should have told me this from the beginning.”
“I didn’t think it would make any difference.”
“It makes a hell of a lot of difference.”
“Look, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I was overwhelmed.”
“You could have come to me.”
“I didn’t want to make things worse for everyone.”
Their eyes met for a beat, and she saw the tension drain from Charlie as he seemed to come to a decision.
“I want you off of this account, Grace,” he said. “Go tonight and get the job done, and tomorrow I will call Jamie and let him know that someone else will be handling Four Brothers Brewery from now on. If he refuses to work with someone else, I will void the contract.”
Grace couldn’t believe her ears. Never in a million years would she expect Charlie to put her selfish needs before the company’s bottom line like that. It touched her, and it made her feel even worse about the kiss she shared with Jamie. Charlie deserved better than that, and from now on she was going to give it to him.
“Thank you.” She smiled at him, feeling close to tears. It was finally going to be over. She would never have to see Jamie again. “This is such a huge relief. You have no idea.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiled, pleased at her reaction, and leaned down to give her a quick kiss on the lips. “Listen, as long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
She was happy. Mostly, she was relieved.
But maybe just a little sad, too.
JAMIE WAITED PATIENTLY in his hotel room for Grace’s arrival.
He had spent the afternoon meeting with investors, one of whom seemed ready to make a deal. He was in such a good mood by the time he got back to his hotel room that he decided the time was right to call Grace and make her see him again.
He lied and told her he needed her help running a meeting, but he didn’t feel bad about it. She never would have agreed to see him otherwise. He was already in deep with the lies anyway, and at this point he knew he was down to the wire. If things with Grace didn’t turn around soon, he would be heading back to New York without her.
He watched the news for about an hour, killing time. When she was ten minutes late, he called for room service and ordered a meal for them, complete with a bottle of wine. When she was fifteen minutes late, he started feeling anxious and began pacing the room, removing his tie in the process.
At twenty minutes late he heard a knock on the door, and his heartbeat picked up speed.
Jamie threw on his most charming smile and opened the door. Grace stood there in full work attire, her long hair in a tight bun. She was wearing a black pencil skirt that almost reached her knees with a silky lilac blouse tucked in.
Visions flashed through his mind of him slowly stripping off her clothing, letting her hair down and taking her right there on the floor.
“Hi,” she said, looking up at him with those sultry brown eyes that made him want her even more. “Where’s your tie?”
“I took it off. Please, come in.”
Jamie stepped aside so Grace could move into the room without brushing past him. He watched her as she looked around, evaluating the two-room suite that was his home for the time being.
“Nice hotel,” she said finally. “Where is everyone?”
“Not here yet.”
“Oh.” She wrinkled her nose. “Aren’t I late?”
“Yes. Why are you late, by the way?”
She looked away. “I had to stop home after work to see... Caroline about something. What does it matter? Everyone else is late, too.”
He nodded. “It appears to be a trend in Virginia.”
“Hmm. Well, at least it gives us more time to prepare. Who are we meeting with? Give me some background.” She took a seat on the white couch in the living area and put a stack of folders on the coffee table, ready for work.
Jamie thought maybe it was time to come clean before he dug his hole any deeper. “Well, actually...”
He was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“That must be them,” Grace said, smoothing her skirt and crossing her legs.
“Uh, yeah.” He turned to open the door, wondering who could be knocking.
“Room service.”
Right.
He watched in silence as a waiter wheeled a covered cart into the room.
Grace looked on, confused, but said nothing. The man set up the food and opened the wine, but still Grace said nothing. Jamie waited for the moment when something in her mind would click and was grateful that he was able to tip the waiter and get him out of the room before it happened. If she was going to be mad, that was fine, but he didn’t want to give her the opportunity to storm out.
“What is this?” she asked as he closed the door. “Are we having dinner? Why didn’t we just go to a restaurant? Why are there only two dishes?”
He turned to face her and watched as her confusion changed to realization. “Before you freak out,” he said, “I can explain.”
She stood up, enraged. “Jamie, what the hell! Do not tell me that this was all some elaborate ruse to get me here. I will kill you.”
He leaned against the door, partially so she wouldn’t be able to make a break for it. “I just want to have dinner with you, Grace. I want to talk.”
“You lied to me!”
“What choice did I have? You refuse to see me if it isn’t work related.”
&nbs
p; She was gritting her teeth. “Maybe there’s a reason for that, you idiot. Take a hint. I don’t want to see you.”
“Grace, please.” He didn’t want to fight anymore. This wasn’t like them. They never used to be like this. “Give me a chance. It’s just dinner.”
She took a deep breath, and he saw a range of emotions flicker across her face. Uncertainty, hurt, anger, and then something else. “I can’t. It’s too late. We can’t fix this.”
“Stop saying that. It’s bullshit.”
She moved toward him, her arms crossed over her chest. “No. You’re not listening. It’s too late. I’m with Charlie now. I’m his girlfriend.”
Grace said it so matter-of-factly, yet her words hit him in the chest like a physical blow.
“You’re serious about him?” Jamie asked, watching her carefully.
“Yes.”
“You love him?”
She briefly hesitated. “Yes.”
“Liar.” He saw the truth in her eyes and seized onto it with everything he had. “You’re a terrible liar. At least you are when it comes to me.”
Grace laughed without a trace of humor. “Right, who am I kidding? I can’t keep any secrets from you.”
“You can’t. So stop trying.”
Jamie reached her in two long steps, pulled her closer and tilted her chin so she was looking up at him, right in his eyes.
“Do you have any feelings for me left at all?” he asked.
“Don’t ask stupid questions.”
“That’s a yes.”
“What does it matter?”
“It matters.”
She pushed against him halfheartedly and glanced at the door. “Jamie, this is wrong.”
“How so?”
“We can’t keep doing this. We shouldn’t.”
“I’m not concerned with that. I’m concerned with what you want, Grace.”
She looked up at him, her lower lip trembling slightly. “What I want?”
“Yes. Tell me the truth now.” He lowered his voice, almost to a whisper. “Do you want to leave?”
“I...” He felt the tension in her body and wondered why she refused to let it go, let him take care of her. She looked so small and so confused, and it tugged at his heart. “I don’t know.”
Irresistible Lies Page 12