Engaged to the Boss: A Billionaire Fake Marriage Romance Page 7

  “I’m going to take that as a sign that you like it.” Somehow, Connor had slipped into the room and he placed his hands on my hips, curling around my waist. “I think this dress was made for you.” He kissed the side of my neck and if he wasn’t careful, he would push us into round three and I wasn’t sure whether either one of us could handle it. “There’s something else I want you to have.” He held up a pair of panties. “As I remember it, I ripped off your other pair.”

  “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

  “I have.” He stepped back and when I turned around, he was down on one knee, holding a ring box in his hand.

  I blinked, not quite sure what I was looking at. “What are you doing?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? I’m making good on my promise from last night.”

  The sight of the diamond ring made me dizzy because I had a feeling it was real. Had he really dropped a few grand to propose to someone he had only just met? Okay, maybe I had considered the idea when I was tipsy, but I hadn’t been in complete control of my senses. And this morning? Well, it was amazing to say the least, both under the covers and during those sweet moments where we held hands and talked the hours away. He had made a pretty good case for himself, but even so, I hadn’t thought he was being serious.

  “Connor, I don’t know about this…”

  He frowned. “What do you mean? I thought we were in agreement.”

  “Well, to be fair, you can’t trust anything I say when there’s alcohol in my system.”

  “What about this morning?” he pressed. “You weren’t tipsy then.”

  “I was just joking around! You brought me back to your hotel room. I thought we both had the same intentions.” I felt the door at my back. “I mean, think about it. Tell me you think it’s just as crazy.”

  “I never said it wasn’t.” He stood up and pocketed the ring. “But I am being serious about my offer. If we get my grandparents to believe our story, that mansion is yours, no strings attached. And if you decide you want to keep things platonic from this moment forward, I’ll agree to it, but I have to admit, I would be pretty disappointed. You sure know how to turn some gears.”

  “You aren’t half bad yourself.” I could feel him reeling me in. He was certainly a charmer. No wonder he had done so well for himself in the business world. How could anyone argue with a face so disarming?

  “Or, we can have some benefits attached, whatever you’d like. I’m pretty flexible and as we’ve seen, so are you.” He punctuated his offer with a smile that sent my heart thumping into the next room. “Hell, if you find me so atrocious and you just want to get the hell away from me, we can get a divorce.”

  “And you’ll still get to keep your grandfather’s business?” I asked, remembering bits and pieces of the conversation I had with him out on the balcony.

  “Depends on the contract, but I would make sure to have my lawyers add a clause stating that my grandfather cannot retract his decision if something were to happen between us.”

  “That sounds deceitful.”

  He shrugged. “All is fair in love and contracts.”

  “I don’t think that’s how the saying goes.”

  He shrugged again.

  “But even if we get a divorce, couldn’t it be years before your grandfather decides to hand over the company? I mean, he wants to hand it over to either you or your brother, whichever one married first.”

  “That’s the gist of it.”

  “Well, if marriage is so important to your grandfather, I really doubt he’s going to hand over the company at the first sound of wedding bells. He’s probably going to want to get to know me and frankly, I’m a very shitty liar. I’ve been flossing twice daily because I can’t bring myself to tell the dentist that I don’t, and do you know how much I hate to floss?”

  He laughed. “I don’t think anyone likes to floss, but you don’t have to worry. I’m sure my grandfather will adore you. What’s there not to like?” He took my hand and pulled me into his lap. “And if this takes a couple of years of us being together, I wouldn’t mind it. But if you decide to have someone else on the side, I wouldn’t object so long as we kept up appearances around my grandfather.” It was like he was negotiating some business transaction. This was just another day at the office for him.

  “Wouldn’t you feel bad about tricking your grandfather with a fake marriage?” I asked, trying to implore to his sense of decency. Surely, he had to understand that his plan was fundamentally wrong. “Please tell me you have a reason for wanting the family business so desperately, and it’d better be more than money or else I’m walking out that door and never looking back.”

  Connor sat down. “I just don’t want the business to fall into the wrong hands.”

  “Who else would it go to if not you?”

  “I have a twin brother.”

  “A twin brother?” My expression became one of suspicion. “So, you’re telling me that Jenna has yet another half-brother?”

  “She does.”

  “Then, why wasn’t he at the wedding?”

  “He’s not the most…reliable person.” I could tell Connor was holding his tongue. “We don’t always see eye to eye. When our mother died, our grandparents took us in. They’re hardworking people and tried to teach us the same values. Back then, I used to work my ass off for chore money. Neil, on the other hand, did everything he could to get out of it. He hates lifting a finger to do anything, but he loves spending money, only it’s never his money. As soon as he turned eighteen, he spent all of the inheritance our mother had left behind. Meanwhile, I invested it in my company, growing what I have now. I thought that alone would prove to my grandparents that I was the right choice when handing off the family business, but they are adamant about this whole marriage thing. And I really don’t think Neil is beyond getting married just to sell the whole operation and make a quick buck.”

  I listened to Connor’s story, trying to spot a lie. He sounded convincing and honestly, I was starting to dislike this Neil character, too. “Tell me more about this family business.”

  “My grandfather owns a lumber company in Maine. He started off as a lumberjack right after serving in the army. Eventually, he became friendly with my grandmother who worked as a receptionist. Together, they rose through the ranks until they had finally saved enough money to buy the whole company outright from the owner. The owner was delighted since he and his wife did not have children.” Connor paused. He got up and took both my hands. “Their story has always inspired me and if nothing else, I want to keep their legacy alive because if Neil manages to get his hands on that company, it’ll be gone.”

  “How do I know you’re not lying?” I asked.

  “That’s for you to decide.”

  “Mind if I think it over?”

  “Of course.” Connor patted his pocket where the outline of the jewelry box could be seen. “I have a thirty-day return on this thing, although I’d really prefer an answer sooner rather than later.” He brought my hand to his lips and smiled that irresistible smile of his. “In the meantime, let’s grab some lunch.”

  After ordering lunch, we ventured out of the hotel room for some ice cream. I felt overdressed but honestly, I didn’t mind it. My confidence was through the roof.

  “What are you getting?” I asked as we got in line.

  “I’m a man of classic taste,” he answered. “So, it’ll be one hot fudge sundae for me.”

  “Make that two,” I said.

  He slung his arm around my waist like we were a real couple just going on a typical date. “You know, if this works out between us, I don’t think we’d make such a bad match.”

  “Speaking of which, I’ve been thinking, and I’ve come to a decision.” We stepped forward, getting closer to the window. In front of us, a little kid was on tippy-toes, trying to see all the different flavors he had to choose from. All he had to do was pick whether he wanted rocky road or cookies and cream and if he didn’t like his cho
ice, he could always get something different the next time his parents brought him to the ice cream parlor. As for me, my decision to marry or not marry Connor was much more impactful. On one hand, I’d be helping to keep a family business alive but on the other, I had no idea whether I would be happy as Connor’s wife or whether I’d be able to live with myself knowing I had bamboozled a couple of grandparents, never mind keeping up that facade.

  What it really came down to was a gut feeling and my gut was telling me ‘go, go, go.’ Why? I have no idea. Marrying a stranger was completely outside my comfort zone, but I think that was the whole thrill of it. I wanted to unravel this mystery – to be a part of it. Besides, I was single and had been so for a long time now. I was due for a change.

  “How long are you going to keep me in suspense, or have you changed your mind about the hot fudge sundae?” He snapped his fingers in front of my face. Apparently, I had zoned out looking at the menu board.

  “Sorry.” I was about to answer him, but it was our turn at the counter.

  “We’ll have two hot fudge sundaes.”

  I nodded in agreement.

  With sundaes in hand, we made our way to the shade of a nearby palm tree. I leaned against it, taking my first bite. “Mmm, this is really good.”

  “I think it just tastes better because it’s so hot.”

  “You might have a point.” I took another bite, savoring the thick layer of fudge. It was good fudge, too. I could tell it was made with real chocolate. “So, anyway, about the proposal.”

  The intensity of Connor’s gaze made me a little nervous, but I wasn’t going to put off my decision any longer. I wanted to stick to my guns before I could change my mind. “I’m headed back to Silicon Valley for a job interview. I’m hoping this becomes a career job for me, so it comes before anything else.”

  “I can understand that,” he said.

  “So, if I get the job, I’ll take the deal. If nothing else, it’ll save me a shit ton of money on rent.”

  Connor chuckled. “Not what I was expecting to hear, but I like the way you think. You’d make a good businesswoman.”

  “I considered it but too many sharks in the tank.”

  “That’s the truth.” He scraped at the bottom of his container, trying to get every last bit of fudge off the sides. “Well, if you getting the job is the determining factor, I’ll have to put in a good word for you since I know everyone in the industry.”

  “No,” I said at once. “Don’t. If I get this job I want to get it on my own merit. I don’t want handouts.”

  Connor smiled knowingly. “A woman true to my own heart.” He pulled out the ring box. “In the meantime, would you consider wearing the ring?” Before I could even think of responding, he had the ring on my finger. Like the dress, it was the perfect fit – like it was made for me no one else. I turned my hand. The center diamond glittered in the sunlight.

  “You make it really hard to say no.”

  “That’s the name of the game,” he said with a wink.

  10

  Connor

  I dropped by Poppy’s hotel room the following afternoon, but it was being cleaned. It appeared Poppy had already checked herself out. I felt slightly disappointed that she hadn’t called, but she had the right to travel on her own if that’s what she wanted.

  So, I got in my car and drove to the airport. While everyone was waiting in lines, I zipped right through with my TSA pre-check. Honestly, I did not pity anyone going through security. That is until I saw Poppy holding her sneakers in her hands and shuffling towards the metal detectors, a defeated, almost dead look in her eyes.

  I stepped out of line, letting other well-to-do people cut in front of me, and dialed Poppy’s number. The result was comical. Poppy had no idea where her phone was. First, she checked her purse and then her backpack. She dropped her sneakers and nearly knocked over a small child with her luggage bag. The parents of said child had some choice words to share. Clearly, they did not care about setting an example for their son.

  Poppy apologized profusely as her phone continued to blast its ringtone.

  Having laughed at her expense long enough, I decided to whistle. That got her attention. “Connor?”

  “Need a hand?” I picked up her sneakers and grabbed her luggage.

  “Excuse me, what is going on here?” A stern-looking TSA officer approached us. With a motion of her finger, she had us step out of line. Poppy looked dismayed, fearing she would get sent to the back of the line.

  I held up my pre-check card as if that were answer enough. “I want to take her along as my guest.”

  The TSA officer crossed her arms. “Only passengers under the age of thirteen can accompany a pre-check member. Unless she has a pre-check card of her own, I cannot let her through.”

  I furrowed my brows together. “Even if she’s my fiancée?” I held up her hand to show off the ring on her finger.

  “She could be the Queen of England for all I care,” said the officer. “No card, no go.”

  I was stumped. Given, I had never tried to bring a guest through the express land. I rarely traveled with a companion and when I did, it was usually another businessman with a pre-check card of his own. More than that, I was amazed there was actually an airport employee trying to do her job.

  “Back of the line, you two.”

  I was about to argue with her, but Poppy took me by the crook of the arm and towed me away. “I’m going to miss my flight because of you. I’m late enough as it is,” she hissed just as soon as we were back in line. “Why the hell did you have to make a scene? I was almost at the metal detectors; now I have to wait all over again.”

  “I honestly thought I could bring a guest through the express lane.”

  Poppy pinched the bridge of her nose. “Don’t you think that would open up the door for a whole bunch of security breaches? I mean, they pre-approved you, but what’s stopping you from bringing a criminal on the plane?”

  She had a point.

  “Well, don’t just stand there.”

  “Hmm?”

  “You have to take off your belt and shoes.”

  “Right.” It had been so long since I had been forced to go through the motions that I was a little out of practice. “This is a pain in the ass, isn’t it?”

  “Why do you think everyone complains about going through airport security? It isn’t a walk in the park.” She handed me a plastic container. “Put everything in there and slide it down the belt.

  “Sir, is there anything in your pockets?”

  “My keys,” I answered the officer, who was wielding a scanner.

  “Those go in a container,” he said, his tone clipped with impatience. The people behind me groaned as I struggled to comply with the rules. It seemed ridiculous that I needed empty my pockets of lint. Whoever heard of explosive lint anyway?

  Finally, I made it through, feeling like some sort of circus monkey who had just been put on display for the last hour. “That was ridiculous,” I said, joining Poppy on a nearby bench. She was struggling with untying her shoelaces. Without thinking, I took the sneaker from her and worked on the knot.

  “Last call for Flight 72B for San Jose International Airport.”

  “Shit! That’s me!” Poppy grabbed all of her belongings and started sprinting. I still had her sneaker in my hand, but she didn’t seem to have any intent on coming back to get it.

  Shaking my head, I followed her. Flight 72B was leaving out of Gate A18 which was in the west wing of the airport. Poppy had gone running in the opposite direction. I thought about calling her and letting her know, but given the fact that she had yet to locate her phone within the mess of her pocketbook, it was probably best to just let her figure it out on her own.

  Eventually, I found her slumped in a chair looking like she wanted to scream. “Missed your flight?” I guessed.

  “I couldn’t find the gate and by the time I did, I was too late.” She hung her head, rummaging through her things until she
found a tattered paperback book. “Now I’ll have to book something with the next available flight and hope they have something available. Either way, I’ll probably be here a while.” She shot me a pointed look. “This wouldn’t have happened if you had just let me go through security. Why did you have to show off your pre-check or whatever? I was perfectly fine on my own.” With a huff, she started to march toward the nearest counter. I stopped her before she could get very far.

  “Look, I was only trying to help you out back there. I had no idea we would get sent to the back of the line. In any case, don’t bother buying a ticket for another flight.”

  “So, what, you want me to stay in this airport indefinitely?”

  “We’re both going to the same place. Why don’t you hitch a ride with me? I won’t even charge you.”

  Confusion swept across her face. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about my private jet. There is more than enough room for two,” I said with a sly grin.”

  “Fuck.” She grabbed the bottle of water from my hand and took a drink to steady herself. “Alright, well, if it’ll save me buying another ticket, I accept.”

  “I was hoping you would say that.”

  “Mind if we stop at the duty-free shop?” she asked.

  I laughed. “You know the whole duty-free thing is a scam, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, but do you see the size of those chocolate bars?”

  “This is amazing. I still can’t believe I’m on a private jet. This sure beats flying economy.” She reclined her seat so that it was pretty much a bed and opened her paperback. The bookmark smacked her in the face.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. She scowled but it disappeared just as soon as I handed over a glass of champagne.

  “How much did it cost you to buy this thing?”

  “A good businessman never discloses his numbers.”

  “You aren’t a magician.”