by Holly Jaymes
Afterward, we went to lunch and then he went home to his real wife, while I went home to my fake one. God, if he ever found out about my and Hallie’s situation, I’d never hear the end of it.
Her car was in the garage when I got back so at least she hadn’t run off. I walked through the house and finally saw her out back. She was floating in the pool on a float. She was wearing a green floral swimsuit that she must have picked up on a visit to her parents’ house because the other night she said she didn’t have one. I liked her naked or in her underwear, but the bathing suit was nice too. It accentuated her curves just right. My dick was a fan, no matter what she was wearing.
“Down boy,” I grumbled. “There won’t be anymore of that.” I was going to turn away but decided I should let her know I was back. I opened the door, “Hallie. I’m back.”
She lifted her hand to her forehead to block the sun from her eyes, “Okay.”
Her skin was so pale against the dark blue of the floating mat.
“You wearing sunscreen?” It would be a shame to burn all that creamy flesh.
“Yes.”
I nodded and shut the door. At least she was talking to me even if it was just monosyllabic.
Later that evening, while Hallie was in the kitchen working on her home book, I sat on the porch drinking a beer when I got a call from Dave.
“Nate, tell me you’re not really cheating on your fake wife.”
Fuck. Seriously? “No. I’m not. Where did you hear that?” Even as I asked it, I knew the source. Allison.
“Do I really have to tell you? I believe you were in a lip lock with her in your office.”
“She hit on me, Dave, and I turned her down. I swear to God,” I worked to assure him; I wanted to throw my beer. Instead, I stood and marched down by the pool.
“Well, you need your fake wife to stand by her man and pronto. Will she do that?”
I looked up at the house where Hallie was probably thinking about stabbing me with the scissors she was using to cut out decorating ideas from magazines.
“What do we need to do?” I sighed.
“There’s a wildlife fundraiser tonight in Washington, hosted by Senator Laymer. Many of the Madison people will be there. Show up, do some PDA or whatever to quash the ideas that you’re not only a womanizer but an adulterer too.”
Jesus. My situation was worse. The IPO could end up losing money when my goal had been to make more. How had I not seen what a conniving, conceited, hateful woman Allison was? Probably because my standards were lower. She was smart, attractive, and fun. At the time, I didn’t care about anything more than that. I hadn’t seen her true colors until I pulled the patent application. She’d tried to submit it anyway, and I’d never been so angry at a person in my life. I had her escorted out of my office by security. A far as I knew, she hadn’t done anything to retaliate against me, so this move was a surprise. I’d underestimated her again.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I got off the phone and stood out in my garden for a moment. What were the chances Hallie could pretend to love me at a fundraiser? If I hadn’t fucked her, would she be as angry and hurt? Sure, she’d have to act that way as a wife, but would she truly be as upset as she was now if I hadn’t touched her?
In the end, though, we had a deal. She agreed to play my wife, and in return, I’d fund her home rebuild. With that in mind, I headed back up to the house.
I walked into the kitchen, “We need to go to a fundraiser tonight.” There was no sense in making small talk.
She looked up at me with pinched brows, “Now?”
I nodded, “Turns out you’re not the only one who thinks I’m a lying cheat. This time, however, you have to pretend that you don’t think I am the lying cheat that Allison is telling everyone I am.”
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, “She’s telling people about what happened in your office?”
“That’s right. I know what you think of me, and so acting like a happy wife might be hard. So maybe it will help if you think about all the work Sloane Labs will be able to do, the diseases we’ll treat if you can help me fix this.”
She looked like she was going to balk, but then I guess she remembered our deal. She said, “I don’t have a different dress.”
“What’s wrong with the green one?” There was one thing wrong with it. She looked too fucking sexy in it, and I was too hurt and angry to let myself be turned on by her.
“I've already worn it twice,” she said it like that made perfect sense. But it didn’t. I wore the same tux or suits to many events.
“So?”
She rolled her eyes, “People will notice. People like Allison will notice. She’ll say it’s proof that this marriage between us is fake. As your wife, I’d have a different dress.”
“Fine,” I checked my watch. There were several hours left before we had to leave. I pulled my wallet out from my back pocket, “How much? Will a thousand do or do you need more.”
Her eyes about popped from her head, “You carry a thousand dollars around in your wallet?”
“Just on weekends. Hallie, focus. Is it enough?”
She nodded, and I thrust the money at her, “Get what you want. We need to leave here at seven, which gives you three hours.”
I wasn’t hopeful that she’d follow through, but she was back and ready by six-thirty. The dress was a pretty dark blue that went well with her hair. I ignored that it was strapless and form fitting to her curves. She gave me several hundred dollars back but didn’t say anything, which told me she was still mad. As long as she could act like she believed me and still loved me, I’d be okay.
At the event, I wrapped my arm around her waist as we entered the hotel ballroom, but it felt different this time. She didn’t settle into me like she had before. I looked at her, and she plastered on a smile, but I could see it was fake. Surely others would too.
I led her back out to the hallway outside the ballroom to a quiet corner where no one would see us, “Hallie, you’ve got to get your shit together.”
Her green eyes glowered at me, “I wasn’t the one--”
“Fuck that, Hallie. Right now my IPO is at risk of doing worse than if I was just a womanizer. It would be nice if you believed me, but since you don’t, let me remind you that we’ve got a deal. A fake marriage for a home rebuild.”
She jerked back, “I know our deal.”
“Then start looking like a loving wife, not a Stepford wife.”
“What if it doesn’t work, Nate? People mostly take pity on the wife when she stands by her man.”
“Make them believe you.”
“Or what?”
I stepped back and took a breath willing my anger and frustration to calm down. I looked up the hall to make sure we weren’t being watched, and then I finally turned back to her, “I need to know right now if you can pull this off. If not, we stop and end the deal.”
“So I don’t get my house rebuilt?”
What? Jesus. Fucking. Christ. The future of my work was on the line here. How many millions more people would I help by getting the capital that came from going public? All of it was going to hell because of Allison’s pettiness and Hallie’s distrust.
“We end it, or you help me here and now. I’ll build your house either way.”
Her eyes narrowed as if she didn’t believe me, “Either way you’ll arrange for my home to be rebuilt?”
“Yes.”
She apparently thought I was a fucking douche too. Did she really think I wouldn’t want to help her and her family after her home had burnt down and her mother had MS?
She stared at me for a long moment, “Okay. I’ll be the dutiful wife.”
“Fuck that, Hallie. You need to be a loving, trusting wife.”
“Yes, okay, I can do it,” she said in an exasperated breath.
I had no faith that she could pull it off as we walked into that ballroom again, but I had no choice but to follow through. This time when I put my arm around her, she lea
ned into me. When people we talked to hinted at marital trouble, Hallie made a fffttt noise and talked about my ex’s sour grapes.
When she saw Allison across the room, she marched over, even though I worried that would be a step too far.
“Hallie,” Allison plastered on a fake smile. “I’m so surprised to see you here.”
“I was going to say the same thing to you, Allison. I mean, after what happened with Nate? It’s probably not very often you make a pass at a man, and he throws you out of his office.”
The people around us stopped, and I heard a few snickers. I wanted to stop the rumors, but I didn’t necessarily want to embarrass Allison.
“Sweetheart,” I said to Hallie. “We’re in public.”
“He kissed me back,” Allison said her eyes filled with menace at Hallie.
“Oh, honey,” Hallie said, rolling her eyes. “Come on. You know how Nate kisses. That wasn’t a kiss, at least on his part.”
“That’s not true,” Allison’s eyes darted around, noting that people were watching.
“You were right when you told me I couldn’t blame you for trying. I mean, Nate is a wonderful man,” Hallie looked up at me like she had stardust in her eyes. I almost believed her. She turned her attention back to Allison, “But if you ever throw yourself at him again, and then start spreading vicious rumors, I’ll ruin you.”
There was a mixture of gasps, oh mys, and a few giggles.
Hallie turned to me, “Now, baby, how about that dance you promised me?”
I had to admit she did the job. By the end of the evening, the tide had turned making Hallie and me the victim of a scorned Allison, at least if the people I chatted with were to be believed.
Now if only Hallie believed it. She’d done her part, but on the way home, it was clear that she didn’t believe a single word she’d said. Once home, she went to bed without a word to me.
The rest of the weekend with her was awkward as was the drive to work on Monday morning. We were supposed to be newlyweds in love, but right now, we could barely stand to be around each other. This would work when it was time for a fake divorce, but right now, I needed to look like I had a happy marriage.
As I pulled into my parking space, I said, “Are you still going to be able to do this?”
“Yes, are you?”
I looked at her, “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because you’re mad at me,” she had a tone that said ‘duh.’
“I’m not mad, Hallie. I’m hurt,” Not wanting to share my grievances, I got out of the car.
“Hurt?” Her tone wasn’t surprised. It was more like disbelieving as she exited the car on her side, “Why are you hurt? I’m the one you cheated on.”
Fuck. Why was this so hard to understand? I said through clenched teeth, “The fact that you believe that is what hurts.” I smiled in case anyone was watching. They didn’t need to see that our marriage, fake as it was, was in trouble. I’m sure it looked more like a grimace.
“You were kissing her,” she tried to smile too. At least she was still committed to this deal.
“I wasn’t. She kissed me, and I pushed her away.”
“How did you let her get so close that she could kiss you, Nate?”
I gave a short, derisive laugh, “What does it matter? You’re not going to believe me no matter what I say.” I took her hand and started walking into the entrance. “So much for admiring me, eh?”
Luckily, she didn’t respond. I walked her to her office, and then headed to mine, shutting myself in and focusing my morning on the trip to Chicago this week. This dog and pony show tour couldn’t be over fast enough.
Book 2: Chapter 12—The Mile High Club
Chapter Twelve: The Mile High Club
Hallie
I liked it better when Nate was pissed off at me. When he was pissy at me, I didn’t feel guilty about hurting his feelings. But did he really think I was overreacting at seeing him kissing Allison? Or, her kissing him? What was the difference? Their lips were touching. Yes, he pushed her away, but that was probably because he saw me in the doorway.
And then to have to stand by my man at a fundraising event! I thought I was going to throw up. I was a strong independent woman who wasn’t going to put up with being made a fool. The only satisfaction I got from our impromptu fundraising event was being able to tell Allison off. It was petty, but I wasn’t going to let her make me into a sad sack of a wife, even if it was fake.
I’ll build your house either way.
Grrr, that man could be so infuriating. He was going to stick to our deal even if I backed out. Now I was the bad guy. After that, how could I not do my part? Fortunately, my Oscar-winning acting job seemed to have worked, as many people came up and commended me on standing up to her. Even a few wives made comments about how they didn’t like how Allison prowled around their men.
It appeared the fix-Nate’s-image-plan was back on track. But it didn’t change my feelings about him. I should have never let him touch me. That had been my mistake. I’d have still grilled him on not messing around with other women but, I’d have had no basis for taking this too seriously. Our relationship was fake. But I had slept with him, and while I had no illusions of love and happily ever after with him, I did have an expectation of monogamy.
What did I care, anyway? I tossed my pen down on my desk in frustration. This was a fake marriage. Yes, I didn’t want to have the appearance that I was a cuckquean wife. I wouldn’t put up with infidelity. But I would put up with a fake marriage to get my home rebuilt, so I needed to get my act together.
Nate was right about two things - one, the potential to help millions of people was on the line and two, I’d made a deal to help him. I could overcome a little indiscretion if it helped people like my mother live fuller lives. Of course, he needed to stop kissing other women.
I headed to Nate’s office to clear the air. I’d let him know that I would stick to our deal but that he had to keep his dick and his lips to himself. There would also be no more sex. I’d pretend to be his wife when needed, but at the office, I was his assistant first. We needed to focus on the work, starting with his request for a private charter to Chicago. Why did he need that? It would be expensive, and I’d already arranged commercial flight tickets.
“He’s on the phone but should be off in a minute,” Clair said when I arrived outside his office.
“I’ll wait,” I stood by her desk.
“You two alright?” Clair asked.
“Yeah, great,” I mustered a smile, but I doubt it was convincing.
“Listen, you know he’s not into Allison Carter, right?”
No, I didn’t know that since I caught them kissing, “Yes, of course.”
“I know in the past, Nate liked to play the field, but he’d never cheat. He just wouldn’t, although I wouldn’t put it past Allison to try and get him to.” Clair’s face contorted into disgust, “I never liked her.”
“Yes, well, Nate is hard to resist.”
“He thinks the same about you,” Clair had a wistful smile as if she thought I lived in a fairy tale romance. “The way he looks at you…he never looked at his other lady-friends like that.”
“What?” She must be looking at him through rose-colored glasses because there was no way Nate was looking at me with love in his eyes.
“I can see he’s head over heels for you.” She narrowed her eyes at me, “I hope you feel the same for him. Lately, I’m not sure.”
“Of course, I feel the same,” I said automatically. It came out a little terse, but I was annoyed that I was coming off as the bad guy in this situation. He was the one that was kissing Allison.
She studied me, “I’ve worked with Nate since the beginning. When all this was just an idea and dream, so I’ve seen many women come and go. I’m certain he’s never been in love until you. As much as I like you, Hallie, if you break his heart, I’ll make your life miserable.”
I gaped, “What if he breaks mine?”
She waved my comment away with her hand, “He won’t. Nate is solid. When he makes a commitment, it sticks. Besides, I told you, he’s head over heels for you.” She frowned again. “You are upset about Allison, aren’t you?”
“He was kissing her,” I blurted out having met my limit. I wasn’t going to be scolded when he was the one misbehaving.
“Skank,” Clair said.
“Who’s a skank?” Jolene walked into Nate’s outer office with us.
“Allison, that cow patent lawyer,” Clair made a face of disgust.
Jolene rolled her eyes, “I heard she was here trying to put the moves on Nate.”
I looked at them both, “He kissed her.”
Jolene gaped, but again Clair dismissed it, “I’m sure she tried, but I’m certain he didn’t want it. He was done with her a long time ago after what she did.”
“What she do?” I asked, although I didn’t know why I’d cared.
“She was pissed that he wasn’t going to submit the patent on the Parkinson drug, so she did it anyway.”
“Greedy bitch,” Jolene nodded her head.
“What was in it for her?” I asked. Surely Nate paid her fee for the work even if it wasn’t submitted.
“That girl took one look at Nate and saw dollar signs,” Clair pointed at me.
“That’s right,” Jolene said. “Remember that day he had security toss her from his office? I’d never seen him so mad.”
If that was true, why was he kissing her?
“She has balls, I tell ya, for coming back here. Nate’s mama raised him well, so he was civil to her, but if I were him, I’d have tossed her out again,” Clair said.
Jolene frowned at me, “You don’t think she and Nate are lovers again don’t you?” Her tone said that I’d be an idiot to believe it.
“They were kissing,” I said again sounding like a broken record.
“I don’t believe it,” Jolene said.
“I saw them.”
“Do you think when you’re done discussing whether or not I’m a lying cheat that I could have the update on the FDA’s approval for CP860?” Nate glared at all of us for a moment and then went back into his office.
