Date in Disguise

by Laura Westbrook

  “He sounds like a shady person,” I murmured.

  Audric opened his hands. “He’s got to be. Nobody gets to where he is without doing something he regrets.”

  I shoved down the idle thought of what Audric regretted doing, in that case. He was my brother. It wasn’t right to think thoughts like that about family. We’re clearly the victims here.

  “Okay, so then what?” I asked.

  Audric shared a look with Brandt. “Well, if we can’t find anything he did wrong to use for leverage, then we need to create something.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Brandt set down his glass with a louder noise than he needed to. “You need to be bait.”

  “Bait? What kind of bait.”

  “Let me handle this, Brandt,” Audric said. “Not bait, exactly. We just need you to put your charms to good use and try to catch him in something. Or maybe get him to share some sensitive company information with you. Then we’ll have what we need.”

  I pressed my hand to my chest in an effort to breathe easier. “What? You two are crazy. First of all, what charms do you think I have? I’m not a flirt. I’m the opposite of that. I’ve never even had a serious boyfriend before.” God, I never imagined that would come up in conversation with my brothers. Just wait until they hear I’ve never had sex before either.

  “All women can be when they want to,” Brandt said.

  “What we’re saying,” Audric said, “is maybe you could let that side out more. For a good cause.”

  “And why can’t one of you try to get sensitive information from him?”

  “That’s obvious,” Audric said. “If either one of us gets anywhere near him, he’ll immediately be on his guard. We’re his top competition. He knows exactly what we look like, and he’ll know we’re after him.”

  “And he doesn’t know what I look like?”

  “No. Nobody really pays attention to you or knows you’re part of the family, which actually works out for us in this situation.”

  My mind was spinning. “So let’s say I flirt my ass off and somehow overcome my intense social awkwardness and he’s head-over-heels for me. I’m supposed to be party to blackmail?”

  Audric glanced around the room. “Not blackmail. We’ll just tell him it’s within his best interest to let up the pressure on us in certain areas in exchange for us keeping quiet.”

  My lips drew into a thin line. “Right, so blackmail.”

  “Seriously?” Brandt said. “Our company is about to go under and you’re playing the Virgin Mary?”

  I winced. That nickname was a little on the nose, although he had no way of knowing that. “I can’t just sleep with a stranger to help the company. I don’t think I could go through with something like that.”

  Audric shook his head. “We’re not necessarily saying to sleep with him. We just need something to hold over his head. That could mean any number of things.”

  “And hey,” Brandt said, “if you sleep with him in the process, we won’t judge you. Probably would make it easier.”

  I stood up, eyeing the door. Every muscle in my body screamed to walk out. “I can’t do this. This isn’t appropriate to talk about…with you two. I’m sure you’ll think of something. You always do.”

  Audric leaned forward but remained sitting. “To be honest, we don’t have any other moves to make, sister. We’re out of ideas. Trust me, we tried a bunch of them. I feel like I haven’t been able to sleep properly in a month.”

  I stopped mid-stride, hovering in place. I really should walk out. I didn’t want anyone hurt, but how could they ask me to do this? “What will happen if I don’t?”

  Audric threw up his hands and leaned back against the cushion. “Based on the spreadsheets we’ve been looking at, we’ll probably have to file for bankruptcy and sell off assets. We’d start letting people go in waves as we shut down operations. Everything Dad worked for will be for nothing, Faye. Is that what you want?”

  I looked down. “Of course I don’t want that. Dad worked hard for all this. He sacrificed time with us, vacations… Probably more than we’ll ever know.”

  “Then help us. We promise we’ll be there every step of the way, and you won’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

  “You promise?”

  Audric nodded. “I promise.”

  “I have one requirement.”

  “Name it.”

  “Brandt isn’t in charge of the plan.” Lord knows what he’ll encourage me to do.

  “You heard her,” Audric said.

  Brandt rotated his glass. “I’m going to need another drink.”

  Chapter Three

  Faye

  “Okay, what am I supposed to do again?” I asked. I adjusted the tiny earpiece for the hundredth time. The way it fit felt incredibly uncomfortable, but if I moved it at all, Gavin would see it right away. Audric even had a makeup artist conceal it. I was shocked when I looked in the mirror and couldn’t tell it was there, and I knew what to look for.

  “Speak up a little bit,” Audric’s voice said.

  I bent my head forward to speak closer to the microphone, placed underneath my dress. If it didn’t show so much cleavage, it would sit higher on my chest, but Audric had insisted on this exact dress. I’m sure it also had to do with the high hemline.

  “Don’t bend over like that,” he said. “You look way too obvious. People around you are going to catch on. Haven’t you ever seen a crime show before?”

  I lifted my chin but lowered my voice. I’d rather Audric not hear me than look crazy, talking to myself. “I’ll probably end up on a show like that. I’ll be surprised if I’m not arrested by the end of the party.”

  “Don’t talk like that,” he growled. “Everything’s going to be fine. You’re going to do great.”

  “If you really thought that, then I wouldn’t need this ridiculous set up. I feel like I’m in a spy movie or something. There’s everything here but the baccarat game.”

  “Hey, you’re the one who said you needed step-by-step help with all this.”

  “I do. I have no idea what I’m doing. I’ve never been to a party like this and I’ve certainly never talked to someone like him before. I just know he’s going to spot me for a fake.”

  Audric sighed, his breathing distorting the microphone on his end. “All the more reason to go in hard and have this all over in one night. If not we’ll have to keep trying.”

  “You’re saying this isn’t a one time thing? I’m going to have to do this again?”

  A lady sipping a glass of champagne gave me a funny look. I scolded myself for raising my voice too much. There was a lot to keep track of, between keeping my voice down, trying to walk in these shoes, and concentrating on not ripping off the tape that secured the microphone between my breasts.

  “That’s up to you. Get what we need, and we can end this. I don’t like being at these parties any more than you do, but at least this is your first one. I’ve been to hundreds.”

  Yeah, but not in heels. “So what’s the plan again?” Having all these eyes on me made me nervous. I knew the dress was going to get me into trouble. It was far more revealing than anything else I’d worn before. It exuded sex, which I figured was the idea. I just hoped the suggestion would be enough.

  “Come on. I’ve already told you this a bunch of times. I’ll guide you to him, since only I know what he looks like, and I’ll tell you what to say. Trust me, I’m not going to leave it up to you. You’d probably screw up everything if I did.”

  “Hey, there’s no reason to be nasty. I shouldn’t have agreed to this. I could be at home right now curled up with a good book, but instead I’m here with these people.”

  “I’m sorry, okay? You’re not the only one stressed out here. It’s not all about you. Let’s just get this over with.”

  “Yes, let’s.”

  “That’s him. Right over there. Ten o’clock.”

  “What? It’s only eight.”

  “No,
ten o’clock as in the direction. Straight ahead and a little bit to the left. No, your left.”

  By the time he’d said it, I’d already turned a half circle, so I stopped just shy of completing it. On the other side of a small group of people chatting stood a man wearing a black suit and a gold colored tie. He held a champagne glass, just like the four people standing around him.

  He said something I couldn’t hear and everyone laughed. The way they angled into the conversation told me everything I needed to know about this man. They hung from every word falling from his lips, probably telling more lies to shut down other competitors. Once he did it to our company, he’d probably just move on to the next one. Even though I still had my reservations, it reminded me why I was there.

  I didn’t realize how close I was until Audric’s voice popped back into my ear. “Go on, merge with the circle. You can’t keep checking the temperature of the water with your toe.” I shook my head. He meant the family pool in the backyard we had growing up. I wasn’t a kid anymore. He didn’t have to talk to me like that. I could do this. Taking a deep breath, I stepped in.

  At first, nobody seemed to notice me, and while that was the norm in my social life, it wouldn’t help me tonight. Someone said something, but I was so nervous I didn’t hear it. It would be out of place to not join in, so I shook my shoulders and smiled in what I hoped came across as laughter. Make a noise. People don’t just laugh silently. I didn’t need Audric to chastise me—I did a fine job of that myself.

  “Okay,” Audric said, “now shake his hand and introduce yourself.”

  I froze. He might as well be telling me to walk across the surface of the lake outside the banquet hall. This was an introvert’s worst nightmare and he just tossed it out there like it was nothing. Fortunately, Gavin was still talking to someone else in the group.

  “…the downtown building next month,” Gavin said. “We could do a grand opening and include some of my product.”

  I couldn’t help but wonder if that should’ve been our company’s product. I guess we’d never know with this guy siphoning it off. He clearly was a smooth talker, holding the close attention of whoever he talked to, even just from what I’d noticed so far.

  “That sounds great,” the other man said. “Have your people reach out and we’ll make it happen.”

  I almost rolled my eyes. He might as well have said “we’ll do lunch sometime” and put the cliché cherry on top of the cliché sundae.

  “Hey,” Audric said, “introduce yourself. What did I tell you? He’s never going to notice you if you just stand there with your mouth open.”

  My mouth is closed just fine, thank you very much. I looked down and fidgeted with my dress. I had no idea this step would be so hard. Maybe I should pull back and try again later. I started to turn when I heard a voice much deeper than Audric’s. It reminded me of the soft rumble of thunder in the distance crossed with the scratching sound of a man running a razor across his chin while smelling the gripping, masculine scent of his shaving cream. My mind worked in weird ways sometimes.

  “My name’s Gavin Walsh. What’s yours?”

  To my shock, I realized he had his hand already out. I didn’t have to initiate anything. While this made it easier, the surprise sent me reeling. For a person who liked everything pre-planned, this was pretty much the worst ever.

  Of course, I couldn’t leave him hanging, so I took his hand. His grip was powerful but not too firm. I often found men had handshakes that were too soft these days, but he had his calibrated perfectly. I shook off my admiration of his large hands. His handshake etiquette was just one of his tactics to work people over.

  “Hello,” I said. Then my mouth went dry.

  “Charity Nelson,” Audric said in my ear.

  “Charity,” I said. “Nelson. Charity Nelson.” What a name, Audric. Come on. But I couldn’t come up with anything better, so there it was.

  Gavin completed one last shake and dropped his hand. “Charity. Nice to meet you. I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure before. Are you new to the city?”

  “No, not exactly. But it’s a big city.”

  Gavin nodded his head as if evaluating every word. I now received a taste of what I’d observed earlier, him talking to a person as if only they existed. His eyes were a striking shade of light blue, and they took my breath away. Audric really should have warned me about those.

  “So what brings you to the party?” he asked.

  I glanced around. Thankfully everyone else in our small circle talked to each other, so that diverted the attention from me a little bit, although Gavin more than made up for everyone else. I opened my mouth to speak when Audric’s voice buzzed in my ear again.

  “Say you’re a reporter. Yeah, go with that.”

  “A reporter?”

  I realized I’d said it aloud when Gavin asked, “For what paper?”

  I repeated verbatim what Audric told me next. “It’s a community magazine. Quite small. I doubt you’ve ever heard of it. I interview philanthropists, mainly.”

  I found that last part interesting. I thought someone like Gavin wouldn’t care about giving to anyone other than himself. Audric must have found it in Gavin’s history and not mentioned that part.

  “Very unique,” Gavin said. “I haven’t heard of a magazine like that, but I’m sure there’s an audience for it, so you must benefit from the light competition. I’m sure you do great work.”

  For some reason, I felt my cheeks growing warm under his compliment. It was ridiculous, of course. It wasn’t even earned, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. “Thank you.” I didn’t need Audric’s help for that line.

  “Are you here on assignment?” Gavin asked.

  “Say that you are,” Audric said.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Where’s your pad and paper then? Or at least a voice recorder, right? I know a lot of reporters use their phones these days instead of jotting it down.”

  I laughed, a touch higher in pitch than usual. Meanwhile, I thought furiously for an answer, but Audric pulled through again.

  “I have a great memory,” I said, “so I don’t need them. It would be hard to forget anything you have to say.” As soon as the words escaped my lips, I felt it in the pit of my stomach. Gavin would see right through me. That line was way too cheesy.

  Instead, he grinned. It worked, and it felt like the sun shining against my cheek with how warm his smile made me feel. I guess it made sense, a woman wearing a tight, short dress clearly flirting with him would do that, even if it was scripted. But he doesn’t know that.

  Two people from the group filtered off, perhaps because Gavin wasn’t paying attention to them anymore. They looked like a young couple about my age, with the woman’s arm roped into the man’s. It was sweet seeing how, even in this public setting, they shared that affectionate gesture. It must be nice.

  “So do you attend random parties, hoping to bump into the type of person you usually interview?”

  “I don’t do anything random. I came here for you.”

  “Is that right? Me, specifically?”

  I nodded. “I heard you were coming, and I saw it as my opportunity to meet you. You’ve been on our radar for a while, and I think our readers would love to hear from you.”

  “When you interview these people, what do you usually ask them?”

  The last remaining part of the circle around him withered away, and it seemed I had him all to myself. Just me and the one man trying to extinguish the hopes of my family.

  With help from Audric, I asked, “Are you seeing anyone?”

  Gavin’s eyebrows rose. “Is that what you ask everyone?”

  “You caught me. I don’t ask everyone that. But then again, you’re well above the typical man.”

  This was flirting far more than I normally would, even if I really liked the guy. Come to think of it, normally I wouldn’t flirt much at all, because that usually meant taking the initiative.

  He laughed. “No, I�
�m not seeing anyone at the moment.”

  I thought someone like him would’ve asked me the same question in return, but to my surprise he didn’t.

  “What else would you like to know?” he asked. “Something about the company I run or the programs I help organize, perhaps? Recently, I’ve partnered up with an inner city organization that builds community centers for teens.”

  Odd that he seems really into the giving back stuff. I thought it was just a front. Maybe it still was. Either way, playing along seemed to keep him talking, so clearly Audric was right about that.

  “Take one step to your left,” Audric said.

  What?

  “Take one step directly to your left. Three…two…one…”

  I did as instructed, and I felt someone behind me. When I looked over my shoulder, I spotted a woman in a similarly tight dress. My stepping in that spot at that exact time blocked her access to Gavin, who I assume she was going for. The woman looked around and then slinked back to the corner she’d come from.

  Good timing. I wondered where Audric stood to be able to have that kind of vantage point. He must look awfully strange to other people, staring in the same direction for that long.

  “Get him away from the crowds,” Audric said.

  Chapter Four

  Faye

  “Is there anywhere we can talk more privately? I feel like I can barely hear myself think in here.” That, and maybe it would keep him out of arm’s length of Ms. Tiny Dress.

  He glanced around him, perhaps noticing his crowd wasn’t there anymore. “Sure. I could use a breath of fresh air.” He stuck out his arm.

  Look at him playing the part of a gentleman. He won’t fool me. All the same, I looped my arm into his. If I offended him, this would all be over before it started. I had no idea what it was, though. Hopefully just some extended flirting.

  “Do you think everyone will be able to go without you for this long?”

  “Oh, I’m sure they’ll manage. There are plenty of people to talk to.”