I laugh. “I doubt it.” Our apartment is so small, I can hear her in my room from the living room. I get a text from Molly with a list of what events I’ll be attending and what I should pack. That’s another thing about Ward, he’s controlling and has certain ideas of what the people who socialize with them should look like. Part of me is fascinated to meet his family to see what kind of place he came from, but I’m also dreading it. I don’t want to be stuck with carbon copies of Scott Ward.
I finish packing, quickly throwing in lingerie and sundresses, along with jeans and a couple t-shirts. I dragged the packed suitcase into the living room and went to retrieve my overnight bag with toiletries I would need. All in all, packing took about an hour. As I went to grab my purse, my mom stopped me.
“You’ll be fine, baby.” Her voice was small and in that moment, all I wanted to do was stay at home and watch bad daytime television. “Just show them how good Grace Brandt really can be.” Her smile is infectious and the fact that she’s always right is scary. I nod my head and we hug. For some reason, this moment feels like the end of one page and the beginning of another.
“Sure thing, Mom.”
“But before you go, take some banana bread. You need to eat.” She scrambles over to the kitchen and gathers up a freezer bag full of her famous banana bread. She lifts my arm and slides the bag into my purse. I shake my head.
“I love you, Mom.” We hug and she sends me out.
My mother cares about me, I know she does, but when I walk back to the blue line, I wonder if she knows something that I don’t.
When I return to the office, it’s almost 3:30. Time apparently didn’t go by as fast as I thought it would. God only knows what the next three days were going to be like. Everyone from the office has left except for Molly, who is sitting typing away at her computer. Her job is more intense. Instead of performing weird tasks, like pretending to be Scott’s girlfriend, she handles all of the business assignments: getting Scott’s reports edited and submitted on time, prepping him for important meetings, sending out company wide emails with news “from the desk of Scott Ward”. She’s a little older than me and is a single mother. I feel bad for her. Not that I don’t think she likes working at a place like this, but I feel like there’s something more for the world she could be doing. I can tell from her demeanor that she loves helping people. I guess that’s why we get along.
… Again, why are you looking at me like that? That whole paragraph is a tribute to Molly. She has so much talent and potential, I really don’t think she should just be an assistant. What does she have to gain by working for Scott? Why does any one gain, really?
I tell her the disastrous plans Scott has in store and she shakes her head. “You look excited,” she says sarcastically. We both laugh to ourselves and Molly continues typing. “You know,” she says still looking at her computer. “Think of this weekend as a chance to know what our boss is really like around his family.”
“I know what he’s like,” I say. “Embarrassing, cruel, and sexist.” I take a moment to relax in my desk chair. My bags are on top of one another right next to my desk. “I can only imagine that’s what his family is like too.”
“You don’t know that,” Molly says. “Every person is different. Some you just see more than others.”
“Thank you, Master Yoda.” I bow my head and Molly smiles and shakes her head. She trained me when I first arrived at Ward Industries and she’s been my close confidant ever since. I like to think she’s one of the only people that know what it’s like to work for Scott, since not many women survive this position. Yet, here we stand, two years later, thinking we’ve hit some kind of milestone.
“It’ll be fine,” she says. “And don’t call me Yoda. I’m not that old.”
By the time we’re done laughing, Scott calls me and I go into his office. He’s already changed out of his suit and into a button down shirt and jeans. He tells me to sit and debriefs me on what the entire weekend will call for.
What have I gotten myself into?
CHAPTER THREE
We arrive at the airport and board the private plane that will take us from Chicago to West Michigan. The Wards own a large estate in Saugatuck, a small town along the lakeshore. I’ve never been on a private plane before, let alone one with Scott, but it’s only an hour flight, so it’s not like I’ll be sequestered in a plane with him for long. I’m dreading the silence and the inevitable awkwardness. The flight attendant hands us mimosas when we take our seats. There’s an aisle dividing the space between Scott and I, but still, I feel dangerously close to him. He’s able to reach across and grab my arm if he wanted to. I look out the window and wonder what it would be like to live like this every day. I can only imagine that Scott’s life is lonely and not filled with the happiness that people tend to think immense wealth brings.
Scott is on his laptop while we’re taking off. To him, life is business, always business. I take out my little notebook and attempt to write down my thoughts. My mind is flooded with worry, apprehension, and fear. For a moment, everything is quiet and tranquil. I’m able to relax. It’s like we’re gliding through the sky. No engines. No crying children. Just blissful silence.
“What are you writing?” Scott asks. I look over and his laptop is closed, his glass empty. I put my pen down.
“Just some notes,” I say. “This is all new to me.”
“You’ve been on assignments with me before.” He smiles. Is this funny to him?
“It’s not the same. Going to parties and meeting business partners is one thing, but your family?” I bite my lip. “That’s quite a difference.”
“You’ll be just fine,” he says. “If you want, you can ask me anything about them before we land.” I’m surprised he’s being this open with me, but I quickly take advantage of it.
For the last half hour of the flight, Scott answers every question I have about his family. How many siblings he has. How his parents met. He avoids questions that directly give me insight to his own mind, but he answers everything else. It’s nice. For a moment, I forget about the contract and the terms to my new job and just listen as his deep voice goes into detailed family stories. The more we talk about his family, the more open Scott becomes. He’s my boss, but I can feel the wanting of this weekend to go smoothly. Scott and I both just want to return to our normal lives and hope that this is just a hiccup. Not a start of something new.
“I have one more question,” I say. I always say that knowing that with his answer more questions will follow.
“Shoot.”
“Why me?” I dare to ask. “I know you said it was because I’m your assistant and that I’m pretty—“
“Beautiful,” he interrupts. “Not just pretty.”
“Still, you have the pick of Chicago and you choose me. You’ve got to know that it’s intimidating.”
He breathes in and leans back against the chair, closing my eyes. “Is that what the office thinks of me?” He says. “That I’m just a playboy who dates models and doesn’t care about their feelings?”
“I wasn’t saying that.”
“You implied it,” he says. “I chose you because you’re responsible and a real woman. Those models I surround myself with are nothing but shallow women wanting my money.”
“Oh,” I say. This is the most he’s shared with me about his personal feelings without giving me instruction.
“Yeah,” he replies. “I want to show my family that I’m able to have a future, that I know the right way to live my life, and that I take things seriously.”
I nod my head. I understand where he’s coming from, but I still can’t help but think he should’ve chose someone else.
With that, our conversation is over and I’m glad. The more we talk, the more he’s open about himself. That’s scarier than the thought of being unemployed. I don’t want to toy with my boss’s emotions or learn about his inner most thoughts and feelings. All I want is to survive
the weekend.
When we land at a small airport in the next town over, we have to drive the rest of the way. Scott’s window is open and for the first time, I see him smile as we drive through the one way streets of his hometown. Nobody stares. A couple people wave, but it’s like he’s been a part of this town for so long that nobody really cares about his family. They’re just people.
I fold my hands together at the top of my satchel. They’re shaking. Could be from nervousness or from the lakeside air or the fact that I’m visiting a family who’s worth more than the salary of a 10 year residency. Who knows.
“Everything’s going to be fine,” Scott says out of the blue.
I nod. What do I even say to his parents when we arrive? His father will recognize me from the get-go. This much I know, but how do I introduce myself to them?
‘Hey, I’m your son’s girlfriend, who also happen to be taking notes on his life, but oops, I’m really his assistant. Gotcha!”
No. This is supposed to be an act, remember? I was born to be a doctor, not some cheap employee who is in a game she has no idea how to play. I’m happy I have some leverage with the stories Scott told me on the plane, but even though I’ve never met these people, I don’t want to deceive them. I want them to know who their son really is, even if he is a sex-crazed megalomaniac.
As we approach the estate gates, miles and miles of forest line the two lane road. I can’t imagine growing up in a place like this. A place where you feel like you’re protected and not vulnerable to the outside world. Opposite to what I grew up in.
The gates open and we slowly drive in. My heart rate increases and I hope I won’t be sick. The car stops, Scott opens his door. He turns to me before getting out and says, softly, “Remember, act natural. Pretend there’s no one else in this world you want but me.” My inner self gags. He gets out of the car and the front door opens. A petite woman with short brown hair and glasses gives him a hug.
Can’t back out now. Nowhere to run. I open the door and hope for the best.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Scott has told me so much about you!” Scott’s mother, Emily, takes my hand and shakes it vigorously, then grabs me in for a hug. I look at Scott and he smiles. “Come, come inside.”
After some pleasantries, Emily goes to the kitchen to get us drinks. The Wards don’t have a butler or a maid, they’re blue collar self-made billionaires. Scott turns to me, “You haven’t said much.”
“I’m a little freaked out right now,” I say. “Yesterday, I made your copies and now I’m being paid to meet your family. I don’t exactly know what to say.” My hands fiddle on my lap as we sit in large armchairs. Scott unexpectedly grabs one.
“Calm down, Grace,” he says. “Just be yourself. If you don’t, we won’t be taken seriously and this act will never work.” He revealed a different side of himself on the plane, but once we reached the ground, he’s back to his normal commanding self.
Emily returns with drinks and we socialize. All she wants to hear about is where we met, how we fell in love, and what our plan is for the future. Scott is still holding my hand. He’s not cold and clammy, but he’s not a perfect fit either. I want nothing more than to throw his hand off mine, run out the door, and magically find my way back home. Leaving really isn’t an option.
My physical instinct gets the best of me and I tighten my hold on his hand, surprised that he doesn’t complain. Emily then talks about the plan for the long weekend and how she “can’t wait” for their entire family to meet the girl who stole Scott’s heart. “Entire family?” I ask.
“This weekend is our family reunion,” she says. “Didn’t Scott tell you?”
I look at Scott with my teeth clenched into a mad smile. “No, he didn’t.”
********
After our meeting, Emily gives us time to put our stuff away. We walk up the staircase. “I swear I didn’t know the events of the weekend,” Scott says. “If I did, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Bullshit.” For this one moment in time, I allow myself to freak. “Only a matter of time until everyone figures us out.”
We arrive at a bedroom door. He opens it and walks in. Immediately, my thoughts change. “This is your room,” I say. Not a question. There are trophies and pictures of Scott playing baseball, soccer, football. Yeah, he’s built, but I never thought of him as a natural athlete. Not by a long shot.
“This is it.” He closes the door.
“Isn’t there a guest room I can stay in?” I already know the answer. Why do I even have to ask?
He smirks. “How are we going to keep up the act when we’re sleeping in separate beds? My parents may be old, but they’re not that old.”
“Then I’m sleeping on the floor,” I say. God I hate him. Hardwood floors can be comfy, right?
“I’m not going to bite,” he says, walking to me.
I back away. “No means no, Scott.” His dimples become more prominent. “I mean it.” I attempt to throw pillows at him. “I will throw myself down the stairs and claim workman’s comp!” Part of me is joking, but the other part doesn’t know how I would handle Scott putting his hands on me.
His mischievous demeanor changes into something much darker. “Relax,” he says with his hands up in surrender. “I was kidding. I won’t touch you. This weekend is to show them I’m not a whore, remember?” He puts his bag on the bed and immediately walks out, leaving me in his room alone.
“Way to make me feel like shit,” I murmur under my breath. I look around and shake my head. Scott and I definitely grew up in different households. Just from the excitement of his mother, I could tell each member of the family would be the same way. They had each others back, no matter what. I’m not used to having brothers and sisters, since it’s only been my mom and I since I was born. I’m not used to rough and rowdy brothers and sisters wanting to know what I’ve been up to. That’s why I’m scared of the reunion. I’m okay with meeting new people, but this is a different world.
I look at the back yard through Scott’s bedroom windows. The Wards not only own a big section of property, but their property includes a private beach. Scott walks out into the backyard and immediately the children running around greet him.
Never in my two years of employment have I heard Scott talk about his family. His father is an exception because of his role in the company, but not even in his calendar does he put birthdays or anniversaries. Seeing Scott as he interacted with his siblings surprised me. He doesn’t seem like the guy who could connect with someone in a personal manner.
Maybe sometimes people surprise you.
Holy shit, Molly’s right.
I inhale and get ready to go downstairs. I’m nervous. Of course, Scott and I have to pull this elaborate plan off, but the fact that his father will look me in the eye and instantly remember me throws me off. His dad is going to know something’s up. We have to alter our story. I look in the mirror, fix my messy hair, and smile. They’ll see straight through me.
Walking down the house stairs, the entire Ward family photo montage stares back at me. Scott has three brothers and two sisters. They all vary in occupations and lifestyles and they live all over the world. Besides from Emily, Peter is the only Ward I’ve met more than once, so I’m not exactly sure how this whole act is going to play out. Why am I hyperventilating about this?
“Grace, there you are!” Emily meets me at the bottom of the stairs with another young woman, although I have no question who that could be. It’s his youngest sister, Annie. Her and Scott are spitting images of each other. “This is Annie, my youngest daughter.” I shake Annie’s hands and she smiles.
“My brother never brings home women. I always thought he was gay,” she says with a smile. The same mischievous smile that Scott always has. That could be true to his family, but his reputation shows anything but. Annie owns the local bar in town, so for someone so young she was running a fully functional business. She knew exactly her brother’s type and how he would nev
er go for a put together woman like me.
“Nice to meet you too,” I say smiling. Yes, I’m nervous. I don’t get how Scott Ward could have ever come from a family like his.
Emily, Annie, and I walk towards the sliding glass doors that lead to the back yard. Scott and his brothers are going back and forth talking and moving things around. He has his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his jeans are already scuffed with grass. The weather is perfect – a mixture of warm and brisk as Lake Michigan’s waves cascade on the beach. Even though I’m from Chicago, I never really took the time to appreciate Lake Michigan as much as everyone else does.
“Annie, some help would be nice.” Scott’s older brother Patrick yelled as they picked up tables and moved them into the direct location. Patrick was first in line to be CEO of the company. He was the favorite. When it was publicly announced that Scott was going to be the succeeding CEO instead, it was revealed in the media that Patrick’s wife, Allie McNeil, a stage actress also from Chicago, had a miscarriage that left her with severe depression. Patrick made sure that he stayed out of the limelight to take care of her. They moved to Saugatuck to be close to his parents and to start their family. Now they have four children: two boys and twin girls. That leaves Scott, the baby boy wiz kid (as the press named him) as the leader of his father’s multi-billion dollar corporation.
Sometimes I wonder why Scott grew up to be the asshole he is today. Wouldn’t it make more sense to capitalize on your smarts, your kindness? That way people aren’t labeling you a man-whore? Apparently, he didn’t think of it that way.
Annie walks over to where they stood with the tables and helps them. Scott flags me over and I help out too. It takes four of us to move three long tables and secure the table covers. Once we are finished, Scott walks over to me.
“What did they say about me?” He says, grabbing my hands. They are cold and wanting to be held. Knowing that his family is watching us, he takes me in for a hug and kisses my forehead. I freeze for a moment as his forehead rests against mine.
Wide Awake: Part One (The Ward Family: Scott Ward Book 1) Page 2
