Liar (a FAUX-MANCE novel)

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  He began to walk away when Tony hollered, “With pepperoncinis.”

  Nick tossed him a thankful wave and said into his phone, “Hey, I need a couple favors…”

  If Tony were a betting man, he would put his money on those favors consisting of size seven shoes and pepperoncinis.

  Just before noon, Cori received a call from Eve, Nick’s assistant. “Hello, Cori. Mr. Blackthorne would like to see you, dear.”

  “Oh. I didn’t think we had anything scheduled.” Baffled, she didn’t know how to reply. “Should I bring anything? Is this about my proposal for the campaign?”

  “No, dear. Just you.” Eve’s motherly smile could be heard in her voice. “Ten minutes?”

  “Wow. Ten minutes it is then. Thank you, Eve.”

  Cori spent her ten minutes pondering what he could possibly need an impromptu meeting for. If not for her proposal, then what? She made quick work of pulling out her mirror, giving her hair a swift once over. She grabbed for the nude lipstick she wore every day, but thought better of it and went for the red.

  Red was a powerful color — stood for power, confidence, and commanded a room. Apparently, according to someone, it did well with all the men in town. She straightened her skirt, brushed it smooth, and hobbled as gracefully as she could to the elevator. So much for new shoes at lunch — she’d just make this work.

  Eve instructed her to go straight into Nick’s office when she exited the elevator on his floor.

  “Mr. Blackthorne,” she said as she entered.

  He looked up over the papers he had in his hand and met her eyes. “Aren’t we past that? It’s Nick to you.”

  She smiled, but maintained her professional position. “My proposal isn’t quite ready, but I’m happy to give you a quick overview if that—”

  He waved his hands in the air, interrupting her. “This isn’t a working lunch. It’s a study lunch.”

  “A study lunch? You lost me. What are we studying for?”

  “Tomorrow.” He smiled and pointed to the spread set up on a small table next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a perfect city view. “Thought we could talk, make sure we’re on the same page.”

  “Oh.” She wasn’t sure what to think about his idea, but the low growl in her belly at the sight of the unmistakable packaging of Guido’s sandwiches had her on board. “Guido’s? Pepperoncinis?”

  He nodded with a grin.

  “How did you…?” She paused, knowing exactly how he knew. “Tony.”

  “I may have had a little inside info. I hear it’s your favorite, and as much as I like a good aged steak, grinders are more my style.”

  They sat to eat, and apparently talk, though she didn’t know how one prepares, or studies, for a cake tasting with a couple asshats.

  “Hold on.” He excused himself from the table just as he finished his sandwich. “I have something for you.”

  Holding a giftbag, full of tissue paper, he returned to the table with a pleased smile. “This is for you.”

  “Nick. What did you do?”

  “Open it!”

  She did as he asked, both anxious and excited. Under all the fluff and pretty bag was a box. A shoebox. One she recognized as one of her favorite designers. An expensive designer. One she could never afford on her own unless it was a season or two old and from the thrift shop.

  “Oh, Nick.” Her expression was blank, emotions she didn’t recognize racing. “These are amazing. I can’t—”

  “I’m sensing a pattern here,” he interrupted. “You can take them, you deserve them, and frankly…you need them.”

  A boisterous laugh escaped her as she looked at the shoes he gifted her and then down at her feet to the disaster that was laced up there. He was right; she did need a pair of shoes. What was the harm in accepting a gift, anyway?

  “I’m just not used to people being…nice. Don’t get me wrong. I have plenty of nice people in my life, but gifts like this, or the ones you’ve already given me…I’ve never been treated to such things.” She shrugged.

  Raw and vulnerable, her words struck him, and actually pained him. If anyone deserved to be treated such a way, he thought it was Cori. It wasn’t like he knew her well, or even personally, really, but something said she was as real as it gets, and it was a breath of fresh air.

  A knock at the door interrupted their intimate moment of getting to know each other. It was probably best because Cori was showing her hand a little too much for comfort.

  “Come in.” Nick stood, putting his hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze as he passed her on his way to the door to greet his guest.

  Two ladies entered the expansive office with armloads of large garment bags, followed by rolling brass clothing racks, each packed tightly with more garment bags, wheeled by Tony and Carmine, manning two each. Tony tossed Cori a wink before heading out, to which she smiled. A smile that grew when the first lady put her bags down and revealed who she was.

  “You must be Cori, darling,” the woman entering said with a long, upper-crust drawl. “It’s a pleasure, I’m sure.”

  “You…you’re Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn Brock,” she stammered. “The pleasure is all mine. Uh, Nick…what’s going on?”

  “Wedding dress.”

  She choked on air, unsure if she heard him correctly, and pulled him aside. “Wedding dress? You’re not serious?”

  “Why am I not serious? Do you have a dress?”

  “Well, no.”

  “Then you need one…for tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” she said a little louder than she intended. “What’s…tomorrow?”

  “Cake tasting.”

  “Nick, you know how this works, right? You don’t wear the dress to the tasting. You wear it to the wedding…which we aren’t having,” she said low so no one could hear. Winnie knew anyone that was anyone, and the last thing Cori needed was for her secrets to get back to the enemy.

  “Of course I do,” he laughed. “You need a picture, right? Isn’t that what tomorrow is about? Kind of like a pissing match, but with wedding stuff? What will you show her if she asks?”

  “Wow, you’ve really thought this one out, haven’t you?” When he didn’t say anything, her eyes grew wide. “You had help, didn’t you? When? When did you talk to him?”

  “The other day after he dropped you off, I said hello, and he just started…talking.”

  “James tends to do that. What did he say? Was it his idea to get Gwendolyn freaking Brock?”

  “No. That was Miss D’s idea. Not sure who that is, but—”

  “Devina? How in the world?”

  “Well, this morning—”

  Her voice raised an octave and became scratchy. “This morning? You said the other day.”

  Man, she was good, didn’t miss a beat, and he needed to take lessons. “Both mornings. This morning, James said he talked to Miss D, and when he mentioned Gwen, I called in a favor.”

  “Another favor. Of course you did.”

  “Did I do something wrong here? I thought it was a great idea, really. I’m new to this, and James seemed—”

  “James seems a lot of things. This is getting so out of hand, and there are too many people involved to keep it straight.” Her hands ran through her hair.

  “What’s the big deal? He was just trying to help, as was Tony.”

  “Tony?”

  “Sort of Tony. He knows you pretty well, and…I’m getting all of them in trouble right now, aren’t I?”

  “No. They all mean well, as do you, but I can’t…” she paused, searching for the right words to get through to him without hurting his feelings, “I can’t afford any of this, and I don’t like taking so much from you. Pretty soon, I’ll owe you those favors you’ve been calling in, and I can’t afford to pay them.”

  “Cori, I don’t expect anything in return. I figure while we’re doing whatever this is, you may as well have fun, and if I can provide it…why not? It’s just a dress.”

  “I can
just find a pic online and show it to Winnie.”

  “Or you pick the dress of your dreams and take a picture wearing it. What can it hurt? She’s an old family friend. It’s just a—”

  “Favor. I know.” With her arms crossed, Cori looked to Gwendolyn and her assistant while they unbagged some of the most exquisite gowns she had ever seen, then back to him. His gesture came from the right place, and it was sincere…she could tell. She really had nothing to lose, did she? “Fine, but let’s talk about things before we do them from now on. You know…communication is key in a healthy relationship. I can’t marry you if you keep secrets, Blackthorne.”

  Her teasing brought a smile to his face as he took a seat and let the ladies get to work.

  “Oh…” on his way to take a seat, he paused to give her full disclosure, “since there aren’t any more surprises, Gwen’s assistant will be taking your measurements and there will be a dress ready for you tomorrow.”

  “For tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, for the cake tasting. James said…” he stalled, and smiled, “never mind what he said. There’s a dress or two coming.”

  Cori tried on numerous dresses, giggling and dancing around as she did. When she walked out of the private bathroom she was using to change, Nick stopped what he was doing and took to his feet.

  Gwendolyn gasped. “Oh, darling…you look like a dream.”

  “That’s the one,” Nick said with more emotion than he probably should. “Breathtaking. That’s your dress.”

  Oddly, Cori found herself a bit emotional, even though none of this was real. She couldn’t agree with them more. If she were to marry anyone, this would be the dress she wore. Stopping herself, she corrected — this was what she would wear to marry Nick.

  Nick settled in behind her and looked at her in the mirror, his hands on her shoulders. They stood there for a moment, quietly. She finally turned to him, that vulnerability back in place, and looked everywhere but at him.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s…perfect, but it’s too much. This is just a ruse. I can’t let you spend this kind of money on a dress. It’s probably more than I make in a year.”

  “First, you need a raise. Second, I told you not to worry about that. Gwen and my mother are old friends. Please let me do this. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t want to.”

  Speechless — that was something new to Cori. She didn’t have words — mostly because of the way he was looking at her. When his hands cupped her face and thumbs stroked her cheeks, she was done. For such a confident, used-to-getting-what-he-wanted, alpha type, he really had a soft side and a big heart. All things she could get used to and had to keep reminding herself not to.

  Their moment was broken when the glaring sun coming in through the window threatened of the looming sunset. Panic settled in when Cori realized just how much time had passed since being summoned to his office. “Oh my God! My meeting. I completely spaced it.”

  “Whoa. It’s okay. Eve took care of it. It’s been rescheduled for Monday. Hope that was okay. She didn’t see anything else on your schedule that needed moving or would interfere with a Monday reschedule.”

  “No, that’s great. I’m not really prepared for it now, anyway.”

  His hands still holding her face, he leaned in and kissed her forehead. “You will be. Now, go change. I think Gwen has a few more things to show you. Oh, and bring that skirt or dress Tony messed with tomorrow. Gwen’s assistant will take it and fix it when she drops off whatever you guys decide on.”

  “Decide on? I thought it was already decided. You said a couple things?”

  He shrugged his shoulders and went back to his desk to check emails, but she felt his stare when she turned to go change. What on earth was happening here? Her little lie was taking on a life of its own, and she didn’t know what she thought about that.

  At nearly five o’clock, Cori was back in her office with her feet on her desk, staring at her new shoes. They weren’t the shoes Nick gifted her; they were the pair she wore trying on dresses. Gwendolyn Brock never let more than one person wear the same pair of shoes for a fitting…they were just part of the gig. Another gift, really.

  When her phone buzzed, she was surprised to see it was Nick since she had just left his office.

  Thanks for lunch. Looking forward to tomorrow. – Nick

  Giggling was new to her, and she seemed to do it often where he was concerned. Any other day, it would probably annoy her — but not today.

  I felt like a princess today. Thank you. Oh, and the pepperoncinis were perfect.

  CHAPTER 9

  “Drinks will be right up, girl,” hollered Lilley, owner of the coffee shop Cori stopped in at every morning. It wasn’t unusual for them to start her drinks if they saw her walk in or already in line. She was a regular, and they were just that good to their coffee loving customers.

  “Here ya go, Cori,” Lilley said, placing two to-go cups on the pick-up counter, along with a small card.

  “Oh. I don’t think this is mine. It’s two larges,” Cori said in confusion as she looked at the little card with her name on it.

  “Do you drink white chocolate mochas?” Lilley asked sarcastically.

  “Yes…every morning.”

  “Do you order two at a time?” she quizzed.

  Nodding, Cori answered, “Always.”

  “Your name Cori?” Lilley’s smile was contagious, and her question was ridiculous enough to draw a chuckle from Cori and the other baristas.

  “Last time I checked.”

  “Then these are yours. Order was called in last night. This was ordered too. You better stick it in your purse, like now. Don’t want to lose it.” Lilley winked and wiped down the counter around where the drinks were still sitting.

  “Last…huh — I didn’t call it in.” Cori reached for her wallet to pay for the drinks, an obvious mix up, but she wouldn’t stiff Lilley nonetheless.

  “Put your money away. It’s paid for. Took it off the card,” Lilley said, gesturing to the small card that had been sitting on the counter with her name on it.

  Cori wasn’t sure what Lilley was referring to, or why there was a card with her name on it. “I don’t understand.”

  “All part of the order. Two large white chocolate mochas and a good-sized gift card — all for you.”

  Brows furrowed, Cori opened the gift card, saw her name was written inside as well, and under “total” it said $5,000. She choked on the air as she read that number over and over. “Uh, Lilley. I think this…this can’t be mine…this is obviously a mistake or fraud or something.”

  “No mistake. The order was for two larges, from now on, and that card.” A wink and knowing grin crossed Lilley’s face. She knew something, and she wasn’t saying what that was.

  “Who? This doesn’t make any sense. Who could have—”

  Tossing her hands in the air, Lilley cut her off and said, “Confidential, my dear. The buyer wished to be anonymous. I’ve been sworn to secrecy. A five-thousand-dollar sale will buy my loyalty any day, and buy you a lot of coffee.”

  “Um. Okay. I understand. I guess…” Cori tucked the gift card in her purse and grabbed her drinks before heading out the door and right to Tony. Looked like they were getting larges from now on.

  After telling Tony the whole ordeal, she couldn’t help but notice a pleased grin, leaving her a little suspicious. Surely Tony didn’t do this. He had a big family and only his income — there was no way he could afford such an extravagant gift.

  “So, what do you think, Tony?”

  “I think someone did something quite generous,” he replied, taking another sip of his coffee.

  “Definitely, but who? All the gifts lately have to be from the same person, right? I mean, I have been getting them for months. It could only be Phillip, don’t you think?”

  Tony shrugged. “You can’t think of anyone else? No one at all?”

  “Just you, but I know it wasn’t. Nobody knows me as Cordelia, or calls me t
hat, for that matter. That’s the thing.”

  “I suppose time will tell. What would it change anyway?”

  She was suspicious of him. He definitely knew something, and for some reason, he wasn’t sharing. Tony wasn’t a fan of Phillip’s, in the least, but would he keep his secret? Maybe…if he was trying to keep the excitement of it all going for her. But if it was Phillip, it wouldn’t be so exciting. It would be a disaster.

  “Nothing would change, really. I just don’t like surprises that much.” She sat and thought for a few moments, drinking her coffee while Tony assisted another employee.

  “Kiddo, I think whatever is going on will come out eventually. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Enjoy it.” Tony was her biggest cheerleader, and it showed. “You seem happier these past few days. Is there a certain fiancé contributing to that?”

  “Pfft. You know none of that is real, right?” Tony was starting to sound like Nick. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he was rooting for something more than a ruse. “Today is the cake tasting, though. That should be interesting.”

  “Interesting how?”

  “I don’t know. Nick is really taking this thing so seriously,” she laughed. “He made sure I had new dresses and everything, just for the occasion. It’s pretty funny.”

  “Why do you suppose he’s so interested in this…ruse, as you call it?” Tony asked, brows raised as if he already knew the answer and was checking to see if she did.

  “I don’t know. Old beef with the Chancellors? Phillip is a Chancellor.” Cori chuckled, thinking back to the day before and how hard he tried to make everything right but hadn’t a clue what he was talking about. “It’s nice to have someone on my side, though. I mean, where they are concerned. Maybe they’ll just leave me alone after all this.”

  “Maybe. Are you sure this is just a game, Cori? To him…”

  “Of course. What else would it be? Why would he spend so much time getting to know me and invest in lavish things? Oh my God.” Her hands covered her mouth as the answers to her own questions started flooding in. This wasn’t just about the ruse or a game for him. Not at all. This fake engagement and his willingness to play along was more than that.