He let out a moan, “Now there’s a good way to wake up.”
I smiled and showed him just how good waking up could be. I couldn’t tell him how I felt about him, but I could show him. I could love his body and bring him pleasure even if I couldn’t give him the words.
He returned the favor in the shower as we got ready for work. I savored every second of it. I wanted to remember every touch and every sigh so I could revisit them in my memory when all this was said and done.
For the next couple of weeks, we settled into a schedule at home and work. He continued to bring me to his family dinners on Sundays, and each time, I felt more a part of them. It was bittersweet because I knew with the stock offering coming soon, my time with them would end. Sometimes I felt guilty for lying to them. It didn’t feel fake with Nate or his family, but I knew it was.
When the IPO was done, I’d still see Nate at work, but it would be different. It wasn’t just the sex that would stop, but all the time together hanging out, swimming, cooking…the domestic activities we did now, those would stop too, and my heart ached at the idea.
In retrospect, we shouldn’t have started our physical relationship as it had changed things, and I wondered how it would work when we were back to just being boss and assistant. Occasionally, especially after he gave me a tremendous orgasm, I would have a moment to wonder if we might keep seeing each other once the IPO and fake marriage were over. But then I had to remind myself that while Nate was a nice man who I believed enjoyed spending time with me, he wasn’t a man to settle down.
I wanted to invite him to meet my parents, except that we weren’t real. The only reason I was meeting his family was that they’d heard about us. We had to play along. But my family had no clue about this marriage farce or my falling for Nate. I had guilt about that too. I’d never kept so many secrets from my family before.
Our last dog and pony show was in Seattle. Like the others, it went extremely well, and on the way back, I tried to be happy that the IPO would be a success. But the truth was that I was sad. The end of Nate’s and my relationship was near. Once the company went public, he wouldn’t need a fake wife. At least not for very long.
“We haven’t talked about how our fake marriage is going to end,” I said as our plane crossed back to the east coast.
He stared at me for a moment, then with a quick shake of his head said, “We’ll need to wait a little bit after going public.”
I nodded, “I guess it wouldn’t be good for the stock if you were immediately in the middle of a fake divorce.”
“I know the faking and being away from your family is hard. Is there something you need to help make it easier?”
Another bonus for Nate was that he’d be worried that this fake marriage was taking a toll on me.
“I’m not complaining, Nate,” I told him. If he only knew the real difficulty was that I was in love with him. I wanted to tell him how much I enjoyed being his fake wife. How I loved his family and wished he’d come meet mine.
“It’s just a few weeks more, a couple of months at the most,” He said it like he was reassuring me.
I gave him a wan smile, to let him know I was okay with that even though my heart was crying inside.
Having a deadline forced me to think about beginning the transition from where we were now to where we’d be when this deal ended. I was a fake wife, and I needed to remember that. In return, I was going to get my home rebuilt. When this was said and done, we’d be back to boss and assistant. The sooner I weaned myself from him, the better. What better way to do that than to focus on my home and how I was going to tell my parents that I wanted them to move in with me?
It wouldn’t be easy to change my focus since I was so easily distracted by him, but I needed to face facts and prepare. It was time to call around to get bids from contractors to start the work on my home. I pulled out a notepad and a pen and got to work making a list of things I’d need to do to get started. If I was lucky, watching my home return from the ashes would offset the feeling of loss I’d feel when Nate and I were done.
Chapter Fifteen: The Beginning of the End
Nate
I was strangely not ready for the opening day of the Stock Exchange that included the official offering of Sloane Labs’ stock. If I was honest, it wasn’t just the worry that the IPO would fail. It was that this day was the beginning of the end for Hallie and me. More and more, I wanted us to stay together, and yet, over the last few weeks, I felt her pulling away from me. Our days and nights were the same, but something had shifted, and that something made me hold back from telling her my true feelings. She was focused on her home, and it was all I could do to keep her from driving out to it to get started. Instead, I told her that I’d have all the money and resources for her when the IPO was done. I wondered if she resented my asking her to put off her home rebuild until after the IPO, and that was why she seemed a little distant.
Regardless of the reasons, today was an important day for Sloane Labs, and I needed to focus on that, not on my heart. We were in New York on the Stock Exchange floor as the opening day of the IPO had arrived. Unlike all our other trips, this one had taken some convincing to get her to travel with me. It was another thing that had me questioning her feelings. She was a part of this. She’d been integral in bringing it to fruition. Why wouldn’t she want to be there on the first day Sloane Labs stock would be available for sale?
“We started this together, Hallie. Let’s finish it together,” I said, feeling like I was practically begging.
A sadness swept over her face at my words, and I wanted to think maybe she was sad that our time together would be over soon. But I dismissed that idea. If she wanted to be together, she’d have readily agreed to come to New York for the opening. Instead, I felt like she was ready for this deal to be done so she could move on to fixing up her home. If that was the case, I’d let her go, but I still wanted her to see the IPO through with me.
“It would be strange if my wife wasn’t with me,” I hated to bring this back to our fake marriage, but I was feeling a little desperate.
That seemed to do the trick, and she agreed to come with me to New York for opening day. The difference this time was we traveled with the IPO team, including Dave, who agreed to keep the fake wife thing a secret.
“I can’t figure out if that constitutes fraud,” he said when I explained to him about Hallie.
“It’s not fraud,” I scoffed at him. I didn’t know the legal aspects of our arrangement, but I knew my feelings weren’t fake. I may not have a piece of paper that said we were married, but that didn’t mean I didn’t love her.
We’d gotten a VIP tour of the New York Stock Exchange, which surprisingly had a lot more to it than just the trading floor. There were historical artifacts, such as Civil War Bonds, artwork from Andy Warhol, and a wall where bell ringers could sign their name. There was even a private dining area.
I’d been able to arrange for us to ring the bell for the opening of the day’s trading. It was something I thought Hallie would get a kick out of, but like most other things lately, she didn’t seem particularly excited about it.
On the morning of the offering, we stood on the famous podium below the bell.
“You want to ring the bell?” I asked Hallie as we waited for the exchange to open.
“You should do it,” came her quiet reply.
Excitement and energy filled the room as the day of trading got ready to open. I was with Hallie and the IPO team, all celebrating the fruition of a goal. When the moment came, I pressed the button that rang the bell, and a flurry of noise and activity began as the traders on the floor began to call out.
I’d worked hard for this day, but I found myself not able to focus on it or enjoy it as I should with the uncertainty about Hallie never far from my mind. Why couldn’t I just tell her how I was feeling and ask her to stay? Probably because the few times I’d started to, she brought up her parents and house, and finally being able to provide for
them. I admired how dedicated she was to them, and I couldn’t get in the way of that.
“You must be thrilled,” Dave said as we all flew back to Virginia after the opening. “Sloane Labs made over two-hundred million today.”
“I can’t wait to put it to good use,” I replied. I was happy, even as I was torn inside. Not about the money. No, the money would go into research and development to find ways to prevent and cure disease. But it put me one step closer to losing Hallie.
I had a long history with women. I’d respected all of them and cared for many. But what I felt for Hallie had me feeling unsettled and nervous. Usually, by this time in a relationship with a woman, I felt ready to move on. With Hallie, I was desperate to find a reason to keep her close. A few weeks back - on the trip home from Seattle - I’d told her we needed to continue our fake marriage a little longer after the opening so as not to impact stock prices. Of course, except for the investors we saw during the dog and pony shows, most people didn’t know I was married and wouldn’t notice if I divorced.
She accepted my idea that we’d need to carry on the charade a bit longer, but something in her demeanor had me feeling guilty about it. I’d agreed to build her home, and she was eager to get it done and care for her parents. I was keeping her from that.
When we arrived back in Virginia, I considered driving her to her house so she could see that work had already started. In fact, according to Gabe, it was nearly completed. But I was too selfish to do it knowing that once I did, she’d leave and our fake marriage and our pretend life together would be over.
So instead, when we got back home, I held a private celebration with Hallie, having every intention of telling her my feelings. We had champagne and made love. It was the perfect moment to tell her how I felt, and yet I didn’t. Why? Why couldn’t I say the words I was feeling in my heart?
As she lay in my arms, it occurred to me that as long as we were in this fake marriage, a deal was hanging over our heads. I had to complete my side of the arrangement, pay my debt, and only then could I ask her for a new arrangement. One in which we weren’t fake, and there was no business deal. That meant the sooner I ended the fake marriage and finished her house, the sooner I could tell her how I felt and ask her to stay with me.
The next morning while she was getting ready for work, I called Gabe to find out how much longer the house would be.
“What’s the hurry? Don’t you like having her with you?” Gabe asked. I could tell he was at the house as construction sounds were going on behind him.
“I do like having her here. That’s why I need the house done.”
“When the house is done, she’ll leave. Isn’t that the deal? I could draw this out and keep her with you.”
“You’re a good brother, but I don’t want to coerce her. As long as we have this deal hanging between us, she can’t really be mine. I need to meet the terms of our arrangement, and then I can see how she feels about me.”
“She loves you, man. Even I can see it. We all can.”
I couldn’t, “I can’t move on until this deal with Hallie is done.”
“Understood. By the way, I’m thinking of charging you copyright fees for stealing my grand gesture. I fixed up Sam’s house to win her back.”
I rolled my eyes, “You fixed her house for your TV show.”
“Well yeah, but finishing all the house to her book specs, that was love, man.”
“Can you get it done so we can move on, you know, fucking forward?” I loved my brother, but right now, I didn’t want small talk or chitchat. I wanted the house done so I could move on with Hallie.
“Actually, we only need a few more days. A week maybe. It’s probably time to bring her here.”
I heard movement in the house. Not wanting her to overhear my conversation, I told Gabe, “I’ve gotta run.”
Once off the phone, I finished getting ready for work, and then Hallie and I went on with our day as usual. Except again, something had changed in her and all of a sudden, I wondered if I was foolish for falling for her. Before, she’d seemed aloof and a little distant. Today, she was cool toward me as I drove us to work, and we went about our work. I couldn’t determine if she was angry or just having a bad day.
I decided it was time to ask her about it, so I called her into my office, “Is everything alright? You seem a little out of sorts today.”
“No. I’m fine,” but she said it in a clipped voice that suggested she wasn’t fine.
“You sure? Are your parents alright?”
She turned away and swallowed like she was gathering her strength, “I’m fine, Nate. They’re fine. I’m just ready to get my home fixed so I can take care of them.”
I felt a stab in my heart. She was ready for this farce to be done. She was ready to move forward with her goal. She was ready to leave me.
“In fact, I’d like to stop by and see them this afternoon since I didn’t get a chance to when we got back from New York yesterday,” she said, rising from the chair she was in.
I nodded, feeling like each moment ticking by I was losing her. “Of course,” I said as I stood and came around my desk, wanting to get closer. I rubbed her arms with my hands, wanting to embrace her but feeling the wall she had erected between us. Feeling desperate, I cradled her cheeks with my hands, “I’ve enjoyed being your husband, Hallie.”
She stared at me like she didn’t know what to make of my statement. Why the fuck couldn’t I just tell her I loved her?
She managed a smile, “I’m glad I could help.”
My heart fell to the pit of my stomach as my fears were realized. This was just a business deal for her. I released her.
“Enjoy your time with your parents,” I could hear the total lack of emotion in my voice. The words were like ash on my tongue. I watched as she walked out of my office and closed the door quietly.
“Fuck!” I handled that all wrong. I had to tell her the truth. If she didn’t feel the same then at least I’d know for sure, all of this waiting and wondering was going to drive me to the loony bin. I rushed out of my office to hers.
“She’s left to check on her parents,” Clair said as I looked in Hallie’s office.
Jesus, that was fast.
“Do you want me to call her and tell her to come back?” Clair asked.
I shook my head and returned to my office, “No, thank you.”
“Mr. Sloane? Is everything okay with you and Hallie?”
Christ. Could she see the change in us too? “Just fine,” I replied as I walked into my office, knowing I needed to do something and quick.
“Mr. Sloane?” Clair’s voice came from my doorway.
“Yes.”
“Your lawyer is on the line.” Why she didn’t call me on the phone about that, I didn’t know. Perhaps she was worried about me, which meant I wasn’t hiding my unease about Hallie very well.
“Thank you,” I took a breath to calm my nerves. I’d make a plan to woo Hallie later. For now, I needed to deal with business.
The Beginning of the End
Chapter Fifteen: The Beginning of the End
Nate
I was strangely not ready for the opening day of the Stock Exchange that included the official offering of Sloane Labs’ stock. If I was honest, it wasn’t just the worry that the IPO would fail. It was that this day was the beginning of the end for Hallie and me. More and more, I wanted us to stay together, and yet, over the last few weeks, I felt her pulling away from me. Our days and nights were the same, but something had shifted, and that something made me hold back from telling her my true feelings. She was focused on her home, and it was all I could do to keep her from driving out to it to get started. Instead, I told her that I’d have all the money and resources for her when the IPO was done. I wondered if she resented my asking her to put off her home rebuild until after the IPO, and that was why she seemed a little distant.
Regardless of the reasons, today was an important day for Sloane Labs, and I needed to focus on
that, not on my heart. We were in New York on the Stock Exchange floor as the opening day of the IPO had arrived. Unlike all our other trips, this one had taken some convincing to get her to travel with me. It was another thing that had me questioning her feelings. She was a part of this. She’d been integral in bringing it to fruition. Why wouldn’t she want to be there on the first day Sloane Labs stock would be available for sale?
“We started this together, Hallie. Let’s finish it together,” I said, feeling like I was practically begging.
A sadness swept over her face at my words, and I wanted to think maybe she was sad that our time together would be over soon. But I dismissed that idea. If she wanted to be together, she’d have readily agreed to come to New York for the opening. Instead, I felt like she was ready for this deal to be done so she could move on to fixing up her home. If that was the case, I’d let her go, but I still wanted her to see the IPO through with me.
“It would be strange if my wife wasn’t with me,” I hated to bring this back to our fake marriage, but I was feeling a little desperate.
That seemed to do the trick, and she agreed to come with me to New York for opening day. The difference this time was we traveled with the IPO team, including Dave, who agreed to keep the fake wife thing a secret.
“I can’t figure out if that constitutes fraud,” he said when I explained to him about Hallie.
“It’s not fraud,” I scoffed at him. I didn’t know the legal aspects of our arrangement, but I knew my feelings weren’t fake. I may not have a piece of paper that said we were married, but that didn’t mean I didn’t love her.
We’d gotten a VIP tour of the New York Stock Exchange, which surprisingly had a lot more to it than just the trading floor. There were historical artifacts, such as Civil War Bonds, artwork from Andy Warhol, and a wall where bell ringers could sign their name. There was even a private dining area.
Her Hero Boss Page 12
