Seven Day Wife (Fake Marriage Office Romance)

by Mia Faye

  Things had changed since then, but not by much. I was walking into a meeting with representatives of the board and other important suits. I was nervous, although not nearly as much as I had been the first time. And, I would have to introduce myself to Wyatt again, even though we had known each other for ten years and worked closely for more than half of those.

  It was an open secret by now; Wyatt, the man who had dragged a struggling publishing company kicking and screaming into the future and given it an enviable reputation across the country, a man who had been renowned for his brilliance, was in the moderate stages of dementia. He had done a good job of keeping the diagnosis under wraps, but people talk, and those closest to him had always known about it. The real problem was that it was getting harder and harder for him to run the company. His wife Meredith had sensibly taken over much of the workload, but Wyatt was a stubborn man, and he insisted on going about his day as he always did and working the way he always had. It was his work that had gotten the company to where it was, after all.

  It was with all this in mind that I walked into the boardroom that morning. I didn’t know what to expect. It was supposed to be our quarterly planning meeting, but these meetings never went the way you expected them to. Plus, something about the way Meredith had sounded on the phone when she called to confirm my attendance struck me as odd.

  There was no one in the boardroom when I got there. I glanced at my watch, wondering if I was early, but I was right on time. After confirming that I was in the right room and checking that I had the right date and time, I let myself in and sat down in one of the chairs.

  Minutes ticked by silently. I looked out the large transparent wall on one side of the room and busied myself watching the other employees go about their duties. A smartly dressed young woman filed past the room, her head buried in a thick folder, and I froze, convinced that I knew her. In the Biblical sense, that is, I was almost certain Yvette Matthews had just walked past the room. But that was impossible. My mind must have been playing tricks on me, picking out residual memories, and projecting them to the fore.

  The door opened, and I looked up to see Meredith Banks walking in. She was alone. “Cam,” she said, walking over to my chair and shaking my hand. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting?”

  “Not at all,” I said. I looked over her shoulder, still expecting to see men in suits filling in.

  “Oh, the quarterly meeting has been postponed,” Meredith said, sitting down next to me. “At least for the time being.”

  “Is everything okay?” I asked.

  Meredith sighed. She took her glasses from her face and rubbed her eyes. At that moment, she looked older than I had ever seen her look.“No,” she said. “It’s Wyatt.”

  I had to make a conscious effort to stay calm. “What happened?”

  “Nothing happened. Well, not really. I know everyone is already talking about it, so it isn’t much of a secret. But I know you, at the very least, are aware of Wyatt’s Alzheimer’s?”

  I nodded.

  “Well, he’s been getting worse every day. His memory is completely shot. He has trouble even remembering where he is, who he is. It used to be random spells that would last minutes, once or twice a week, but now he can barely make it through the day without one of his episodes. I don’t know what to do. This morning, he didn’t even recognize me, and I had to force him back in bed because he was adamant that he had to attend an important meeting at work.”Her voice cracked at the end, and she trailed off.

  “I’m so sorry, Meredith. I know Alzheimer’s can be a bitch.”

  “Thanks, Cam. I just wish I knew what to do. I feel powerless like I’m supposed to sit there and watch my husband just waste away in front of my very eyes.”

  “What do the doctors say?”

  Meredith shook her head. “At this point, all they talk about is keeping Wyatt comfortable. And I know exactly what that means.”

  I tried to picture Wyatt in a home. It wasn’t a very pretty picture.

  “Anyway, that’s not why I wanted to see you, Cam.”

  “Okay?”

  “As you know, Wyatt has personally handled a lot of things in the company over the years, most of which he should have delegated. Now, I’m trying to get him to stay at home, so we’re going to have to take on some of his duties ourselves.”

  “Of course, yeah.”

  “As you know, the annual company retreat is in just over a week. Wyatt was actually very fond of it. He used to say it was the most important event in the year, because it helped motivate the staff, and if the staff was happy, the company would always be successful.”

  It was true; over the years, the company retreat had gone from the little team-building exercise we had to endure once a year to this huge event everyone looked forward to. Its theme changed every year, but it was always fun, and Wyatt usually spared no expense on it.

  “I need you to take over for him this year,” Meredith went on. “I know it’s short notice, and I really wish we had planned this earlier, but here we are. You’re just going to have to do your best in the time left.”

  “Had he worked on it at all?” I asked.

  “Even if he had, it would be almost impossible to get it out of him. It’s probably best to assume you’re working from a blank slate.”

  “Okay. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Good. I knew I could count on you. There’s one more thing I need your help with before you go.”

  “Yeah?”

  “This one is more personal. As you know, I usually handle the new hires in the department, and I’m supposed to be meeting a young lady we just hired. You know, show her around, take her through a brief orientation, get her settled in… But I have to get back home and take care of Wyatt, so I need you to handle this for me, too.”

  “Uh, I don’t know, Meredith, I’ve never really…”

  “You were new once, right? Just remember your own orientation, and then do just that. All you really have to do is take her through the company policies, show her to her office, and then HR will take it from there. I would reschedule, but she was supposed to report at nine, and I don’t think I can.”

  “Who is this, anyway?” I asked. “I didn’t know we were hiring.”

  “She is part of the new editorial team I’m putting together. We’re hoping to create an entirely new digital archive, and she was one of the first people who interviewed. Brilliant woman, I think she’ll fit in perfectly.”

  “Okay,” I said. “Orientation. Got it. Is there anything else? Someone you want me to fire for you, perhaps?”

  Meredith smiled, but only for a second. The stress lines returned to her face almost instantly.“As a matter of fact, there is. I’m telling you this in confidence, Cam, because I trust you, okay? This whole thing with Wyatt means there’s going to be a shake-up in the company. I can’t reveal any details yet, but the board is looking to fill Wyatt’s position with someone from within the company, someone who knows how we run, someone who has the potential to carry out Wyatt’s vision. Nothing is set in stone, of course, but I want you to know that I’ve recommended you for the job.”

  I stared at her for a long time, waiting for the other shoe to drop.“What?”

  “I think you’d be perfect for it. You’ve been with us for over ten years. You know the company in and out, and everyone loves you. Personally, I think it’s a no-brainer. So, this company retreat, it isn’t just any old event; it’s also a chance for you to show your leadership, get the staff behind you.”

  “I don’t know what to say, Meredith, really.”

  “Then don’t say anything,” she said, getting up and gathering her things. “Just knock the damn thing out of the park, and we’ll see what happens.”She picked out a folder from the pile she was clutching and handed it to me.“Don’t forget. New hire. Probably waiting in the lobby.”She gave me a final wink, and then she turned and left.

  I checked my watch and cursed under my breath. It was five minutes past n
ine. I got to my feet and rushed out the door. I shouldered past several people, leaving a trail of angry protests along the way. I tried to remember my own orientation, but it was mostly hazy. I couldn’t even recall who had received me, but I knew it was a surly old man with wobbly chins and a less-than-sunny disposition.

  Keep it simple, I told myself. Just give her a quick tour, dump her at her desk, and be on your way. I had a lot of work to do if the retreat was to have a chance of success. I stepped into the lobby and looked around, then realized I had no idea who I was looking for. I flipped the folder open and scanned the first page. The name jumped out at me first. I read and reread it, wondering if this was my brain playing more tricks on me. I looked up, my eyes scanning the room. And then I saw her. Her hair was different; the wild curls straightened out and slicked back neatly. But it was definitely her. Big green eyes. Charming smile. It was Yvette.

  Chapter 5

  Yvette

  “What are you doing here?” I asked getting to my feet and walking over to him. He looked like he had seen a ghost. I was pretty sure I had the exact same expression.

  “Uh, I would ask you the same question, but seeing as I’ve been sent to welcome our newest employee…”

  “Our employee? As in you work here?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “You’re right,” Cam said, adopting his sarcastic persona. “This is all part of an elaborate prank I’m playing on you. Next, I’m going to give you a tour of the office, then show you to your desk.”

  The minute he said the word ‘tour,’ my mind went into overdrive, and I was suddenly back in his living room, pinned to the wall next to his door while he shoved his tongue down my throat. That was supposed to have been a tour, too.

  “Seriously, though,” I said. “You work here?”

  Cam shook his head in disbelief. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, from which he drew out a card and handed it to me.

  Cameron Palmer

  Managing Editor

  Penguin Publishing

  “That is such a wild coincidence,” I said.

  “You’re telling me,” he said. “I mean, what are the chances? You move in next to me, and then a few days later, you start a job at my company?”

  “Dear God, I hope you’re not my boss,” I said without thinking. I flinched, but Cam only laughed.

  “What’s the problem?” he asked. “You’re worried I’ll ride you too hard?”

  I couldn’t believe his audacity. I couldn’t believe he would do that here. And I couldn’t believe how fast the blood rushed to my labia.

  “Stop!” I admonished him, looking around for any spectators.

  Cam grinned. “Again, that is. Ride you too hard again.”

  Now I was positively blushing. I took a step back from him, worried that he would grab me and kiss me again because that was exactly the kind of impulsive thing Cameron would do. And I wasn’t sure I would hate it too much if he did.

  “Okay, okay,” he said, clearly noticing my discomfort. “I’m just trying to wrap my head around all this. When did you apply for this job?”

  “A couple of weeks ago.”

  “Wait, is that why you moved here?”

  “Yeah, I’m from Rockford. I saw this job posting, and I applied with the usual skepticism. I’ve always wanted to work in publishing, so when I was told I got the job, it was a dream come true. I had to move.”

  “Wow.”

  I knew what he was thinking because I was thinking about it too. How had we seen each other naked but not had a basic conversation about ourselves and our lives? But I knew the answer as soon as the question popped into my head; it was the same reason Cam could flirt with me in a public lobby, and my body responded immediately.

  A tall, skinny man walked past us, and Cam greeted him. It seemed to jog his senses, reminding him of what he was supposed to be doing.“Come on,” he said to me. I saw his hand twitch and start to reach for mine, and I was reminded of him doing the exact same thing as he led me into his bedroom. Focus, Vee. Focus. At the last moment, though, he froze, and the hand fell limp at his side.

  I fell into step behind him as he walked into the office. I listened passively as he pointed out important areas, stopping every once in a while to say hi to someone or sign something. Clearly, he was an important figure at the company. I didn’t understand why he had been saddled with me, though. This didn’t seem like something that would be in his job description.

  “And this,” he announced, ushering me into a large room and jogging me back to the present. “This is my office.”

  He waved me inside, eagerly showing off the office. I could see why; it was large and extremely well-furnished. It was both bigger than my living room and better decorated. He had a full set of leather seats, a large shelf filled with a dizzying array of books, a small drinks table in one corner of the room, and in the other, a huge mahogany desk. Worse, there was a stunning view of the city out the window behind the desk.

  “This is standard, right?” I asked. “I get an office like this too?”

  “You’re lucky you get an office,” Cam said. “When I was starting out, I had to share a desk with three other interns. Three!”

  “Yeah, but I’m not an intern,” I said, smiling sweetly.

  “So, I hear,” he said. “You’re the genius editor who’s going to revolutionize our ancient department.”

  “Oh, you’ve heard about me?”

  “Without knowing I was hearing about you. Does that make sense?”

  “I think so…”

  “Anyway, congratulations, Yvette. I’m sorry I didn’t ask, but I’m glad you’re here.”He sounded earnest, and it was a little uncharacteristic.

  “Thanks,” I said. “Now, are you going to show me my office or what?”

  “Right. Right. Before that, I’m supposed to give you this brief on what the company does, our policies and guidelines, and all that. There’s a couple of style books you’re supposed to read, and… let me see… oh, yeah, you’re supposed to buy everyone drinks after work tonight.”

  “What?”

  “Long story. It’s kind of our hazing ritual that the newest employee has to get everyone drunk, which is the fastest way to get to know people around here.”

  “Okay…”

  “Hey, I don’t make the rules.”

  “Will you be there?”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  The rest of the tour was uneventful. It was mostly my fault, though; I was distracted all through it, even as Cam was trying to break down where each department was and how they interacted with each other. I told myself I would figure it out eventually, ideally when Cam wasn’t hovering over me, or throwing suggestive looks at me in the middle of innocent sentences.

  Penguin Publishing was one of the largest publishing houses in the country, and it certainly seemed like it. This was only my second ever job out of school, and already it dwarfed my last job in every aspect. It was larger, more complex, like a living organism fueled by a thousand moving parts. It was inspiring and terrifying all at once.

  Cam finally pushed me into a small office in the corner of the second floor and declared proudly that it was my new home.

  “It’s not much,” he said, “but everyone has to start somewhere, you know?”

  “I love it,” I said in earnest.

  True, it wasn’t as big as Cam’s, or as luxurious, but it was a little removed from the rest of the office. It seemed like the kind of place I could disappear to or use as a hideaway. I would have no problem getting my work done here.

  “You know the best thing about it, though?” Cam asked.

  I shook my head.

  It happened so fast. I heard rather than saw the door slam shut, then a flash of blurred motion, and then I was being pushed onto the desk and strong hands were sliding around my waist. Cam’s lips crushed against mine, hungry and eager and familiar.


  It was like something woke up inside me, like that touch, the feel of him, was a sensation I had been craving without knowing. A voice in the back of my head popped up, reminding me of where I was and that this was inappropriate. But Cam tasted so good, and he smelled wonderful, and I had missed the fiery exuberance of his kiss and the intoxicating feel of his hands on me. So, I closed my eyes, and I let him kiss me, and boy did he kiss me.

  Everything seemed to dim; sound and sight, and all that was left was the magic of that moment. Cam’s hands were on my back, and then they were on my ass, and then they had somehow found the soft skin of my thighs, and I was panting from the effort of standing up, from the agony of keeping my legs pressed together.

  He lifted me in one fluid motion, and I felt my thighs settle on the cold wood of the desk. His hands were fumbling with the buttons of my blouse, so clumsily that they kept brushing past my breasts and agitating my already hardened nipples. Or maybe it wasn’t so clumsy after all. Maybe he knew what to do to get me going. I couldn’t argue that fact; in a few short minutes, he had rendered me wet and needy.

  I didn’t know how he unbuttoned the blouse, but the next moment, his hands were sneaking into my bra, and that woke me up. My eyes flew open, and I broke the kiss and pulled away from him. I was panting as I jumped off the desk and stepped away from him. I walked over to the window and threw it open, desperate for some air.

  “I’m sorry,” Cam was saying. “You just looked so damn sexy in that skirt; I couldn’t help myself.”

  I loved the rush I got when he said things like that. And yet…“We can’t do this,” I said, still breathing heavily.