On His Terms (The Arrangement Series Book 1)

by Madison Quinn

  “I understand, that makes sense.”

  “Besides, it gets my brother off my ass,” he chuckles. ”My brother loves to torment me and the fact that the press is giving him ammunition is just pissing me off.”

  “I could see why,” I laugh.

  We arrive at the gala few minutes later; I’m surprised at how fast the drive went, the time really seemed to fly by once we started talking. I’m also relieved that for the most part my nerves have calmed. I’m still a little nervous as we pull around the long circular driveway but I’m less anxious than I was on the drive to Bridget’s office.

  “We’re going to get out my door, there will be press there, taking our picture as we walk in but once we are inside no press is permitted. Of course we have to worry about people taking pictures on their cell phones and selling them to tabloids…”

  “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” I try to assure him.

  “Here we go,” he takes a deep breath the moment the door opens.

  He slides across the seat before stepping out of the car, I follow, taking his offered hand to help me out. Immediately we are bombarded by the press as Nicholas is instantly recognized—cameras are flashing everywhere and I’m momentarily frozen on the spot as I try to take everything in.

  “You okay?” he whispers in my ear as he wraps an arm around my waist.

  “I’m fine,” I take a deep breath as Nicholas leads me through the crowd. We stop a couple of times for pictures but his arm remains around my waist as we stand next to each other for the press. What surprises me is that it doesn’t feel uncomfortable to have him touch me like I expected, since we are practically strangers only really met twice before this. After a few minutes, he leads me to a tented area where he nods to the security team at the entrance before we are permitted to enter.

  “Wow,” I gasp taking in the view in front of me. Even though I had seen a few pictures from the previous events, nothing compared to seeing the area that had been transformed in front of me. There are several tents set up on the grass with candle-lit tables under them; off in the distance a lighted fountain sprays water from a large display.

  “My parents go all-out for this every year,” Nicholas looks around almost as if he is seeing it all for the first time.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “Mr. Parker! It’s so nice to see you again,” a gentleman in a tux approaches us.

  “Mr. Jacobson, I’d like to introduce you to my date, Ms. Mackenzie Rose.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Mr. Jacobson offers his hand.

  “It’s nice to meet you as well. I understand you are doing some amazing things at the university…”

  “Yes… yes I am,” he is clearly surprised that I am aware of who he is. “Without PFSs generous support we would not be able to fund our projects, one of which is up for an award this year.”

  “Yes I read about that one. Your department patented a way to transform dirty water into drinkable water without electricity, right?”

  “Yes! We have developed a PFS funded program and have sent the pilot plans to several foreign countries, we are planning to use the proceeds to send out many more and eventually publish our findings.”

  “I believe we have a meeting in a few weeks to review the data collected so far if I’m not mistaken,” Nicholas speaks up.

  “Yes Mr. Parker, you will be meeting with our research team in two weeks. They are eager to present you with our findings thus far.”

  “Wonderful, I look forward to it. Now if you will excuse us, I see someone who is trying to get my attention.”

  “Of course, it was good to see you again Mr. Parker and to meet you, Ms. Rose.”

  For the next two hours we mingle, well mostly Nicholas mingles and I trail along, every so often contributing to a conversation when something comes up. Most of the discussions surround politics but those that don’t are focused on projects PFS is currently working on, none of which are public knowledge yet so they weren’t included in any of the reading material I found online. I don’t mind though—I’m learning more than I thought I would about the key political forces in New York.

  “Ladies and Gentleman, if you would please take your seats dinner is about to be served,” the DJ announces.

  “Please excuse us,” Nicholas tells the person he was talking to, though I had to admit that I’ve already forgotten their name.

  “You’re doing great,” he whispers so no one else can hear as he leads me to the table we were assigned.

  “Thank you.”

  “Nicholas!” A young woman jumps from the table we are approaching and runs towards him, embracing him in a hug. His arm drops from my waist so he can catch her; he twirls her around in a circle before placing her back on the floor in front of us.

  “Cara, I would like you to meet Mackenzie Rose. Kenzie, this is my younger sister, Cara,” Nicholas introduces.

  “It’s nice to meet you Cara.”

  “I love your dress!!!! It’s absolutely stunning!! You’ll have to tell me where you got it from!”

  I immediately feel at ease with Cara—she is probably the easiest going person I’ve ever spoken to. Once we are at the table, I am introduced to Nicholas’s parents, his brother and his date, Cara’s date and Nicholas’s grandparents. I desperately try to calm my nerves as I sit across from Nicholas’s parents, truly hoping I don’t do anything to screw this up. I think I’m more worried that his parents will see right through our charade than I am about the press or Nicholas’ colleagues.

  “So Kenzie, what is it you do?” Nicholas’s dad asks me.

  “I am currently working at Sweet Dreams Bakery over on-“

  “I love that place! They make best muffins, I absolutely love the apple cinnamon ones,” his mother cuts me off.

  “Well, thank you. I actually make most of the muffins and breads each morning.”

  “You do? Wow they are so good!”

  “The owner developed each recipe on her own; she has owned the shop for the last twenty years. It’s a shame that someone else is going to take it over—“

  “What do you mean take it over? ”Nicholas asks.

  “Ginny, the owner, is retiring so she has put the business up for sale. She suspects a chain place will likely purchase it but she isn’t sure yet.”

  “I hope it’s not that donut place that is around the corner from the bakery. They’re donuts taste like they are days old.”

  “Chances are they are a few days old. Most places will make large batches in advance and sell them over the next few days. Ginny insists that we make everything fresh every day—anything that doesn’t sell by the end of the day is donated to a soup kitchen.”

  “Good for her,” Nicholas’ dad smiles.

  As dinner is served, I feel much more comfortable around Nicholas’s family than when we first sat down. They are all very easy to, talk to allowing the conversation to flow easily around the table as we eat. I learn that Nicholas and his brother Austin, who works with their father at an architectural firm, are teaming up on a project to revitalize a large building downtown for a local nonprofit organization. Austin’s date is very quiet and barely says a word throughout the course of dinner. She looks like she feels very uncomfortable and out of place. Cara’s date on the other hand is very talkative and has engaged Nicholas’ dad in a debate about a recent call at a baseball game. Cara and Nicholas’s mom discuss everything that went into planning tonight’s gala and already seem to be making notes of things they want to change for next year.

  “Kenzie, would you be able to help with the dance auction? One of the girls that was supposed to help me… well let’s just say she had too much wine before dinner and needed to be taken home,” Cara asks.

  “Oh no. Of course, I’ll help out,” I agree not really sure what I’m agreeing to but I figure how bad can it be?

  “Wonderful! Thank you!” she beams.

  “You don’t have to help out,” Nicholas whispers.

  “I kno
w, it’s fine—I really don’t mind.”

  “Ladies and Gentleman, it’s time for the annual dance auction! If the ladies helping with the auction could please make their way to the stage. In a couple of minutes we will get the auction started. Gentleman get your wallets and checkbooks ready!”

  “Come on, Kenzie!” Cara grasps my hand and pulls me up before the DJ even finishes his announcement.

  “Thank you,” Nicholas mouths to me as I’m being yanked away.

  “So what do we have to do?” I ask as we wait off to the side of the small stage.

  “Nothing really. When the DJ announces your name, you walk onto the stage while he tells the audience about your wonderful qualities—“

  “What qualities?”

  “Oh you’ll see,” she giggles. “He makes up stuff about each one of us… you know: languages spoken, our careers and so on. Then he opens the bidding until the highest bidder is announced—“

  “Wait, so they’re bidding on us?”

  “Well, not on you, silly. They’re bidding on dancing with you for the first dance of the night. The winner donates his bid to New Beginnings and in return you dance with him for the first dance. This is our biggest fund raiser of the evening.”

  “Really?”

  “Yup, you would be surprised how much money men are willing to spend to dance with their date or someone that they’ve had an eye on.”

  I can’t help but feel some regret that I agreed to help Cara with this auction. How will it look if someone takes a picture of me, Nicholas’ date, dancing with another man tonight? I could easily see this backfiring on him if the press were to get ahold of pictures from the auction; they would rip him apart, even more than they already have, I’m sure. To prevent that from happening, I’m essentially leaving Nicholas no choice but to spend even more money tonight by bidding on me.

  “Don’t look so worried; Nicholas will win the auction for you,” Cara tries to reassure me, obviously picking up on my nervousness.

  “I hope so,” I say more to myself than to her.

  “I know so. Trust me, I know Nicholas—there’s no way he would let another man dance with you. He may have brought other women to these things in the past, but you’re the only one he hasn’t been able to keep his eyes off of.”

  “I’m sure that’s not true,” I disagree.

  “We’re going to start our auction off tonight with the beautiful Ms. Cara Parker… ”

  I stop listening to what the DJ is making up about Cara, as she walks onto the stage and my nerves kick in full force. I can’t see Nicholas from where I’m standing near the stage although even if I could see him I don’t know that it would help me feel better at all. I’ll have to hope that Cara is right, that he will ensure he wins the auction for my first dance so there won’t be a controversy in the press tomorrow if someone sells pictures of me with another guy.

  “And the winning bid is eleven thousand dollars!” the DJ announces as Cara comes off the stage pouting.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  “Next up is the lovely Ms. Mackenzie Rose,” the DJ calls me before I can find out from Cara why she looks upset. “Mackenzie is a world renowned architect, having designed some of the most famous sites around the world. She enjoys ballet, the opera and Broadway shows… ”

  I slowly walk across the stage as the DJ continues to ramble useless false information about me before opening the bidding up to the guests.

  “Five hundred dollars,” a voice I don’t recognize calls out.

  “Two thousand,” someone else calls out.

  “Three thousand.”

  “Five thousand,” I can’t see Nicholas but I know that was his bid.

  “Six thousand.”

  “Seven thousand,” someone counters and I cringe at the high price this is running.

  I really just want to cancel the entire auction and run off the stage, forgetting that I ever agreed to help Cara out. Had I known this would be the result, I never would have agreed to help her. I thought I would be helping count bids or helping to show auction items, having no idea that I was actually an auction item.

  “Fifteen thousand,” Nicholas’ voice is loud and firm, almost as if he is daring someone to outbid him.

  “Fifteen thousand, going once… going twice… Sold to Mr. Parker… next up we have Ms. Cindy Smith…” The DJ presents the next girl for the auction as I make my way off the stage where Nicholas is now waiting for me.

  “I’m so sorry! I had no idea… this was not what I was expecting and I didn’t—“

  “What are you apologizing for? I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun bidding on an auction here before,” Nicholas chuckles.

  “Really? I… I thought you would be mad for being put on the spot to bid on me. I was worried that someone else would outbid you and then pictures would be taken and leaked to the press which would—“

  “Kenzie, relax,” he takes my hand and leads me off to the side of the large tent where we are away from most of the guests but can still hear the DJ. “Austin and I bid every year on the auction, so I was already planning on making a donation through the first dance auction.”

  “You were?”

  “Yes, Austin and I always outbid whatever loser Cara brings to these things. We ensure that the first dance belongs to once of us: it’s been our tradition since she was old enough to participate. At first it was because she was barely a teenager and thought of a grown man who wasn’t family dancing with her was sickening…”

  “And now?”

  “Now it’s just to annoy her. We promise her every year that we won’t outbid her date and every year we do. This year Austin won the bid and will be dancing with her. You see, even if you hadn’t participated in the auction, I probably would have outbid Austin for Cara and made a donation that way.”

  “I had no idea that was what Cara meant when she asked me to help her with the auction.”

  “I know you didn’t. I wanted to warn you before the auction started but I couldn’t get away from my grandfather insisting on talking about business.”

  “I’m glad it’s over.”

  “Ladies and Gentleman it’s time for the annual first dance. Please claim your prize and bring her to the dance floor for our first dance of the evening.”

  “Well, that’s our cue,” he offers his arm and escorts me onto the dance floor. He leads us to the center of the dance floor and soon we are surrounded by eleven other couples. Out of the corner of my eye I see Cara still pouting as I’m sure she would much rather be dancing with her date.

  My hand is on Nicholas’ shoulder and his hand is on my lower back, our other hands clasped together. Once the music starts, he gracefully moves me across the dance floor in perfect harmony to the music. I’m very surprised at what a wonderful dancer he is; definitely not something I expected. When the music finally stops, he leans down and places the lightest kiss on my cheek before thanking me and leading me off the dance floor.

  The rest of the night goes well; we mingle with other guests and of course Nicholas talks a lot of business. At the end of the evening we say goodbye to his family before being escorted to our awaiting car by Carter. When we finally slide inside, I let out a heavy sigh, glad that the night is over and that for the most part I think it was a success.

  “Thank you for tonight, Kenzie. I wasn’t sure what to expect but you… I think tonight was a success.”

  Chapter 12

  Nicholas

  “Playboy Nicholas Parker, breaking his two month stance of not being photographed with a woman, brings yet another new one to an event. Nicholas Parker brought a stunning woman to the New Beginnings Gala Saturday evening, reportedly bidding $15K for her to win the first dance auction. Such a shame, as we know we won’t be seeing her again with Nicholas Parker.”

  A picture of Kenzie and myself arriving at my parents’ house for the gala is shown as I knew it would be, since for some reason the gossip sites love to report any move I make in my pers
onal life. Every day this week I have been checking the sites, looking for reports and pictures from the gala but until now hadn’t found any. It took them three days to get one up—longer than I expected. However, this is the first step in my own PR campaign to change how the media views me.

  I have plans to take Kenzie out in public, hoping the press will see us on at least a few of those occasions. Hopefully in a couple of weeks this can all be behind me and I can move on with my life. With the press off my case I will be able to focus on PFS like I need to be doing without worrying that my employees are questioning my ability. After a few weeks of being seen with Kenzie, I will maintain a contract with her but will likely only request her company for large events when it’s expected I bring a guest.

  Looking at the picture on the site, I have to admit that I’m surprised we managed to pull it off as well as we did. Kenzie was absolutely outstanding in her performance; she shocked me to hell when she started discussing farming initiatives with the president of the university. It was clear in that moment that she did her homework before that night and reinforced to me that she was taking this contract seriously. I haven’t figured her out yet… usually I get a good read on people fairly quickly, but for some reason with Kenzie, I’m having a harder time. I assumed women who did this sort of thing were only after money, which I suppose is true in Kenzie’s case. She was honest when we first met to discuss the contract that she needed the money, but I guess what surprised me was the reason she needed money. I guess I just assumed women would want it to purchase material items: a bigger house, a new car, new clothes… that sort of thing.

  “You made the sites again I see, Parker,” Alex interrupts my thoughts by barging into my office.

  “I just saw that. Damn fucking vultures can’t leave me the hell alone.”

  “The president of the shipping company is demanding a meeting with you tonight over dinner and drinks—“

  “Tonight? What the fuck Alex?!”