The Unreal Boyfriend

by Miranda P. Charles

  “Just water will be great, thank you.”

  She walked towards the couches, looking around. The place was just as impressive inside as it was on the outside. Her mother should enjoy cleaning around here, if she got the job.

  She sat down, back straight. Much as she’d love to take a closer look at the displayed items, she didn’t want to be caught being too comfortable or curious, especially when she had no idea what the house owner was like. He was clearly considerate, though, having thought of her while he kept her mum in the interview room, wherever it was.

  Evelyn, the housekeeper, brought her a glass of water, then left her just as quickly as she came. She’d looked friendly enough, smiling brightly at Bernadette, but Evelyn hadn’t talked at all.

  Bernadette might have to coach her mother a little bit if she started work here. June would have to learn to have a filter and not to be too much of a gossip.

  She sipped her water, letting herself relax a little. No one else approached her for a good ten minutes until she heard voices coming from down the hallway.

  “Here she is,” June said brightly when she caught sight of Bernadette.

  Bernadette stood up, smiling at the distinguished-looking man, probably in his late-fifties.

  “Bernadette, thank you for waiting for your mother,” the man said, hurrying to her with hand held out in front of him. “I’m Ross Anton.”

  “No problems at all, Mr. Anton,” she answered, shaking the man’s hand.

  “Your mother’s very chatty,” Ross said with a grin. “I had fun interviewing her.”

  Bernadette let out a chuckle, unsure whether her mother’s talkativeness was a good or bad thing for her work prospects.

  “I think June will be a great addition to my household staff,” Ross started, “but there’s one problem.”

  Bernadette glanced at her mother, who was looking at her with wide, pleading eyes.

  “She doesn’t have a car,” Ross said. “I hold big parties every two months, and they usually finish very late into the night, when bus services are no longer running in the area. It’s not a deal breaker, of course, but it’ll be cheaper for me to reimburse the cost of petrol rather than the cost of taxis, so I might have to keep interviewing. I hate having to worry about how my staff are getting home when I already have to do that for my intoxicated guests,” he added with a laugh.

  Bernadette’s mind whirled with a solution to the problem. She did want her mother to get this job, and June was very close, by the sounds of it. “She can borrow my car if I don’t need it. Or I can always pick her up during those times you have the parties.”

  “Oh, thank you, Bernadette,” June said, almost hopping in place.

  Ross smiled. “That’s very nice of you to do that for your mother.”

  “It’s not a big deal for me, especially since the late nights would only be once every two months.”

  “Excellent,” Ross said.

  “Does that mean I get the job?” June asked, grinning at Ross hopefully. “Like I said earlier, this will be my first in a long time, so I’m very enthusiastic. I’ll be doing everything I can to impress you so you’ll keep me and Lawrence employed.”

  Ross laughed. “I do like a person who’s not afraid of selling themselves. But there’s one last hurdle.”

  Bernadette held her breath. Her mother was almost there!

  “I get every one of my staff to sign an NDA.”

  “NDA?” June asked. “What’s that?”

  “Non-disclosure agreement. As you will be coming and going inside my homes, you will be seeing plenty of people, some of whom are massive superstars.”

  “Wow,” murmured June.

  “You might also hear some conversations that are private and commercially sensitive. Remember that my parties are networking events, so business matters that can’t be blabbed around to other people are often discussed. I’m also a very private person. I don’t like any of my staff talking about me to absolutely anyone—not about my houses or what’s in them, not about what time I get up in the morning, not about who I spent the night with, not about what I ate for dinner. You can’t even tell anyone my name.”

  “Oh,” June said, confused.

  “I’ve had people boast to others about working for me. Since I’m quite well-known because of my events, they were cajoled and pressured to give information about me and my guests. I’d rather not have my staff be subjected to that kind of pressure, because some of them simply can’t take it. So if anybody asks where you work, I’d rather you not answer. If you really must, make up a fake name. Now, if you can’t follow any of those rules, you better tell me now because it just won’t work. I’m a very generous boss. I pay more than double the required rates to my staff—”

  June made a little clap with her hands, then, realising what she’d done, dropped her arms to her sides and stood as straight as a rod.

  Bernadette suppressed a sigh, but to her relief, Ross simply chuckled.

  “As I was saying,” Ross said, “I pay more than double the required rates. But I demand complete compliance with the NDA. If you break it—and I guarantee you I will know, because I’d have people knocking on my door to demand things—not only would you get instantly dismissed, I will also make it a point to tell any future employer of yours that you can’t be trusted. Understand?”

  June nodded slowly. “Can I talk to Lawrence, since he’s also your employee?”

  “Yeah, sure. You’d be seeing similar things anyway.”

  “Great! But I can’t tell Bernadette anything?”

  “It’s okay,” Bernadette said hastily.

  “Well,” Ross said. “That’s actually part of the hurdle.”

  Bernadette’s brows furrowed.

  “Since you’ll be picking up your mother sometimes, Bernadette, you’ll also be seeing people come and go to my events. I imagine that you’ll be coming inside for a while, too, like you did tonight, so you might hear things as well.”

  “I’m happy to wait outside, if that’s a problem.”

  “Yes, she’s happy to wait outside,” said June.

  Ross raised an eyebrow at Bernadette. “Even in the dead of winter? I wouldn’t want you to sit out there in the cold if June was running late. What I’m saying is you’ll be more than welcome to come in and wait for her inside if you also sign an NDA.”

  “Oh, sure. That’s not a problem at all.” If anyone would have a hard time keeping her mouth shut, it was her mother, not her.

  “Good,” Ross said. “Then that means your mother can talk to you about her job as one of my housekeepers.”

  “The job is mine?” June asked breathlessly.

  “Yes, if you accept all the conditions.”

  “Yes, thank you!” June said, grabbing Ross’s right hand to shake it vigorously. “I accept everything wholeheartedly. I love talking, as Bernadette would attest to. But for more than double the required rates, I’ll be as quiet as a mouse regarding everything about you.”

  Ross laughed. “I’m glad to hear that. Well, shall we go sign the NDA and make it official?”

  “Yes, please,” June said excitedly.

  Ross motioned for them to follow him.

  June grabbed Bernadette’s arm as they turned to a hallway off the main corridor. “Thank you, Bernadette, thank you, thank you,” she whispered.

  “No worries, Mum,” she whispered back, touched that June was recognising her assistance in this matter. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this appreciated by her mother.

  Ross opened a door and gestured for them to go in first.

  Bernadette’s mouth dropped open as she walked into what appeared to be Ross’s home office. Apart from the desk in the middle of the room, there was an extra-long side table filled with vases, bowls, figurines and other items. There was even a wooden statue of a long-faced, short-bodied being standing in a corner.

  But her gaze was captured by the big painting on the wall right behind Ross’s large desk
. It was of a well-built—she’d even say hunky—man with his back to the viewer, his head turned as if he was starting to look over his shoulder. It was a potent image, strikingly beautiful, and Bernadette almost expected him to fully turn around and catch her gaping.

  “Nice, huh?” Ross said, gesturing for her to take a seat.

  Bernadette took the chair next to June. “Yes, it’s… compelling.”

  Ross smiled—which looked more like a smirk. “Okay, so I have NDAs ready to be signed here. Have a read, then write your names and addresses below, and sign and date it.”

  Bernadette started reading the document while June simply took the pen Ross had offered and signed her copy.

  It was exactly as Ross had explained, so Bernadette also completed hers.

  “Should I give you my bank account details?” June asked.

  “I pay cash,” Ross said, “unless you want a direct deposit.”

  “Oh, cash would be great, thank you.”

  “And remember.” Ross looked pointedly at both of them. “You haven’t seen this room, you haven’t seen this house, you haven’t even been to Ross Anton’s home. But you’ve been to an interview with some other person, and it’s up to you to make up whatever story you want.”

  “Understood, Mr… Gr… Grass?… Grav?… Graham!” June said jubilantly. “Mr. John Graham!”

  Bernadette laughed along with Ross Anton. Her mother was continuing to surprise her. June was turning out to be a different person from the angry, argumentative woman Bernadette had been living with. Perhaps June had just needed an injection of happiness and confidence in her life?

  Well, she was grateful for Lawrence and this generous, albeit ultra-secretive, man in front of her for giving her mother a new lease on life.

  Gosh, she’d love to share this news with Derek.

  Unfortunately, she couldn’t say much to him other than mention June getting a new job.

  Chapter 9

  Derek balanced the big gift-wrapped box he was carrying on one arm and slipped his other arm around Bernadette’s waist. While they’d told Tristan and Paige about their new relationship, their best friends had left it to them to let the rest of the gang know. Derek couldn’t wait to see their faces when they arrived at Carter and Cassie’s for Chelsea’s third birthday party.

  “Hey,” he said to Bernadette.

  Bernadette turned her head to him, and he gave her a loud peck on the lips.

  Bernadette raised her brows. “What?”

  “What what?” he said. “I just wanted to kiss you.”

  Bernadette grinned, dipping her head on his shoulder.

  He held her closer as they walked, feeling all kinds of happy. To think that he hadn’t been able to show his feelings for his Bernie for so many group gatherings; he couldn’t believe that today, he finally could.

  They rang the bell and the door was opened by Cassie, whose ready smile turned to surprise. “Are you still being followed by that pap?” she whispered.

  Feeling playful, Derek made a face. “Yeah.”

  Bernadette giggled, but didn’t contradict him.

  They went inside to the big family room at the back, still with their arms around each other.

  “Hey!” Tristan said. “The new lovebirds have arrived.”

  “The pap’s out there,” Cassie said.

  Carter frowned. “Have they followed you?”

  “No,” Bernadette said, hugging Chelsea and giving her her present. “Derek was just teasing Cass.”

  “Auntie Bernie, can I open it now?” whispered the birthday girl, flanked by her playmates, who were as eager to see what Chelsea was getting.

  “I don’t know, sweetie. What does your mum say?”

  “Later, darling,” Cassie answered. “We have to be ready with the cameras so we can take photos with everybody while you’re opening your presents. After lunch, okay? We’re eating soon.”

  “Why do we have to eat all the time?” Chelsea said, pouting.

  “You want some birthday cake, don’t you?” Carter asked.

  Chelsea slowly nodded her head.

  “Well, that’s dessert, and you know you have to have proper food first before you can have dessert.”

  “I ate proper food already, Uncle Carter,” Nate said. “Can I have cake?”

  “I didn’t see you eat yet,” Julian contended.

  “At home!” answered Nate.

  “That was breakfast,” Natasha said to her son. “We’re going to have lunch soon.”

  “No one ate lunch yet,” Lara said to her playmates. “Remember we also ate lunch before we ate my birthday cake?”

  “But I just had a hot dog!” Chelsea said.

  “That’s not enough for lunch,” Cassie said. “You can all have lunch now, if you want to have the cake soon.”

  “But we’re still building that.” Julian pointed to the Lego pieces scattered on a play mat.

  Derek chuckled, enjoying the kids’ antics. He sat on a chair and pulled Bernadette to his lap.

  The adults’ heads whipped towards them.

  “I don’t see a pap inside my house,” Carter said, amused.

  “No,” Derek said, tightening his arms around Bernadette and kissing her shoulder.

  Bernadette elbowed him, but didn’t get up.

  “Holly said she couldn’t come…” Cassie said slowly. “But she didn’t tell me…”

  Derek sighed. Better get things straight with these guys. “Holly and I have broken up.”

  There was a few seconds’ pause, before everyone cried in jubilation, high-fiving each other.

  Derek looked at Bernadette and her eyes were misting, touched by the clear message conveyed by their friends’ reactions.

  “Not that we were against Holly, mind you,” Paige said.

  “But we’ve always wanted you two to end up together,” Marilyn added.

  Bernadette chuckled. “I know how sorry you guys have felt for me for so long.”

  “Finally, hey?” Geri said with a wide grin, cradling her four-month-old Sienna, who’d woken up from the adults’ noise.

  Brad and Erin arrived with their daughter, Aimee, extending the jubilation regarding Derek and Bernadette’s news.

  Soon, lunch was happening and Tristan sat himself next to Derek.

  “It was like you announced your engagement,” Tristan teased.

  Derek snorted. “Don’t get any ideas. We only just started dating.”

  “So how did Holly take it?”

  “She was fine. I guess we both saw it coming. Our relationship wasn’t going anywhere.”

  “And it took Bernie to wake you up to that fact, huh?”

  “Yeah,” he agreed, casually pushing the cuff of his long-sleeved shirt up to check his Apple Watch that was tapping him. Oh, shit. He’d been meaning to change Holly’s name on his phone, and he kept on continuing to forget.

  “So why is Holly still calling you?” Tristan whispered, frowning.

  Derek cancelled the call, trying to look unconcerned. “There’s a few bits and pieces that we still haven’t picked up from each other’s places. She probably wants to know when we can do it.”

  “You better get that done ASAP. I don’t know if Bernie’s the jealous type, but problems are usually guaranteed when you don’t make a clean break with an ex.”

  “I know. Don’t mention this to Bernie, okay? I just don’t want her to misinterpret things.”

  Tristan patted his shoulder. “Of course I won’t. But you better not get Bernie angry, or my wife will hear about it and she’ll complain to me. Then I’d have to give you a good talking-to.”

  He chuckled. “Unlikely to happen.” And he bloody hoped so. He and Holly had to be careful with their communication with each other, or their longed-for relationships with their respective partners would undeniably suffer.

  What a mess. But then again, he shouldn’t complain. Things could be worse.

  “Hey, Derek,” Brad said, joining them with a plate filled w
ith food. “I’ve been meaning to mention something to you.”

  “Yeah?”

  Brad looked around, seeming to check that Bernadette wasn’t nearby. “I got an invitation to attend a business networking meeting hosted by Ross Anton. Isn’t he a partner in Holly’s parents’ business?”

  Derek exchanged glances with Tristan. His family dispute with his Uncle Ross had been ongoing since he was a child, so that not many people knew he was related to the man. He’d never found it necessary to mention a relative that he and his parents never got along with. So out of all his friends, only Tristan knew about his relationship to Ross.

  “Yes, he is. Will you be attending?”

  “Not on this occasion. Erin’s parents are celebrating a wedding anniversary. But I probably will in the future if I get invited again.”

  “When you do, could you let me know first?”

  “Sure. There’s no problem with me rubbing shoulders or working with Holly’s parents’ business partner, is there?”

  “No, of course not. It’s business. I’d just appreciate it if you let me know first. Holly goes to Ross Anton’s events all the time.”

  “Okay. So was your breakup with Holly amicable or wha—oh, hi, Bernie,” Brad said rather guiltily.

  Derek reached for Bernadette’s hand. “Brad was just telling me he was invited to a business networking hosted by the business partner of Holly’s parents.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “I’m not going, but I might be in the future,” Brad said with an apologetic smile.

  Bernadette chuckled. “I don’t have a problem with it, Brad.”

  Brad grinned. “Thanks. Just wanted to make sure.”

  Derek felt his watch tap him again and covered it with his hand even though his shirt cuff was hiding it from sight. Damn it. He better get this. It was Holly’s first day at Ross’s Palm Beach property, and it might be important. He put his plate down and excused himself. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

  He walked to the downstairs powder room, but he could hear Nate singing the ABCs inside with Gavin, so he made his way to the guest room, which had its own en suite. He found Geri there, trying to put baby Sienna to sleep. “Sorry,” he mouthed and closed the door gently.