Pretending For Mr. Parker (Big City Billionaires Book 3)

by Coco Miller

  “I see you eyeing my fiancee,” I awkwardly blurt out like a fourteen year old kid.

  Fox’s eyes immediately meet mine once again, and then Erika’s head snaps up.

  “Your fiancee?” he asks incredulously as a smarmy smile spreads across his face.

  I keep my eyes on Erika’s as I speak again. “Yes, my fiancee.”

  Fox isn’t the only one shocked. The whole table sits dumbfounded by the news. I haven’t told anyone yet. We’ve barely talked about it ourselves since we made the agreement, so I can understand the surprise, especially because I have never given any inclination that I would date one of employees much less marry one. Yet here we are.

  I hold my hand out, and Erika rises from her chair, joining me on my side of the table. She expertly follows my lead.

  “Nice to meet you, sir,” she says shaking Fox’s hand.

  His eyes roam all over her body, and I know what he is thinking. Erika leaves a lasting first impression. He wants her the same way I do. What man wouldn’t?

  “Nice to meet you as well.”

  He is still holding her hand, and I can tell that he is looking for a ring. Dammit, I should have given it to her already. What was I waiting for?

  The way Fox’s hands seem to linger on her skin makes me want to throttle him. He is such a piece of shit.

  After he finally leaves, I pay the bill, and everyone starts to make their way home to their families. I hang back, watching everyone say their goodbyes. Bennett whispers something in my ear and takes his leave as well. Only Erika remains. So after everyone else has gone, she and I sit at the table in silence.

  She lifts her head and meets my gaze. “Would you like to go for a walk?” she asks. Surprised by the request, I agree as we make our way outside.

  The night was young and the streets are humming with excitement as people rush around. The city is alive with a certain kind of magic that only bounces through the night air. We are a few blocks away from the restaurant when Erika turns her hypnotizing, deep set eyes toward me.

  “Anywhere you’d like to go?” she asks.

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “I want to take you to one of my favorite places.” She holds out her hand, and I grab it as fast as I can. We meander through the streets, taking our time as we talk.

  “So, Chance, how did you start Parker Enterprises?”

  “I never went to college,” I say as her eyes grew big. She raises her hand to her mouth and looks to me.

  “It doesn’t say that in your Wikipedia.”

  “You know those things are human generated, right?” I laugh. “They are often wrong.”

  “Point taken. I’m just surprised you aren’t Ivy League business school educated. You’re so successful.”

  “I worked my ass off to get where I am today. I saved and saved until I got my first contract with a military-based company and then designed a small little handgun for them. From there, it skyrocketed.” I smile as we continue walking. She dropped my hand earlier, but I’m desperate to hold it again. “What about you?”

  “From an early age I’ve always been able to sell things to people. So, when I went to college, marketing seemed like the obvious choice. Although, I’ll let you in on a secret.”

  “What’s that?” I smile at her.

  “When I was young, I always wanted to be an astronaut.”

  “Why didn’t you do it?” She stops walking and stares up at me.

  “I kind of developed a fear of flying.”

  “But flying is easy.”

  “Well, then there’s the math aspect, as well. Not my best subject by far.”

  “But you still seemed to get a marketing degree. That’s impressive.”

  “Umm, yeah.”

  We continue walking as the night air grows warm. We make our way to the center of the city by a huge park built around a lake. She breaks into a run and I jog behind her to the entrance, trying to keep up. Suddenly, she flings off her shoes at the lake’s edge.

  “Want to go swimming?” She turns to face me with a wicked smile.

  “Swimming? Seriously?” I glance around the empty park. The moon was big in the sky, its reflection shining bright off the water.

  “Sure! Come on. You have to live a little, Chance.” She sticks her toes in the water then throws off her dress and wades deeper into the lake.

  I glance around again, as I wasn’t sure how much clothing to take off, then I throw off my coat and yank at my tie. As I undo the first button on my shirt, Erika calls to me. “Come on! The water feels wonderful.”

  She floats effortlessly to the rhythm of her own serenity, her hair fanning out atop the water. Without thought or reason I undress down to my boxers and stand at the lake’s edge. The frigid water brushes my toes and my brain clouds, as I paddle into the depths of the lake.

  As soon as I am waist deep, I dunk my head under and swim toward her. She laughs as I draw near.

  “Doesn’t this feel amazing?” She circles around me.

  The moon glistens off the tiny water droplets clinging to her eyelashes. She was beautiful with her wet hair slicked back. I wrap my arms around her and she laughs, splashing water in my eyes, which makes me release my hold.

  “It’s freezing,” I say.

  As the thought of me never being able to touch her again hits me, I sink into the water. It envelops me, and I start sinking to the bottom. Lower and lower my body drifts, all the way to the lake floor; the only sound was my heartbeat muffled by water. I focus all of my attention on the slow rhythmic sound as my lungs burned for air.

  Then I hear something.

  It is almost as if I could hear Erika calling to me from above the water. I couldn’t make out her words, but I sprang from the lake bed. I shot up above the water and gasped for air as I threw out my arms.

  Oblivious and carefree, she floats on her back, the moonlight dancing off her perfect figure. All was silent, the only sounds coming from her lapping around in the water.

  “Outside of the temperature, isn’t it beautiful here?” she asks.

  “It’s perfect.”

  You’re perfect I think to myself.

  After swimming around in the lake a while, we make our way out, dress, and then sit on the edge of the water as we air dry.

  “Do you do these kinds of impromptu things often?” I ask her.

  “I try to. There was a time I would have never just jumped in the water. It takes a lot of work to get my hair looking like it does, but sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind. I love the water. I always have. Avoiding it would only be punishing myself, and that’s no way to live.”

  “Wise words,” I say. “So, tell me more about yourself, Erika.” I sit next to her, leaning on my hands behind me. She rocks forward and grabs both knees.

  “Not much to tell really,” she says as she turns to face me.

  “Where did you go to college?”

  “In the city.”

  Her answers were brief and didn’t reveal much, in fact I almost got the impression she didn’t like talking about herself.

  “Why is this place your most favorite place?” I sit up and brush my hands down my pants.

  “It’s magical, isn’t it?” She turns to me and smiles.

  “It is, but why is it magical to you?” I returned her smile and gazed into her soul-scorching eyes.

  “Someone very special used to take me here.” She drops her chin and rests it on her knees.

  I want to ask who, but she changes the subject.

  “So where to now?” she asks, as she jumps to her feet.

  “Time for you to see my most favorite place.” I stand from my spot and brushed my pants free of debris and sand.

  We walk out of the park, taking in the light warm breeze. The air rushes through her hair, which has magically curled into small ringlets, blowing small pieces into her face.

  She should wear her hair like this more often. It seems softer and less “done”. She brus
hes a few of them out of her face as we stroll together.

  “I have something for you first.” I pull out the ring. I feel like I should get down on one knee, because that’s how I was raised, but this was a business deal. It isn’t real. So I treat it like business.

  I open the box and show her the five-karat diamond that Anna picked out.

  “Oh my God!” she exclaims. “It’s huge!”

  I take it out of the box and slide it along her ring finger.

  “It fits though. I took a guess.” I lie.

  She smiles, her eyes never leaving the ring. “It’s...it’s beautiful.”

  So are you.

  Chapter Eight

  A few blocks later, we are on the outskirts of the freeway. We walk onto a large brick bridge that crosses over it. Once in the middle, I stop and place my hands on the railings to watch the cars whiz by at super speeds, the night air brushing against my cheeks. Erika stands beside me in silence as the cars race by beneath us.

  After a moment, she turns to me and says, “I can see why this is your favorite spot. The cars rushing underneath you makes you feel powerful up here. It’s so exhilarating.”

  “Yeah,” I breathe heavily.

  I cross the remainder of the bridge and walk down to the interstate below. In the late hours of the night, the road is less clogged with traffic, and I feel myself being pulled to the edge of the road. I cross the road when the traffic dies down, and when I reach the middle median–I wait. Erika calls to me from the bridge to come back to safety, but I feel rooted to the spot.

  The median is small with no grass, just a few yellow lines that separate the directions of traffic. I stand on it as the traffic picks up, then close my eyes and lift my arms along my sides until they were straight out. Looking like Jesus on a cross, I tilt my head to the sky and let the cars fly by me.

  Frozen to the spot, I can no longer hear Erika screaming at me to return to safety. The rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins doubles every time a car races by.

  I feel alive.

  I feel free.

  No one can touch me here.

  I inhale a deep breath as I open my eyes to the deep sky. Charcoal and indigo fill the night air. Lowering my head, I watch as taxicab after taxicab swoosh by me.

  I turn my head to see Erika on the shoulder of the interstate, waving her hands frantically. I smile at her; she’s looking at me as if I’ve lost my mind. Honestly I feel as though I have lost my mind.

  I have been searching for something for so long yet never feeling like I was any closer to getting it. I couldn’t put my finger on what was missing in my life, but looking at her face right now, I know it has something to do with Erika.

  When the traffic lets up again, I cross back to where she stands with her arms crossed over her chest and a scowl across her face.

  “Oh my God, why?!” She paces back and forth while I stand there inspecting her reaction.

  “Were you worried?” I ask.

  She throws her right hand and makes contact with my shoulder.

  “I should pop you in your mouth like my mother used to do me. Don’t ever do something that stupid ever again, you understand?”

  “Okay, okay.” I say laughing as I swat my hand toward her playfully.

  “I’m serious, Chance. You scared me.” She tries to swat my shoulder again as I block her movement and grab her hand.

  All the laughter disintegrates as I stare into her eyes. An unwelcome, piercing cold wind snaps between us as her eyes filled with seriousness.

  She stands before me and desire leaps out of every pore of my body. I still hold her hand suspended in the air, gripping her wrist. My muscles want to wrap her in my arms and hold her close. I savor the look in her eyes as she lifts her lips into a slow smile.

  “I’m sorry, Erika. I won’t let it happen again,” I whisper against the cool breeze. Adrenaline rocks my system as I gaze at her slightly parted lips. She closes her eyes, and I lean closer to her. I wanted to taste her, to feel her lips against mine. Just once. I move my head closer to hers, and just as I am about to brush my lips against hers, she turns her head.

  “Chance, please. We can’t do this,” she says breathily. “It might complicate our arrangement.”

  I drop my hands from hers and stand upright. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I think we should be heading back.”

  Not wanting the night to end but knowing it has to, I turn to head back over the bridge. She follows beside me as we remain silent for a while. I have Spencer pick us up and then we drive her home. I finish the night by walking her to the door.

  “Goodnight, Erika,” I say as she opens the door to her apartment building.

  “Goodnight.”

  Walking back to the car, I am in turmoil. Being with her is easy, and she understands me. I like spending time with her and I know I want more. I also know it is a huge mistake to want anything more than what we’d both agreed to.

  A fake engagement.

  Ten million dollars.

  Zero feelings.

  “Spencer, drive me home,” I say as I sit in the front seat of the black SUV.

  Feeling sorry as fuck for myself.

  Chapter Nine

  My office in the early hours of the morning hold a peacefulness unlike any other place in the world. I enjoy being here, alone and uninterrupted, while I focus on work. The only sound I hear is the repetitious tick of the clock on my desk.

  I sit alone with thoughts of Erika. The previous night had been eye-opening, with my feelings entering uncharted territory. I’m interrupted on my reflections of the evening when Bennett bangs his way into my office.

  “Man, you’re not going to believe this!” His deep voice booms as he takes a seat in the chair across from me.

  “What?”

  Bennett glares at me. “I’ve been doing some digging on why Fox might be in town.”

  “What did you find?” I sit up in my seat and drop the file in my hand.

  It hits the desk as Bennett says, “You’re not going to like this at all.”

  He pulls some files out of his briefcase on the floor. I lean further as curiosity flutters in my chest.

  “What? Spit it out,” I demand.

  “The spies on the inside are saying he’s here on an extended stay looking to make a big acquisition.”

  He hands the paper to me, and I glance at it knowing exactly what it was.

  “This is the government legislation bill on the Export-Import Bank. What’s so important about this? Denkirk wrote this bill for us. It’s a done deal.”

  I survey the paper again then lay it down on my desk. Bennett grabs the paper up with a snap of his wrist.

  “This means…” He waves the paper close to my face as he speaks. “…if this bill doesn’t pass then we’re screwed. This will practically close us down. Fox will swoop in and take us over. Word is Fox is meeting with government officials to get supporters against it.”

  He sits down and releases a deep breath. “And word is he’s getting the support he’s looking for.”

  It only takes a matter of seconds for what Bennett has shared to sink in. I’m so worried about the new gun bill I need passed, that I’ve completely dropped the ball on the Export-Import Bank one that I thought was in the bag.

  I react with a range of emotions over the next following seconds, from surprise to shock, then landing on fury. I jolt from my seat and snatch the paper from Bennett’s closed fist.

  “What the fuck?! Are you fucking kidding me?” I slam my other fist on my desk as rage overtakes me.

  Bennett stands and starts to pace. “I know. This is bad, Chance. This will leave Parker Enterprises vulnerable for a hostile takeover. I’ve heard that Fox has been quietly buying up stock in our company already,” he says before fisting his hands. “I knew we shouldn’t have gone public.”

  I take a deep breath and relax a little. Panicking never fixed anything.

  “No, this isn’t so bad. We know Denkirk. We will
get more people to support the vote. Call Mr. Banks from accounting. Find out where we are on the logistics of releasing the electromagnetic rail guns. Can we rush them to market? If this law passes, maybe we can beat him to the punch,” I say in one fell swoop.

  “The EM rail guns are nowhere close to being ready,” Bennett says.

  “Okay, listen. I am going to make a few calls. Maybe we can fake it a bit, release the plans for the EM rail guns, even if they’re not ready. This is going to be okay, Bennett. I won’t let that motherfucker take everything I’ve worked for my entire life. This company is mine.”

  I sit down in the chair as I press my nose with both hands. I needed to think. I need to get a plan of action together.

  “I’ll try to find out more. I want to know exactly how Fox plans on taking this company from you.” He moves to the door and turns around to look at me before leaving.

  I raise my head and dropped my hands back to the desk. “I got this, Bennett. You worry too much,” I say with a smile. I’m completely lying through my teeth, but I don’t need my right-hand man freaking out on me.

  “Oh and, Bennett,” I add. “Let’s keep this on the down low. I don’t need mayhem breaking out.”

  Bennett nods and shuts the door as he leaves.

  “Agreed.”

  Chapter Ten

  Over the following week we hold meeting after meeting, trying to see how we can get the EM rail guns to market. Bennett and I are growing closer to finding out exactly what Fox is up to. It looks like it comes down to the government’s putting up a bill for vote that would basically make my exporting business go down the toilet.

  I export to many different countries and need the bank to fund projects for me from time to time. The Export-Import Bank holds the key to running a successful business in the United States. Fox’s company, Fox Corps, doesn’t have to abide by the laws because he’s based out of China. If this bill doesn’t pass, then Parker Enterprises Inc. will be screwed, and Fox Corps will be waiting in the wings to pick up the pieces.