Chapter 12
Jackson
It’s been another manic day. I’ve been in and out of meetings all day and I’m now at a work function, mingling with other businessmen. Paul insisted it would be beneficial for the company, so here I am.
Drinking the rest of my brandy, I turn and make my way across the room, looking for the restroom. Halfway across the vast space, I hear, “Ah, Jackson! I hoped I would find you here.”
Turning, I see Malcolm Spencer. He’s a partner at the law firm we use for our company. I smile and shake his hand. He’s a good man and I have a lot of respect for him and the work he does.
“Always good to see you Malcolm. How is Evelyn?” I ask, smiling at my fond memories of his sweet wife.
“She’s well, thank you. She’s hosting a summer fundraiser next week, and we would love for you to come.” He smiles, I really do like this guy. He’s a hard-worker and has the time of day for everyone.
“That sounds wonderful, thank you,” I answer with sincerity.
“Don’t forget to give him a plus one so his new girlfriend can attend,” I hear her sneer from behind me. Rolling my eyes, I turn and sure enough, there’s Leanne, in all her bitchy glory.
“Leanne,” I say, giving her a slight nod and turning back to Malcolm.
“I didn’t realise you had a new girlfriend,” Malcolm says, smiling kindly at me. “Of course, you must bring her along. Evelyn and I would love to meet her.”
Before I have a chance to decline, Leanne pipes up again.
“Must be pretty serious, considering they’re living together.” She scoffs, taking a gulp of her red wine and looking at me through narrowed slits.
“Really? Well I can’t wait to meet the lucky lady. I’ll have Evelyn send you the invite,” Malcolm says, shaking my hand again and making his way off to mingle some more.
“She doesn’t seem your type,” Leanne remarks, as I try to make a hasty exit. I can think of nothing worse than having to stand and hold a conversation with this woman.
Against my better judgement, I bite. “And why is that?”
“Thought you preferred women with a bit more class,” she replies, smirking at me as she raises her glass to her mouth again.
“Considering I dated you for a while, that’s clearly not the case is it?” I say, calmly, as I continue on my way to the restroom. What did I ever see in that woman?
Chapter 13
Mia
Curled up in the snug under a warm blanket, watching a romantic comedy, I jump when I hear the door open. Jackson walks in, still in his dark suit and looking rather delicious.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he says, taking a seat on the other end of the sofa. It’s one of those that you can feel yourself sink into when you sit in it. I could happily hibernate in here with coffee and cake and never be seen again.
“No worries. I jump at anything. How was the function?” I ask, refusing to admit that I missed his company at dinner this evening.
“Boring, but beneficial, so that’s the main thing.” Loosening his tie, he sits back and lets out a breath.
I nod and take a sip of my coffee, watching him over the rim of the cup.
“How do you drink that before bed?” he asks perplexed, nodding to my mug of caffeine filled goodness.
“I drink so much of it, I don’t think it even affects me anymore.” I shrug, taking another sip.
“That’s probably a sign that you should start weaning off.” He chuckles, looking over at me with a smile.
“How dare you say something so hurtful!” I mock and put my mug down on the coffee table in front of the sofa.
Laughing, he puts his hands up in mock surrender, “My apologies. That was uncalled for.”
Nodding, I say, “Apology accepted, Mr. Carrington.”
Leaning his elbows on his knees and rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, he says, “I have a favour I need to ask you. I completely understand if you say no. Please don’t feel you have to say yes just because you work for me.”
“Ok…” I say, intrigued as to where this is going. He’s never asked me for a favour before.
“A partner at the law firm my company works with is having a fundraiser next week and invited me. I said I would love to go. I have a lot of time for him and his wife. The Ex-Asaurus-Rex piped up and said I should invite my girlfriend, since we’re living together. So now the invite has been extended to you too. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to; I realise the situation is less than ideal. But I don’t suppose there’s any chance you’d consider being my date for the night?”
He’s rambling and it is adorable. I smile at him and say, “I’d love to go with you and be your fake girlfriend.”
“Yeah?” he asks, surprise evident in his voice. He didn’t think I’d agree and I have no idea why. After everything, it’s the least I can do.
“Of course. If it helps you out, it’s the least I can do after everything you have done for me. Plus, any excuse to wipe that Botox smile off of the dinosaur.” I smirk, grabbing my coffee again and finishing the last of it off.
He laughs, leaning back on the sofa. “I swear she wasn’t always this annoying. At least not that I noticed.”
“Was that because you spent most of your time balls deep in her?” Fuck. I did not just say that. To my boss. No. I feel the heat rushing to my cheeks and want the sofa to swallow me up.
“Crap, I am so, so…” I’m cut off by him full on howling with laughter. He’s clutching his sides like he’s in pain and it makes me giggle through my mortification.
“You really are something else, you know that?” He laughs, looking over at me. “Maybe it was, we didn’t talk much. We attended functions together and slept together. That’s about it. Honestly, I think she just liked that she had a successful man on her arm to help elevate her social status.”
Nodding, I hope my face has returned to its natural colour and is no longer the tomato red I felt it turning to a few moments ago.
“Still, that was crazily unprofessional for me to say, so I am sorry.”
“Mia, we’re about to pretend to be in a relationship at a fundraiser. I think we already crossed the professional line. Don’t you?” He chuckles, hitting me with one of his charming grins.
“I guess so.” I smile back, pushing aside the blanket and standing. Grabbing my dirty mug, I turn the TV off and look over at Jackson. “I’m ready for bed, I’ll see you tomorrow at breakfast?”
“You sure will. And thanks again, for helping me out,” he says, with a genuine smile that may have given me butterflies. But I’ll never tell.
“Anytime,” I say, heading to the kitchen to put my mug in the dishwasher.
What am I doing?
Chapter 14
Jackson
Almost done going through my emails, I grab my mug of coffee and have a well-deserved slurp. It may be Saturday, but there is no rest for the wicked. I’m sure I spend most of my time at home, either in the office or at the dining table.