“See? He’s proving my point on how ridiculous this all is!” Bec protested to Melissa, ignoring me completely.
“I know it seems ridiculous that you two would be together, but this could be good for you.” I wasn’t sure if I should have been offended by Melissa’s statement or not. "The biggest issue we’re running into regarding our reception with the publicandthe board is that you seem cold. They want someone that they feel is trustworthy running this company… and right now, that’s not you. This,” Melissa pointed to the paper in my lap, “is our way to do that.”
“Our company has had its two best quarters in history, back to back. Why in the world would they not trust me?” Bec asked, exasperated.
Melissa’s face shone with empathy. “You know why. It’s the same reason why I am the first woman in a VP-level position here, besides you. We are women. They automatically don’t trust us. It sucks, but this is how we ensure the board stays on your side.”
Bec sighed in defeat and turned to me, “You’re being awfully quiet over there.”
“I have learned that it’s the best tactic when with you. You seem annoyed whenever I open my mouth,” I remarked with a smirk, earning me an eyeroll.
“You really expect me to pretend to date this idiot?” She motioned to me in exasperation. “How would that even work?”
Melissa perked up, seeing she was gaining traction with Bec. “It’s easy, really. You maintain your current involvement with one another. Keep Rome glued to your side.” She turned to me, “Rome, you’ll keep a hand on her at all times when paparazzi are present. Nothing showy, just a palm on the small of her back or holding her hand when walking in and out of buildings.” She turned back to Bec, “You’ll bring him as your date to your usual societal events. That’s it. I’ll do the rest, pushing the story in the background to my different contacts.”
Bec’s head seemed on the verge of exploding at just the idea of having to spend any more time with me. “This seems ridiculous. I’m a CEO, not a socialite. Why does my relationship status even matter?”
“It’s because you’re a woman, like Melissa said,” I interrupted. “You are the best at what you do, and it’s obvious. But the old men who sit on the board don’t understand how someone can run a business without a dick.”
Melissa stifled a chuckle as Bec looked at me with shock.
“You think I am the best at what I do?” she asked in an oddly timid voice.
I nodded, “You may drive me insane, but yeah. You’re damn good at your job.”
“So, Rome,” Melissa asked, breaking mine and Bec’s stare, “you would be willing to do this?”
I shrugged, “Sure.” I paused before turning to Rebecca. “Under one condition.”
She eyed me cautiously, but urged me to continue.
“You tell your brother this was not my idea. Because if he thinks we’re actually dating after he hired me to keep you safe, I’ll end up murdered in a ditch by next week.”
Bec barked out a laugh, breaking her usual perfect composure, but her face was the lightest I had ever seen. Even lighter than her impromptu karaoke last night. “You know what? You have a deal.”
Chapter Six
BEC
The city skyline at night was breathtaking. The lights of the buildings glittered like stars in the sky. I had lived in this city my entire life. The streets and boroughs were my very own playground. I had never driven a car, but had been able to navigate the many busy streets since I was ten years old. This city was home, but there were days it felt as unforgiving as my father.
My father, William Bly Sr.—my predecessor as CEO of Bly Enterprises—was as cold as the Arctic and as uncaring as the Sahara Desert. When I was younger, he had perfected the charming businessman persona, complete with a doting wife and well-behaved children. However, it was all a facade. He was never a father, but rather a semi-present man who lived to incite fear in my mother, brother, and me.
I was grateful the day my brother finally left this world behind, escaping our father’s control, and built his own life out in Oregon.
It also meant my father’s attention was now directed solely to me. My mother prevented him from perpetrating any physical abuse, but the threats never stopped. After what felt like the millionth time of him telling me that I could never live up to him, I knew someday I would take over his company and wipe out his presence. I wouldn’t just live up to him, I would grow to greater heights than he had ever achieved. It was my own act of revenge.
I had spent years preparing for this moment. While my peers went to parties and football games in high school, I was studying for my SATs. When my college roommate, Alexandra, went to frat parties, I was preparing for the LSAT. Even in law school, my entire focus was on being the best… and I was. I knew I was the best person to take over Bly Enterprises, but I needed to convince the board. While I had been acting CEO for six months, my probationary period lasted another half year. If the board didn’t support me by the end of the year… Well, I wasn’t sure what would happen, but I knew it wouldn’t be good.
The board that determined my future was composed of older men, all my father’s age. They had been calling me cold since I was a child. God forbid a teenage girl not want to hug the men who squeezed too tightly. I had protected myself from them, but it seemed to have ruined my reputation from an early age.Setting those boundaries wasn’t a choice I regretted, but it had come with unexpected consequences.
I had to convince the board that I was the best fit to take over the company, and I had begun to accept that I would do nearly anything to get there. Including faking a relationship with my bodyguard to prove I wasn’t the ‘Ice Queen’ everyone had dubbed me.
“Do you really think this Rome Cipriani fella is the best bet?” Alexandra asked as she sipped her wine.
After the meeting with Melissa today, I needed a sounding board to help me ensure I was making the best decision about entering into this fake relationship with Rome. Alexandra had readily agreed to come over, as long as I supplied the wine. We were sitting on the floor of my living room, blankets and pillows tossed around us, only table lamps lighting the room, casting a soft glow around us.
I shrugged, “I’m not sure, but both my assistant and head of PR think it will work, and I trust those two with my life.”
