“You know we’re in a very public fake relationship, right?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I do. Look… I need some sort of control over this. Keeping the real us private, for now, gives me some control. Maybe it doesn’t make sense to you, but I need this to feel better.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” she asked. “No arguments? Just… okay?”
I nodded, “We all know you are far out of my league. I’ll do whatever you want of me if it means I get to keep you.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re far too agreeable?” She asked, perplexed.
I laughed, “You would be the second. Is that a problem?”
She shook her head. “No… I’m just not used to it. I guess I’m scared I’ll say something, and you’ll just argue and leave or something.”
I embraced her tightly, “I promise you, I’m not going anywhere. I won’t leave.”
Chapter Eighteen
BEC
“You’re smiling, it’s weird,” Andi remarked as we made our way towards my office.
I could hear Rome stifle his laugh next to me as he peeled off to his own office. After what could only be described as the greatest kiss in history, I made us talk.Reallytalk about how this was going to work—because I wanted it to. I wanted him.
While we were officially together, as it was so new, he agreed we wouldn’t inform everyone just yet. Which was complicated,as we were now in a fake relationship for the media, but also a real relationship that we were keeping hidden. It may have been unnecessary, but it made me feel more in control.
I was beginning to realize I had a real issue with control.
“I smile,” I argued as we wandered into my office, where Melissa was sitting… waiting for me.
“No, you don’t,” Melissa retorted.
“Thank you,” Andi sing-songed.
I rolled my eyes and took my seat, “I do, in fact, smile… when there’s a justifiable reason. There usually isn’t one. Now, can we get to work… you know, that thing I pay you two to do?”
They both nodded as Andi handed me my mail, took my purse as usual, and left.
“What’s the word on the board?” I asked Melissa as I sorted through the stack of envelopes in front of me.
She sighed and leaned back, “Good and bad.” I looked at her in surprise. “Mostly good,” she placated.
“What’s the bad?” I asked.
“Aren’t I supposed to start with the good, soften the blow of the bad to come?”
I quirked a brow, “Have you ever needed to soften the blow when it came to me?”
She laughed lightly, “Valid. Okay… so, the bad news is that your dad is doing his own work on the board's perception of you. Having Will attend the last board meeting worked in your favor by showing the members who wanted him in your position that you had his support. However, I think it lit a fire under your dad’s ass.”
I rolled my eyes, because, of course it did. “What’s he doing?”
“He seems to be asking strategic questions in regards to your competence. He first was hinting that your new boyfriend is distracting you, but with most of the board fawning over Rome,that isn’t working,” she explained. “He’s now pivoted to what can only be described as wack-ass ideas.”
I laughed in shock, “Wack-ass?”
Melissa nodded, her expression serious. “It’s the most apt description. He is claiming that you’re being threatened, and it’s not only pulling your attention but also putting the company at a security risk, and risk of instability. Like I said… wack-ass.”
