Page 34 of The CEO Enemy

She smirks. “Other people can. You usually don’t. I thought…”

When she doesn’t finish her sentence, I ask, “What did you think?”

Jess studies me carefully, and I can see that she’s not sure how to respond. She frowns and regards me suspiciously but picks up the cup regardless.

“Thanks,” she says, giving me a warm smile. She takes a big sip. “So, about that charity event Richard mentioned. You’re going?”

“Yes, I attend the Grand Hospitality Affair every year, representing Blackwood. Interested in going? I can smuggle you in.”

“Well, the thing is, I already have a ticket from Norman. There’s an art piece that’s going to be auctioned, and I was thinking of acquiring it for the lobby. It would be perfect, well, if I can get it for a reasonable price. I was looking forward to going, but now...”

“…but now it looks like we’re attending, as an engaged couple?” I finish for her.

She blinks, then takes another gulp of her coffee. “Well…only so he thinks we’re an engaged couple. Do you mind? He knows I’m going. He saw my ticket.” She gestures to the burgundy auction ticket next to her laptop. “And it would be weird if I went alone. I mean…all we need to do is show up together. That’s it. We keep it under wraps for everybody else.”

I shrug. “Doable. For everybody else, we’re just two people attending an event.”

“But wait…what if people ask who I am?”

“I’ll introduce you by your name and as co-owner of Westerlyn. We come late, leave early. People attending are mostly interested in their own affairs. Don’t worry. Should any question arise: we’re private, we haven’t decided to go public yet. Done.”

“Oh, that’ll work.” She looks at me with a thankful expression. “You really don’t mind playing along?”

“Let’s say, I can arrange it—if you cooperate.”

Her shoulders stiffen. “Cooperate?”

“You know what I want in return,” I say, satisfied with the bargaining tool she has presented to me. “How about this? If I play along as your fake fiancé for the next few weeks, you reconsider my proposal. You said it’s risky, but I’ll say let’s embrace the challenge. What do you say? At least don’t shoot my offer down right off the bat.”

After a pause, she finally nods. “I won’t say no right away.” Her tone is careful and measured. “I’m going to think on it.”

“Fine.” I nod. “My offer is good, and you know it.”

Jess regards me carefully, as if she’s trying to gain insight into what I’m thinking. She doesn’t have to look too deep. I’m not hiding anything. I have no intention of deceiving her in any way. This isn’t some kind of power play to placate her.

If there’s one thing I learned early in life, it’s that deception and deceit won’t achieve satisfactory results, at least not in my book. Besides, the way Jess acted in Norman’s presence and the hurt I’ve seen in her eyes leads me to believe she appreciates openness and loyalty.

At least something we both see eye to eye on.

It’s nice to see her softening toward my idea, if only a little.

“Are we going to the jeweler now or later?” I ask. “As far as I know, he’s got a one-of-a-kind engagement ring on standby waiting for us.”

She smiles, her features are half a shade brighter. It’s not the smile she gave me when we first met, but it’s a smile nonetheless, which is a step in a positive direction. I hope.

“Not so fast,” she says. “How long do I have to think it over?”

“I can hold the board off for another day. Any longer than that will be pushing it, and then someone else from the company will likely get involved.”

AKA, my father will butt in, and I’m not going to let that happen.

She sits up in her chair, placing her empty coffee cup on the desk. “You’ll have my answer by then.”

I walk to my office, sit down at my desk and power up my computer, occasionally taking a sip of my own drink. I can tell I’ve thrown her off—much like she did with me. Which means I’ve achieved my goal: to keep her on her toes—just as she keeps me on mine.

The rest of the day is fairly quiet as we both handle our tasks, barely speaking unless to exchange pertinent work information. Even still, my mind is on high alert, and I feel more aware of her presence than I have ever been before.

12

---