Page 11 of Temporary Wife Temptation

When he was certain he could speak in a normal voice, he called Michael Reynolds, his oldest and closest friend, as well as Hansol’s PR specialist. Garrett needed to think things through, and Mike was his most trustworthy sounding board.

His friend picked up on the second ring, sounding winded. “This better be important, Song. You interrupted my dinner with two of your senior executives. I’m missing the good parts of their prostate exam stories.”

“So you ditched them?” Garrett smirked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You owe me one, Reynolds.”

“I know. Thanks.”

“By the way, this is important.” He pulled up to the Ritz-Carlton. “I’m getting married.”

“What?” Mike’s voice rang across the lines. “To who? And why haven’t I met her?”

“You know my grandmother. We kept our relationship under the radar so she wouldn’t worry.” Garrett left his explanation vague to avoid lying to his friend. “I’m marrying Natalie Sobol.”

“The Natalie Sobol?” Mike said after a lengthy pause.

“I didn’t realize she was famous.” As the valet drove away with his car, Garrett walked into the hotel lobby. “You know her well?”

“I’ve met her a few times at Hansol’s functions, but her reputation precedes her.”

“And what reputation is that?” He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button to his penthouse.

“How do you think a twenty-eight-year-old became a regional HR director? Actually, she was twenty-six when she was promoted.”

“Well, she’s exceptionally bright and competent.”

“She certainly is, but that’s not all.” Mike’s voice held a note of awe. “That woman’s got nerves of steel.”

“I believe that.” Garrett chuckled under his breath.

“She’s known as the Ball Buster.”

“The what?” He tugged his tie loose. “What the hell did she do to earn that title?”

“About a year ago, someone in middle management wasn’t playing by the rules.” By the sound of it, his friend was cupping his hand over his cell to whisper. “Natalie investigated the allegations and found evidence he’d been giving preferential treatment to male employees. She fired his ass and convinced him to sign a release stating he won’t sue the company. She laid down the law.”

“That’s my woman.” Garrett grinned as he got off the elevator. The city lights greeted him through the panoramic windows of his penthouse.

“So how should we handle this from the PR side of things?”

“We need to release a statement announcing your engagement.”

“That’s a given.” Garrett dropped onto his leather lounger and kicked off his shoes.

“But first, you should ‘sneak around’ with your fiancée and make sure to get caught. Invite the public into your ‘clandestine’ romance.”

“The public might dig that, but Hansol employees will be out for blood. We need to announce the engagement as soon as possible. The venom will leach out and everything will become rosy and romantic as soon as marriage enters the picture. How long do we have to sneak around?”

“Two weeks.”

“Fine, but she’s moving in with me within the week.” Two weeks would give his grandmother time to wreak havoc on his plans. He had to make the first move.

“Impatient, are you?” Mike chuckled. “Luckily, that’s a good PR move. A fast-paced, secret romance is even more popular.”

“Perfect. Let me know what else you need from my end.” Garrett pinched the bridge of his nose, running through the list of things to get done the next day. “You can go back to your little party now.”

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