Page 16 of The American

The cameras were gone. He hailed a taxi and headed back to work. His excitement grew. Returning to work had never been so enticing. He had to admit, this job was better than what he’d ever dreamed of. CEO of a large company. They were paying him to spend time with a beautiful woman. He didn’t think it got much better.

Chapter 9

Sage ignored the twinge inside that wanted to gripe about Thad having lunch plans. Of course he could have his own plans. She refused to become that girl from her early days of high school, worried about what her boyfriend was doing when not with her. Familiar feelings of betrayal clenched her heart. Must she still actually have any emotion at all related to that memory? The boy who totally cheated on her, in a very public way and made her look like a complete idiot, had a low life job in a small town somewhere. She wasn’t even sure he married.

She took in a deep breath. Honestly she did not wish him unhappiness.

And Thad and her situation was complicated. She didn’t have any sort of commitment to him or from him.

They just acted like they did, and she enjoyed every minute.

Somehow she’d have to guard her heart or else she’d fall in love with the fake Thad and live their made up romance for real. Pathetic. She hadn’t ever seemed this pathetic before. Until Thad showed up, she was completely in charge of her feelings, her life. Most men hoped for a bit of attention from her, wondering if she would be willing to spend an evening together. She kept herself apart on purpose.

She carried her deli salad and extra-large Coke outside, heading back to the building. Delis. Her favorite part about New York. She had piled as much food as she wanted in a container, weighed it, and paid at the counter. Not wanting her office to smell like salad dressing, she chose a room with large windows and bright sunlight, sat down, pulled out her headphones and listened to show tunes.

She was a sucker for Broadway, another reason this city was perfect for her. Several shows were high on her list when she and Thad planned out all their fake dates. She smirked.

Zachary seemed pleased with their plan, too pleased in Sage’s opinion. He directed they meet with marketing next to start coordinating the announcement of new products with specific dates and events in their planned relationship.

And just like that, as far as New York was concerned, she was now in a growing romantic relationship with the hottest guy to enter their town in five years, a Prince of Torren no less. Her mother was going to flip. And her girlfriends back home. She was happy there was some major attraction going on and that she really did want to know him better. She would hate to lie to her friends and family.

Guard your heart. He seemed interested now, but she didn’t know anything about him or his dating habits. He might be the fly-through-and-conquer-then-leave type. She could be a professional about this. Granted there was nothing at all professional about Zachary asking them to have a fake relationship, but as far as she could tell, Hollywood did it all the time.

So she could too, somehow.Yeah right. Maybe she should stop looking at him. She laughed, knowing if anyone heard her laughing in here by herself, they’d think she’d lost it.

And then Devon stood in the doorway. “Thinking of your new love?”

She waved him in. “Devon! To what do I owe this honor?” She swallowed her embarrassment.

“I had a meeting downstairs so I thought I’d swing by before heading back.” He sat next to her. “How’s it going with the playboy?”

She choked on her water. “It’s great, actually. He knows his stuff, is easy to work with, and makes things fun around here.”

Devon watched her in silence until she became a little uncomfortable. “What? Devon, I have to work with him. Did you come here hoping I’d mope and complain?”

“I just don’t want to lose my main girl over a foreign hot guy who’s gonna leave as quickly as he came.”

“Was I ever your main girl, really?”

He shrugged. “You know what I mean.”

“I do. Look Devon. We’re still friends. Let’s go to dinner this next week. Nothing’s changed as far as that goes, but I’m committed to the plan. This is my baby now, as much as anyone’s, and we have to see it through and see it be successful.”

He grunted. “You’re loyal to a fault.”

“Perhaps I am, but consider my career. You would do the same.”

He stood to go. “I’ll call you about dinner.” Then he stooped to kiss her cheek.

Thad blocked his exit in the doorway. “Come to spy on the competition?”

Devon stood a few inches shorter than Thad but stared him down anyway. “No. You aren’t the competition.”

Thad crossed his arms. “Oh no?” He looked at Sage. “From what I hear, Devon’s company, is venturing into product as well. In about ten days, you will be our main competition.”

Sage couldn’t believe she hadn’t heard. “Is this true Devon?”

He nodded. “Just signed the agreement downstairs. Which makes me highly curious as to how Thad here came to know about it.”

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