Page 53 of Boss's Fake Fiancé

“Mmm. But everything is digital these days.”

She has a point.

“Still; I don’t think Jodie would be going for avoidance if she was mad at you. You two are too close for that. She’d call you, hash it out. Hear you out.”

Mel calms, but I can practically feel her mind buzzing, trying to figure this puzzle out. It is strange, but I try not to linger on it, not wanting to add to her anxiety.

“About the party…”

Her shoulders slump as I explain what tomorrow night will look like. We’ll aim for fashionably late, and I’ll have to make the rounds to greet everyone who shows up. The last head count was about 300 people. Most of them have never seen me, but they’ll be there to wish us well anyway, and we’ll have to paste on smiles all night.

I talk about the decorations, the theme—pearls—chosen by PR, with a focus on ocean conservation. The pearls are all sustainably manufactured by oyster colonies that are being rebuilt and repurposed to help filter in areas with unhealthy water along the shores.

I rattle off some of the menu items, talk about champagne, muse over what kind of suspenders Roy will pick out and if Zach will be brave enough to show his face now that he’s been assigned a court date.

By the end, Mel is breathing evenly against my chest. I swirl my fingers comfortingly over her lower back, letting the creamy silk melt away my own worry and anxiety.

“Do you know what the worst part is?” she asks quietly, brokenly.

My body goes tense, expecting an arrow to the heart. For good reason. Her next words cut deep.

“If this was real, I think Jodie would love it. And I’d love to have her there.”

I sigh, dropping my chin to her head. “It’s not too late, Mel. We can…I don’t know. We can explain everything to her. Invite her; maybe she’d be game for it…”

I know Jodie too well, though. We both do. She’d be thrilled if Mel and I actually got back together, but even sick and financially burdened, I don’t think she’d want either of us lying and cheating.

Mel doesn’t even bother responding to that supposition. Instead, she says, “It’s worse because my parents…”

She can’t finish the thought, and she doesn’t have to. How many nights did we spend sitting up in the dark while it all spilled out of her? The guilt, shame, and anger at being abandoned by them. How she felt like she was a burden to Jodie, so young for a guardian. How she felt worthless.

“Hey,” I say sharply, pulling her tighter against me. “It’s their loss. And my gain.”

I mean what I say, but I wonder if Mel thinks the words are empty. Or thinks what I really mean is,I’m gaining the company.

What I’m starting to realize is that the only thing worth gaining…is her. Back in my life again. For good.

My heart swells in my chest and I’m just on the verge of telling her that when she pulls away and looks up at me with glistening eyes. Bravely, Mel wipes the unshed tears away and steels herself.

“Don’t worry.” She tries to muster up a grin, and almost gets it. “I’ll be on my best behavior. We’ll have them all fooled.”

And just like that, another little piece of me dies inside.

Chapter21

Melanie

It’s Friday.

The day of the engagement party.Myengagement party.

And I’m standing over a desk staring down blankly at the layout for Dupont Analytics’ semiannual employee newsletter.

“So?” Adrian bumps against me, her dreads grazing my shoulder and making me forge my way back to reality.

“So…what?”

She gives me an exasperated look, closing the copy. “Okay. This is fine, I’m going to finalize all this. The only thing I saw, which you agreed with, is that we need to choose better images for that article on data tracking in the community. You need togohome.”

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