Page 10 of The Wedding Hoax

There was just something about how honest she was with me, how she was never afraid to tell me exactly what she was thinking.

And I couldn’t lie, the fact that she never backed down was sexy as hell.

Shit. Was this the most honest connection I’d had with a woman in months? Years?

I knew that Simone wasn’t after me for my money, at least, which was a pretty good start. Hell, she’d probably slap me in my face if I even suggested taking her out for dinner. It wouldn’t be appropriate for a Goody Two-Shoes like her to go out with her boss, after all.

But what if I wasn’t her boss? What if I was something more?

“Mr. O’Donnell?” Simone popped her head in my open door and interrupted my train of thought.

I gestured for her to sit down, and she took a seat across the desk from me. She was wearing a pencil skirt that hugged her round hips. Her sleeveless blouse skimmed over her perky tits. It was her second day of work, and she was already driving me crazy with that killer figure.

When I didn’t say anything, lost in thought, she tilted her head.

“You called me into your office?” she asked. “You wanted something, I assume?”

“Right.” I coughed to buy myself more time. What I was about to suggest was insane. I needed to be sure I pitched it perfectly. “It was fun hanging out at the bar last night, wasn’t it?”

“Something like that. Sure.”

“Do you think you could do more of that? For a few months, maybe?”

“Do what?”

“Hang out with me.”

“Oh, God.” She groaned. “Did Taylor sign us up for the same bar trivia team or something? I told her I’m not good under that kind of pressure—”

“Would you…” I cleared my throat. “…marry me?”

“I’m sorry? I think I misheard you.” Simone slowly blinked. “Did you just ask me to—”

“Remember how I told you my family is so obsessed with tradition that they can’t see the forest for the trees?” I shrugged. “This is what I was talking about. They want me married by my fortieth birthday or else I’m out as CEO.”

“Wait. What?” Simone shook her head. “But you’re good at this. That profile of you in Forbes said that you saved this place from bankruptcy a million times over.”

“You read that profile of me in Forbes?” I smirked. “Ms. Didier, have you been cyberstalking me?”

“Don’t let it go to your head. I was just doing research about my boss. It’s not that weird.”

“Whatever you say.” I smirked even wider. “Still. If I don’t get married soon, I’m out of the company. If I don’t at least feign interest in carrying on the family line, they’ll replace me with my brother.” I winced. “Sean works in IT. He doesn’t know how to run LA Now unless we’re talking about running it into the ground.”

“So, what? You want me to marry you just so you can keep your job?” She scoffed.

“It wouldn’t be permanent. I think six months should suffice. If you agree, I’d have us sign a contract. And I’d pay you for your time, of course. I was thinking something around half a million?”

“I have to go, actually. There’s somewhere else I suddenly need to be.” She abruptly stood up and turned away from me. “Thanks, but no thanks, Mr. O’Donnell.”

“Wait! Just give me a chance to explain!”

But it was already too late. Simone was headed down the hall, her feet moving so fast it almost seemed like she was running for her life.

* * *

Hours passed, with no Simone in sight.

I briefly wondered if I’d somehow ruined my professional career, just by asking her a question. Was she gossiping about me to the rest of the staff writers? Was she on the phone with a lawyer, wondering if she could build a lawsuit against me?

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