Page 48 of Real Fake Husband

“But we didn’t argue.”

“Bickering is arguing.”

“Bickering is intense talking,” I counter.

“It’s not like you did anything to prevent it.”

“You act like that’s all on me.”

“Never said it was,” he replies, crossing his arms. “But now that I’ve seen you two together a couple of times, I’m brought right back to high school. Cal, bro, it’s always been that way between you and Josie. I’ve never known two people who get on each other’s nerves like you two do. It’s actually kind of impressive.”

“At least I got her down from hating me to extremely disliking me. Progress.”

“I think you two just need to fuck and get it out of your systems.”

This isn’t the first time Theo’s expressed this sentiment, and I know it won’t be the last. “Hey, man, I’m all for it,” I say, shrugging. “She sure could use a good dose of the good ol’ D. Actually, it would do us both a world of good. But Josie is stubborn. There’s no way she’s going to admit she’s attracted to me without being helped along the way. Hence the bet. Let’s start with a kiss and go from there.”

“You think she’s attracted to you?” he asks, arching his eyebrows.

“Of course she is. I can sense it.”

“But she doesn’t know it yet?”

“Oh, she knows. But she doesn’t wantmeto know.”

“Women and their games.” Theo shakes his head with a chuckle.

Now that everything is back on track, I don’t feel the need to hang around the construction site and oversee it all. Charlie clearly has things in order, and it’s no skin off my back. With that weight lifted off my shoulders, I’m free to focus on other things.

As everything is finishing up for the day, I reach out to Mr. Osborn. The phone to his office rings twice before a soft female voice answers, “Osborn Car Repair and Detail, Mr. Osborn’s office.”

“Callum Ashford calling for Mr. Osborn.”

“Hello, Mr. Ashford, please hold for one moment.”

She puts on that god-awful hold music, and I stand there, waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting even longer.

Before I signed the papers for this dealership, I reached out to Osborn to introduce myself and let him know what business I was bringing to the city. I did my homework beforehand and knew if anyone was going to invest, it would be him.

Born and raised in NYC, Andrew Harold Osborn owned the two biggest car dealerships in the city and had started to buy out the smaller dealerships shortly after opening his second location.

I knew since I focused on motorcycles, my business offered something different, yet similar enough to pique his interest. It only took one phone call to get him to invest a cool heavy amount without breaking a sweat. Not sure how much Mrs. Osborn has a say in his company, but she and Osborn are on zoning and construction boards in the city, which makes his support even more important.

That being said, aside from our initial meeting, I haven’t done much by way of communication since I got back. I knew if I planned to stay on Osborn’s good side, I’d need to do some damn schmoozing sooner or later.

Fucking politics.

It was inescapable to refresh the connection in person.

Eventually, the soft voice returns to the line, and in a chipper tone says, “Thank you for holding, Mr. Ashford. Mr. Osborn is available to speak with you. I’ll transfer you now.”

“Thanks.”

He probably kept me on hold as a power move to determine if I have the patience to wait for him. I know that trick from my corporate days. It was a tactic highly encouraged at Ecclestone. Osborn has done it several times during our various correspondences. I don’t care for mind games, but I’m willing to go along with it if that’s how Osborn wants to play this.

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