Page 71 of Arranged To Be Mine

My father leaned back in his chair. “Speaking of romance, the publicity around Darcy’s relationship has been excellent. Confidence in her leadership is at an all-time high.”

My stomach clenched but I pretended to be bored. It wasn’t a big deal. “I’m glad the strategy is working.”

“Working is an understatement,” another said. “Sales are surging. We’ve seen an increase in engagement ring purchases over the past month alone. Customers are responding to the narrative.”

The narrative. The story of the ice queen finding love. The fake relationship that had somehow become not-so-fake somewhere between karaoke and breakfast in bed. Was it fake? A one-off?

“The board has reviewed your performance extensively,” my father continued. “We’re pleased with the direction things are heading. Very pleased.”

Tom nodded. “You’re almost at the finish line, Darcy. Keep up the steady progress and the CEO position will be officially yours.”

“Just don’t do anything to rock the boat,” another added with a chuckle. “Stay the course. Keep up the good work with that boyfriend of yours.”

Like fall for my fake boyfriend? The thought flashed through my mind before I could stop it.

“Of course,” I said smoothly. “I have no intention of doing anything that would jeopardize our progress.”

The meeting wrapped up with handshakes and congratulations. My father lingered after the others filed out.

“The board is impressed with you,” he said. “Don’t give them a reason to change their minds.”

“I won’t.”

“You two seemed to be playing it pretty well,” he said casually.

“That’s what you wanted me to do, right?”

He nodded. “I do. Just don’t overdo it.”

Like spend the night naked in his bed?

“I’ve got it handled,” I said. “I have to go. I’ve got a call in ten.”

He nodded and let me leave without another word.

Everything I’d worked for was within reach. The CEO position. The validation. The proof that I was worthy of my father’s legacy. All I had to do was maintain the status quo for a little longer. Keep playing the part.

The problem was, I wasn’t sure I could pretend anymore.

Something had changed. I liked him. Not just his charm or his humor or his spectacular body. I liked the man underneath all that goofy personality.

How was I supposed to know what was real and what was performance? That was the question I continued to come back to. It scared me. I didn’t want to be humiliated or hurt. Getting emotionally attached to a man who was essentially a hired contractor would only end in heartbreak.

23

BEAU

By four o’clock Monday evening, I’d checked my phone too many times to count and still there was nothing from Darcy.

What the hell?

I knew I was being ridiculous. The rational part of my brain understood that people had lives, responsibilities, jobs that demanded their attention. She was the incoming CEO of a major jewelry company. She probably had meetings stacked on top of meetings. There were a million decisions to make and fires to put out.

But the irrational part of my brain couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was off. I was pathetic. I was a grown man. A successful attorney. I did not get anxious over unanswered text messages from a woman.

Except apparently I did. When it came to her.

I typed out another message before I could talk myself out of it.