And then when I was leaving, he chased some weird guy off who was trying to follow me. Total sweetheart.” It’s close enough to the truth, even if it comes out in a mess.
“But how’d the proposal go?” Chelsea the designer asks, stars in her eyes. “Was he sweet? Did he get down on one knee? Were there balloons?”
Quality assurance lady nods, rapt. “I can’t even imagine. I would die.”
And I think I did. Twice.
Once, when he slid that gorgeous ring I still can’t believe I’m wearing on, and looked at me like this wasn’t just for show.
And again, just now, when I realize I’m so freaking out of my element.
Relief floods me when Ward steps out of Nick’s office and walks toward us, opening the door with a surprised quirk of his lips. He’s at my side in seconds.
“Congratulations, Mr. Brandt!” QA woman calls as he rips me from her death grip.
Ward nods at her but doesn’t answer until he has us all safely contained behind his closed door. He looks at her.
“Thank you, Janice. Most of the company doesn’t know about this yet, so I’m going to have to ask you ladies not to say anything until after the meeting in five minutes.”
“Huh? It’s already on Twitter,” Chelsea says, adjusting her cat-eye spectacles.
I gasp. “Twitter?”
Ward shakes his head, visibly gritting his teeth.
“My dumbass brother knew we had an announcement today, but he chatted up this blogger at a club last night and gave her some sob story about how bad he needs a date to get through his brother’s wedding. He didn’t know she works for Osprey and the Tea. We’re going to clear the air. The meeting’s in five minutes, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to head over.”
“Of course! Can’t wait to hear the deets,” Chelsea chirps, backing away.
“No problem, Mr. Brandt.” The QA woman follows the other woman out the door.
I move to the open door and close it, shoving my back against it like there’s a hoard of zombies waiting to break through.
“But...there isn’t going to be a wedding,” I croak.
Ward shakes his head. “I know. It’s just his new pickup line, and he thought having some organic press wasn’t a bad idea. Shame he didn’t check the woman’s media credentials.”
I cock my head, still leaning against the door.
So far, this has been a nightmare and a half.
I can feel my resolve withering. A chill sweeps up my back, imagining everything I might have to do to earn this money.
“I’m not sure I’ll survive today,” I whimper.
“Suck it up. We’ll get through this and never have to see each other again,” he says as we walk to the conference room.
“Oh, that’s so reassuring. I’m keeping the ring,” I say.
“Of course. It was a gift. Relax,” he says, bathing me in that easy, deep laugh that says maybe this insanity won’t be my end.
“When you contort your face into something that could be mistaken for a smile, you’re not so bad, you know,” I say.
Ward shakes his head like he’s lost all hope in me.
In the conference room, Nick sits near the center of the table with two empty chairs beside him.
Ward stands behind the seat closest to Nick, and I take the one beside him. I open my laptop to start recording notes.
“I know we’ve had monumental changes around here recently when my grandmother retired. We’ve tried to make the transitions as seamless as possible, but Beatrice Brandt isn’t replaceable, so I know it hasn’t been smooth sailing. We’re here today because I have another change to announce. However, I don’t think it will affect your work in any way. I just want to be transparent per company rules. Miss Holly and I are—” He looks down at me. “Stand up, darling.”
Darling? Coming out of his mouth, it sounds like a foreign word.
I stand, knees shaking, plastering on a porcelain smile.
“We’re getting married,” he finishes.
It sounds rehearsed even to me, like a jury foreman reading a verdict, but Reese bought it this morning. Maybe Nick’s bait for the press was a smart move after all?
It has to be more authentic than Ward’s cringe announcement, anyway.
But everyone breaks into applause. More than a few whoops fly out.
Susan the HR honcho stands. “I need the wedding date so I can get an appropriately timed wedding shower planned.”
“Leave it to HR,” Ward mutters under his breath.
“Shut up before someone hears you.” I try not to move my lips when I speak.