I could help your client in any way is ridiculous. But Robert asked for my help and he thinks I can accomplish something, so I’m willing to try.”
“So, you’re basically a secretary with a high school education and you expect me to hand over my most important client to you and expect a winning outcome?”
“No, in fact from what Robert has told me, I’m pretty much supposed to sit there and look pretty. I’m to empathize with her and make her feel less like she’s surrounded by pompous assholes. Oh,” I said conspiratorially. “Don’t forget that I also got pregnant right out of high school. By him,” I said, jerking my head in Robert’s direction. “Yet, I still somehow managed to survive in a world of jackasses who think they’re better than me simply because they wear fancy suits and drive fancy cars.”
He fisted his hands and turned to Robert. ”If she screws this up for us, you’re out.”
Robert smirked as his boss walked away, like he didn’t have a single worry about any of this. I wasn’t feeling quite so optimistic.
“Your boss is a jackass. I don’t know how you work with him every day.” I whispered to Robert. “Because frankly, I was ready to tell him exactly what I thought of him.”
He chuckled slightly and turned to whisper in my ear. “Let’s leave that for after the deal is done.”
Robert got out of the car and then opened my side, holding his hand out for me. The restaurant we were parked in front of reeked of money. And here I was in my simple black pants and blouse, hoping that I didn’t look like the poor person at the table. Robert handed his keys to the valet and placed his hand on my back, leading me into the restaurant. The hostess looked me up and down, obviously finding me lacking, but didn’t say anything.
“Reservation for Cortell. I’m meeting a friend here shortly.”
“Of course, Mr. Cortell.”
She turned and led me back to a private dining room, which I had reserved specifically so we wouldn’t be overheard. The last thing we needed was someone spying on us and running back to her husband. It would ruin the whole deal.
“Remember,” Robert whispered. “You’re in love with me and think I’m the greatest man in the world.”
He pulled out my chair and waited for me to take a seat. When he sat down and I was sure nobody was listening, I leaned over to whisper, “I thought I was supposed to be your fiancé?”
“You are.”
“Then I think we have to revise your story, because frankly, you look like a jackass for not giving me a ring.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black box, holding it under the table out of eyesight. His eyes flashed up to mine and he grinned slightly. “I didn’t forget.”
He took my hand in his and slowly slid the ring onto my finger. It was simple and beautiful and I couldn’t help smiling at it. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s just on loan. I borrowed it from a friend, so don’t lose it.”
“It’s on loan?” I gasped. “You’re letting me wear someone else’s jewelry?”
“It’s not even real,” he murmured. “It’s a very good replication of a diamond, but she’s not going to be able to tell. And I didn’t want her to see you with anything bigger, because I didn’t want her to think that I value money. It’s all part of the act.”
It may have been part of the act, but the ring was spot on. Who cared if it was an actual diamond? Diamonds didn’t mean a thing if there wasn’t love involved, and even then, it was just jewelry. I would take a simple band over a diamond any day.
“She’s here,” he said, jolting me out of my admiration of the ring. I slid my hand onto his thigh, and went into lover mode. I could do this. I had once been obsessed with this man. It wouldn’t be hard to make it believable. When she approached the table, I smiled and stood along with Robert, holding out my hand to greet her.
“Rebecca, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Anna, Robert’s fiancé.”
She glanced at me for a moment, her eyes taking me in. “I see. And did he bring you along to convince me that he’s a good man and I should listen to him?”
I laughed lightly. “Of course. In a man’s world, the woman is always the one doing the behind the scenes