23
I almost laugh but swallow the bitter sound down. “You’re not wrong. It’s the money. I have a family member who’s really sick, and there are a lot of bills.”
Her lips go from a frown to an unhappy pucker. “Okay, I can get that, I guess. My dad…” But she shakes her head, trailing off. “I get it. I’m still not connecting all this, though—what does this have to do with you and Jason being together? You’re not, like, a sex worker, are you?” Adrian whispers the last part, then rushes on. “Not that I’d judge you if you were, it’s just…an odd choice to bite the hand that feeds you and—”
“I’m not,” I interrupt, a grin on my face at the absurd idea.
Isit absurd? I did sleep with him. More than once.
“This has to stay between you and me, Adrian, okay? You know Roy is retiring soon. Jason—”
“Wants the company.” She doesn’t look or sound surprised as she says it. “From what I hear, it’s him or Zach.”
“Exactly.” I’m hesitant to keep going, unsure how she feels about either man. But I have to believe in Jason—even if he’s different from the guy I grew up with, I have to believe there’s still good in him.
“Jason is trying to convince Roy that he’s the better choice, not just as a leader, but to really take care of the company. And everyone working here.”
Our eyes meet, and I can see in hers that she understands. Whether she’ll say it aloud or not, Adrian at least knows that putting Zach in charge would be a bad idea.
“The problem is, Roy doesn’t think Jason is settled down enough. So when we ran into each other, and he realized I was staying in Boston pretty permanently, he made me a proposition.”
The light slowly goes on in Adrian’s eyes as they widen.
“You two are faking a relationship.”
I nod. “Yeah. I’m sorry. Honestly, I assumed it would be over pretty quickly and that no one would care.”
Adrian tosses her head back and laughs, her dreads dancing. “You thought no one would care? Mel, half the female population at Dupont would die to have a chance with Jason Shane. You’re officially enemy number one by being his fiancé.”
I groan, leaning back against the wall. “I honestly didn’t realize.”
“What, that he’s hot? Rich? Got that ‘bad boy’ attitude going on, like he’d be really great at punishing you?”
A flush goes through my body, but I keep a straight face. “Trust me, growing up, Jason wasn’t exactly a bad boy. He was in the math club.”
Adrian grins and takes my hands again, squeezing them in solidarity. “What exactly are you getting out of this, Mel?” “A good chunk of money. Money that I need.” I shrug. She mentioned her dad, so I’m hoping Adrian really does get it, even though I don’t know the story there.
She nods, her gaze clouding and brows knitting. “I just think you really need to be careful about this. For starters, you probably shouldn’t even be doing it.” I bite my lip guiltily as she continues, “But if you’re going to insist, then youdefinitelyshouldn’t be discussing the deal here at the office. Anyone could overhear you. It kind of makes sense, though.” She shrugs.
“Makes sense how?”
“You two. You just…make sense. I don’t know. You said you grew up together, so maybe that’s it. Jason’s definitely been keeping an eye on you, and you seem very comfortable with him.” “A good chunk of money. Money that I need.” I shrug. She mentioned her dad, so I’m hoping Adrian really does get it, even though I don’t know the story there.
She nods, her gaze clouding and brows knitting. “I just think you really need to be careful about this. For starters, you probably shouldn’t even be doing it.” I bite my lip guiltily as she continues, “But if you’re going to insist, then youdefinitelyshouldn’t be discussing the deal here at the office. Anyone could overhear you. It kind of makes sense, though.” She shrugs.
“Makes sense how?”
“You two. You just…make sense. I don’t know. You said you grew up together, so maybe that’s it. Jason’s definitely been keeping an eye on you, and you seem very comfortable with him.”
Jason
By 4:30 p.m., I’m feeling uncharacteristically frazzled. I glance up again at my empty office and grit my teeth. Out in the small reception area, Brett is sitting stiffly. He has a good sense for my moods and knows I’m not in a good one.
What’s the rush?I ask myself.You knew today would be a full schedule.
Still, I was hoping I’d get another few minutes with Mel.
I shouldn’t want this so badly. We just spent two weeks together and have a month and a half more to go.
But then what?
It’s a question I’ve been lingering on a lot lately. Will she stay in Boston? Stay here, with Dupont? A part of me can’t imagine she’ll want to be around once all this is over. Especially if we very publicly, and amicably, break this off.
She only wants your money, that little voice of betrayal whispers. I shake my head and groan; I just can’t picture it. Yes, Mel and Jodie might be in a tough spot financially right now. But for Mel, life was never about money.
I think of the countless times we skipped “normal” dates when we were kids and instead lay in a field somewhere stargazing. A few nights we even snuck out for meteor showers. With Mel, I was just as happy laughing in the back seat of my junky car as I was spending my whole paycheck on her at the local diner. We didn’t need money. Just each other.