25

Which is why I need to be careful about falling deeper into this mess. I can’t fall for Jason, not when this is all going to end in a month. As I hit the city limits, buildings officially climbing higher than two stories, I wonder what to doafter.

Leaving Dupont would be hard. The pay is great, and I don’t hate the work as much as I thought I would. It’s the team, really, that I love. And Boston…it’s different from New York City, which I found stifling and grimy. I can picture staying in Boston.

But would Jason want me to?

Or once our engagement falls apart, would he want to play the role of “jilted lover” and be left alone? Free to be cared for by all the women waiting to fawn over him?

I try not to think about it as I find a parking garage and navigate the twisting turns. There’s a big shopping center nearby, and it’ll be good to focus on material things instead of my messy life.

* * *

Two skirts,a pair of heels, a new e-book reader, and a serving of cheesy fries later, I’m making my way back toward where I think the car is parked when someone calls out my name.

Liza.

It’s odd seeing her outside of work or the Loraine. To my surprise, she gives me a friendly, shy smile and excuses herself from a small group of people who must be friends.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” I return, happy and relieved that she’s finally forgiven me for keeping a not-so-secret matter from her.

“Sorry, I don’t want to interrupt your day—I just wanted to thank you.”

My brows knit. “For what?”

My mind whirring away, I try to think of what I might’ve done to help Liza out. Did I get a report to her early? Did I cover her butt, somehow? “The invitation,” she chirps, mirroring my frown. “I just got it yesterday.”

My mind goes blank.

“And the plus one was nice, too. I know it’ll probably be people mostly from the company, especially since it’s also a charity event, but still. I’ve just started seeing someone seriously, and—”

She blushes as she rambles on about being grateful to be able to bring a friend to my engagement celebration. It’s all white noise to me as I try to make sense of the situation. I definitely did not plan an engagement party. “Of course.” I give her a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “I’m really looking forward to it, too. I’m happy you’ll be able to join us.”

Us.

Someone has some serious explaining to do.

Liza thanks me again, backing away with a wave, and then returns to her waiting friends. I turn back toward the area where my car is parked, blind to everyone and everything around me.

As soon as the bags are tossed in the back, I slip into the driver’s side and pull my phone out.

Why am I hearing about an engagement party?I text Jason with no soft opening. If this is going where I think it’s going, he doesn’t deserve one.

Sorry—been busy. Meant to tell you. It makes sense, though, doesn’t it?

Maybe, I can admit. But still.

I need details,I type furiously.When is this happening? Where? And what’s with the charity aspect?

Those three little dots appear, then disappear. Appear again.

Disappear.

I’m holding my breath, heart straining.

He sends a link.

Clicking on it brings me to the spotlight section ofThe Boston Globe. Right on the front page is a photo of Jason and I walking down the street together, probably one of the days we grabbed lunch quickly.

Boston’s bachelor CEO will be ringing wedding bells soon, an opening line reads.Jason Shane, CEO of Dupont Analytics, will be hosting a combined engagement party and charity event on Friday, August 16th…

I stare in shock at the article. It’s a few paragraphs long, detailing the venue, the cause, and a snippet of our back story.

Mr. Shane and Melissa Atkinson met as children. Despite going their separate ways after high school, love found the pair again…

It isn’t love I’m feeling right now. It’s murder, or something close to it.

This better be a joke.

I jab the “send” button and wait. Somewhere in the parking garage, a car alarm goes off, upping my anxiety.

It’s not. It’s part of the game, Mel. Has to be done.

One week. One week until my engagement party, and he gave me absolutely no warning.

Then it hits me.

Where else is this announced?

Everywhere, comes his quick reply. He must be picking up on how pissed off I am right now.We have investors up and down the East Coast, and Roy offered to include the announcement with the rest of the press.

Everywhere. That means…

I jab at Jason’s number and bring the phone to my ear. He answers almost immediately.

“Jodie is going to see this.”

Silence from his end.He didn’t even think of that.

“Probably,” he admits. “Jason, I can’t…she wasn’t supposed to know about any of this…”

What I don’t say is,It’ll break her heart. It’ll kill her to think I’ve gotten engaged, kept a secret from her, and it’ll kill her to find out I’m lying to every person from Maine to New York for money.

“This wasn’t part of the plan.”

In the beat of quiet, I picture him clenching and unclenching his jaw. “I’m sorry, Mel. It has to be done. No one would believe us if the engagement wasn’t announced in the papers, and when Roy offered the charity event as a possibility, I couldn’t turn him down.”

Now he’s the one leaving the truth out of it.I couldn’t say no because I need him to give me the company. It’s the only thing that matters.

Not me. Not even Jodie, who Jason claims to care about. Funny way of showing it.

“So it’s all business, then?” I bite out. “I have to call Jodie and do damage control myself.”

He sounds stressed as he offers, “Do you want me to? Explain to her, I mean?”

“Explain what? That we started seeing each other again and I’ve been lying to her about it?” Iknowhe can hear the hurt in my voice. Iknowhe knows he messed up.