No strings attached

Ronny Point of View

She had lost her mind. He had just suggested that I marry my assistant to close a deal. She was touching her personally. Mrs. Nichols was sure she was suing me for sexual harassment.

But she needed this deal and surely there was a way to make Christian LaMont happy without having to get married. I could commit, close this deal, and since LaMont would experience a great business relationship with Hush Incorporated it wouldn't matter if he was married or not. At that point, Mrs. Nichols and I could safely call off the wedding.

"Congratulations! LaMont exclaimed. I have something else to celebrate with my wife tonight. We are hopeless romantics”.

I wondered if that was in the French DNA. I looked at Mrs. Nichols, who was next to me, hoping she would agree. His eyes were wide open and I was sure he was going to expose my lie. God, I could only imagine what LaMont would think of me then.

"You didn't expect me to share this news," LaMont told him. "She looked at me and then at him.

"No. I did not expect it”.

"We haven't told anyone yet. "I squeezed her hand hoping she would play along.

"Is there any reason why your family wouldn't approve?" My experience with Mrs. Nichols has been quite good. She is intelligent and competent. And from what I can see of her, she's quite charming. What more could a man want?

God, just what I needed, to be exalting my assistant's physical features. He was actually going to get the company sued.

"She is all that and more," I said. I was not lying; She was competent at his job, often able to anticipate my needs. And she was pretty, she supposed, although he tried not to look at her like that. Her long brown locks were always tied up. She was wearing a business attire that was professional but did not hide her femininity. Damn, I couldn't think of her in those terms.

"So how long has this been going on?" LaMont asked.

"For some time, but we have kept it a secret. We didn't want to be accused of mixing business and pleasure. After all, I'm your boss. "My stomach turned as I wondered how much money her lawsuit against me would be for. I wondered if I could convince her that she should only sue me and not the entire company.

"Ah, yes, you Americans are so concerned about mixing business and pleasure. He shook his head. It is a pity. Business is much better when there is pleasure involved. So when will the nuptials be?

Jesus. I looked at her, expecting her to give me away at any moment. She didn't say anything, which was good, except that a blushing bride wouldn't be happy. She seemed more stunned than anything else.

I turned my attention back to LaMont.

"Actually, we hadn't set a date yet. We are both quite busy with work.

"I've considered running away," she said, surprising me, as well as giving me a feeling of relief.

"Las Vegas isn't that far away," I added. It's certainly worth considering.

"You know, I think I'll make this deal with you, but on one condition," LaMont said.

She couldn't decide if I was glad we made the deal or terrified of the condition.

"Which is it?

"You must allow me to host your wedding. My wife knows how to accomplish these things beautifully. And she loves it. I have a house in Tuscany that is the perfect location for the ceremony.

Uh"oh, no.

"I couldn't allow you to do that...

"Crap. Both must learn the importance of celebrating life. What good is all that money when you just hide in your office? Love should be celebrated, not conflated in an impromptu ceremony by an Elvis impersonator. There is no better place to unite two lives than Italy... You don't have to do anything. My wife and I will take care of all the details. You won't be disappointed. Surely you want to give your fiancée a fairytale wedding.

I smiled, but she worried that it looked like a grimace. She wasn't really planning on marrying me. All I could think about was what was going through Mrs. Nichols's head. At the same time, how could she say no? Not just because she needed this treatment, but because he was being extremely generous.

"I don't know what to say. "That was all I could say.

"Say yes. My wife will be very excited. She brings the paperwork when you come, okay? "LaMont turned her head, looking to her right, as if someone was speaking to her. When he looked back at me through the computer screen, he said, “Speaking of my wife, she can't wait for me to come home.” I am very excited about this agreement. I will be in touch with the wedding details. Good morning, Ronny.

He disappeared from the screen before he could respond. I tentatively looked at Mrs. Nichols. I realized that my hand was still on his. I pushed it away from her.

"I was simply hoping to say that we were married without having to actually get married. I wanted her to know my intentions.

"I never thought that "You could lie," she said, making me feel even worse. He had put her in an awkward situation and now he was letting her down by not being the best man she could be. I shuddered.

"This agreement is important to me. We can still carry it out if we don't apply for the license.

She was speechless.

"Are you thinking about doing this? Go to Italy to get married? "I nodded.

"If you're willing to help. We can go through the paperwork and then go our own ways when the deal is done. I will be happy to offer you a bonus. And think of it this way, you have a free trip to Italy.

"It seems unethical to me. "I couldn't disagree with her on that.

"It may be a little misleading, but we are a family business, whether I am married or not. Someday I might be...

"Could you? You are not sure?

I tugged at my tie, as it felt like a noose around my neck.

"Don't know. I have to meet someone to get married and that is not a goal for me right now. But someday I might be, and when I am, I might meet someone and get married and have some kids who will then be part of the business too.

"And if they don't want to?

"That? "I felt like she had fallen into an unknown dimension.

"What if your children don't want to be in the business?

"Don't know. Surely one of them wants to. That's not a concern right now. "I couldn't let him divert me from our current topic.

"You are asking a lot.

I swallowed; I knew he was right. I'm lucky he didn't call a lawyer right now.

"I know. It's clear that I'm willing to lie to LaMont, but I'm aware that I'm acting inappropriately toward you right now. I'm sorry about that. But this company is my life. My grandmother's life. I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep it alive for future generations, whether they are my children or those of my brothers.

She rolled her eyes.

"You make it a little difficult, don't you? "She," she breathed out. I can think about it?

That was more than she expected or deserved.

"Of course, Mrs. Nichols." “She,” she laughed.

"Perhaps, given the circumstances, you should call me Katy.”