Two
The DC Insider: The hottest romance in town just got more interesting. Ever wonder what happens when the lady in question calls our office to insist there is no romance? Well, we call the gentlemen for his comment. And Derrick Jameson did not disappoint. The usually demanding businessman chuckled and said, “You should listen to Ellie. I enjoy acquiescing to her.” These two are never dull.
She’d been summoned.
The call came at a little after nine the next morning. Ellie debated ignoring it. She wasn’t exactly the type to jump when a man ordered, but then Derrick was no ordinary man. He seemed to enjoy ticking her off.
Yet there she was, two hours later, walking along a long hallway on the fifteenth floor of the Jameson Industries’ office building. Pristine white walls surrounded her as her heels clicked against the polished hardwood floors. People moved in and out and around cubicle walls. They carried stacks of papers and shuffled with a sense of urgency.
She missed the energy of a busy office. Insurance underwriting wasn’t the most exciting topic but she’d worked in human resources, slowly taking on more responsibility. She loved coming into a pile of files waiting on her desk each morning and solving problems.
Everything went fine until the big boss took an overactive interest in her. She’d done everything she’d been trained to do. Documented his behavior. She’d known how hard it was to report that sort of thing up the chain of command without becoming the subject of gossip. Before her boss made his move she’d set up a system to handle the concerns. Then she got fired before she could implement it.
The attorney she contacted about the firing but could barely afford said she had a good case. But her former boss had the resources to drag the thing out and exhaust her.
She tried not to think about that as two men headed straight for her. She slipped to the side, banging into the wall and knocking the corner of a painting. One that likely cost more than her car. After that, one more turn and she moved into a quieter part of the floor. No one scurried here.
Sleek furniture made of unblemished leather with shiny chrome accents filled the open reception area. That, and a desk covered with piles of files, was all that stood between her and a set of closed double doors. Those and the guy next to her. She couldn’t remember her escort’s name, wasn’t even sure he’d offered it.
Before she could ask, he reached out and knocked on the door to the right in front of them. One brisk thwack then he opened it. Even gestured for her to step inside in front of him.
No, thank you.
Her legs refused to move, anyway. The threshold seemed innocent enough, but the man on the other side was not. Every inch of this place screamed money. Something she’d never had enough of and worked liked crazy to stockpile in case her life hit a bump...just as it had. More like a Himalayan mountain, but still.
She couldn’t see Derrick at the moment, but she did have an unrestricted view of his desk. The thing had to be eight feet long. Formidable, like the man who sat at it.
She refused to go one step further. Decided to call out instead. “What do you want?”
“Come inside,” the faceless voice said from some hidden corner of the office.
She noted the deep and commanding tone. Yeah, this was going to be a quick meeting.
“I’m fine here,” she said.
The security guy put his hand over his mouth to cover what sounded like a fake cough. He hesitated a second before saying anything. “You really should obey him.”
Apparently she’d gotten off the elevator and stepped back a century. “Did you use the word obey?”
“Don’t fight with Jackson. It’s me you want,” Derrick said, still without making an appearance.
She glanced at the man looming next to her. He stood well over six feet with brown hair and a lean athletic build. Attractive in a liked-to-run-along-the-Potomac sort of way, he looked far too amused by what was happening. “Is Jackson your first name or last?”
Before he could answer, Derrick stepped out of the room off to the side of his office and into the doorway. Hovered right in front of her. He nodded as a small smile played on the corner of his mouth. “Ellie, it’s good to see you again.”
The warmth in his eyes. That tone. A strange dizziness slammed into her when he got close. No way was she being reeled in by that charm thing he seemed to have flicked on. Nope, she knew better.
She managed a nod. “Mr. Jameson.”
“Come inside. Despite our argument last night, we have a lot to discuss.” He swept a hand toward the inside of his oversize corner office.
The very real sense she was out of her league slammed into her. “What would you do if I said no?”
He frowned. “Why would you?”
“You have this guy following me around the hallways...no offense.” She winced as she glanced at Jackson before looking at Derrick again. “Then there’s the part where you ordered me to come here. Today. Right now.”
“Ten minutes ago.”
“What?”
“I asked you to meet with me ten minutes ago. I assumed you being late was some sort of power play. Unless you have a problem with tardiness. If so, we’ll need to work on that.”
She glanced at Jackson again. “Is he serious?”
Jackson nodded. “Almost always.”
“Ellie.” That’s it. Derrick just said her name then turned and walked across the room, stopping next to his desk.
“Your manners need some work.” She didn’t bother mumbling as she followed him. If he wasn’t going to be subtle, neither was she.
“So I’ve been told.”
“Then there’s the very real sense you’re setting me up.” Not so much a sense as a fact. If he planted one rumor, he could plant many. And that seemed to be his intent.
“How so?” He had the nerve to look confused.
She refused to believe he was that clueless.
“I complain about a story on the internet about us and suddenly there’s a photo of us up there, complete with a new quote from you.” An annoying quote. One that didn’t say anything yet managed to say a lot. “I called them and denied that we were together and you...actually, I don’t know what you were doing when you talked to the Insider.”
“I was being a gentleman.”
She took a few steps. Hovering there in his office gave her confidence. “You mean the I-don’t-kiss-and-tell thing? Oh, please. You were toying with them because it amused you.”
“Admittedly, I’m not often at a loss for words, but I’m not sure what to say to that comment.”
“You could admit you set me up to be featured on the Insider. Again.” The sound of a cough and rustling had her turning around.
Jackson stood there with his attention focused on Derrick. “Do you need anything from me, sir?”
“No, but it would be wise to stay close by in the hall in case Ms. Gold brought a weapon.”
She had forgotten poor Jackson was still there. Hearing the door click behind her as he left, she tried not to fidget. Now it was the two of them temporarily trapped in a room bigger than her entire apartment.
Rather than retreat, she stepped forward. Followed Derrick’s trail until she stood on the opposite side of his desk and watched him slip into his chair. “As if I could have gotten anything through the two rounds of security.”
He leaned back. “I find myself a bit more careful these days.”
“These days?”
“Since your brother stole from me then turned around a few days later and tried to throw the scent off him by taking public shots at me.” Derrick motioned toward the chair next to her.
“So, that’s it. The rumors, the photos, the fake social news suggesting we’re together.” She dumped her purse on the seat but remained on her feet. “You’re coming after me to get even. This is some sort of weird revenge.”
Derrick nodded. “A fascinating theory.”
That really was the only explanation. Even though money had always been tight, Noah wasn’t the type to steal.
“I see the dramatic streak runs in the family.” Derrick’s exhale filled the room. “Lucky me.”
Right. I’m the dramatic one. “Says the guy who has a private butler and an office set off from everyone else.”
“Security.”
Everything inside her froze. “Excuse me?”
“Jackson is my head of security.”
She relaxed but not much. Something told her she needed to be on her toes with this guy. He might talk smooth and look like he stepped out of her hottest fantasy, but that didn’t change the facts. He was a ruthless jackass. “Do that many people want to kill you?”
“My family has significant business interests. That sort of thing tends to attract trouble.”
She’d never been called that before. “Are you referring to me as the trouble?”
He shrugged. “Let’s hope not.”
She’d taken about all of the put-her-on-the-defensive moves that she could stand. It was time to get to the point so she could run out of there. “Mr. Jame—”
“I believe I asked you to call me Derrick.”
That’s what she called him in her head... “Do you think that’s wise?”
“I’m afraid you’ve lost me.”
“You and my brother are locked in some sort of public pissing match. You’re threatening him with lawyers. He’s making you look bad on the internet, which has bled over to traditional media.” She put her palms on his desk and leaned in. “What I’m saying is that fake rumors or not, we’re on opposite sides of this battle.”
His gaze skimmed over her. “We don’t have to be.”
He hadn’t moved but the heated words swept over her in a caress that had her shaking her head and standing straight again. She not only needed to be careful with Derrick, she needed body armor.
She blocked out every other thought and concentrated on the guy she’d come to think of as cold-blooded. “Has anyone ever pointed out your cryptic way of speaking?”
“Then let me be clear.” Derrick balanced his elbows on the edge of his desk and leaned in toward her. “Your brother took money out of my business accounts and is going to go to jail unless I step in and save him.”
“No, that’s not—”
Derrick held up a finger. “There’s nothing to debate. That’s a fact.” He let his hand fall again. “But I am willing to help him.”
She could almost feel a trap closing over her head. The need to bolt overtook her but she forced her legs to stay still. “Why?”
“Most people would ask how.”
She refused to be taken off guard by double-talk. “I’m not like everyone else.”
“I’m starting to see that.” Derrick watched her for a second. His gaze moved over her face in the silence. After a visible inhale, he began again, his voice louder and more firm. “I will help your brother but he has to do something for me.”
“You don’t like that he’s making you look like a complete jerk, maybe even a bit incompetent.” She got that.
Derrick fired Noah eight weeks ago, exactly two weeks before she lost her job. Noah’s videos started out as a way to let off steam. Then he gained followers. A lot of them. He even managed to make money off his internet work, but she had no idea how.
He’d become a symbol for the “little man” fighting against the corporate machine. As his following grew, so did his stories about Derrick and the company.
Blame it on Noah’s baby face or his sarcasm, but media and online sites had picked up the battle. Then Derrick’s lawyers had made contact...and so had the prosecutor’s office about the missing funds.
And now Derrick had the Insider and its gossip network working for him.
“I have shareholders and business associates,” Derrick said.
“So, this is about money.”
Derrick’s frown deepened. “Isn’t everything?”
Not an unexpected answer, but still... “It worries me that you don’t know how scary that question is.”
“I’m proposing a quid pro quo. I make your brother’s legal issues disappear. He shuts down his site and I assist him in finding other more profitable and appropriate ways to channel his technology experience.”
That sounded somewhat reasonable, which scared her. “That’s the entire deal you’re offering?”
“No.”
She beat back a wave of disappointment. She’d taken care of her brilliant brother for so long. Tried to keep him occupied and out of trouble. The idea of having someone else handle that job sounded really good to her at the moment. With her life in shambles and the need to find a new job nipping at her, she loved the idea of having one less stress to deal with.
“I haven’t told you what I get out of this,” Derrick said.
Her heart sank. She held in a groan before it could escape her lips. “You did. He stops running the site.”
It might sound easy but it wasn’t. Noah didn’t have anything else right now except for his anger at Derrick and the attention from his videos. It was the “thing” that kept Noah going. It also provided him with more attention and praise than he’d ever gotten.
“The damage is done. He’s lied and caused me what could be irreparable damage,” Derrick said.
His words pounded her but she kept her shoulders up and her back straight. “That sounds like a legal term.”
“Because it is.”
That meant more fighting. More lawyer fees on top of the ones for her employment attorney. “I thought you were worried about the lost money.”
“There are bigger issues here.”
She couldn’t imagine money being a side concern. “Noah is a kid.”
“Noah is twenty and a genius.” When she opened her mouth to respond, Derrick talked right over her. “You are twenty-nine, which means you’re old enough to know he’s looking at criminal charges and civil repercussions for the money, which I’m willing to overlook right now.”
“I’m going to pretend I know what that means and jump ahead. What is your part of the quid pro quo? Because you don’t strike me as a guy who does things to be nice.” That wasn’t quite true. He’d hired Noah and ignored his lack of a degree and questionable people skills. But he’d also had security escort Noah out of the building months later. Now that she knew how that felt, she had even more sympathy for her brother. “What do you want?”
“You.”
A weird, high-pitched ringing filled her ears. She shook her head but it refused to die down. “What?”
“The carefully placed stories about us have been aimed at diffusing some of your brother’s damage.”
“In other words, you’re using me to somehow make yourself look better.”
He shrugged. “That’s not the way I’d put it.”
“Of course not, since you’re clearly clueless about women.”
That had him sitting straighter. “Excuse me?”
Bull’s-eye. The idea that she’d found the one thing sure to grab his attention—questioning his success with women—filled her with relief. “You’re letting people believe we’re together and—”
“Dating. People are starting to believe we’re dating and that your brother doesn’t like it and is trying to break us up by launching false charges against me.” Derrick looked far too pleased with himself. “Which was exactly my plan.”
“That’s ridiculous.” She could think of a lot of other words to describe it but kept the conversation G-rated.
“I thought so, too, when the PR team suggested it, but I guess the public does like a good love story.”
A scream rattled around inside her. “Did you ever think to ask me first?”
“No.”
The quick response had her sputtering. “That’s really your answer?”
“I called you lovely in my interview with the Insider, which I think we can agree was a bit of a stretch since you looked ready to punch me the first time we met in person.”
“Oh, you picked up on that?” Good to know.
“Let’s get down to it.” He leaned in again. Didn’t break eye contact. “We’re talking about a business arrangement.”
“Who is?”
“You will pose as my girlfriend for an appropriate length of time, short though because the timing is important here. Long enough for us to sell that we’ve been dating. Then you’ll act as my fiancée and—”
“Wait.” That ringing in her ears turned into a loud clanging sound.
He stared at her. “I haven’t finished explaining the plan.”
When his PR team said he’d needed to create a diversion, it made sense in an abstract sort of way. But they could not have meant her. He—they—didn’t even know her. And no way did they mean an engagement.
She suspected they’d talked about him finding a life outside the office. She tried to direct him there. “I’m sure there are women in town who would want to date you. It’s tough out there and my brother isn’t exactly highlighting your good side. But you have money and you’re...you know...”
He studied her now, like how he might study something on the bottom of his shoe. “I have no idea what you’re trying to say.”
“Well, your face is...fine.” As in perfect and compelling. Way too kissable.
His eyes widened. “Fine?”
Because space seemed like a good idea she stepped away from the desk. Tried to draw enough air into her lungs and head to be able to breathe again. “Don’t rich people travel in packs? I’m sure you can hang out at your country club or polo club, or wherever it is you go for fun, and find a nice woman who—”
“I am not hard up for a date.” He sounded stunned at the idea.
“Well, there.” She almost clapped but decided that was too much. “Good for you.”
“I am, however, on the wrong side of your brother’s ill-advised rant.” He made a face that suggested he thought she should be picking up on his point a bit faster. “I explained this to you at the hotel.”
“You said you needed good news to balance out the bad.” That made sense, which only made her wariness tick up even higher. “So, hire someone to pretend date you if you don’t want an actual girlfriend.”
“It needs to be you. You provide a reason for your brother’s specific attack.” When she tried to stop him, he kept right on talking. Rolled right over her. “We put on a very public show. We get people to see us as a couple, get engaged—not for real, of course—and we neutralize some of the damage your brother has done.”
“A fake fiancée.” She said the words nice and slow, thinking he’d stop her because he had to be kidding.
Never mind that she could barely stand him. Sure, she’d spun wild daydreams about him. Even imagined what he might look like without that serious suit and the fancy office, but come on.
“Exactly.” The phone on his desk rang. He hit a button and the sound cut off. “You’ve spent a significant part of your life protecting your baby brother and I suspect you will continue to do so now, even though it’s misguided.”
That hit a bit too close to the comments Vanessa had made last night. “Misguided? I’m confused. Are you arguing for this fake engagement thing or not?”
“People will see us together, which will telegraph the message that I am not the man your brother says I am. You wouldn’t date me otherwise. It will be a business arrangement that will benefit you greatly, and it will keep me from going after him for the money.” He shrugged. “And, since time is a factor, I went ahead and started the rumors. As you know.”
“Because that made sense to you?”
“Because your brother is in serious legal trouble and I can help him. I can also provide some guidance for the future and take the pressure off you. In many ways.”
For the first time she noticed his hands. Those long fingers. The strength. The way he rubbed his palms together as if that in-control voice didn’t quite match whatever was happening inside him.
But none of that calmed her wariness. Not when every word he uttered carried a note of a threat. “What does that mean?”
“You were recently fired.”
Her stomach dropped, and not in a good way. Forget his deep, soothing voice and the sexy confidence that thrummed off him. If he made one wrong comment about her losing her job she would lunge across the desk and strangle him with that blue tie. “Laid off.”
“We both know that’s not true.” Derrick didn’t stop talking long enough to let her break in. “It would appear I’m not the only one who has an image to salvage. While you’re doing that, I will pay your bills.”
That sounded like...well, not good. “No.”
“Consider this an acting role of sorts. One for which you should be paid.” He picked up the folder in front of him and slid it toward her. “Here.”
“What’s that?”
“A contract.”
The guy was prepared. She had to give him that. “You think I’m going to say yes then sign something?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Love, honor, decency.” She probably should have thrown in a few more words but her brain refused to reboot. It had been misfiring ever since he’d smiled that first time.
“I’m not sure what any of those have to do with this arrangement.” He nodded at the folder. “Take a look. Everyone benefits.”
“Mostly you.”
“I don’t deny I get something out of this, but so do you. More important, so does Noah.”
That sounded good but she doubted Derrick would deal fairly with Noah at this point. She couldn’t believe the charges against her brother. But the idea that Derrick would waste time going after Noah if he was innocent didn’t make much sense, either.
As soon as the doubts crept into her head about her brother, she tried to push them out again. Be loyal. “Noah denies the charges.”
“He’s lying.” Derrick didn’t even flinch as he talked. Never broke eye contact. Didn’t give away any sign that he doubted what he said.
Something about his coolness made her insides shake. “Why should I believe you over my brother?”
“Deep down, you know I’m right.”
“I don’t think—”
“Yes, it would be better if you didn’t, but I’m betting you will study this proposal from every angle.” Derrick put his hand on the folder. “You can have until tomorrow morning.”
She had to grab on to the chair next to her for balance. The room had started spinning and with each word he said rocked her harder. “For what?”
“To give me your response. As I said, time is of the essence. I am currently holding off the prosecutor but he needs an answer about your brother.”
“And he’ll do what you say?”
“We went to college together.”
“Of course you did.” From her experience with the job search she knew powerful people stuck together. But the caress of Derrick’s voice, the concern in his tone—it all had her taking another step back. “This bargain or offer or whatever it is...it’s ridiculous. You know that, right? I need to know you know that.”
But even as she said the words her mind starting working. He could help Noah. She could get her life in order. Derrick offered breathing room and support, and that tempted her even though she knew she couldn’t trust him one inch.
“Your brother’s actions leave me with little option, and he shows no signs of stopping even if he is arrested. Shareholder discontent is an issue. I also have a reputation in the community.”
“One that would suffer if people found out you made an offer for a fake fiancée.”
He hadn’t been moving but still his body froze. “Is that a threat, Ellie?”
“I’m trying to understand why a man with your money and power would make this offer.”
“That’s my problem, not yours.”
“If I’m going to be your fiancée then—”
He held up a hand. “In name only.”
“No sex then?” Where had that come from?
His eyebrow lifted. “I am willing to negotiate that point. Very willing.”
She could almost feel his fingertips brush over her. “Forget it.”
“You have until tomorrow at ten to give me an answer.” He broke eye contact and hit a button on his phone. “Not ten after, Ellie. Ten exactly.”
It was a dismissal. She heard it, felt it and ignored it. “I wouldn’t clear your calendar if I were you.”
He didn’t look up. “Ten.”