“Allyson!” Dane felt his jaw clench, his entire body coiling with some indescribable emotion.
She rushed back into the conference room. “What is it?”
Without a word, he pointed at the television.
Her eyes widened. “Oh crap!”
This was bad. Worse than bad. Faking a marriage was one thing, but this rumor could sink everything. Even if his mother had managed to keep the local press on a short leash, the media houses were liable to go digging now. He cursed under his breath.
“Should we call the PR department?” She bit her lip. “Maybe we could put out a statement.”
He shook his head, his blood boiling. Someone had the audacity to tell lies about Allyson, putting her in a position like this, and he was going to find out who. “I’m going to deal with this now.”
“How?”
“I’m going to talk the network on the phone.”
She pulled her cell phone out of her jacket pocket, and started searching for the network contact number. “I can get a network producer on the line.”
“Good,” he said tightly.
After dialing the number, she handed over her cell phone.
“Wayne Radcliffe speaking,” a pompous voice answered.
Radcliffe. Dane knew him. Met him a few times at some media functions. Making the guy angry might not be good for Prescott Global, but Dane was too enraged to care. “Where the hell did you get this BS about my wife being pregnant?”
“Oh, hello, Mr. Prescott,” Radcliffe said smoothly. “I’m not at liberty to reveal my sources—”
“Like hell you aren’t,” Dane barked.
Allyson lunged for the phone, but he was too quick for her. He rose to his feet and headed to the other side of the conference room. Good sense told him to back down from this, but Dane never backed down from anything.
“Our sources are confidential.”
“Look, if something like this causes my allegedly pregnant wife undue distress, you’re the first person I’m coming after,” Dane said. “Prescott has damn good lawyers.”
Radcliffe paused. “I want to tell you, really I do, but I can’t just give you a name.”
“Well, give me a clue then.” Dane could play the same game this little weasel was playing.
Radcliffe sighed loudly. “Fine. I wouldn’t trust the staff at Handel and Company if I were you. You think you’re acquiring them, but they’re not going to go down quietly.”
“They’re signing this deal next week,” Dane said. That was basically an open secret, so it wasn’t like he was revealing anything the media hadn’t already speculated on.
“Yes, but they don’t think of this as just an acquisition. I have it from a very reliable source that they’re not going to stand by and let their hundred-year-old company get swallowed up. They see the merger as more of a marriage than anything else,” Radcliffe said. “By the way, all this is off the record so you didn’t hear any of this from me.”
“Don’t worry,” Dane said. “I won’t be telling anyone about this.”
“Except maybe your wife? By the way, how far along is she? Rumor has it you two tied the knot because you knocked her up.”
Dane wanted nothing more than to wring the man’s neck. He clenched his fist. “That’s a damn lie!”
“Yes, well, if you ever want to tell your side of the story you have my number,” Radcliffe said. “By the way, have you got a comment?”
“Yes,” Dane said through gritted teeth. “The Handels can go straight to hell.”
“Dane,” Allyson gasped audibly.
“Noted,” Radcliffe said. “I heard you and your new wife will be attending the McPhearson Foundation Fundraiser at the Prescott Hotel next week. I’ll be there as well, so if you’d like to speak—”
Click.
“Damn it!” Cell phones did not have that satisfying feeling when you hung up on someone. Dane set the phone down hard on the table. If it broke, he’d buy Allyson a new one. Another word out of that unscrupulous jackass and he was liable to go down to the network office and do something they would all regret.
“What did you do?”.
Dane turned around to look at Allyson. Her green eyes were wide, her hands practically tearing at her black hair. “I did what I had to do,” he said calmly. “I’m not letting these people spread lies about you or me.”
“We’re living a lie right now,” she said, an edge of desperation in her voice. “That was not a good idea. The gala’s next week. You need the Handels to sign.”
He shrugged. “Let ‘em sue me. They know where I work.”
“Oh, for shit’s sake! You are the most stubborn man I have ever met.” She groaned. “Your mother’s not going to be happy.”
“Nothing makes that woman happy.”
“What woman?”
Seriously? Did she fly around the office on a broom?
Allyson leaped about ten feet into the air, while Dane just stared. There she was. His dear old mother standing in the doorway of Prescott Global’s fiftieth floor’s conference room.
“Nobody,” Allyson squeaked.
“Have you seen the news?” His mother’s shrill voice bounced off the walls.
“What are you doing here?”
“Hello to you, too, dear,” his mother said sharply. “I’ve flown back to the city for an emergency meeting with some of our country club friends. They’d like some new sports equipment.”
“That’s an emergency?”
His mother rolled her eyes. “Yes. Business is always an emergency.”
He felt a headache coming on. He’d spent an incredible afternoon with Allyson and now it was crashing down around them. “We weren’t expecting you, Mother.”
“Clearly,” she snapped. “Have you heard? They think you two are pregnant. What the devil do we do now?”
“I’ve taken care of it,” Dane said.
“Uh…” Allyson chewed her lower lip.
“What does that mean?” his mother demanded.
“It means the Handels might get wind of a choice quote I made to the media a few minutes ago,” Dane said stiffly.
“You are joking, right?” Liliana shook her head. “How bad is it?”
Allyson cleared her throat. “We might have to call the Handels and warn them Dane’s been misquoted.”
“Why on earth would you give the media more quotes at a time like this?” his mother ranted. “I thought this morning’s interview went well.”
“It did. Then the pregnancy rumors made national headlines.” Allyson looked ready to faint.
Liliana waved her hands in the air. Dane tilted his head as he watched her. He’d never seen her so animated. Which meant they really were in hot water. “So, you two decided to call the press without a plan?”
“I decided,” he said through gritted teeth. “I called and gave them a quote. None of this is Allyson’s fault.”
“Why would you do that? Why would you act so impulsively?” His mother shook her head.
He paused. How to explain? They hadn’t decided to tell his mother the truth yet. To tell her that there really was something romantic between them, and no lie could compare to the way he really felt about her. No charade could be as passionate as the very real thing they shared between them. Instead he simply said, “I wanted to defend her honor.”
“That’s very noble, but it doesn’t help us.” Liliana began pacing. “I seem to be getting you out of a lot of messes these days, Dane. I’m not sure I can fix this one. If we lose the Handel merger, we suddenly don’t have much of a company worth fighting for. We need this merger. At all costs.”
Allyson took a deep breath. “Call the Handels and get ahead of this. And then we wow them at the gala next week.”
His mother stared at her and then raised an eyebrow. “You know, I had you all wrong, Allyson. You’re made of tougher material than I thought.”
“I try.” Allyson smiled weakly, not glancing at Dane. “I think we need to do some planning. And confirm to the press that I’m not pregnant. Issue a statement. Keep things simple.”
“Good idea.” His mother glared at him. “Dane, do you think you can manage not to screw up anything more today? Allyson and I now have work to do.”
He stared at the two women in front of him, wondering how the hell he’d turned into the bad guy. He stomped toward the door. “Do whatever. I’m going golfing.”
* * *
The next few days passed in a blur. A mess of trying to fix things, keeping a low profile, and playing pretend. More exhausting than working off a few hours a sleep.
Now it was the night of the gala. The night before the Fourth of July holiday. As she reapplied her red lipstick in the back of the limo Allyson thought it was fitting, considering the monumental amount of business they had to get done tonight. It was probably best they get a break tomorrow.
Dane sat beside her, on the phone, making last minute preparations with his mother. Between trying to leak good press after Dane’s choice words with Wayne Radcliffe, and Dane’s mother teaching Allyson as much as possible to be ready for the gala, Allyson was exhausted.
She put her lipstick away and glanced at Dane. He was what kept her going. She’d stayed at his condo, but had her own room because, as he explained, he didn’t want to be presumptuous. They’d agreed to wait until after the gala to make firm decisions, but he’d assured her that he wanted to see this through.
When Dane hung up, he turned to her and took her hand in his. “The Handels are already there.”
“Are they upset?” A few networks had run with the story that Dane blamed the Handels for the pregnancy rumors, but the interview they’d done last week seemed to smooth things over. Dane had nothing but kind words about the Handels in that piece, so she hoped some of the damage had been mitigated.
“I think our interview probably fixed a hell of a lot,” he said. “Still, this was clearly my fault. I blasted the reporter because I was angry. That’s not my usual game. I don’t know what’s come over me lately.”
She stared down at their entwined hands, the sight warming her heart. “You were only trying to defend me.”
“And I’d do it again,” he confessed. He gazed at her intently, his blue eyes transfixing her.
A smile played on her lips. “You always seem to land yourself in a world of trouble when you defend me.”
Something mischievous flashed in his eyes. “We ended up in bed together after I told off your family. That night was fucking amazing.”
She gasped softly.
He grinned wolfishly, and that made her laugh. Even though she was staying at his place, they hadn’t had sex again. They had decided that mixing business with pleasure had made things more than a little complicated. Still, that hadn’t stopped them from making out on his couch. Staying at his place made her feel like a schoolgirl again. She felt giddy and excited every day.
“I can’t wait for tonight to be over.” He leaned back against the seat. “Then we can be together and I’ll have you all to myself.”
“I can’t wait either.”
He gazed at her again. She shivered under his intense scrutiny. Nobody had ever looked at her that way. He had a habit of looking at her like she was the only woman in the world. “
“You’re telling me now.” Could it really be true? Could he really be falling for her? After everything that had happened?
He leaned forward to kiss her and then paused. “Forgot about your makeup.” Instead, he pressed her hand to his lips and kissed it. Warmth spread across her skin.
The limo stopped in front of the Prescott Hotel, and Dane helped her out of the limousine. A crowd of elegantly-dressed guests was heading across the red carpet that led inside. The hotel was one of many properties that Dane’s family owned in New York City, and they had spared no expense. The hundreds of flowers lining the entrance alone must have cost a small fortune.
She turned to Dane, and he looked so handsome it took her breath away. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, his blond hair slicked back.
“You look so beautiful,” he said, offering his arm.
“Thank you.” Her cheeks warmed and she took his arm, letting him lead her inside. While everyone else had to check in with the guest list, she and Dane were ushered down the hall to the balcony of the hotel ballroom.
Allyson inhaled deeply, forcing herself to breathe. An elegant and intimidating flight of stairs led down from the balcony to the ballroom below. The dancefloor was crowded with New York high society, mingling, drinking, and dancing. An orchestra was playing on the far side of the ballroom. Some of the guests spotted them standing on the balcony and a hush seemed to fall over the room.
Her heart was in her throat. Terror gripped her. She’d spent the last several days preparing for this by going over lessons with Dane and his mother, but nothing could prepare her for the hundreds of eyes staring at her. They all thought she was his wife. No matter how deep her feelings for Dane, the hardest part of this whole charade was about to begin.
“What if I fall?” she blurted out desperately.
He turned his attention to her. “I won’t let you. If you fall I’ll catch you, and then vault myself down the stairs to make it look like I’m the clumsy oaf who caused the mess in the first place.”
She laughed. It sounded crazy, but she knew if the worst were to happen he would do it.
“No matter what happens,” he continued, “I’m proud of you. And I’m honored that you’re the woman I get to be here with. We might be faking it, but my feelings for you are real.”
A lump formed in her throat. A familiar sting pricked her eyes, but she blinked back the tears. Her mascara wasn’t waterproof and Dane’s mother’s assistant had spent so much time helping her get ready for tonight. Her makeup had been painstakingly applied, a sparkling, tiny headband added to her smooth, black bobbed hair.
Dressed in the stunning evening gown Dane loved so much, and the golden heels she had chosen, she had never felt so sexy and desirable in her life.
“You know, I’m crazy about you, too,” she said.
He flashed that dazzling smile of his, and he started to guide her down the long flight of stairs to the ballroom. She didn’t fall.
When they got to the bottom of the stairs, the crowd seemed to part for them.
“Care to dance? Saves making introductions to…well, basically everyone in the room.”
“I’d love to,” she whispered.
They had gone over the steps, but with barely a week of dance lessons she still felt unsure. She placed her hand on his shoulder, and he slipped his hand around her waist. His touch reassured her. Made her feel strong, and elegant. Made her feel like she belonged here with him. Allyson placed her other hand in his, and he started to twirl her around the shiny dancefloor.
Fighting the impulse to look down at her feet to make sure the steps were right, she stared deeply into Dane’s bright blue eyes. They burned for her like two blue flames. If there were other couples dancing, Allyson didn’t know it. Dane was the center of the world.
After the waltz, Dane pointed to his parents and John Handel chatting in a corner of the ballroom. “It’s show time,” he said, and gave her an encouraging smile.
As they approached, Dane’s parents and John Handel looked up in unison.
“It’s wonderful to see you again.” John Handel smiled at her. “I just knew there was something going on between you two that evening at the ball park. Little did I know it would end up being marriage. Congratulations!”
“It’s wonderful to see you as well, Mr. Handel,” Allyson replied. “And thank you.”
“Please, call me John,” Mr. Handel insisted. “Now, considering the wonderful women they married, I can’t tell which man is luckier: Dane or his father.”
Dane smiled. “I think we’ve got a little competition with you, Mr. Handel. Where is Mrs. Handel, by the way?”
“She and the children are fashionably late as usual,” John replied with a laugh. “But don’t worry, I won’t be disappointing the newlyweds this evening. I fully intend to sign our little agreement.”
Relief washed over Allyson. After the nerve-wracking week of playing pretend, their lie was about to pay off. She hated to deceive everyone, but they’d soon put things right. Besides, after all this was over she and Dane were free to be together. At last.
After everything they had been through, she knew that they could face anything. There had been doubts and setbacks, but at the end of it all nothing could keep them apart. Not his meddling mother. Not the press. Not even her own doubts and fears. She and Dane were meant to be. That was all that mattered now.
They chatted for a little while longer, until John Handel suggested it was time to sign the deal. “We can sign as long as our lawyers are present. You two newlyweds can go back to dancing.”
Dane’s parents and John headed out of the ballroom. Allyson knew that after the deal was signed, the press would be notified and the news would run in tomorrow’s newspapers. It might be a holiday, but technology meant that the news always ran no matter the circumstances.
He smiled down at her. “If think we’ve pulled it off.”
“I almost can’t believe it.”
“Believe it.” He laughed. “I think John Handel is quite taken by you. Not that I blame him.”
“That sort of flattery could get you into all kinds of trouble,” she warned.
“We have a day off tomorrow, so I look forward to getting into trouble with you.” His words made her tingle all over. “How about some Champagne to celebrate?”
She nodded. “I’d like that.”
The Champagne was divine. The bubbles tickled on the way down. Usually when Allyson came to one of these swanky events, she served as Dane’s assistant. These high-society affairs were almost always work. She never had time to take in the opulent chandeliers. Never had time to appreciate the music. Or dress up like she was now. Or show up on the arm of the most gorgeous man in the room.
She and Dane drank and chatted together while an announcer stood in front of a microphone and updated the guests on the amount of money raised for one of the local children’s hospitals.
A tall, good-looking man Allyson recognized from the local news approached them. “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Prescott. I’m Rick Diamond from Channel 15 News. I was wondering if you’re ready for a short interview tonight.”
“We promised the station we’d give them a live sound bite,” she reminded Dane, already going into assistant mode.
Dane nodded and took her Champagne flute from her hands to hand their glasses to a passing waiter. With her arm in his they followed the reporter, making their way to the hotel conference room. The press had gathered in the enormous conference room, and various guests were already giving interviews.
Dane and Allyson headed over to a cameraman, and waited while Rick and a producer did a sound check. Satisfied, Rick turned to face the camera to start giving his report. Then he turned to Allyson and Dane, firing off questions about the fundraiser. Allyson let Dane answer most of the questions while he held her hand tightly. He was a pro at this, and he answered all the questions with easy charm.
Out of the corner of her eye, Allyson spied an unkempt man approaching them, holding a microphone. She frowned. He looked more like one of those paparazzi types than a respected journalist, but she was still surprised a member of the press would be brazen enough to get into the shot of the camera on live TV.
Suddenly, the unkempt man shoved poor Rick Diamond out of the frame of his own report and held up his microphone. Allyson stared in horror.
“I think you’re in the wrong shot,” Dane said in annoyance.
The unkempt man was sweating profusely, as if he’d been running. “Sorry to crash like this, but I’m wondering if either of you would like to respond to the news that’s just dropped?”
Allyson frowned. “What news?”
“The news that what you two are doing is totally fake,” the unkempt paparazzo asked. “How do you two want to respond to these allegations that your relationship is phony, and that you’ve been lying to the world all this time?”
She froze. Her heart hammered wildly in her chest. Horror and humiliation washed over her. She glanced around the room, desperate to find an escape before her embarrassment on live television got worse. Most of the crowd in the room seemed oblivious to what was going on. Except one.
On the far side of the conference room an elegant, statuesque blonde stared coldly in Allyson’s direction. A knowing smile curved the woman’s lips.
Allyson would know that blonde vixen anywhere.
Katherine Handel. Here to watch their fall and total humiliation.
THE END