Page 19 of Fake It For Glory

JENSEN

Isat at my desk, trying to focus on an intricate piece of code, but my head wasn’t in it thanks to my sister. Hattie was pacing my office. She was going to drive me crazy. She was impatiently waiting for my “girlfriend” to arrive. Since it was her big idea, I wanted her involved in this process. I didn’t know the first thing about hiring a woman to pretend to be my girlfriend. It was out of my comfort zone. Way out. Hattie thought it was a great plan, so now she could handle the details.

I sighed, looking up from my computer screen as Hattie continued to pace the room. Her heels clicked against the hard floor, echoing throughout the space. She was nervous. I could tell by the way she kept running her hands through her hair. I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Sit down before you scuff my marble floors,” I complained.

She dropped into a chair and started drumming her fingernails on the armrest. I was pretty sure she was intentionally trying to drive me crazy.

“Hattie! I’m trying to work here!” I exclaimed, hoping to get her to stop.

She shot me an apologetic look before standing up again and continuing her pacing. I couldn’t take it anymore. I stood up and grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to look me in the eye.

“Hattie, calm down. Everything will be fine. The woman will arrive soon and we’ll be able to get this over with,” I said reassuringly.

Hattie nodded, taking a deep breath and trying to steady herself. I let go of her shoulders and went back to my desk, trying to focus on work once again.

Hattie continued to fidget, her eyes darting around the room as if she was looking for a way out. I could tell that she was having second thoughts about the plan we had concocted. I leaned back in my chair, watching her closely.

“Hattie, it’s going to be okay. Although I’m not sure why I’m the one trying to convince you after you spent so much time trying to tell me this was a good option.”

“I just don’t know if this will work,” she said more to herself than me. “This might not be the best idea. I’m nervous.”

In my mind, she was a little late to the nervous party. I was the one that resisted the idea. She was the one that insisted it was a great plan. Now, she wanted to have second thoughts? The woman was already on her way. If I backed out now, I was sure she would sue me for the nose thing. And if I was being completely honest, I was kind of looking forward to getting to know the woman.

“What if people find out you hired this girl?” Hattie asked. “What if she exposes us? What if she’s a loose cannon?”

“You are the one that wanted me to do this,” I reminded her.

“What if my suggestion makes your reputation worse?”

I sighed and gave her my attention, which she obviously needed. “This is the right move,” I assured her.

“If this goes bad, you’re going to hate me,” she pouted.

“I made the decision on my own. If it bites me in the ass, it’s not on you. I didn’t follow the process Della laid out. I made my own choice. I can’t blame anyone but myself.”

As I spoke, Hattie seemed to calm down a bit. She took a deep breath and looked at me with a small smile.

“You’re right,” she said. “I’m just being paranoid. It’ll be fine.”

I nodded, relieved that she was on board again. This plan was too important to back out now. She convinced me I needed to rehab my image. I never realized my image was such a problem until she pointed it out, but here we were.

The woman I hired was supposed to be a professional and we had to rely on her to be discreet. I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this, but I had to admit, I was excited.

Finally, Susan announced via the intercom that Merida had arrived. I was suddenly nervous. Hattie got to her feet and gave me a onceover. “Smile,” she ordered. “You need to make a good first impression.”

“I’ve already met her.”

“That didn’t count. She was probably delirious after you knocked her on her ass. This is your second chance to make a good first impression. Try not to push her out the window or anything.”

“Not funny,” I muttered.

The door opened and Susan escorted Merida inside. I saw the skepticism on Susan’s face. “Thank you, Susan.”

“Do you need anything?” she asked, like she wasn’t sure the woman belonged. I didn’t tell Susan about my arrangement with Merida. The fewer people that knew, the better.

“We’re good.”