ked us. I let her take the lead on that as I suspected she’d do a better job at it. I just made sure to pay attention in case I had to repeat it.
“I have to say, I’m surprised that you finally made your move,” Christian said to me. “You seem so strait-laced.”
“Is that a code for boring?” I asked.
“He’s very sensitive about that,” Kellie said, patting my hand.
“Not boring necessarily, but usually in America, having a relationship with your staff is frowned upon, is it not? I’m sure it happens all the time, but someone like you seems like you toe the line, so to speak.” Christian seemed to like American expressions.
“How could I help it?” I said, putting my hand over Kellie’s. Hers was warm and soft, which I’d known from the few other times I’d touched her.
“How indeed,” Martina said with a smile. “Your fiancé is charming.”
“That she is.” I pulled her hand to my lips and kissed it. It wasn’t until I saw the flash of surprise in her eyes that I’d realized what I’d done. On the one hand, it was good that I could naturally show affection towards her since we're supposed to be getting married tomorrow. However, she was my assistant. I needed to be careful not to let myself become too familiar with her.
Dinner was delicious and Kellie continued to charm Christian and Martina, while I did my best to prove to him that Strong Incorporated was the type of company he could feel good about working with.
When dinner and after dinner drinks were finished, Kellie returned to the room a few minutes before I did as Christian wanted to discuss some business with me. But where I was ready for him to sign paperwork, his “business” was to tell me how relieved he was in seeing that I was settling down. I found it odd that he seemed to think I was a bit square and yet needed to settle down. Still, his relief suggested that this visit was serving its purpose. Kellie and I were succeeding in our goal.
“You’re not the wild buck like many young and rich, but you still need a woman to keep you grounded in real life. Balance is crucial. Kellie seems to provide that for you.”
I smiled as I worked to act like a fiancé would. “She does.”
“She’s a lovely woman. Smart and clearly dedicated to you.”
She had to be to agree to go along with this, I thought.
“Martina and I are completely smitten with her.”
As I returned to our room, I realized I was smitten too, which wasn’t good. I forced those feelings away. Kellie was already asleep in the bed when I got back. Tomorrow I was going to marry her, sort of. The fact that I was following through on this for a business deal was mind-boggling. And yet, there wasn’t much I wouldn’t do to help my family. I had to be grateful that Kellie was willing to go along with it.
I pulled out a blanket from a closet and stretched out on the couch to sleep for the night, trying not to think of Kellie in a towel or the fact that I was getting married to her in the morning.
10
Kellie
I woke with a start, not sure where I was. Then everything came flooding back. I was in Italy with my boss. I was getting married today. Sort of.
As I took in the flowers, my lovely dress, and the sound of a string quartet, I wondered if this beautiful fake wedding would somehow ruin the enjoyment of my real one whenever I really did get married. Today was like a fairy tale. A wedding every girl dreamed of. But it wasn’t real. When I really got married, it would likely be a small affair. I had to hope that my love for my husband would make it so that it didn’t matter that we weren’t getting married in Italy.
Ryan was whisked away early in the morning. Martina and a team of people were with me getting me ready. After her stylist did my hair and makeup, I put on the expensive dress I bought in San Diego.
“Oh my, Kellie. You’re a vision,” Martina said when I was finally all put together.
“Do you think so?” I looked in the mirror and I had to admit, my breath stalled in my chest. I couldn’t remember feeling so beautiful.
“I know so. Ryan will weep from your beauty.”
I knew that wouldn’t happen. Or maybe it would, but it wouldn’t be real. I was surprised at how well he could play the attentive fiancé. He’d even had the romantic gestures down like kissing my hand.
Martina led me to a side terrace where a photographer took my picture.
“We’ll have more photos later as well, but I thought it would be nice to have one to capture this moment right before the wedding,” she’d said.
Then she escorted me to the back where a plush carpet now lay like an aisle toward an arbor covered in flowers. People occupied the chairs. Music played softly. It really was a dream.
“Who are the guests?” It was weird to be getting married in front of strangers.