“I’m still thinking.”
She was quiet a moment.
“Somehow, you’ve got to stress that it’s you, not her—without actually saying that, of course; it’s the most cliché thing in the world, despite its truth. Maybe make it clear you don’t want to get married at all, whether true or not; after all, she just needs something for now—something she can tell her friends. If you meet the right girl someday and change your mind, it won’t matter anymore. By that time, Lucy would have moved on, and maybe it’ll sting a little, maybe not, but time heals all wounds. She just needs to be able to save face at this time.”
“Okay, so something like this: ‘There’s a better way to do this. The merger, I mean. The symbolic and legal joining between our families. I don’t want to be in your way…’”
“Yes! That’s it—focus on her. Make it all about her and her needs; that’s brilliant, Jim.”
“‘…I realize how hard you’ve worked on creating the perfect fairytale wedding and it’s only fair you marry your prince. We both know I’m not him, and I feel like a frog getting in the way.”
“Wait, is she really that kind of girl? You said she doesn’t care about any of that stuff—just money.”
“I was just trying to find an angle; I can’t exactly say she should hold out for someone richer. I guess it’s possible, but not likely she’ll find a better, easier match than me. I stand to inherit...a lot. Definitely enough for her needs. I’m the right age, decent-looking, and I’m already practically family. It really couldn’t get easier for her, and she likes easy.”
“Well, is there someone else you’ve caught her making eyes at? Someone she might be interested in that she’ll be relieved you’re freeing her up to be with?”
Jim shook his head.
“Other than what I’ve said, all I’ve got is this: ‘I think it’s better we stay friends in that general sort of sense. It’s in the best interest of both of our happiness that we keep our lives separate. Anything that happens between us could affect our fathers and their relationship. Not doing what they want now could be problematic, but not as problematic as things not working out later. Best to nip that in the bud.’”
“I guess that’s as good as it’s gonna get for now. Hopefully, once we’re there, you’ll get inspired.”
She smiled at him, and the way he smiled back made her heart leap unexpectedly once more, and again, she did her best to ignore it.
Chapter 9
Maribel
Lucy was even prettier than she’d imagined, and Maribel’s cheeks burned a little with jealousy.
Lucy’s wide blue eyes studied her too, examining her from head to torso.
“Who is this?” the blonde said with a false smile and casual tone as she sat down.
She rested her purse on the table, then, after a quick glance at Maribel, apparently thought better of it and moved the bag out of sight, dropping it next to her feet on the opposite side of Maribel, as if making sure she couldn’t reach it.
Maribel recognized the behavior and fought not to roll her eyes.
To some degree, she didn’t blame Lucy for being wary of a stranger, but she knew that wasn’t all there was to it—not by a mile.
She had learned that no matter how she was dressed, how obviously normal and unthreatening, distrust was buried so deep in some people, they’d never see her as a regular person worthy of the benefit of the doubt.
But even before the typical behavior, the appraisal Lucy had initially given her as she took in her features sent a clear message in woman-speak—Lucy was threatened by her beyond pretending she might be some petty criminal at heart.
This was not going to go well.
“Jim, this is awkward enough without…”
“She’s with the company,” Jim said. “She’s just here to report back to my dad.”
Maribel fought to keep a straight face.
She hadn’t even known Jim that long, but he was a terrible liar.
If Lucy didn’t see through his fib, she really hadn’t bothered to know him well at all.
After a final once-over, Lucy turned her complete attention to Jim.
“Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was for me?”
“I don’t know the extent of it, no; I figure it’s quite deep and there’s no way I can possibly make it up to you. But I want to begin with my sincerest apologies, Lucy; I’m truly sorry for what I did to you.”
His voice sounded genuine, and Maribel believed him, but Lucy let out a dry chuckle.
“Not a bad beginning, I suppose. But you do know there’s an easy way to make it up to me, don’t you? Look, we’ll say you found yourself suddenly ill so the wedding’s been postponed, but as long as things end up as planned…”
She smiled, reaching for his hand.
Jim’s hand quickly disappeared from the table, successfully avoiding any physical contact with hers.
Maribel tried not to look at either of them in the aftermath, but she still caught the look of raw hurt on Lucy’s face at the not-so-subtle rejection.
If Maribel was uncomfortable before, she wanted to hide under the table now; she definitely felt like an intruder at the moment.
Lucy fixed her gaze on her, and Maribel felt it burning through her as she kept her eyes averted.
“I’m sorry, what did you say she does again?” Lucy said in a different voice—casual, but in a higher pitch. “I don’t remember seeing her around before. Is she new?”
“Well, you can’t possibly know all of the company’s faces. Like I said, she’s helping me sort things out. She’s a company advisor. And a friend.”
Maribel briefly closed her eyes, ignoring the softened tone Jim’s voice took on when he said the word ’friend’ because James Daniel Craig had just stepped onto mine number one.
Unfortunately, one mine was usually all it took to blow everything to pieces.
“Friend? Really? When did this happen?” Lucy demanded, her voice climbing.
“Lucy, calm down—it’s definitely not like that.”
“Of course not! I know there’s no way you’d want her over me, and I figure a girl like her is low-hanging fruit for a night if you’re not ready to settle down and that’s fine, but how dare you bring some side whore along when you come to see me?”
“Whoa! I told you it’s not like that—now you apologize to her.”
Lucy laughed maniacally. “I must apologize now? Me? You think I can’t see with my own two eyes something’s going on between you two? God, I can’t believe you thought you could get away with this. You want to go slumming before we get hitched, fine, but don’t rub my face in it!”
She turned to Maribel, daggers in her eyes.
“Listen, you gold-digging cunt, you might get him for a night but that’s it. You’re not getting your grubby hands on his money—there’s no way I’d let you; what’s his is mine. We belong together and…”
Jim suddenly stood, cutting Lucy’s intended rant short as he surprised them both with the quick movement.
“If it wasn’t already crystal clear, Lucy, it sure as hell couldn’t be clearer now.”
The tone he used made Mari think it was what a dog’s warning growl would sound like in English.
“Tell your dad and friends whatever you have to, but I’m not getting back with you. Ever. I’m sure my dad will reimburse yours for the ridiculous wedding expenses somehow. In the meantime, you will not bring Maribel into this; you won’t dare to drag her character into the mud, do you hear me? Or so help me, you will regret it.”
Lucy looked absolutely stunned.
Jim extended his hand to Maribel and she took it as she stood while Jim glared at Lucy.
Suddenly, fire raged in Lucy’s eyes once more.
“You’re actually threatening me?” She laughed again. “That’s rich. A little jungle fever has you feeling like your balls have dropped, has it? What the hell could you do to me? Not a goddamned thing.”
She stood, colle
cting her purse as she prepared to leave as well.
“Either way, now I don’t feel so bad about sleeping with your dad last night,” she said. “It was nice being with a man who knows what he wants; less talk, more action. And the man sure can fuck.”
She turned on her heel and stormed off, wavy blond hair swishing with her quick steps.
Maribel could tell Jim had tried not to look unaffected, but she had noticed his mouth drop open almost imperceptibly. Clearly, he was shocked by the revelation.
She rubbed his arm soothingly and was about to say, “she only said that to hurt you,” but deep in her gut, she knew Lucy’s parting words were most likely true.
All of a sudden, she knew there was no way she’d use any of the information she had been privy to over the past twenty-four hours.
Maribel started to feel sick as she saw the scope of the story she was giving up.
She felt even sicker after imagining Jim’s face if he found out she had planned to betray him—the hurt, the anger, the disgust.
How much power did he have, really? Could he then go on to destroy her?
But she knew it wasn’t the threat of possible repercussions from the man himself that bothered her most—it was the thought of hurting him after she had seen him at his most vulnerable and he had poured his soul out to her, illogically trusting her.
After all the talks he gave her about being more careful and not trusting anyone, for her to turn out to be the least trustworthy of all—it would be a kick in the gut, no doubt.
What was wrong with her?
Was she cut out for the career she’d chosen after all?
The first opportunity she gets to report on something big, her heart gets in the way? She feels too sorry for the subject?