Chapter 2
Chase
“Mr. Hunter? You have a three o’clock with Holly York at her West Hollywood office,” my assistant announces via intercom.
Great.I totally forgot about that meeting.
Without taking my eyes off the spreadsheet on my computer screen, I push the intercom on my desk. “Lottie, can we move that to another day? I’ve scheduled a Monday Meet and Greet with the people from Studio Zee.”
“Actually, Sir, I movedthatmeeting to Wednesday morning, the day before you leave for New York.”
It would be like my Executive Assistant to be super-efficient. In all the years she’s worked for me, Charlotte Adams—Lottie for short—has never failed to be on top of things. “Thanks, Lottie. Still, can we change my meeting with Holly York? Tomorrow, perhaps?”
Truth is, I’m avoiding the whole thing with Holly. Sure, it was my idea to sign up with MyFakeFiance.com because…well, it’s complicated. However, I’m kind of having second thoughts.
“Sir, with all due respect, this is the fourth time you’ve rescheduled with Holly. With Christmas right around the corner, she’s got a vacation planned and—”
“Okay.” I sink into my chair, rake my fingers through my hair. “I’ll meet with her this afternoon. But if she doesn’t have the right person for the part, I’m canceling the contract and will have you come with me to New York and pretend to be my fiancée.”
Lottie giggles. “Sir, I’m beyond flattered, blushing in fact, yet it would be less convincing for me—a fifty-five-year-old married woman—to be your fake bride-to-be.”
“I can tell them I’m into older women?”
“Even I know that’s not true, Mr. Hunter.”
At this point, whether the woman for hire is middle-aged or not, makes no difference to me. I just need her to be a knockout beauty with a brain and social skills. One who’ll keep my parents off my back with theson,you need to settle down, bullcrap.
Anyone would think Chase Hunter, a man as successful as I am, wouldn’t have an issue finding arealfiancée to gloat around, right? Well, the struggle has been crazy, because that’s all I meet. Crazy women who lack ambition and drive, looking for a Sugar Daddy to whisk them off their feet. And the non-crazies are just as overzealous about their work as I am, leaving no time for even a simple cup of coffee.
Rising off my chair, I press the intercom once again. “Lottie, be a dear and have Henry ready to pick me up downstairs in five minutes, please.”
California is indeed the cream of the crop, but with all the infamous traffic, I know it’ll take ages to get to West Hollywood.
“I’m on it, Mr. Hunter. Henry is already waiting in the town car.”
“What would I ever do without you?”
“Not a darn thing, Mr. Hunter,” she says with a chuckle.
Once in the car, Henry zooms onto Wilshire Blvd, making his way to the busy freeway while I take advantage of my smartphone and answer emails. As the Chief Operating Officer of a successful investment firm, a ton of emails swarm my inbox each day. The firm—Hunter, Inc.—is family-owned, based in Manhattan, New York. It’s primarily overseen by my father, Chase Hunter Senior, who works out of the New York office; however, I’m set to be named President next year when he retires—that is, if he believes I’ve settled down enough to run the company on my own.
Following my father’s footsteps has always been expected, and I can’t complain since it’s afforded me the lifestyle most men wish they had.
Money. Fame.
A luxury home in Malibu.
Even a private jet.
Yet, my parents are fixated on me proving I’m no longer a playboy and instead, possess the maturity needed to run the entire firm on my own.
First of all, my playboy days have long passed. Second of all, why the heck do I need to be married to prove I’m mature enough to run the business?
So, I caved at Thanksgiving dinner, told Mom and Dad I was newly engaged and would bring my sweet bride-to-be home for Christmas. This was after the two double-teamed, hounding me like a pair of ruthless wolves, chanting over and over again how life is too short to spend alone. Then, they went on to say how much Dad wants to retire, hand the business to his one-and-only son, once I’m ready to settle down. The last part hit me like a punch to the gut and my flight or fight reaction was to lie. A lie that’s kept me stressed out the last couple of weeks, wondering if I’d be able to pull it off. I can’t go home with just anyone. She has to be the polar opposite of those I’ve dated in the past—ditsy and shallow.
This woman needs to have substance.
Sophistication. Finesse.
