Page 66 of Fake It For Glory

It was not what I expected, but I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised. My dad was known for being very tough. He didn’t take shit and he didn’t let people get away with anything. I was no exception. I always complained about my job, but I wasn’t really prepared to lose it. A shitty job was better than no job.

I pulled myself together and headed down to the lobby to meet Jensen. I lost one job, but I still had another one to take care of. Jensen spotted me and immediately started toward me. My eyes met his concerned gaze. I forced a smile.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Is everything okay?”

Tears blurred my vision, and I hastily wiped them away, feeling vulnerable and raw. I shook my head.

“Merida, are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry. He put his hand on my arm and gently pulled me away from the hustle and bustle in the massive lobby.

I attempted to hide the storm of emotions churning within me with a shrug. “I’m fine, Jensen. Let’s go look at some obnoxiously large boats.”

He chuckled and gave me a quick kiss. “Don’t let the yacht owners hear you calling them boats. They’ll get mad.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the pretentiousness of it all. “Oh, I’m sure they’d be devastated,” I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked again. “We can come up with an excuse for us to cancel.”

“We can’t. Your sister would kill us both. We have to go. I’ll be fine.”

“You look beautiful,” he said.

It did make me feel a little better. “Thank you. I promise I’m fine. I won’t let you down. I am prepared to wow them all.”

Jensen’s smile widened as he slipped his arm around my waist. “Then we’ll go.”

He led me out of the lobby to our waiting car. The marina wasn’t far. I did my best to keep a brave face on. The car pulled to a stop. The first thing I noticed was the parking lot filled with ridiculously expensive sports cars. Lamborghinis, Maseratis, and plenty of Mercedes and other luxury cars.

The cars were awesome, but the yachts that lined the pier were even more impressive. I didn’t know much about cars or yachts, but I was guessing we were looking at over a billion dollars’ worth of cars and boats. Yachts, I corrected myself. I wouldn’t want to offend a billionaire by insulting his vessel.

Jensen took my hand and helped me out of the car. “Do you own a yacht?” I asked him.

“No, not yet. I’ve thought about it, but I’m not sure I would have time to ever use it.”

He held my hand as we strolled along the dock, the evening breeze ruffling our hair. I couldn’t help but appreciate the distraction he provided. This was an important event for him.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked.

“Yep,” I said, nodding. “I see champagne and hors d’oeuvres. I can get through anything with good food and alcohol. I’m guessing these people know how to do food right.”

Jensen chuckled. “You’re not wrong about that. But trust me, it’s not just the food that’s impressive here. These people are the elite of the elite. And you’re going to have to impress them with your winning personality. I’m counting on you to be enough for both of us. I think we both know I’m not going to win any personality awards.”

He led me toward a towering yacht at the end of the pier. The name on the side read “The Empress.” I couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated. This was a whole different world than I was used to.

As we approached the gangway, a tall, imposing man stepped forward to greet us. “Welcome aboard The Empress,” he said, his voice deep and authoritative. “I am Captain Reynolds. Mr. Loxley, we’re so glad you could make it.”

Jensen shook the captain’s hand and then turned to introduce me. “Captain Reynolds, this is my girlfriend, Merida.”

The captain gave me a curt nod. “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Merida.”

As we climbed aboard the yacht, I couldn’t help but feel like I was in a dream. The opulence and luxury of the interior left me speechless. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, plush velvet couches lined the walls, and there was even a grand piano in the corner of the room.

Jensen must have sensed my awe because he leaned in to whisper close to my ear. “Just wait until you see the view from the top deck.”

We were led to a group of people standing near the bow of the yacht, glasses of champagne in their hands. Jensen greeted them warmly, introducing me as his plus-one. They all smiled politely and raised their glasses in salute.

As I sipped my champagne, I couldn’t help but feel like an imposter. These people were clearly used to this type of lifestyle, while I was just a middle-class girl trying to make a name for herself in the big city. But Jensen seemed to fit in seamlessly, laughing and chatting with the group like he had known them for years. I knew it was part of his role-playing. He wasn’t really comfortable, but he put on a good show.

Jensen and I wandered among the ostentatious displays of wealth, and he regaled me with stories of some of the most famous yachts and their eccentric owners. It was an escape from my own thoughts, a momentary reprieve from the harsh reality I faced.

But despite the laughter and the beauty surrounding us, I couldn’t shake the feeling of loss that lingered in my chest. My father’s decision had left me feeling a little hurt. Getting fired by your dad was different than just getting fired.