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“Actually, there is something...”

“Oh?”

Curiosity piqued. She ignored the quiet giggle from Wren, who shamelessly spectated the interaction.

“What can I do?”

“It’s a much bigger ask than getting your friend an interview, I’m afraid.”

“Well, now I’m curious.”

“Me too,” Wren whispered from almost right behind her.

Any closer and she would feel Wren breathing down her neck.

“My sister is getting married to a lovely woman, but her maid of honor is an ex of mine. I’m too busy right now to wade through a string of first dates. But, I do need a date to the growing list of events taking place over the next several months,” Charlotte explained, blue eyes holding Ali’s brown ones captive, her chin raised just so in challenge.

Ali considered herself a self-assured and intelligent woman. But here and now she wished for a scrap of the confidence Charlotte carried in her pinky finger alone.

Wren’s whisper was just discernible, “Oh my god. Say yes.”

Speechless and frozen in place, her brain ground to a halt in real time.

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Her jaw quivered, tongue knotted and refused to form words. She could only stare and blink until Wren realized the state of her and moved, throwing her arm over Ali’s shoulder.

“She’ll do it! Won’t you, Ali? I’ll even volunteer to cover any necessary shifts.” Wren’s fingers wrapped around her shoulder, nails digging in when squeezed a little too tight.

The situation had the potential to be disastrous. Her attraction to the CEO was undeniable. This would provide her the opportunity to spend more time with her, and she would get to see her in something other than business attire. She would meet new people she never would otherwise. The art world often came down to networking and who you knew… but how awkward would it be when the wedding came and went, and things went back to normal?

Eh, future-Ali’s problem.

“I do love weddings,” Ali murmured, cheeks damn near burning.

Charlotte’s piercing gaze at last fell on Wren but to her credit she didn’t crumble under the intensity. Instead, she barreled forward with zero signs of being intimidated.

“Is this situation like: I just need a date to the events; or more like a fake girlfriend to keep the relatives and concerned friends at bay?”

“The latter, I’m afraid,” she replied, her eyes flicking back to Ali.

Fake.

Somehow that made the entire thing easier to process. This was just a role that needed to be filled. A part Charlotte thought she’d be a good fit for. Ali could agree. She was presentable and personable enough.

“I understand if that would make you uncomfortable.” Charlotte continued. “You’re more than welcome to decline. I promise to still get my coffee here,” she added with a wink, further addling Ali’s brain.

Something settled in Ali. She wasn’t being chosen so much as selected for a specific purpose, which felt considerably more believable and considerably less terrifying.

Ali had never been good at walking away from an open door, even when she knew only pain waited… Occupational hazard of being the kind of person who felt everything just so she could put it down on paper and canvas.

“Honestly, it sounds like a lot of fun. I’ll do it.”

Tension eased in Charlotte’s stance and she looked almost pleased, blue eyes shimmering over the rim of her coffee cup.

“Excellent. Rather short notice, so I’ll understand if you have plans. But the first event—her engagement party—is this Saturday at 5pm.”

“She’s available,” Wren chimed, giving her shoulder another squeeze.