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“I’m guessing you just read Jonathan’s statement. I told you I’d take care of it.” She smiles coyly and walks toward me. “Don’t be mad at me, please? I know I stuck my fairy godmother fingers into your life, but I couldn’t help it. Forgive me?”
I pull her close for a hug, resting my head against her shoulder. The smell of her Shalimar perfume reminds me of when I was a child and I used to crawl into her lap.
“I don’t know how to feel about any of it. But honestly, I’m really happy with Cash, so I guess a thank you is in order.”
“Come on, let’s go in my office and talk. Rachel, hold all our calls until Ms. Donley gets here.” I turn to smile at Rachel and find her staring at us with an indiscernible tilt of her head. I wave awkwardly as Marion pulls me under her arm and into her office.
“Can I call Jonathan quickly? I just want to say thank you.” I gesture to my new cell phone as she sits in her chair and motions her hands for me to go right ahead.
Jonathan picks up on the first ring. “Gracie, how are you?”
I let out a breath of relief. “Much better because of you. Thank you so much for that. I’m so sorry that you’ve been dragged into all of this.”
He laughs. “Grace, if it was just about me dating you, I would have let the story stand. But I won’t let them drag you through the mud. I wish that Cash would have handled this, but seeing as how he didn’t, I couldn’t wait to set the record straight.”
I fiddle nervously with my purse. “Right. I appreciate it.”
“I do have a favor to ask of you,” he says in his charming way.
“Anything. Seriously! Need me to wash your clothes for life, done. Walk your dog, you got it. Lunches for the next week, name the place.”
Jonathan’s laughter echoes over the phone. “I mean I wouldn’t hate any of those things, but my request is only for one more night.”
My stomach twists at the mention of a night with Jonathan. That will not go over well with Cash. But my guilt and appreciation for what Jonathan did wins over any concerns. “Sure, just name the night.”
“Saturday. I have another event with Mr. Landry and he requested I bring you. I think he took a liking to you last time, and he has it in his head that I’m more of a family man when you’re around which is good for my prospects. You mind helping a guy out?”
I nibble on my thumb nervously. “He knows we aren’t together. I mean you just put out that statement.”
“Right. This just shows him I’m a good friend. If I show up with a different woman, it will look like I’m the playboy that he’s already concerned about.”
I tease him, “But you are a playboy.”
I hear him smile into the phone as he responds, “Yes, but I don’t need him to know that. What do you say, Gracie? For old times’ sake?”
I smile. “I’d actually say it’s for new times. You’re one of my closest friends as you continue to prove time and again. I’d be happy to help.”
“Great, I’ll send you the details this week and see you then.”
I hang up the phone with a smile still on my face, and Marion raises her eyes in question. “Everything okay?”
“It’s fine. He needs me to attend a work event. As friends,” I emphasize. She nods her head. “Anyway, let’s get back to how we move forward.”
“Yes, let’s.”
Frank picks me up outside my office at five o’clock exactly. He’s taking—no he’s delivering—me to Cash at the penthouse. It makes sense for me to stay there since no one would think to look for me at the penthouse, and although I’m not anywhere near famous, there was a photographer outside my apartment last night when we got back.
“How are you doing this evening?” Frank asks as I walk toward him with a smile. He spots the flash of the camera before I do and pivots me out of the way of the shot and into the vehicle. I’m so shocked by the entire scene that I remain lying down in the car.
When Frank gets in, he drives before saying anything. It’s only moments later when we are safely down the road that he looks in the mirror and tells me it’s okay to sit up. I hadn’t even noticed I was still gripping the seat and practically licking it. “What the hell was that?”
It’s like I was mentally aware that this could happen and yet not at all prepared for it. Why is my dating life so interesting? Or me walking out of my office? What do they think they are going to catch me doing, being picked up by my billionaire boyfriend’s driver and swept away for secret sex? Okay, well, they are on point then. I give them props.
Frank laughs and I realize that I just said that out loud. I shrink back into the seat and cover the side of my face near the window.
“Bossman was in a good mood today,” Frank says with a smile.
“Oh my God, please tell me you call him that to his face?” I’m practically giddy from the nickname. I need it.
