He smirked. "Do you really think he's going to accept a name and a brief introduction? I told you how involved he is with his staff. If he decides to hire you, he is going to want
to meet your lady, more than once."
I hadn't thought that far ahead. I thought I could get someone I knew to pose for an evening, but Scott was right. I would need to keep up the façade for a while at least until I proved my worth to Mateo. He hesitated at the door. "I assume Miss Brown isn't married."
"That should be obvious."
He shook his head. "You're blind, Ethan . Your solution is right in front of you."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're a smart man. Figure it out." He departed, leaving the door open behind him. I heard him say something that made Miss Brown laugh, the sound unusual coming from her area.
I grabbed my bagel, tearing off a bite with more force than necessary. What the hell was he suggesting? A niggling thought began to grow, and I glanced at the door.
He couldn't be serious. I groaned, dropping my bagel on my plate, my appetite gone.
He was totally serious. Fuck my life.
————
The noise of the treadmill was a steady hum under my feet as I pounded away. I had hardly slept last night, and my mood was dark. Sweat dripped down my back and face. I picked up my towel and wiped it away roughly, tossing it to the side. My iPod blared with heavy music, and still it wasn't loud enough, so I turned it up, glad the condo
was soundproofed.
I kept going, almost at a frantic pace. I had gone over all my options and plans in the dark of the night, coming up with two ideas.
My first thought had been if Scott and Adrian got me in, I could try to bluff my way through an interview, telling Mateo only vague details of the woman who supposedly changed my outlook and therefore, me. If I approached it
right, I could manage to keep up a façade until I had proven myself to Mateo, then have the unspeakable happen—this perfect woman leaves me. I could play heartbroken, and throw myself into work.
Except from what Scott had explained, my idea probably wouldn't work. It meant I needed to produce a physical woman—one who would convince Mateo I was a better man than he believed me to be. Someone, as Scott put it, "real, warm, and down-to-earth."
I didn't know many women who would fall in those categories, unless they were over sixty. I didn't think Matteo would believe I could fall in love with someone twice my age. None of the women I fraternized with would be able to pass his inspection. I rolled around the idea of hiring someone—an actress perhaps—but that seemed too risky.
Scott's words kept repeating themselves in my head.
"You're blind, Ethan. Your solution is right in front of you."
Miss Brown.
He thought I should use Miss Elliott as my girlfriend.
If I took a step back and tried to be objective—he had a point. It was the perfect cover. If Mateo thought I was leaving Titan Inc. because I was in love with my assistant and chose her—and our relationship—over my job there, it would score major points with him.
She was unlike any other woman I had ever been with. Scott found her warm, bright, and engaging. Other people seemed to like
her. All pluses.
Except, it was Miss Brown.
With a groan, I shut off the machine, grabbing my discarded towel. In the kitchen, I got a bottle of water, chugged it down, and turned on my laptop. Signing into the company site, I scrolled through the employee files, stopping on Miss Brown's page. I studied her photograph, trying to be unbiased.
There was nothing remarkable about her, but her bright blue eyes were wide with long lashes. I imagined her darkhair was long since I had never seen it done in any other
way aside from a tight bun. Her skin was very pale; I wondered how she would look under the skillful hands of a makeup artist and dressed in some decent clothes.
Squinting at the screen, I stared at her picture. Some sleep wouldn't hurt to rid her of the dark circles under her eyes and maybe eating something other than peanut butter and jam sandwiches would help.
She was rail thin. I liked my women with a few more curves. I groaned in frustration, rubbing the back of my neck. I supposed, in this case, it didn't matter what I preferred. It
was what I needed.
In this case, I might have to admit I needed Miss Brown. Goddamn my life.
My phone rang, and I glanced at the screen, surprised to see Scott's name.
"Hey."
"Sorry if I woke you up."
I glanced at the clock, seeing it was only six-thirty. I was surprised he was awake, though. I knew he was a late riser.
"I've been up a while. What's going on?"
"Mateo will see you today at eleven."
I stood up, feeling a flow of nerves ripple down my spine.
"Are you serious? Why so fast?"
"He's away for the remainder of the week, and I told Adrian you were considering accepting a job interview in New york."
I chuckled. "I owe you."
"Big. So big you'll never be able to repay me." He chortled. "You know there's a good chance this will go nowhere unless you can convince him things are different for you, right? I laid it on pretty thick with Adrian—but my word is only going to take you so far."
"I know."
"Okay. Good luck. Let me know what happens."
"I will."
Hanging up, I checked my schedule, smirking when I realized Miss Brown had updated it last night. I had a breakfast meeting at eight, which meant I'd be back in the office by ten or so. I decided not to go into the office. I had an idea how to introduce my so-called girlfriend into my interview.