She drained the rest of her water, but her throat still felt dry. Surely her father wouldn’t see the pictures. He was too old to be on social media, wasn’t he?
“They couldn’t see my face in those pictures, right? Not well enough to identify me or anything?”
“Why? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me? Or embarrassed at your…” He chuckled. “Let’s call it your little episode.”
“What happened to your promise never to make fun of me for being afraid to fly?” She would’ve joined in the laughter if she hadn’t been so anxious about the photos.
“Did I say that?” He twisted his mouth to hold back a smirk. “I guess I have less willpower than I thought. You’re so fun to tease.”
He dove into his lunch while she fretted about the photos. No matter how she sliced it, after five years of anonymity, it seemed she was about to have a not-so-secret identity. Even if her father didn’t figure it out from the pictures with Finn, she would have to see him eventually. She couldn’t avoid him once her mother married him. It might be better to bite the bullet and give him a call tonight.
Her intestines immediately curled into a ball.
Or maybe after the fundraiser would be soon enough.
Finn spent the first part of the week following Laurie around and watching her work. With Dara on speed-dial, Laurie effectively acted as her long-distance arms and legs. It worked almost as well as if Dara had been able to stay on for Laurie’s training in person. He made a mental note to add another boost to Dara’s bonus.
He scheduled a few personal meetings and dinners with the biggest donors, always careful to include Laurie. Her guileless manner charmed even the codgiest of men, and she chatted easily with the female socialites. He found it hilarious that these socialites had no idea they were dealing with a woman who’d scraped her way through grad school on loans. Pandering to their egos was part of the job, and she did it so well, he wondered if she’d ever done the same to him.
He’d insisted she buy new clothes to wear to dinners and for the actual fundraiser event. Though she’d balked at first, as if he’d insulted her by suggesting it, he convinced her she’d need to dress the part when dealing with their wealthy donors throughout the year.
An hour into the shopping expedition, she began to complain about “wasting time.” So the manager agreed to send several dozen complete outfits to the hotel, allowing her to choose what to keep and return at her leisure.
As he predicted, the pictures appeared all over social media, and rumors ran rampant about Laurie’s role in his life. Completely out of the loop, Jarrett called, more than a little upset.
“What are you doing with Laurie?”
“Nothing. We’re just friends.”
“Really?” He ladled the word with sarcasm. “Because you were looking mighty cozy on the plane.”
Finn bristled at the accusation in his tone. “I had my arm around her because she was nervous about flying. Besides, it’s none of your business.”
“It’s my business because you’ve told me a thousand times you never intend to marry. I don’t want you leading her on.”
“I’m not. She knows this relationship will never be more than friendship. I’ve told her exactly how I feel.”
It wasn’t quite true. He hadn’t told her he loved her, but that secret would go with him to his grave.
“Why do I feel like you’re not telling me everything?”
“Because you’re a suspicious worrywart?”
Jarrett’s heavy sigh echoed in his ear. “Please don’t screw this up. Dara says Laurie’s sharp as a tack. I’m hoping we’ll be able to keep her for a long time.”
“About that…” Finn decided this was a good time to bring up her salary. He wanted her to be able to afford a safer apartment. After all, the guard he’d hired couldn’t be with her when she was walking to and from work. “I think we should consider giving Laurie a raise.”
“A raise? She hasn’t even had her three-month evaluation. Why the rush? Is someone trying to steal her?”
“No,” he admitted. “But it could happen. The pictures might draw attention from our competitors.”
“Then I suggest you should be such an incredible, respectful boss she has no desire to leave Limitless for any amount of money.”
“Fine,” Finn spat, considering whether he could personally fund a “secret” raise without being discovered by any of his partners.
“Speaking of those pictures,” Jarrett said, “I think you should schedule a press conference tomorrow. You could offer to clear up questions about your relationship with Laurie… take advantage of the publicity. Since those photos hit the internet, the virtual banquet tickets have been selling like hotcakes. Our internet auction’s going to be off the charts.”
“Good idea.”
He would stand up in front of a bunch of reporters and tell them there was nothing between him and Laurie. That he had no feelings for her, beyond that of an employer and friend. It was the very lie he would be repeating for the rest of his life, however long that might be. He might as well get used to it.
Laurie couldn’t put it off any longer. She’d thought she could stay completely in the background, with Finn as the face of Limitless. But there was one little catch… No one had told her she would not only be organizing the fundraiser, but also attending it, seated beside Finn at the head table. Though she laughed it off as nothing, her gut was churning like it did when the plane was hitting turbulence. Good thing she was a talented actress.
So, when Finn arranged a press conference on Friday, she decided to face the inevitable.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Laurie! It’s so good to hear your voice. You haven’t been returning my calls,” she said, heaping on the guilt.
“I’ve been really busy with a work project. I told you I’d call you when it was done.”
“Is it over? Can we talk about the wedding, now?”
“Not exactly.” She sucked in a lungful of air and released it slowly. “I need to tell you something, and I hope you’ll understand.”
