Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
6
Remy
The idea of being Griff’s girlfriend had been on my mind for almost the entire time I’d known him, but I didn’t want it like this--never like this. If my understanding of the meeting we just had was right, it seemed like the Anderson Group didn’t like Griff being single. It seemed like they were putting pressure on him to be in a serious relationship, but Griff’s always been a proud bachelor. Why would he go along with them? And why would he lie to them? I needed answers and fast.
I watched Griff’s face intently as I crossed my arms over my chest and tapped my shoes on the wooden floor as I waited for his answer. He let out a deep breath and then finally his stunning gray eyes met my own and I began to feel flushed. I loved it when his attention was solely on me. It made me feel special.
“I’m sorry, Remy,” he began with a frown. “I honestly hadn’t been expecting Kelly to dig into my background like that. I’d heard rumors about the ‘family values’ of the Anderson Group, but I hadn’t taken them all that seriously…” He shook his head in disbelief. “I had to think fast and I just did the only thing I could think of when I was put on the spot.”
I couldn’t believe it. Griff had seriously just made up a fake relationship with me because he panicked? It didn’t make sense. Why would he care what that Kelly girl said? I just didn’t get it. “Well, what would have happened if you admitted you were single?” I asked with a confused expression. “It can’t be that bad, surely.”
“Actually,” Griff began with a grim expression. “I’ve heard rumors from rather reliable sources that when the Anderson Group have taken over other companies, they’ve demoted single managers or even fired them.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. The thought was so laughable. Surely, a company couldn’t control what their employees did or the way they lived their lives? It didn’t make sense, but the look on Griff’s face said that this was no laughing matter. He looked serious and - more than anything else - he looked worried.
“Isn’t that discrimination?” I argued, hearing the lameness of my words only after I said them.
“Probably,” Griff replied with a shrug of his shoulders. “But I’m sure they’d find a way to get out of it. Besides, even if it is, what do you expect me to do? Sue them after I’ve already lost my job? It’s a waste of time, Remy.”
He was probably right, besides I didn’t remember relationship status being a protected characteristic by law. Still, the whole thing seemed outrageously unfair. It seemed stupid for a manager as good at his job as Griff was to lose it over something as absurd as his love life. I didn’t want that and I was sure Griff didn’t either. Still, I was apprehensive.
“I have to admit, I don’t want you to lose your job,” I began as I twirled my long, curly blonde hair around one of my fingers. “I’d be happy to help you in any way I can, but lying…” I trailed off and shook my head. I’d been longing to be Griff’s girlfriend for so long now that the thought of just pretending to be with him made me uncomfortable. I didn’t like lying.
“I know I’ve put you in an awkward situation,” Griff admitted with a frown. “I’d understand if you didn’t want to go along with it.”
“I just have no idea how we’re going to keep this up,” I stated with a shake of my head. “After all, Kelly’s clearly suspicious of the whole thing already. She’s extending her stay here. What if we fake it and she finds out anyway?”
“That is the risk.”
It was clear that Griff was giving me an out. He wasn’t going to force me to go along with the whole thing and even though his job was on the line, he wasn’t trying to bribe me to help him. Instead, he was sitting there looking defeated. Usually, Griff was so emotionless and severe, but today was totally different. It was strange that in just the last week I’d seen him not one but twice looking worried. He was obviously stressed and I felt my heart ache for him. I’m sure I’d feel just as awful if it were me in his shoes, so… Would it really kill me to play his fake girlfriend for just a few days?
“Okay, I’ll do it,” I told him with a confident nod of my head. “Although… I have to tell you something.”
Griff’s face clouded over then. His eyes were dark and I wondered what was going through his mind. A hopeful thought told me it might be jealousy. Would Griff be jealous if I told him I was actually dating someone? No, I doubt it, but it was a nice thought.