Accidentally Married to the Billionaire 2(20)
Marj dropped her hands from her hips and went and put her arms around him.
“Dammit. You had to go and be honest and sound all sweet and forlorn. I’m not made out of stone. And it’s not that great of a job, honestly. Your health benefits suck. I’ll quit. I’ll do some consulting, keep my hand in on the industry trends, but I’ll quit for the six months. Just don’t try this pitiful routine the next time you want something. Because it only works the one time. When you want me to, like, go vegan or something, and you say it’s because you need me too much, I will laugh at you while eating bacon.”
“Now that’s romantic as hell. Laugh at me while eating bacon?”
“I have to save face somehow. Try and make it out of the argument with some shred of dignity. Fact is, I totally folded as soon as you seemed upset and that’s not good for my reputation. I’m a total badass most of the time. Do not tell my friend Britt that I gave in that easily. It’s embarrassing,” she said.
He put his arms around her, unspeakably relieved.
“So what did you need me for at lunch?”
“I was hiding out. My new assistant wanted to have a sushi meeting.”
“And you’re afraid of raw fish?”
“No.”
“You’re afraid of your new assistant?”
“No,” he said.
“So what’s the problem?”
He came over and softly touched her face, then placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
“I wanted to be with you instead,” he said.
Her heart absolutely melted at his comment.
“Well, that’s not such a bad thing since we’re married,” she said. “Next time, announce it to the press. They can think we’re having a little afternoon delight.”
“Will you sublet the apartment? I understand not wanting to give up everything, Marj. Believe it or not, I do.”
“Yeah, I’ll sublet it. I won’t give it up entirely because, hell’s bells, Brandon, I’m quitting work for you and moving into your mansion. I mean, you’re a total slavedriver!” she teased.
He chuckled.
“One more thing…”
She placed her hands on her hips. “What? Do I have to get a tattoo of your name on my ass? Because I’m going to need extra money in the settlement for laser removal, if so,” she snarked.
“I’m going to Dubai on Sunday. I want you to come with me.”
“That’s easy. I’ll do that. I better email my boss and resign. Unless you want to reassign me to be your personal assistant, since the new one scares you,” she teased.
Brandon came near to confessing that wouldn’t be a bad idea. Still, he didn’t want to talk to Marj about Holly. He knew it would insult Marj’s work experience and credentials to suggest that she try being his gal Friday at the office. This business trip to the United Arab Emirates was the perfect getaway. They could make a sort of holiday of it, and he could show her a glamorous foreign city and have the fun of spoiling her a bit.
It would take his mind off the lawyers and the probate and the too-perfect assistant he might have to have reassigned to another division. Just thinking about Holly, her angelic face flushed from a run, her sleek blond hair in its bouncy ponytail. It was impossible to reconcile how she could be so energetic and positive, yet so obviously sad from the loss of her mother. He felt a kinship to her, a sort of sympathy that had teeth to it in the form of an attraction. It made him sick, revolted that he would even consider it. He was married. Holly was an employee. He was no better than his scoundrel father if he even let the thought cross his mind.
Relieved that Marj agreed to go with him to Dubai, he told her the arrangements and when to be ready. Then he went to his home office to Skype with Hong Kong about a possible acquisition. It was hard being in a room with Marj, knowing that he’d considered betraying her and betraying the arrangement they had agreed upon. The weight of her trust and his own expectations made him want a drink. He wouldn’t, though. He knew how lucky he was, how near he’d come to death and how he would never, not for one moment, consider risking it all again. It wasn’t worth it for temporary oblivion.
Chapter 8
Brandon worked most of the weekend, rejoining Marj in time to depart for the private airfield. She dragged a shiny new purple suitcase out to the hallway and muttered about how the spinner wheels were fighting her. Brandon picked up her suitcase and carried it downstairs, so she wouldn’t injure both of them in her attempt to move it. At the airfield, he noticed that Marj was wearing the same thing she’d worn on the last plane—her photo-ready, tasteful outfit.