Looking For Husband

Georgia

"The plans for the hotel in Wailea, Hawaii have gone accordingly. Both our construction team and the town mayor have approved the blueprints. I have the estimated budget here and if you approve, you may sign and we could start the construction by next week."

I looked up from my phone to see a few nervous pairs of eyes blinking at me. I turned to my wild-haired assistant, Henry, who had the same apprehensive expression on his face.

I'd forgotten I was in the middle of a meeting. I had no idea what we weretalking about. I cleared my throat. "If my mother agrees to it, let's go along with it."

"Uh, Georgia, your mother said for you to oversee this," Henry whispered to me. "If we go to her she will scold us.."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Were they still talking about the building of the hotel resort in Wailea? Or had we moved on to something else? I couldn't concentrate today.

It was all that guy Wilson's fault. It'd been one week and he had yet to call me. Every few seconds I glanced at my phone wondering if I'd see it vibrating with an unknown number on display. What was taking him so long anyway? I figured he'd call the next day and we'd work out a deal. But he hadn't. And the last two times I'd been back to the restaurant he hadn't been there.

"Ms. Calloway?"

"Ah, let me see the projected costs again," I said, hoping I could piece together everything by that.

It didn't matter what I said anyway, my mother would get the final say on the plans no matter what. After the meeting, I went back to my house and found Solene waiting for me by the front door. She held up a hand in greeting.

"How'd the meeting?"

"Boring. They don't really need me. All I say is yes or no. What are you doing here?"

"Hiding from my mom," she said, following me inside.

I raised an eyebrow at my friend. "You can't at your house? Why don't you just lock your doors?"

"She has keys."

"Change the locks."

"She'll have keys," she said, shaking her head. "She's crazy. She won't come here though. I think she's afraid of your mom."

I wouldn t have been surprised. Most people were. I definitely was. "Don't be noisy," I warned her.

She waved me off. "I'll do my own thing, don't worry about me."

Sighing, I plopped onto my couch and checked my phone. Nothing. Tsking, I tossed it away from me.

"You look like your prom date ditched you," Solene commented from across the room, where she'd taken a seat at my computer desk.

In her hands was a newspaper she'd produced from God knows where. So much for her not being noisy. I gave her a moody look but realized I was just proving her point so I looked away.

"Why hasn't he called?"

"Who?"

"Wilson."

"The guy from the restaurant?"

I nodded.

"Well, your note was a little weird," she informed me, opening the newspaper.

"I was drunk though. He knew that."

She shrugged. "Did you leave a bad tip?"

I blinked. Did I leave him a bad tip? I remembered writing the note, but I couldn't remember writing a tip.

"I can't remember what I left him."

"Maybe it really was a bad tip."

"Hmm, well, we did have to wait half an hour for our food," I said.

He hadn't been a bad waiter, but not exactly the best one, either- from a professional view. From a personal view, it wasn't fair he seemed to be running the entire restaurant by himself. I did vaguely remember him bringing me to the bathroom so I wouldn't vomit all over the restaurant, which went beyond his responsibilities for a customer. I owed him a good tip for that, at least.

Solene flipped a page. "The manager had him running around nonstop, give him a break. I felt tired just by watching him. If I were him, I would've walked out."

I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest. "He said he needed money. Why wouldn't he take me up on my offer then? Perhaps he didn't get fired like he expected he would."

Which reminded me, I had to call that restaurant and make sure his job was secure. He shouldn't lose his job because of one pervert. How could anyone blame him for his actions? The moment I'd noticed that immoral woman's hand on his bottom, I'd been ready to sucker push or slap her in the gut.

Fortunately, at the last second, I'd remembered just exactly who I was and how I was expected to act. It was far worse for me to hit her than for him to.

And I probably shouldn't have told him to push her, but I blamed that on my drunken state of mind. Admittedly, I had enjoyed the sight of those dainty fists landing a rough blow on that degenerate... for such a big guy, he had quite the hook.

"I'm going to find him," I decided.

Waiting around for a call wasn't really my style, anyway.

"Don't you think you're taking this a little too far?" Solene asked.

"You know I don't have much of a choice, Solene."

"He might think you're stalking him."

Unfazed, I pulled out my phone, ready to call for some assistance. "Someone who looks like me would never be considered a stalker."

"You have heard of Ted Bundy, right?" I ignored her, dialing the number for Michelangelo's.

After a five second long spiel by whoever answered the phone telling me they couldn't give out employee information, I gave them my name and they quickly changed their mind, telling me he was most likely at his other job and easily gave me the name of the place. I was also informed of his month's suspension and he wouldn't be back at the restaurant until then. I hung up the phone, a little worried about the amount of information they had given out. Sure, I'd needed it, but it had been a bit... too easy.

"A month suspension seems like a bit much. And why in the world does he have two jobs?" I pondered out loud as I went over to my closet to pick out a nice suit.

For some reason, I felt the need to look good.

"These days you need two jobs to live on minimum wage," Solene said.

I decided against a suit and slipped into a navy button up and threw on a mint colored tie. "If he's poor then that's even better."

"Why?"

"He'll be interested in the money and I won't be interested in him," I said.

He was the best possible candidate to be my fake husband. I'd been worrying about finding someone and I'd found him on day one. It was perfect. The longer I pretended to be in a relationship with him, the more heartbreak I could pretend to feel.

I stretched, smiling widely and feeling satisfied. Today was going to be a good day.

"You're so creepy," Solene commented, but her tone was amused.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"I only have good ideas."

She chuckled, closing the newspaper and placing it on the side table. "What are you going to do if you actually fall in love with this guy?"

"Impossible," I answered immediately.

The reasons for that were simple.

A) He from a different lifestyle and therefore incompatible with me.

B) It would be counterproductive to my plan on being allowed to be single.

And...

C) I hadn't fallen in love with anyone for the past five years, so what were the odds of it happening now?

All in all, there wasn't anything to be afraid of. When the contract was over I'd have no problem saying goodbye and never seeing the guy again. Maybe even down the line we could get coffee and laugh about our fake relationship.

Solene scrutinized me for a few seconds, her lips pressed in a flat line. I didn't know why she was so worried. She was in the same boat as me. All the guys around us were the same- they wanted our money or they wanted to say they slept with a millionaire. It was almost impossible to find someone genuine.

"Alright," she finally said. "I know nothing can keep you from what you want to do anyway. Go hunt him down."

"You coming with me?" I asked.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world."

"My car?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really," The keys to my recently exchanged BMW were already in my hand.

I wondered what kind of expression Wilson would have on his face? One of the most elite men in America coming to look for him personally? With such a contract to offer? I could almost see those blue eyes widening, a little sparkle of awe glinting in them. His cheeks becoming rosy at the prospect of dating me- even if just for a ruse. His pink lips softly parting as he gasped.

Suddenly I really, really wanted to see that expression.