Page 1 of Pretend Wife
ONE
Hayden
Lightning flashedacross the sky as rain poured down on my windshield. Between the rain and the dark, I could barely see two feet in front of me. I should probably pull over and just wait out the storm.
I cursed under my breath and glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was already eleven. I just wanted to be home in my bed. This whole day had been a shit show, and this weather was just the icing on the cake.
I slowed down more and squinted out the window, hoping to see a sign for a hotel I could crash at.
“Siri, call Sierra,” I ordered my phone.
“Calling Sierra,” the robotic voice replied.
“Hey, how was the meeting?” Sierra’s voice filled my car.
“Exactly how I expected,” I grumbled.
“That bad?” Sierra asked, and I could picture her wincing.
Pretty much any day I had to deal with my father face-to-face was that bad. The fact that I’d had to meet him at one of our hotels three hours outside the city in a torrential downpour wasn’t helping my mood.
“Always.”
“I don’t get it. You’re an amazing CFO—why is he complaining?”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Because it’s not the job he planned out for me when I was born. Listen, the visibility is really bad, so I’m looking for a place to spend the night. Can you see if there’s anything near me?”
“I told you to just stay the night in New York.” I could practically hear the eye roll in her words.
“And I told you I wasn’t interested. Now, can you find me a place to stay, or do I have to pull over and sleep in my car?”
“Relax, I’m looking. And you’re going to owe me for this. You do realize it’s almost midnight, right?”
“I’ll give you an Easter bonus.” I wasn’t sure if that was a thing, but it didn’t matter. I’d do just about anything to keep Sierra as my PA. The woman was a lifesaver and the only person in my father’s company I trusted to be on my side.
“I don’t want more of your money, Hayden.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I’ll let you know when I think of it.”
“Wonderful,” I muttered sarcastically.
She just laughed. “It looks like there’s an inn not too far off Exit 96. I’m texting you the address now.”
“Thanks.” I clicked on the message, starting the navigation while keeping my eyes on the road.
“You need anything else before I hang up and turn my phone off for the night so my husband stops glaring like he wants to destroy it?”
I would have rolled my eyes except I was pretty sure Sierra’s husband wouldn’t think twice about murderingmein addition to the phone.
God only knew what Nathaniel Blue did for a job, but I’d always assumed it was top secret military stuff or something like that. Whatever his profession, he was damn good at making sure no one disrespected his wife. It was part of what made Sierra such a good assistant. No one dared to cross her knowing they’d have to face him. I wasn’t even ashamed to admit he was downright terrifying. Call it basic human instinct—knowing when you’re looking death in the eye.
“No, I’m good. Go enjoy the rest of your night.”
“Bye, Hayden.”
My phone beeped to indicate the call had ended, and the robotic voice instructed me to take the next exit. Hopefully it was right since the sign marking the exit was impossible to read through the sheets of rain pounding against my windshield.
