Page 11 of Hired By the Enemy
When I look up, I see Paul is watching us with a contemplative expression.
I gulp and shuffle closer to Liam, giving him a wide, fake smile.
But I continue to feel Paul’s scrutiny on us for the rest of dinner.
As the waiters clear our dessert plates, Paul disappears from the table.
Where has he gone?
Why am I so nervous just because I don’t know where one of my team has gone? I’m paranoid to think Paul is plotting against me. He might simply have gone to use the restroom.
Still, despite the rational argument my brain is making, the crème brûlée I’ve just eaten swirls in my stomach.
And it soon becomes apparent my stomach has a good reason to let the nerves out to play because when Paul returns to the table, he’s wearing a Cheshire Cat grin.
“Great news, everyone. I’ve lined up some surprise entertainment for this evening.”
My forehead creases. “What surprise entertainment?”
“A couples’ quiz. The resort has a free staff member, and they’ve agreed to run their usual couples’ quiz for us. Apparently, it’s always loads of fun.”
“That wasn’t on the itinerary,” I say stiffly.
“Oh, Matthew, you’ve got to stop being such a stick-in-the-mud. Just because something isn’t planned doesn’t mean it isn’t a good idea.”
My breath is knocked away from me. There’s an obvious subtext to Paul’s words because I’d recently challenged him for bringing up things in a meeting that weren’t on the agenda.
“Besides,” Paul continues, his eyes gleaming. “Don’t you think it will be fun to discover how well you and Liam know each other?”
Oh shit. That’s why he’s doing this. He’s suspicious about our relationship, and he’s trying to catch us in a lie.
“We’ve only been dating a month,” I say slowly.
“Best month of my life,” Liam says. His eyes meet mine, and I can see his concern.
Is our whole charade about to unravel? Can I handle the utter humiliation if my team discovers I had to hire someone to be my boyfriend?
It looks like that’s a large possibility as we head to the lounge, where the room is set up like a gameshow, with high tables and stools on either side and a large projector on awhiteboard between, proudly announcing,Welcome to Serenity Bay’s Couples’ Quiz!
“Hi, I’m Mindy,” a blonde resort staff member says in an upbeat voice. “I’ll be running your couples’ quiz tonight. Couples need to split up, and then we’ll get started.”
Damn. They’re separating us. Cheating was the only viable idea I had.
Sharing one last troubled look with Liam, I head over to the table on the left-hand side of the room while Liam joins the right-hand table.
Henrietta settles on the stool next to me, grinning.
“This should be fun,” she says.
“Um…yeah. Fun,” I reply as Mindy comes over to hand us each a small whiteboard and pen. There’s space for us to put down our own answer and then also guess our partner’s answer.
“You guys ready?” Mindy asks.
“Definitely,” Paul says. I see him throw a grin at his wife, Annette, who’s across the room. Of course he’s grinning. They’ve been married for twenty years.
The screen lights up with the first question.
What is your partner’s favorite movie?
