Page 3 of Hired By the Enemy
But when I first announced the news to my team in ourleadership meeting, after the initial excited buzz faded, Paul, my Vice President, had leaned back in his chair and smirked at me.
“You know what, I really think you should make it so we can bring our partners too.”
Paul has only worked for me for six months, but I already hate his habit of springing ideas on me in meetings without warning.
“That’s an interesting idea. I’ll have to think about it,” I’d said because I’m slowly learning that responding to Paul when I feel cornered leads to me making poor decisions that are difficult to walk back from.
“After all, it’s our partners who’ve had to put up with our late nights and working weekends,” Paul had continued.
Shit. He made it hard to say no without looking like an inconsiderate boss.
“When you get as long in the tooth as I am, you realize the importance of keeping not just your staff but also their families happy,” he’d said, and my stomach had plummeted.
I pride myself on being a good boss, so his words worried me. Had people been complaining? I already offered flexible work hours, work-from-home options, extra vacation time, paid maternity leave, free daycare, and extended health coverage.
What else should I be doing?
This is the problem with being only twenty-five and running a company totaling more than two hundred employees. The constant worry that you don’t actually know what you’re doing and you’re going to be caught out at any point.
After the meeting, I’d gone back and studied my budgets. And yes, we could definitely work it so we could take partners as well.
But as soon as I announced that decision, Paul had started subtly needling me about me being the only one goingwithout a partner. And when he’d produced the schedule of all the planned activities, apprehension had tightened my chest.
“Sorry, Matthew, the resort seems to only really offer couples’ activities.” He’d given me a snarky smile.
Shit. Was that part of Paul’s agenda? Enhancing his favorite theme of my lack of life experience by highlighting I was the only one on the senior leadership team not in a long-term relationship?
“Actually, I was thinking about inviting my boyfriend,” the words had come hurtling out of my mouth without permission from my brain.
Paul had blinked in shock. “You have a boyfriend?”
I’d been equally shocked at the news but had forced myself to answer.
“Yes. Our relationship is new, but it’s going well so far.”
I’d deliberately not provided details while desperately trying to work out how to conjure up an impressive-looking boyfriend in the next week.
Unfortunately, you can’t just order a boyfriend off Amazon or Uber Eats. And given my track record with dating apps, the statistical probability of me securing a suitable boyfriend in the required time frame was minimal.
Which meant I had to explore other options.
Just as I was starting to panic, my friend Andrew had suggested Elite, an exclusive agency that offers a range of services to suit their clients’ needs. They’re so discreet and secretive that they only work through a referral system.
And when I made contact, they seemed perfect. Professional and competent. I could hire someone to be the perfect boyfriend, and no one would be any wiser.
Which is why I’m currently about to meet a stranger who will pretend to be my boyfriend for a week.
The baggage claim area is crowded, which I hadn’t expected.
I’m standing, feeling slightly foolish, holding a sign with William’s name on it. I’ve never stood at an airport holding a sign, and it’s not an experience I’m relishing.
A gorgeous beefcake of a guy strolls out of the arrivals gate. Normally, he’d be my pick of eye candy, but right now, my stomach clenches in recognition.
What the hell? Like, seriously, what the hell? Is the universe pranking me?
If so, well played, universe. Well played.
Because of all the people I want to see when I’m waiting to meet a fake date, Liam Jamieson is the last one on the planet.
