Page 67 of My Book Boyfriend
“I feel so bad,” Bella says. “Remember the friend I saw at our protest, the one who freelances at Strive Developers? He has the main conference room on his schedule for Thursday with breakfast, lunch, and possibly dinner. And the menu is high quality, so it seems like top executives will be there.”
“That makes sense. Rupert said it was going to be decided this week.” That’s good. It’s better to know and get it over with rather than drag this out and hope Rupert’s feelings survive. I definitely held on too long to Aiden. I put Tiger down.
“But this is the kicker. My friend has a call-back audition that day, so he’s looking for someone to replace him. He’s desperate. He called me, but I’m volunteering at a local high school on Thursday. I can’t do it but—”
“I could do it,” I say.
Bella says, “You should take his place. This is your chance to find out whether Rupert is advocating to accommodate the garden or if he’s been stringing you along.”
“Won’t I find out when Strive Developers files the plans?” I shake my head. “I can’t do it.”
“And what if there is no garden and he says he tried really hard, but he couldn’t get it approved by his grandfather? You won’t know for sure that he did try. But here, you can see if he does.”
“There is that,” I say slowly. “But maybe I want the pretense that he tried so I can still date him.”
“No. You don’t. That’s not a solid foundation. And if he lies to you about that, he could lie to you about something else.” She hangs up her coat in our closet.
I can’t believe that Aiden lied to me.
Rupert could be lying to me.If I couldn’t tell that Aiden was lying to me, how can I possibly know if Rupert is lying to me?And how could I date him then?
“Rupert hasn’t lied to me so far. He’s been honest that he probably can’t save the garden. Although he did omit that he’d also told the reporter he was with me for business reasons when he told me he’d warned the reporter I was a private person.”
“But last time, he said he was trying.”
I stare at Bella. “He did say that.” Tiger meows and rubs against my leg. “I can’t take his place. Rupert will recognize me.” If only I could cater in my book or potato costume.
“Miranda can disguise you. You can wear one of her wigs. Like that silver one. He’ll never suspect that an older woman on the catering staff is you. And would he even notice the catering staff?”
“When Miranda dressed up as an older woman, William still recognized her.”
“But William had context. Miranda was at an art gallery, where her painting was being shown. William knew that Miranda’s uncle was a costume designer. William probably also knew that Miranda periodically disguised herself to avoid the press. There is no way Rupert will think you dressed up as an older woman to masquerade as a member of the catering staff. It’s worth a shot.”
That’s true.
“My friend said it’s a really easy job. You just have to wheel in the food, set it all up, and roll the cart out. And you’d be doing my friend a huge favor because he needs to make this audition,” Bella says.
“But what if I get caught? Won’t he lose his job?”
“He’s planning to quit anyway. He’s only an outside contractor, and he was just offered a full-time position elsewhere.”
“But I’m the enemy,” I say. “I can’t do it. If Rupert finds out, he’ll realize I didn’t trust him.”
The bell buzzes, and I let Iris in. She and Bella are going to a workout class in Central Park together.
I wait out on the landing for Iris to arrive. It’s not worth the risk. I have to trust Rupert.
Iris emerges from the elevator, we hug hello, and return to our apartment.
“I’m sorry I missed you at Patrick’s concert,” Iris says. “And Maddie told me you and Rupert are taking a break. I’m so sorry.”
I slump down in a dining room chair. “It’s for the best. I was getting too emotionally involved, and I’m not sure how I’m going to take losing the garden. Although now, Bella thinks I should work as the catering staff for the board meeting and see if I can overhear what Rupert advocates. Then at least I’ll know if he tried to keep the garden. But maybe it will be worse if I get discovered and he realizes I didn’t trust him?”
“We have a saying in information security: Trust but verify. But I don’t think it applies to personal relationships,” Iris says. “Then again, with Patrick, I sometimes feel like it should.”
“My friend said they often discuss business while he’s there, though he can’t guarantee they will. He doesn’t usually pay attention because it’s not like he cares,” Bella says. “But he’s definitely seen building plans up on the screens and blueprints out on the table.”
To see the building plans.A shiver runs through me.I would know.
