Page 20 of His Weekend Girl
“Did you go out to dinner? What restaurant?” Mercedes inquired.
“How long have you been engaged?” Molly asked as she sniffed yet again. Trixie counted it was the fifth time already.
“At his home,” Trixie replied, “he cooked and we’ve been engaged not very long.” She hoped those were good enough lies.
Trixie glanced over at Charlotte, who Trixie swore was short-circuiting. Her eyes rapidly blinked and she lightly adjusted her neck. “How…lovely.” She pushed out.
“It was,” Trixie answered.
“Excuse me, ladies,” Grant approached the table, “I need to see Trixie for a moment.”
“Oh, we were getting to know her!” Erica replied.
“You’re going to bring her back, right?” Molly sniffed again.
“Um, I’ll see,” Grant replied before he led Trixie inside one of the libraries. He shut down the door behind them. “You doing okay out there?”
Trixie let out a breath she didn’t know she held. The more people Trixie met, the more she felt out of place. She was amongst trust fund babies, Real Housewives, tech giants, and a sprinkle of celebrities. And there she was – an Uber driver.
The feelings of being a fraud became increasingly loud and annoying. What in the blue hell did she have in common withthose people there? They probably had more in their bank accounts at the present moment than she would ever see in a lifetime. They didn’t have to decide if it was more important to eat or pay the electric bill. They didn’t have to make hard, spirit-crushing decisions regularly.
Those people were too busy being concerned with likes, follows, and sponsorships; Trixie would never have to wonder where she fit in with that. “Other than the interrogation just now, I’m doing okay.” She held up the glass of champagne and finished it. “Bubbly helps.”
“It does.” Grant moved closer to her. “I just wanted to check in with you quick. I’m sorry for the kiss back there. I know you said it was okay that we got physical but I also surprised you and I’m sorry about that.”
He apologized for kissing her. Trixie was so used to men just going for it and her slapping the shit out of them in response, it was weird to see a man take ownership for what he thought was crossing a line.
She also wondered because he apologized, Grant probably wasn’t going to attempt to kiss her again. Her weekend became that much more disappointing. “You don’t have to apologize for the kiss. I told you it was okay that we got physical and I’m not going to renege on that.” She paused for a beat. “I do want to talk about Charlotte. Why didn’t you tell me you were engaged?”
Grant briefly looked away. “I didn’t want to.”
Trixie studied Grant’s face and demeanor. The betrayal was still fresh despite it had been at least a decade. Despite how he looked, she couldn’t help how beautiful he looked. Grey and white hair. Thick lashes framed his light eyes. A full mouth that promised endless nights of pleasure. “You’re still in love with her?”
“Fuck no,” he spit out the words like it was a bad taste. Grant’s eyes searched all over the room before landing onTrixie’s face. He read the sorrow in her eyes and immediately felt like a cad. “What may appear as regret on my part is resentment. The whole family betrayed me and tried to make it seem like it was my fault the situation happened.” He let out a breath. “Old habits die hard.”
Trixie walked into a situation she was not remotely prepared to deal with. Forget soap operas, there was no drama like wealthy family drama. She wasn’t old enough to rememberDynastybut she was a faithful watcher ofSuccessionand the similarities between the screen and the family were astounding. “They’re going to find out we’re faking, G.”
“What the hell are they going to do? Ex-communicate me from the family? They need me more than I need them.” Grant smiled and Trixie relaxed. “I meant what I said about your role this weekend. I know my family can be a lot and I’m still unsure if I’m paying you enough, but I’m glad you’re here.”
“I’m glad to be here,” Trixie glanced down at her ring. She swallowed. She was going to miss that ring, despite the return on it. She looked back up at Grant and smiled. “I just wanted to get some clarification.”
“It doesn’t feel like things are okay between us?” Grant closed the distance between them. “Who upset you?”
You,Trixie wanted to say.You put me in a ridiculous pawn position and it’s not going to make a difference come Monday because we’ll both go our separate ways and I’m still reeling from the kiss and I don’t want to give up this ring and…“It’s a lot. I’ll be fine.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE FIRST NIGHT went off without a hitch. After the interrogation from hell and enough blank answers to satiate the women (for now), Trixie retreated to the bathroom. She treated herself to a nice bubble bath with lavender and lemongrass oil courtesy of Sylvia (“There is no reason for anyone in this house to be ashy!” she exclaimed before bedtime) and looked out the window that oversaw the Pacific Ocean.
She sighed as she thought about her life. For the first weekend she could remember, Trixie didn’t have to sit in her car waiting for orders. She didn’t have to worry if she’d make enough money to pay for gas and get something to eat. She didn’t have to worry about getting enough rest to do the same thing the next day.
It was a life she was going to return to soon enough.
Being a millionaire in 2024 was not the same as being one years ago. Things were more expensive. Inflation was through the roof. People often had to choose between food and bills. Social media made people appear they have more money than they did.
Even if Trixie received all the money from the ring and Grant’s monetary gift, she honestly didn’t know how long that money would last.
She was deathly afraid of returning to the same position she was in. And then what? Wear out the already balding tires?Spend more money on oil changes? Deciding if she had just enough money to afford Cup Noodles?
