Page 36 of Falling Slowly
Miranda leaned in, her eyebrows raising in curiosity.
“It’s pretty new,” I said.
The closer to the truth I stayed, the easier this would be.
“How did you guys meet?” Miranda asked, leaning forward.
“At work.”
If I kept my answers short, I’d avoid saying anything incriminating.
“So, you work at Wilde Creative? What do you do?”
“Production.”
“Really? That’s how I started, years ago. It was so boring. Are you looking to move up to a creative role? Good to know someone on the inside.” She nodded at the direction Charlie had disappeared into.
I felt bile rising in my throat. Was she insinuating I was dating Charlie to advance my career?
A woman with a cloud of wild, blond curls, one who’d introduced herself as Angie, shifted closer. “I would marry Charlie for the family jet.” Her laughter sounded like tiny little bells.
I gave her a little smile. She looked younger than Miranda. More innocent. I’d heard about the jet, but I’d never seen it. Only Trevor had ever been invited on it, much to Teresa’s chagrin.
“I know Charlie from the awards,” Angie continued. “We get tickets through work every year, even though I’ve never been nominated. But I’ve seen Charlie on stage so many times. He bought us drinks once. Like, everyone at the after party.”
I could imagine Charlie there, waving his credit card, fighting off the girls. All those women gunning to become Mrs. Wilde. To live the easy life at his expense.
“He’s pretty generous,” I admitted.
“He is! Play your cards right and you won’t have to work at all. You can just fly around the world and organize parties.”
My body tensed. “I’d rather work. I have a daughter and I need to be independent, for her.” I couldn’t let them paint me as this gold-digging woman.
“Good for you.” Miranda patted my shoulder. “How old is your daughter?”
“Five.”
“Starting school soon?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow. I never imagined Charlie with a single mom. That’s so cool.” Angie sighed.
Oh, God. I’d have to tell Charlie he was officially dating a single mom. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t survive this interrogation without something slipping out. Where was Charlie? How long could it take to fetch one wine bottle?
“Well, I’m off,” Angie stood up, wading towards the steps. “But before I go, please tell me how you snatched Charlie Wilde? I mean… give me a hint? Did you go to work in a see-through shirt or something?”
Oh, the horror.
“No. We just… worked late.”
She cocked her head as if trying to picture it. “But who initiated it?”
“Charlie.” My response was instant because it was true. I would have never made a move on Charlie. I couldn’t even imagine us hooking up in his office, no matter how hard I tried.
“Really?” Miranda sounded surprised.
She probably didn’t believe me, but there was nothing I could do about it. The more I told them, the less believable it sounded. I needed to shut up, right now.
