Authors: Ella Celestine
Chapter One
“I don’t have time for this crap,” Courtney Hollis mumbled to herself and slammed the phone down. One of her junior press agents had run off this morning with a newly signed Major League baseball player, leaving her an employee short and now in charge of the launch party of Marcus Washington’s autobiography. She smoothed her black waves that were perilously close to becoming a three-foot Afro around her head and stood. Marcus was waiting in the conference room for the full star treatment. “Get it together girl, this is just another day and another problem.
Ever since she started her own public relations and marketing firm, Mirror Image PR, she knew the ball stopped with her. Courtney was perfectly alright with that since things only got done properly when she took care of it herself. Grabbing the day’s itinerary from the printer, her trusty smartphone and a legal pad, Courtney breezed out of her office and motioned for her executive assistant to follow. “Marcia ran off with Donny Brockton so we’re short an agent today. I’ll be there but I’m going to rely on you a lot Steph, can you handle it?”
Steph struggled to keep up with her boss’ fast strides but she was excited for the opportunity. “Yes ma’am. I’m on it.”
“Good. For now just take notes and take care of Marcus. I’ve already reconfirmed with the bookstore and the hotel ballroom for later tonight.” They breezed into the conference room where Marcus lounged in a chair with his agent nearby. “Good morning, gentlemen. Are we ready for today?”
Marcus nodded and stood. “Courtney, you’re looking beautiful this morning.” He held out his arms for a hug and laughed when she gave him a completely professional handshake.
“Thank you Marcus. You clean up nice too. The female reporters and fans are going to go nuts for you, which means you’re probably going to be a bestseller by this time next week.” She flashed a smile at his agent Rudy and took a seat, explaining the Marcia fiasco. “So you’ll have me some of the time and Steph all day.”
Marcus gave her his most charming smile, his full lips and deep dimples making him irresistible. To most women. Courtney had no problem resisting him or any other man like him. Rich men, especially the obscenely rich, lived by a different set of rules. She didn’t play their games anymore. Once bitten, twice shy and all that. “You game to join me later for a nightcap?”
She smiled at him. If she were younger or dumber she wouldn’t mind a night with a perfect example of the male form like Marcus. But she was older and much wiser, and not at all interested in romance. Completely. “You know I don’t date my clients. It’s bad for my business and for yours.” Her brown eyes went through him, making sure he heard her.
But like most wealthy men, Marcus heard only what he wanted. “And if I fire you?”
Courtney’s smile was full of amusement and she laughed. “If you fire me Marcus I’d have to wonder about your intelligence and I don’t date dumb men. Now there will be tons of women tonight looking to hop on the Washington Train, but there’s only one of me to make sure the world knows how fabulous you are. Okay?”
He nodded and flashed those dimples again. “Fine, for now. But one of these days Courtney, you will be mine.” He walked to her and dropped a kiss to her cheek. “See you later, babe.” With a final wink he was strolling out of the conference room, with Steph hot on his tail.
“Keep our boy in line Rudy.”
“Always.” He tipped his imaginary hat to her and trotted out after Marcus and Steph.
Courtney shook her head in amusement and when Rudy was out of her sight, she sagged back into the plush leather chair with the mesh back. It had taken a lot of time and money to build up her PR firm into a company she was proud of, and she was extremely proud of all she had accomplished in the aftermath of incredible heartbreak. “Ancient history,” she reminded herself as she always did when her thoughts strayed to Andrew Stanton and the way he’d ripped her heart out. “Enough,” she said and stood, making her way back to her office for a few moments of silence before her crazy day got started.
“Hey babe, did you finally say yes? I saw Marcus Washington swaggering out of here.”
She smiled up at her best friend and VP of Mirror Image, David Cortez. “You have problems David. And you know damn well I didn’t say yes. I don’t date clients and I don’t date the ridiculously rich.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she dared him to say more. They were best friends and had been since before the days of Andrew so he knew all too well why she refused to date the NBA superstar.
David rolled his eyes. “Girl you can’t let one bad apple ruin the whole bunch. Not all rich guys are weak-kneed buffoons who do what mommy and daddy says. You’re too damn fine to still be single.”
Her smile was affectionate because she knew he meant well, but David fell in love every other week so he wasn’t the best source. “That has nothing to do with it. I’m not interested so leave it, alright?”
“Fine,” he said and took a seat on her desk. “I have much better things to talk about anyway. Charlotte Temple is getting married and it’s a whole arranged marriage of two dynasties. Anyway, Ma and Pa Temple want us to set up a publicity tour to sell this as a love match. It’ll be huge for the company, for you.”
Great. Another celebrity love story strictly for the cameras
, she thought bitterly. “An arranged marriage, seriously? That is archaic at best and not something I want to be involved in.”
“Why not? This is big bucks and major exposure, Court.”
“And what happens if a maid or a cook knows all about this phony marriage and our reputation goes down the toilet? I’m not willing to risk that, not for any amount of money.” Mirror Image did good work; enough that she took home a more than decent high six-figure salary. She didn’t need more money and certainly not bad enough to risk her entire company. Her professional reputation.
“Then we’ll spin it.” David was so confident all the time and it was part of what she loved about him. But it was also why he was great at bringing in new business. “It’s what we do, Court.”
“I don’t want to do this, David.”
He stood and gave her a mischievous smile. “I know and I haven’t even told you the worst part. The groom is Andrew Stanton.”
Chapter Two
She shook her head to clear the fog. “I must have heard wrong, because I could have sworn you just told me that you want
my
firm to handle publicity for an
arranged marriage
of my ex-fiancé and Charlotte Temple.” She gave David her most intimidating glare, telegraphing her displeasure in her big brown eyes. She stood and her knees nearly buckled.
At least the rotten scoundrel had enough sense to be embarrassed. “I did, and not just that, Court. I did my job and I’ve already signed the contract with the Temples so you have to get on board.”
Drenched in resignation and anger, Courtney averted her gaze out the window and let the hurt settle deep in her bones. Could she really sit around for months on end while the only man she’d ever loved, had publicly courted and likely fell in love with another woman? A gorgeous, rich entertainment lawyer, no less? No. She couldn’t, but a contract was legally binding so she was stuck. She spoke but didn’t turn around. Looking at her—alleged—best friend was too hard right now; his betrayal too fresh. “Fine there’s nothing I can do to stop this trainwreck, but David, this is all on you. I want absolutely nothing to do with this. Understand?”
David sighed heavily, knowing he’d put a strain on his relationship with his best friend by doing this without consulting her. “I’m sorry, Courtney.”
“I don’t want your apology David. I want you to tell me you understand.”
“I understand,” he answered quietly before he stood and left her office without another word.
Once alone, Courtney allowed her thoughts to stray to the time in her life when she’d allowed herself to be vulnerable, foolish even. That was a mistake she was hell bent on not repeating. It had been as painful as it was glorious, her relationship with Andrew. They’d met when she was working PR for
Anything Goes Productions
and he’d just taken the reins as CEO. Three dates had turned into a passionate love affair that lasted almost two years. When they got serious, meaning when Andrew slid a giant diamond on her finger, Nicholas Stanton had stepped in and forced his son to make a choice: the woman he loved or his place in the Stanton empire. Foolishly Courtney was sure he would choose her. He hadn’t and the next day she resigned from AGP, determined to forget Andrew and avoid men like him.
Now, years later she would be forced to see him, albeit from a distance, but one that was entirely too close for her peace of mind. “Suck it up Courtney. You’re a grown woman now, not some foolish twenty year old with visions of happily ever after.” Shit, just thinking of how stupid she’d been over him was enough to make her sick.
Luckily there was no time to dwell on all the insane drama David had just brought into her life. She had a book release to get to.
~
Andrew Stanton had given up on his life. He was bored and resigned to that boredom in a way that men in his position seldom were. Instead of jetsetting around the globe, making love with socialites, actresses and princesses like his friends; he worked day and night to make
Anything Goes Productions
more successful from one season to the next. Work was the only thing that mattered anymore. It was the only thing he allowed to matter since he’d given up everything that had truly mattered years ago.
His boredom with his life, his resignation with his fate was why he currently sat around a stylish octagonal conference table discussing ways to publicize his arranged marriage. He’d foolishly agreed to the scheme because he didn’t love Charlotte, who was a cold bitch on her best days, and he didn’t care. It didn’t matter to him and it did matter to his parents and Charlotte’s. There they sat on opposing sides to plan this modern day fairy-tale farce, Andrew between his parents and Charlotte between hers.
“Okay Stantons and Temples, I thought it would be nice for us all to meet to talk about expectations and set a schedule.” David sat at the head of the table with a handsome smile on his face. “The best course is to start following them on a series of dates around the country so we can show the world the progression of their relationship. We’ll capture their first timid kiss, the first time he stays the night along with a chauffeured walk of shame. Holidays together, mini vacations and family gatherings, all leading up to a big over the top engagement.”
Andrew listened but he didn’t give two damns about any of this. He would put on a suit, show up and smile when he was required to. That was all. “Fine. What else?”
“Andrew,” his father admonished. “You might want to be a little more involved since it’s your marriage.”
Andrew scoffed. “Is it? Because it seems like this is a marriage for you and Wyatt. Now is there anything else?”
“Hell yes,” Nicholas blustered, smashing his fist against the cherry wood table. “I want assurances that this whole thing will go off without a hitch. For what we’re paying, there had better not be any problems.”
David sighed and gave him a patronizing smile. “Of course things can go wrong when you’re dealing with people. The press can make things difficult and if either part of the
happy
couple steps out of line, we can’t guarantee anything. All we can do is clean it up afterwards.”
Andrew watched his father’s face redden in anger, biting back a small smile.
Unreasonable request coming in five, four, three…
“That is unacceptable, David! We’re paying a hefty sum of money to this company to make sure the world believes this is a modern day love story. Make it happen.”
David sighed again but kept a smile pasted on his golden brown face. “We can make that happen Mr. Stanton but it will require more personnel than we initially agreed on, which will mean more fees.”
Andrew’s scoff drew stares from everyone but he didn’t say anything. His father was well regarded as a cheapskate, the tightest of penny-pinching billionaires.
“Of course you want more money, knowing how much both families have. That wasn’t part of our deal, Mr. Cortez.”
David shrugged. “Neither was perfection. If you want greater assurances, that means more personnel following around your camera crew and keeping the press positive.” Crossing his arms, David had a serene look on his face as he engaged in a stare down with Nicholas.
“No! This is completely unacceptable, Mr. Cortez. You promised us a certain rate and you will abide by it or I’ll have to speak with your boss.”
“Here we go,” Andrew sighed in annoyance. “Just drop it, Dad. Pay the damn fee or scrap this idea altogether.”
“No,” he roared, startling everyone in the room with his vehemence. “Get your boss!”
“She’s right here.”
All eyes turned to the door and Andrew felt his heart leap out of his chest. He knew that voice before he saw her beautiful brown face.
Courtney.
The only woman he’d ever loved was right here in the building and he had no idea. She looked beautiful in her dark blue dress that hugged her curves in a way that drew a man’s attention. “Courtney,” he breathed out.
She hardly spared him a glance, looking first at David and then to his father. “What seems to be the problem, Mr. Stanton?”
Nicholas was knocked off kilter by the sight of Courtney Hollis. His skin paled but he was still very angry. “The problem, Ms. Hollis, is that this man is trying to gouge us on the price we previously agreed on.”
Courtney nodded and turned to David for an explanation. She listened as David spoke and turned her attention back to Andrew’s father. “You have two choices Mr. Stanton. Take the package as agreed in the initial contract, or sign a new one with the added fees you require to pull this thing off. What will it be?”
Andrew smiled. She was no longer a timid flower; no his Courtney had grown into a fierce woman who could hold her own. His father however, was not impressed.
“I’ll need to speak to your boss, young lady, because this is unacceptable.”
Her smile was professional but those honey brown eyes dripped ice. “Then I’m afraid you’re out of luck. Mirror Image is my company and I’ve just given you the only options available.” Pushing off the doorframe, she spared a glance at David. “I have a business to run, can you handle this?”
David nodded that he did have it and without another word, Courtney exited the conference room. “So what will it be?”
Andrew checked out of the conversation again, closing his eyes to remember the way Courtney looked, so sexy and put together. Her long brown legs were still her best feature, but Andrew liked the long waves that fell below her shoulders. It was more grown up and sophisticated than the pixie cut she used to wear. Everything about her excited him, then and now. But he’d fucked it all up and now he was set to marry a woman he could barely tolerate.
“It’s no problem, Nick. Really. We’ll split the increased costs,” Wyatt Temple said, his voice thick with frustration. “Let’s just get this started so we can plan for a wedding a year from now.”
Andrew groaned, but luckily everyone ignored him. “Great. Meeting over.” He stood and stalked out of the room.