J
Day One
I should've never agreed to this arrangement ...
I was still glaring at Lisa as she glared at me. I was tempted to leave her and her ridiculous business dealings behind, but my pride wouldn't let me. That, and the promise of ending my employment contract.
If she were my real fiancée, I would let my guard down and tell her that I was still feeling upset about how our engagement leaked to the press before I was able to spin a believable story to my coworkers. I would tell her about all the hurtful, "Jennie's not even that cute," and "Lisa's dated hotter women than her," posts from strangers I'd seen on social media. How I felt completely unprepared and overwhelmed by being thrust into the sudden spotlight with someone who was beyond used to handling it.
The only silver lining in all this was that my parents hardly ever watched the news or read magazines. I was clinging to the hope that they wouldn't find out about this charade until it was long over.
"Ladies and gentlemen who are assigned to Flight 6715 with service to Blue Harbor, we are about to begin the boarding process here at GATE A17."
I pulled my boarding pass out of my pocket and stared at the massive engagement ring on my left hand. I shook my head every time I looked at it because it was so over the top, gaudy, and unlike anything I'd ever consider wearing. It was a four-carat diamond ring with glittering tiny pink diamonds stuffed onto its double band.
I knew this arrangement was fake and temporary, and that the idea of Lisa ever remembering that I loved emeralds was a long shot, but I was a bit miffed that she didn't. Especially since I remembered almost everything that she'd ever mentioned to me.
"Oh, great!" Bambam walked over to us. "You're both still alive! Now, the flight is only four hours, so can you try to keep this civility theme going without my supervision?"
"Wait, what? Aren't you sitting in the same row as us?" I asked.
"Ha! Please!" He laughed. "I don't fly commercial, ever. Besides, I have all the original and updated Watson contracts, and I need to keep them as safe as possible. Don't you think? I only bought a plane ticket so I could see you two off together, but I'll still meet you at baggage claim when you land."
Lisa shook her head at him, and I let out a sigh. It wasn't until now that I'd realized it, but Bambam had always been the perfect stabilizer between us over the years, the necessary tool that kept us from killing each other.
Or crossing the line ...
"A reporter with Town Country will serve as the first welcoming press in Blue Harbor," he said. "She'll have a few minutes with you on the way to the hotel, and we'll worry about Mr. Watson and an updated itinerary later."
"I would now like to invite all first-class passengers onto the aircraft at this time," the gate agent called over the speakers.
I tucked Luna into her bag and stood to my feet. I headed toward the boarding door, but Bambam suddenly grabbed my hand from behind—forcing me to spin around.
"Wait a minute," he said, pulling a box from his pocket. "I meant to send this one back to the jeweler. I forgot about it until just now." He looked at Lisa. "Give her the right ring."
Lisa pulled a red ring box out of her pocket and flipped it open.
I bit my tongue so I wouldn't gasp, so she wouldn't get any reaction from me, but the one in her hand was exactly the type of ring I'd mentioned to her before. It was a bright emerald ring with miniature diamonds around its clasp, and it was surrounded by a simple silver band with my name etched onto the metal.
I twisted the gaudy ring off my finger and exchanged it for the simpler one.
"Thank you, Bams," I said.
"Don't thank me," he said, patting Lisa on the back. "Thank your fiancé. She called the jeweler and personally requested that particular design all by herself. I'll see you two in Blue Harbor."
I muttered a soft "Thank you," to Lisa and she muttered a "You're welcome" in return.
We boarded the plane without saying another word to each other, and we both requested scotch before takeoff.
As the alcohol burned its way down my throat, I decided to check my Manoban Industries email account one last time.
Subject: I KNEW YOU WERE DATING HER!
Subject: Seriously? After all this time, you're marrying The Manoban?
Subject: TRAITER! TRAITER! TRAITER! TRAITERRRRR!
Subject: TRAITOR* (I misspelled it before) TRAITORRRRRR!
I didn't bother opening any of them. I shut down my inbox and sighed.
"Is something wrong, sweetheart?" Lisa asked.
I ignored her and asked the flight attendant for another shot of scotch. I downed it within seconds and plugged in my iPod as the pilot announced he was preparing for takeoff.
As the plane ascended into the sky, I shut my eyes and tried to get some sleep. It was three songs later when I felt Lisa gently pulling my left earbud from my ear.
"Yes?" I opened my eyes.
"I need to talk to you about something important."
"No." I groaned. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait until we get to Blue Harbor. It's probably about work anyway."
"It's about sex."
I sat up—half confused, half aroused. "What?"
"I made some amendments to our contract last night," she said, pulling the stapled sheets from her briefcase. "I need your signature so we can both ensure we're on the same page."
I gave her a blank stare, not wanting to ever look at the document that got me into this situation again.
"Mrs. and Mrs. Manoban?" The flight attendant stood in the aisle. "Would you like something to—"
"We're not married," we said in unison, cutting her off at the same time.
"Um, okay," She looked confused. "Well, soon to be wedded couple, who is listed with the same last name on my manifest, can I get you something to drink?"
I requested a scotch. Lisa requested a ginger ale and coffee.
She leaned over me and pulled out my tray. Then she set the contract onto it and flipped to the brand new "intimacy clause" she'd placed under the original clause number two.
The flight attendant set down my scotch, but Lisa lifted it up and handed me the ginger ale instead. I leaned over and took away the sugar packets she'd given Lisa with her coffee.
Sliding my reading glasses over my face, I held the contract a bit closer.
2. This arrangement will include public appearances, media sessions with both national and local press, and events with business associates. This arrangement will NOT include any sexual activity, wedding activity, and/or any other activities that will make the signee uncomfortable.
2a. Intimacy Clause Amendment. THE BOSS is allowed to engage in sexual activity (if she finds a willing partner to whom she is sexually attracted during this term) and she will keep this activity private from the aforementioned press and the employee. THE EMPLOYEE is NOT allowed to engage in sexual activity with anyone else (preferably ever), and she will notify the boss if she is ever tempted to step outside of this agreement and pursue (contract-breaking) relations.
What the fuck?
I was certain that I was reading this incorrectly. That there was a misprint somewhere between the first and last lines of all the bullshit, but after rereading it multiple times, I realized that she meant every word.
"Here's the pen." She placed it onto my tray. "Feel free to sign at any time."
"Are you out of your fucking mind?" I asked.
The couple seated across from us gasped at my outburst.
"Lisa ..." I lowered my voice. "Please tell me that this is a joke."
"Your cat resting beneath my feet right now is a joke." She rolled her eyes. "This is the best way that we can get through these next few weeks without the tension getting any worse."
"You can have sex, but I can't? How is that fair?"
"Because you haven't had sex since you broke up with that waste of a boyfriend you were seeing a year and a half ago. And seeing as though you always came into work with the ability to walk straight every morning, you've clearly never been fucked right, so this amendment doesn't really affect you."
Ugh! I pushed the contract to the floor and unbuckled my seatbelt. I moved the tray away and rushed to the restroom so I could scream in peace.
Before I could shut the door, Lisa stepped inside and locked the door behind her.
"Get out of the bathroom right now before I scream."
"You won't." She narrowed her eyes. "That's not your style."
"Try me."
She raised her eyebrow. "I can re-word some of that clause, if it bothers you this much."
"There will be no sex for you or me during this entire ordeal. I know you're secretly dating Bae Irene, the supermodel—i.e., Miss Private Phone Calls Every Monday, but surely she's aware of our engagement by now. She can survive without swallowing your cock down her throat for a couple weeks."
"I didn't know you had such a filthy mouth." She trailed her fingers against my throat. "You have no idea what you're talking about in regard to Irene, though."
"I don't want to know." I felt another pang of jealousy in my chest. "I'm not signing that clause and I'd appreciate it if you would drop it. Forever. You're making it very hard for me to be the bigger person right now."
"You honestly think you're the bigger person?" She closed what little remained of the gap between us, pressing her chest against mine.
"Yes. I think I'm the only one who knows how to behave like an adult. You're a goddamn child, and I can't wait until this is over so I'll never have to see your face again."
"Is that so?" She slipped her hands around my waist, roughly splaying her hand against my hips and making my knees go weak.
"Yes. That is very so."
"Hmmm." Her lips brushed against mine. "Well, that's quite unfortunate. I honestly don't want to argue with you for the entirety of the trip."
"Then stop being an asshole."
"Stop treating me like one. Unless ..." Her voice trailed off, and I was pretty certain that the hard, thick bulge that was now pressed against my thigh was her cock. Everyone knows that thing she has.
"Unless what?" I whispered, feeling it harden even more.
"Unless that's what you really think of me ..." Her lips were so close to mine that I could taste them. She looked as if she was about to kiss me, but a loud knock on the door made her pull back.
"Hey, guys!" It was a female's voice. "It's your flight attendant, and I know there are two of you in there. Please come on out."
She let me go, and I opened the door.
One out at a time." The flight attendant shook her head. "There's no mile-high club on this flight."
Lisa motioned for me to go first, and I returned to my seat under the dimmed cabin lights.
I buckled my seatbelt and placed the unsigned contract on Lisa's seat. I made sure Luna was still okay, and then I plugged in my earbuds once more before trying to get some sleep.
A few minutes later, Lisa pulled out my left earbud again.
"Yes?" I looked at her.
"That wasn't the only clause I made an amendment to." She smirked and handed me that damn contract. "Perhaps you'll agree to one of the others."
I looked down at the paper, saw the words "Second Intimacy Clause Amendment (just in case "the employee" rejects the first)," and lost my shit.