In other words, I should invent a background story and family history worthy of Reid’s friends and family and not as embarrassing as the truth.
It stung, but it shouldn’t. He was bringing me to a wedding with his affluent friends and family to prove he’d moved on with someone better, not to show that he’d downgraded. He’d been engaged to the belle of the ball. He couldn’t now be dating a meth head’s daughter whose sperm donor father could’ve been any one of the men with whom my mother had traded sexual favors for drugs.
Old insecurities hit me from a place I’d shoved them years ago. But I forced a smile. During my adult life, I’d grown used to putting on a show. I pretended my crappy childhood hadn’t affected me. Pretended I was over the trauma of my unstable upbringing, and most of all, I pretended I didn’t give a shit about anyone else’s opinion of me. There might not be any awards in my future, but I’d certainly perfected the act of not caring.
“I’ll say I’m from Los Angeles, went to college at UCLA, and if anyone asks about my family, I’ll tell them both my parents died when I was younger.”
I hated the sympathy reflected in his eyes.
“Whatever you feel comfortable saying.”
“We should go with that. Probably also shouldn’t mention I’m your assistant.”
He sighed. “I guess I’d hate for someone to wonder if I’m taking advantage. We’ll say we work together. Maybe you work in another department.”
“Right. I could be a manager in another department. Gives a better impression than if I were only an assistant or an analyst.”
His brow furrowed. “I don’t think going that far is necessary—”
“No, it’s fine.” I preferred to present the best possible scenario for Reid. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t kill me a little inside to realize that even if he reciprocated my feelings, there was no way we could ever be together. Not given my background, not to mention my current illegal stripping job.
Remember, Teagan. You’re Cheese Whiz.
“What did you do in LA before moving here?”
“Nothing important.”
After obtaining my GED, I’d started attending community college but found little interest in academics. I’d worked a number of odd jobs until cosmetology had piqued my interest, and I’d started taking some classes. But once my niece was born and my sister had needed help, I’d pushed it off. Then, of course, there had been the diagnosis, which had forced us both into desperate measures. I’d begun stripping in LA, but it became apparent it wasn’t earning enough. So when I’d been offered the opportunity to work for Delmont Security in Dubai, I’d jumped at it. To my relief, I’d then discovered the club, The Scarlett Letter, where I’d be able to earn two thousand dollars a week for taking off my clothes and dancing.
Reid was frowning. “I consider anything about you important. What did you do?”
Leave it to him to show kindness. “I worked some odds jobs before going to cosmetology school, but I didn’t finish. I wasn’t much on regular classes, but I loved the idea of skin care, makeup and hair. But I think it’s best we stick with the story I gave you instead of the truth. Let’s say I’m in accounting.” Seemed like a safe, non-question-inducing vocation.
He hesitated but finally seemed to sense my desire to drop the subject. “Okay. Accounting it is. Will you wear glasses? Crunch some numbers?”
My grin came easily. “Why, Reid Maxwell, do you have some secret fantasies about accountants you’ve been hiding?”
His cheeks went pink, but the amusement was evident in his eyes. “It’s the calculator that does it for me. Will you start wearing glasses? Maybe put a pencil behind your ear?”
His flirtatious side was unexpected and fun. “For you, I’ll even throw in a messy bun and a pencil skirt.”
He cleared his voice and glanced down at his calendar. “So, what’s your schedule over the next couple weeks?”
“You asking me out?” Could I help teasing him a bit? His deeper blush made it worth it.
“I figured we need to spend time together, but if you don’t want to—”
“Of course I want to.” Jesus, anxious much? I needed to tone this down before I scared him off. “In order to make this believable, hanging out is the best way to get to know each other, and get more comfortable.”
“Makes sense. What’s your weekend look like?”
In Dubai, the work week was Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. But I worked on Thursday and Friday nights at the “restaurant.” “I have to work both nights, but I’m free during the days.”
“I forgot that Aiden mentioned you worked with Chloe at a restaurant nearby. Will it be a problem getting the weekend off for the wedding?”
“No, not at all.” The club was flexible with scheduling.
“Great. Let’s pencil in some time together.”
