A TEMPORARY MARRIAGE: PART ONE (AVALON BAY ROMANCE SERIES Book 1) (5 page)

It was a huge day, the day when Cassie was going to have her job review and find out if she was any closer to getting the General Manager job for the hotel, or another one within the ownership family. It was a lot to take in and the proposal also kept distracting her, making it tough to manage everything. She tapped into her best skills, reminding herself that she’d dealt with many stressful situations, and that the right decision would come. Of course, it would be based on how today went, somewhat. She was no fool and she realized that.

Shortly after 10 AM, John Hallstead’s secretary Cynthia Alston summoned her to his office. She walked in and sat down in one of the two carved wooden chairs in front of John’s desk. Once she was settled, he jumped right into her review and it was full of praise. She was happy and she’d worked hard for that review, but it was what came next that she’d worked hardest for.

“So we have intended to reward you with a promotion to General Manager. The original plan was for me to move to a new hotel that is about to open and for you to take over this location.” John beamed at her and Cassie smiled back; this was exactly what she’d hoped for. She tried to ignore that inner voice that was nagging at her about everyone else’s future, not just hers.

“However, last month things changed.” The smile left John’s face. “The hotel is going to be closing down for major renovations. It’s a set-back, but we’ll ensure you have a position at another hotel in the time being.”

“Doing what?”

“I’m not certain yet, maybe a night/weekend manager,” John offered.

Cassie didn’t want to be ungrateful, but she’d done her time in jobs like that and knew the chances of going right to General Manager of any hotel from that position was highly unlikely. She’d studied this business inside and out for many years.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about that. Business is business and the hotel needs repairs badly,” she said. Her voice was calm, but it sounded like it came from a distant place.

“Thank you for taking it so well,” John said, coughing a bit.

“We all do what we have to do,” she said.

They talked a bit more and Cassie’s thoughts were in overdrive. The review had definitely left her a changed woman; her entire plan had changed in an instant and a decision had been made.

“John, I really do value this opportunity and everything that I’ve been able to experience working here. But I need to take a leave of absence, if that’s possible? I’ll understand if it’s not. I have a family situation, a personal matter in California that I need to attend to for the next year.”

John looked shocked, “I hope everything is okay?” He spoke carefully.

“No one is ill. It’s nothing like that. It’s just too complicated to explain.”

“I’m not sure what I can promise, but I’ll see what I can do,” he said. She looked at him and saw that he was quite curious, but there was no way to logically explain it all without him thinking she’d gone crazy.

As Cassie was gathering up her things to leave for the day, she thought how funny it was that once she’d made her decision, the rest of the pieces had fallen into place. She’s only left the meeting with John when she’d run into a couple of her colleagues in the employee coffee room.

“Hey Cassie,” they said.

“Mind if I join you?” she asked.

They pulled out a chair and she sat down. Sally, a receptionist at the hotel was talking to Jamie about her living situation. She was looking for another place to live because her landlord had sold the apartment and she was being kicked out.

“I just don’t know what to do. I can pay rent on a small apartment, but I don’t have enough savings for a deposit. Plus I don’t have any furniture so I’d have to find a furnished place. I could rent a room, I suppose, but it would be nice to have my own place, and not have to share.” Cassie felt so bad for Sally’s plight and she was clearly overwhelmed by her lack of options.

Cassie had worked with Sally for several years, and liked her and knew her to be a reliable and hard-working. Without hesitating, Cassie said, “You could sublet my place for a year, maybe a bit longer, if you like, starting in July.”

“And where are you going to be?” Sally asked.

“I have some business to tend to in California so I’ll be spending some time out there,” Cassie said. It felt strange growing more comfortable saying that, but she already had. She’d given herself permission to do this crazy thing.

“Well, thank you. I will accept that offer,” Sally said, tears in her eyes. “This saves so much stress on me.”

From that single offer, Cassie had relieved Sally’s concerns and taken another step toward making the bizarre proposal work.

Cassie made her way home, amazed, relieved and a bit excited. But she was tired, ready for a glass of wine, a bowl of pasta, and a good television show. It was already almost 7 PM. She pulled up and parked her car on the street, noticing a tall man standing near her entrance in the dusk. She hesitated, not liking that. It was a safe neighborhood, but still…

Well, can’t stay in my car all night
, she thought.

She got out, slowly and didn’t take her eyes off the shaded stranger. Then they started to wave at her. “Cassie, hi,” a voice said. She felt an instant rush of something exciting.

“Richard?”

He walked over. “Hi, surprise.”

“Richard, what are you doing here?”

“And, hello to you, too.”

“I’m sorry, I’m just surprised to see you, that’s all.”

“Well, I thought I’d come to see you and make my appeal in person.”

“Why didn’t you phone me and let me know you were here or coming?”

“I tried, but I think I mistyped your number into my phone. Couldn’t get a hold of Philip all day, either. Sorry.”

“I can’t believe you’re here. Let’s go inside.”

Cassie couldn’t have been more surprised and it had been a pretty surprising day. She glanced at Richard, who shoved his hands into his long overcoat and looked so utterly nervous and tired.

Standing on the stoop of the brownstone, Cassie felt a bit flustered as she dug around in her bag for her key to let them into the building, and then they walked up to her second floor apartment. She opened the door and he followed her in. She’d forgotten how attractive he was, even in just a few days. It felt strange, realizing she’d be embarking into a marriage contract with him, maybe an old friend yet still mostly an unfamiliar person. However, it was sort of fun that he didn’t know she was about to accept it—yet.

Like the majority of New York City apartments, it was quite small but had everything she needed; a cozy bedroom, compact bathroom, and a small kitchen opening onto a decent sized living room with an exposed brick wall and a gas fireplace. For one person, it was perfect.

“Can I offer you a drink? I have a bottle of Cabernet open.”

“Only if you’re going to join me.”

“Of course, I’m ready for one.” Cassie shot him a smile, and after retrieving the wine from the fridge poured them both a generous glass and set them down on the breakfast bar that separated the kitchen and living room. There were two bar stools there and the two sat down.

“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you I was coming. Hopefully I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Not at all. All I was planning on doing was collapsing in front of the television. It’s been quite an exhausting day at work.”

“Well, I’m only in town one night. I wondered if you’d have dinner with me, that is, if you’re not too tired?”

“I am very tired, but I’m happy to have dinner with you as long as it’s somewhere close by.”

“Okay great,” he said looking relieved.

“There’s a really nice Italian Trattoria on the next block up. Nothing fancy, but good food.”

“Sounds perfect,” he said and smiled at her.

“Just give me a few minutes to get ready,” Cassie said.

She ran into her bathroom, instantly sparked by Richard’s presence and wide awake again. He was going to be her husband and she didn’t love him, but he was really amazing to look at. Things were getting better by the minute. All considered, it would be an interesting upcoming year.

Once they sat down and placed their orders, Richard began to talk.

“Cassie, I know that if you take me up on this crazy proposal you are giving up a lot, especially with your promotion coming up. But it got me to thinking that you must be wonderful at what you do, or they wouldn’t even consider you for such a big job. I was thinking, maybe taking a year off from your job wouldn’t slow you down as much as you thought it might.”

Cassie raised her eyebrows at this. How could he believe that taking a year off could possibly not slow her down? He had no way of knowing what had happened earlier.

“You know Primrose House?” he asked.

“Yes,” Cassie said softly, feeling confused.

“Well, it’s big, really big; it was too big for my grandfather, which was the real reason he moved in with me. But it’s a large house, with six bedrooms and a few extra rooms that could be converted into bedrooms, plus some out houses that could also be converted into guest rooms. It could make a wonderful small boutique hotel. There isn’t a hotel in Avalon Bay and it needs one. And it would be yours, Cassie. Your own hotel.”

Cassie thought back to her last conversation with Mr. Gallagher when he’d asked her what her perfect dream would be and she had laughed and said to own her own hotel. Is this why he had thrown Primrose House into the equation? If she married his grandson she would get to realize her dream.

Richard removed from his suit pocket, his tablet. “Look Cassie, I have some photos of the house to show you, it needs work but I think you’ll see the potential.”

Cassie took the tablet from him and looked at the photos of Primrose House. She couldn’t help but light up at its beauty, seeing its potential, and she didn’t even mind that Richard was watching her contently, seeing her positive reaction. It would have been impossible to hide.

“And, I’ve made some rough plans for the remodeling of the house, if you’re interested.”

He took from his pocket some folded up pieces of paper with rough plans of the interior of the house drawn on and slid his chair closer to hers, their knees brushing as he did that. He began to explain his ideas, Cassie was mesmerized by what he said, but also intoxicated by his musky scent.

“But how could I fund a renovation of this size, Richard? It would be expensive.”

“Well, if you enter into this unconventional marriage arrangement with me, the banks will release me money, with which I can loan you, plus I know where you can get some excellent, affordable labor.” He laughed at his joke, which made Cassie laugh. It helped open up the gateway to a better, more relaxed conversation.  “Maybe as the owner of Primrose House and my wife they might loan the money direct to you. I don’t know, really, but seeing if you like the idea is really what’s most important.”

His words made her heart leap. They were kind and thoughtful, concern for her, not his inheritance. “I love the idea, and I’m in,” Cassie blurted.

“In? Like ‘in in’?” Richard said, fumbling on his words.

“Yes,” she replied, laughing at how he’d responded.

“Oh my gosh, this is great,” he said, sounding so relieved.

“Well, to us,” Cassie said, lifting her wine glass.

“To us and this crazy venture, may it work the way we both want,” Richard said. They clanked glasses and drank the wine. Cassie couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the moment. She was engaged, technically, she guessed.

“Are you going to want a ring?” he asked.

She almost choked on the bite of food she’d just taken. “I have no idea, I hadn’t thought about it. Seems silly to spend that much money for something temporary,” she said. “Maybe just a platinum band since it has to look convincing.”

“Anything you need,” Richard said.

“I can keep my name, right?”

“Grandfather said nothing about that, although I’m certain he would have put something in there if he’d thought of it.”

“So, we’ve put one over on him,” Cassie said with a laugh.

The rest of the night was fun and relaxing, more like a first date than a getting engaged date. But it was getting late and she had to get some sleep.

As Richard walked her back to her apartment building, hungry taxis looking for fares prowled the darkened streets. They stood at the front stoop, again, and it was a bit of a more intense feeling this time. There was this energy there, but now acting on it meant something significantly more than just testing the waters. Richard leaned in and gave her a quick, disappointing kiss on her cheek and then she walked in, the smell of his spiced cinnamon scent lingering.

***

“Mom, it’s me,” Cassie said when her mother answered the phone.

“Is everything all right?”

“Everything is good, Mom. I’m sorry to phone so late, but I wanted you to know first.”

“Did you get your promotion?”

“Yes and no. They are going to be giving me the promotion, but not for another year or so because the Royal Oak is going to be renovated,” Cassie said before taking a deep breath. “So, I’ve asked for a year’s leave of absence and I’ve accepted Richard’s proposal.”