The Convenient Wedding: a contemporary romance (The Rosa Legacy Book 3) (4 page)

Brian had told her that he and Marissa were the first team members to come on board. Marissa coordinated the fundraising activities, which was a vital role for the campaign.

Marissa took a sip of her red wine and said “You look out of your element.”

Lucia looked at her adversary and thought she looked immaculate and very much at ease, her long black hair was elegantly put up and her black evening dress was conservative yet beautiful.

Lucia cautioned herself not to get defensive, trying to relax her neck and shoulder muscles. “I don’t feel out of my element. Possibly because of my experience in public relations.” 

Before Marissa had a chance to say anything else, Anderson took the podium. She excused herself and made her way back to her seat.

For a few moments, Lucia forgot the evening’s announcement as she listened to Anderson’s speech. He was an inspiring speaker. Glancing around the audience, she could tell he captured their interest. For a few fleeting moments, Lucia thought about the campaign but doubts about agreeing to a false engagement came back to trouble her. The problem with a lie was that at some point it would be exposed or worse yet eat away at her self-respect.

Lucia felt a chill run down her spine as she contemplated her future. She had only thought about tonight and preventing the photographs from causing a scandal. But how would she get out of this fabrication? She looked at the diamond ring on her finger and realized that it cost more than her annual salary. Why was it that the man she thought she loved and wanted to marry, turned out to be an elusive dream, yet a man she barely knew put an engagement ring on her finger and seemed ready to walk down the aisle? 

She could feel the thunderous applause vibrate throughout the room. Anderson paused at the podium for photographs before making his way back to their table. He was interrupted several times to shake people’s hands and accept their congratulations.

Lucia was deep in conversation with a woman at their table when he came up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder, and said “Ready?”

The other people at the table congratulated them and said goodnight. Anderson drew Lucia to his side and gave a polite nod.

They began the slow path through the ballroom towards the exit, and it seemed everyone wanted to wish them well until they got to Marissa who said directly to Anderson “We need to talk.”

He gave her a curt nod and said “Tomorrow.”

Lucia assumed that they would go back to Anderson’s hotel suite but instead he led her outside to a waiting limousine.

The driver opened the door and nodded politely to Lucia and said to Anderson simply “Home, Sir?”

“No, Casey. My Father’s home, please.”

Lucia climbed in first and sank comfortably into the leather seat. The press had followed them and shouted out questions, taking more photographs. A bodyguard closed the door and got in the passenger seat next to the driver. With the window to the front closed, Lucia relaxed in the quiet of the car. Anderson reached forward and opened a small bar, “Would you care for a drink?”

“No, thank you. I would like to go my apartment in Stamford.” She needed time to reflect on the last few hours.

Anderson moved closer to her. “You must know that it would be impossible. The media will be camped out on your doorstep.”

The Limousine navigated the city traffic and was on the way to a surrounding neighborhood.

“I don’t care.” Lucia was exhausted and tired of the charade. She couldn’t believe she had allowed herself to be maneuvered into a pretend engagement.

“I doubt that is the case. Your building doesn’t have security and you probably haven’t had time to unbox anything. The media would eat you alive.”

Lucia studied Anderson for a moment. He was definitely quite an actor. The strain of the evening, of having to play a fake part didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest. Didn’t he care that the media would expect him to marry her? Instead he seemed to calculating his next move.

“When will this madness end?” Lucia asked him.

“Obviously with a traditional wedding and living happily ever after.” he said in a mocking tone.

“I can pretend to play the part of a woman madly in love with you for brief time then we can stage a breakup.” The idea of further public humiliation worried her.

“Let’s see what happens. Other news may eclipse our romance and we can slowly let it fade away. But it will take time.” Anderson spoke in a low tone, emphasizing each word.

Lucia shook her head. “I don’t want to be at the mercy of the media. We need to make things happen to steer the media in the direction that will benefit us.”

“You can’t fix this, bella. In fact, I think we should marry. It will protect both our reputations. If you choose to not go through with the marriage then you can’t be involved with the campaign and will have to return to California to salvage whatever is left of your reputation.” The idea of having to return home in the midst of a broken engagement and give up her aspirations of a career in politics was not palatable either.

Lucia wondered how she would get out of this debacle unscathed. How could he expect her to go through with a wedding?

Anderson said, “You need to call your parents and announce our engagement.”

The shock must have shown of her face because he elaborated, “Our photograph and announcement will be in every newspaper tomorrow morning, you should share the news with parents instead of having them read it in the morning paper.”

“But they are in California.” Lucia argued.

“Do you think that an unexpected engagement between two political families in a close congressional race wouldn’t be reported in California? And besides they must be interested in their daughter’s life and they know that you intended to work for my campaign.”

Lucia knew that he was right. Why hadn’t she considered all of the ramifications before agreeing to this farce? She didn’t want to face her parents with the news of her engagement. She hated that she was seen as impulsive and not thinking through her decisions. They had been reluctant to support her decision to move across country and seek a new position. Her parents argued strongly for her to stay in California and work for a local campaign. They didn’t understand her need for change. And they certainly wouldn’t support a false marriage. She would have to pretend with them as well. Lucia thought of her loving, trusting parents and she felt sick even contemplating a discussion with them.

Anderson held out his cell phone, her hand trembled as she took the smart phone into her hand. Before she lost her nerve, she punched their phone number in.

Before hitting send, she turned to Anderson with a last plea, “there must be another way”.

“No.” He said firmly, “This will protect them as well. Do you think they would want their daughter’s name dragged through a scandal?”

Lucia replied, “No, of course not. But they won’t be happy about a divorce either.”

Anderson met her gaze and she could feel their attraction building, “Well, maybe after many months together we will choose to make our arrangement permanent.”

The thought of being married under these conditions to a politician appalled her. “I will see this through the election and a respectable period after. But I won’t give up my life for your political aspirations.”

“I get it,” Anderson replied and took the phone out of her hand and pushed send. Lucia stared at him in disbelief. He spoke with whoever answered the phone. He was definitely the consummate diplomat. In a matter of minutes, he had her father congratulating and asking to speak to her.

Taking the phone, she said “Hello.”

She heard her father’s voice and wanted to explain what was happening. But she felt trapped and said nothing.

Her father asked, “Sweetheart, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just everything is happening so fast.”

She tried to reassure him but then he abruptly said, “Your mother is desperate to speak to you.”

“An engagement. You couldn’t have known him very long, dear. Marriage is not something that should be rushed into or taken lightly.” Lucia knew her mother would think the decision was impulsive.

Sensing her doubts, her mother said “Are you sure about this, it is so soon after your breakup with Paul.”

She interrupted her mother. “Yes. Yes, I’m completely sure. You will love Anderson.” The mention of Paul’s name twisted the knife in her heart. How was it that someone she knew so well and cared for so much couldn’t offer her a lasting commitment but a politician could trust her enough to suggest marriage? Lucia thought bitterly because it meant nothing to him, it was just a means to an end and as soon as she lost her usefulness then she would be dropped. At least with Paul, she had thought that he had loved her.

Lucia ended the conversation with assurances that they would soon meet Anderson and could help plan the wedding.

The limousine pulled into a long driveway and Lucia saw a beautiful, dramatic stone house light up in the dark night and set picturesquely among trees and shrubs. She waited for the driver to open the door for her and could feel her anxiety rising. Anderson came around the car and placed his hand lightly on her lower back, guiding her toward the front entrance.

Anderson opened the large wooden door and she thought about how different homes were in Connecticut. She trailed Anderson through the house and admired the traditional woodwork and furnishings. The house could have been built 200 or 300 hundred years ago. Even though the house was impressive, Lucia felt strangely at home which was unusual for her. She typically didn’t feel at ease in a strange place.

Before Anderson opened a thick, wooden door, he whispered to her, “Relax. You will like my father but tread carefully. He is still grieving the loss of my mother.” She was being warned not to place a burden on his father. How would his father react to the news of his son’s sudden engagement?

Anderson opened the door and Lucia saw a beautiful library and heard a low melody of classical opera. When they stepped into the room, Anderson’s father rose to greet them.

Lucia was amazed by the similarity between father and son. His father looked older than Anderson but retained a confidence and just like his son was quite striking. Anderson seamlessly handled the introductions.

“So you have captured my son.” his father directed at Lucia. 

Lucia recognized that he didn’t seem bitter at the sudden engagement but rather almost happy.

She smiled in return and extended her hand to him, saying “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Adams.”

He held her hand warmly in both of his and said, “Please call me Arthur.” He released her hand saying, “You are quite lovely, Lucia. I can see why my son fell in love at first sight.”

Lucia realized she was on show once again. If they were interested in adding beauty to Anderson’s public persona then she fit the bill. Even though she resembled her father’s family who were of English ancestry more than her mother’s Italian ancestry, her look was quintessential Californian. Her healthy skin and slim figure came from a combination of good eating habits and frequent exercise. Her height at a mere five foot four inches followed her mother’s family. Her brown eyes, blond hair and the ability to tan easily gave her a youthful glow that was rewarded in California with much attention and praise. 

Typically she pulled her hair back and dressed casually. But fate was against her today. She began to wonder if it wasn’t just the looming scandal that motivated Anderson. Her natural beauty had attracted many boyfriends in the past but she wasn’t interested in just a physical relationship, she wanted someone who could connect with her on an intellectual level.

Glancing at Anderson, she saw a brooding look that made her feel defensive. Was he regretting his snap decision? 

After a few minutes of small talk, Arthur said to his son “Your fiancé looks exhausted, son. I had the Rose Room prepared for her.”

Arthur turned to Lucia with a smile and he said “Sleep well. I’ll see you at breakfast.”

“Goodnight, Mr. Adams.” Lucia murmured.

“Please call me Arthur.”

Following Anderson out of the library, she asked “Do you spend a lot of time here?”

“At times.” He seemed cold and remote all of a sudden.

Lucia followed him up the curved mahogany staircase and down a long hallway. 

He stopped and opened a door. Leaning against the frame, he placed his hands in his pockets. “The items from your hotel room were packed and have been placed in this guest room. If you need anything, the kitchen and housekeepers quarters are at the back of the house.”

Glancing into the room, she could see traditional furnishings with rose colored walls. Lucia stepped forward and could feel the tension vibrating from Anderson.

“I’m going to go home but will be back later in the day to discuss our path forward.”

“I don’t want to stay here without you.”

“You want to spend the night together?” His eyes were burned into hers and she could feel a slow heat spread throughout her body. 

She looked away from him. “I don’t know your father. It seems odd to be staying here.”

He touched her shoulders and held her steady. “Our every move will be watched. My father has elaborate security in place and an impenetrable wall surrounding his home. You’ll be safe here. I imagine your grandfather will be much happier with you spending the days before our wedding here instead of my penthouse.”