Page 45 of Escorting the CEO
“Ah.” He meant Francesca wasn’t followingRhodes’sprotocol, likely because she was too busy following Miranda’s.
I watched as Philips hung up the garment bag and unzipped it. I was curious about the ubiquitous butler. “What about you, Philips—have you worked for the Barringtons for a long time?”
“Since I was eighteen,” he replied. “My father and mother both worked for Mr. and Mrs. Barrington senior, Rhodes’s grandparents. Serving the Barringtons is in our blood, as they say.”
“Wow. So you’ve known Rhodes since he was a little boy?”
“Indeed.”
He pulled out the gown, and I gasped. It was pale blue, with a fitted bodice and a flowing skirt, something a princess might wear. “That’s so beautiful.”
Philips smiled. “Mr. Barrington thinks so—he picked it out.”
“He did?”
“Yes. Now, let’s not stand there gawking, young lady. Your hair looks—and I mean no offense—like a rat’s nest that has spent the day in a pool.”
“It did spend the day in the pool,” I admitted.
“Exactly. Please bathe and let me know when you’re ready. One of my many talents is hair and makeup,” he sniffed. “I’ll be waiting in the hallway.”
I smiled to myself as I showered, rinsing the chlorine from my hair.Rhodes chose a dress for me.And what a dress! I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face, so I decided not to think about it. Still, warmth spread through me as I hurried through my shower.
For some reason, I couldn’t wait to see my fake fiancé again.
It was strange how he’d booted me from his office that morning. We had too much wedding planning to do in too little time. But he’d been looking at me funny, and then we’d been talking about guest seating, and then suddenly, it was as if he couldn’t get rid of me fast enough. I was bewildered as I’d left his office. But the fact that he’d picked out a special dress for me? It felt like a reconciliation.
I hadn’t let myself dwell on it, but I’d had a great night with him watching baseball, even though he was an Evil Yankees fan. Sitting in our sweats, eating burgers, watching the game… For the first time, Rhodes Barrington had seemed like a real person to me, not just a suit with a contract and a bunch of rules.
I hadn’t wanted to like him—it was safer not to. I had to protect myself, after all, in what could only be described as a very strange situation, one in which I had little control. I was at the mercy of Rhodes’s whims. If he was happy with my performance, my family was safe.
If he wasn’t… I had everything to lose. It was a very one-sided arrangement.
If he’d picked out a dress for me, maybe I would be safe. He needed me—I knew that. But I was here at his behest, my entire future hanging in the balance. If this didn’t work out, I’d have to repay him for the farm’s mortgage, and I would never be able to do that. It was imperative that I stay on his good side.
Our contract could save us both. Rhodes could gain custody of his nephew and control his company. I could get legal guardianship of Josie and Bo and make more money than I’d ever dreamed of. I could keep my family safe, which was all I’d ever wanted.
I didn’t like lying, and Ihatedusing Luke as leverage for our backstory, but Rhodes was right: we were doing it for the greater good. Miranda was not the warm, stable person that little boy needed.
Maybe Rhodes and I weren’t perfect, but we were better than that. I hoped.
Refusing once again to think things through, I dried myself off and called for Philips.
“Here we are,”the butler said, turning me around to face the mirror. “You look like you just stepped out of a fairytale.”
“Oh! That’s nice of you.” But I couldn’t believe my own reflection. The dress was a dream: blue, flowy, and modest, yet somehow still showed off my curves. I was transformed by its beauty, and the magic Philips had performed on my hair and makeup. I looked like someone who belonged at Barrington Manor.
Money could buy crazy things, I guessed.
“Don’t frown—you look lovely,” Philips ordered.
I plastered on a smile. “You did some nice work, Philips. I appreciate you.”
“I only highlighted your natural beauty, Miss Rory.” But he sounded pleased by the compliment. “Now, let’s get you to the party. It’s almost time for cocktail hour.”
I followed him down the hall. “Who will be attending tonight?”
“More board members have arrived; they will all be in attendance. Mrs. Barrington will be here, of course. Luke and Maria dined earlier, so the boy will be spared another adult function.”
