The Unintended Fiancé (Captured by Love Book 4) Read online

  “This is highly unusual. And this would sound funny coming from me, but how would you know if I’m telling the truth or not?”

  “Honestly, Warren, I’ll just be taking your word for it. Of course, if you do hide something from me, it’s bound to come out sooner or later. And then I’ll be coming after you with everything I’ve got. Do you really want that? I certainly don’t.”

  “I still don’t believe you’d give up the chance to be in the Carmichael team for anything, Brad,” Warren said with suspicion.

  He took a long, slow breath. Dare he tell this man—of all people—what no one else, except for Gavin, knew? But he could tell Warren wouldn’t open up if Warren wasn’t satisfied that he meant was he was saying.

  “I’m doing this because of Erin, Warren,” he said quietly. “As long as I have this problem, I can’t be with her because she won’t be safe from attacks on her integrity and professionalism.”

  Warren stared at him. “Is that why you broke up?” he finally asked.

  He smiled mirthlessly. “Yes.”

  Warren stood up and walked to the window, looking outside for a long minute. “I was the one who started the rumour that you’re after Valerie,” Warren said softly.

  Brad closed his eyes in relief as he listened to Warren confess to three other rumours he’d started.

  “But I don’t have anything whatsoever to do with the Delsant case or this fake letter from you that got sent to one of my clients,” Warren said, facing him again.

  “What about the rumour that my engagement to Erin was a sham to help me win the Coyte contract? Or getting one of the gossip rags to be interested in running a story on me and Erin’s supposed lack of ethics?”

  “I haven’t even heard of those,” Warren said in surprise.

  He sighed. He’d suspected as much, but he couldn’t help his disappointment that he still didn’t know who was responsible for the most damaging cases.

  “Do you know why I hated your guts, Brad?” Warren asked, sitting back in his chair.

  “Because I win the majority of the contracts we both want? And before that, because we’ve always had this fierce rivalry, even in our school days?”

  Warren snorted. “Do you think those were enough for me to loathe you that much?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve just always thought you hated losing to me.”

  “You stole two of the girls I’ve fallen in love with.”

  “What?” Now this was new to him.

  “They met you, and they left me, then you just discarded them. I was bitter in each instance, but the second time really broke me. I was deeply in love with her, then she dumped me after she met you. I was willing to take her back after you got tired of her, but she didn’t want anything to do with me anymore.”

  His mouth hung open. What?

  He racked his brains for women he’d slept with who also used to go out with Warren. But no names came up. “Who were they, Warren? I’m sorry, but I really don’t recall dating any of your girlfriends.”

  Warren shook his head. “I see no point in talking about them now. I’m tired of this too, Brad. If you’re willing to wipe the slate clean between us, then I am too.”

  He held Warren’s gaze, seeing the sincerity in the other man’s eyes, even the hurt.

  “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, sincerely.

  “Thank you. Me too.”

  He smiled. Funnily enough, this was quite liberating. How much anger had he held for this man for years and had never truly communicated with him? Frankly, he was ashamed that he’d been so closed off for so long.

  “Well, I’ll be informing the Carmichaels that I’m pulling out of the Pyrmont project,” he said. “And I need your word that you’ll keep the reason why to yourself.”

  “That’s a truly big gesture, Brad. Are you sure you want to do that?”

  He chuckled. “I’m a man of my word, Warren. I don’t want to be breaking anything with you when we’ve just wiped the slate clean. It helps enormously that I know which rumours you’ve started. I can focus time and resources on the ones you haven’t.”

  “And you have my word that I’ve told you the whole truth about my involvement. And I’ll keep my mouth zipped about why you’ve decided to pull out of the Pyrmont project. It wouldn’t do me any good for anyone to know why, either.”

  He nodded, feeling a certain camaraderie with his biggest rival.

  “So what do we do about this letter with your fake signature?” Warren asked. “Whoever’s behind this has well and truly dragged me into this mess now. I don’t think I have a choice but to get involved in catching this bastard.”

  “I have a very good private detective working this case. If you don’t mind, he’d like to speak with you. I’m also willing to set the record straight with your client, Warren.”

  Warren put out his hand for a shake across the table. He grasped it tightly. Hopefully, with Warren’s help, they’d be closer to catching the other person who meant to harm his reputation. That time couldn’t come sooner for him.

  He missed Erin terribly. Thankfully, he’d see her in a couple of days at the New Year’s Eve charity ball hosted by the Carmichaels.

  He’d still need to watch how he acted around her. There was no point alerting Erin to his feelings when this mess still wasn’t over.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Erin took a deep calming breath—or tried to, anyway. She was so over this. If Paula sent her another accusing email that she was getting in the way of Paula and Kevin getting back together, she’d scream.

  Paula was obviously stalking her, or Kevin, or both. How else could that woman have known that she and Kevin had gone to a restaurant together during lunch? But, for heaven’s sake, it didn’t mean they’d gone on a date! She’d simply accompanied Kevin to a meeting with a client. They were short-staffed from some co-workers taking some time off during the handful of working days between Christmas and New Year’s, and she’d been the only analyst available to go with Kevin.

  Argh. Perhaps she shouldn’t have cancelled her leave? Then she wouldn’t have had to put up with this additional drama. But she didn’t relish the thought of staying in her apartment, thinking of Brad.

  She threw Kevin a sideways glare. This was his fault. He’d admitted to Paula that he was torn between his wife and Erin. Fancy saying that to your wife, especially after Erin had stated she wasn’t remotely interested in Kevin anymore. She just wanted to be left alone.

  Yeah, she’d been a bit rude and hurtful to Kevin. But she hadn’t seen any other option. Besides, being that direct seemed to have worked. Kevin had pretty much stopped talking to her except when it was work related, and Paula had ceased to hound her. Until now.

  Her break-up with Brad seemed to have rekindled Paula’s paranoia. But what the hell could she do about that? One thing for sure, she wasn’t resigning from JMR just to get away from Kevin. She’d worked damned hard to get to where she was in this company, and she wouldn’t let Kevin or Paula stuff up her career.

  Only Brad could make her come close to considering such a sacrifice.

  She sniffed softly, the now-constant ache in her chest intensifying. It still hurt that Brad didn’t want her helping him anymore with his issues. In the end, she’d had to give in to save their friendship.

  Damn it. She had to do something about this. She couldn’t afford to have her eyes water every time she even so much as thought of him. How on earth would she be able to speak with him tomorrow night at the Carmichaels’ New Year’s Eve Charity Ball? She didn’t want to be such a coward as not to attend an important event for impoverished children just because she wasn’t quite ready to see Brad again.

  She’d like to think she was on the mend, though. She’d agreed to go to the ball with Tristan Grant, Marilyn’s cousin. When she’d told Jade, Cassie and Lexie that she wasn’t keen on being dateless for the event, she hadn’t expected her best friends to take her seriously and find someone to take her. Fortunately, it was Tristan, a
distant friend and another self-declared bachelor who wasn’t looking for a relationship. The whole point was to not look sad and alone on the night, especially when Brad was going to be there too. Besides, seeing her with a date would hopefully alleviate some of Brad’s concerns for her welfare. She knew he hadn’t intended to hurt her, and she didn’t want to burden him with more guilt when he already had his plate overflowing with pressing issues.

  “Erin,” Roger called out, motioning for her to come to his office.

  She got up from her seat, wondering what her boss wanted. Roger had been looking worried, hardly showing any cheer in the last few days.

  “Sit down, Erin,” Roger said, closing the door behind her. “How are you?”

  “Not bad, thanks,” she said with a small smile, taking his visitor’s chair.

  Roger sat on his seat with a big sigh. “As you know, I don’t normally get myself involved with my employees’ private lives. But I’m afraid I have to ask you some personal questions again.”

  She frowned in surprise. “Okay.”

  “This is awkward but... did you break up with Brad because of Kevin?”

  Her jaw dropped open in disbelief.

  “The thing is,” Roger said, reddening a little, “since you broke up with Brad, new pesky issues have cropped up. Normally, it would be none of management’s business, but Kevin’s wife is creating a little bit of trouble. A client has brought to my attention that Paula has been writing to popular marriage and relationship blogs, asking for advice from people online on how to save her marriage when the ex-girlfriend wouldn’t stay out of the picture. Unfortunately, Paula dropped some names in one of her posts, and now, the other posters are speculating about raunchy times between you and Kevin—while in the office.”

  “You’re kidding,” she said, shocked. Just how bad could things get?

  “No. I’m yet to speak to Kevin about this because I want to hear from you first.”

  “Roger, I have absolutely no interest in Kevin anymore. We are most definitely not having an affair. We’re not really even friends. I’ve been over him for a long time now, and Paula doesn’t want to believe that. I don’t know what else I can do to make her believe me.”

  “I do think that Kevin still has feelings for you,” Roger said quietly.

  “I can’t help that. To be fair to him, he’s stopped pursuing me. But what can I do about Paula’s actions? I’ve been staying away from Kevin and only speaking with him when it’s work related. I don’t know what else I can do, bar leaving JMR so I’d be as far away from Kevin as possible.”

  “And we don’t want you to do that,” Roger said hastily. “You’re one of our smartest analysts. We most certainly want you to stick around.”

  “Even though I seem to be the cause of your headaches lately?” she said in a teasing tone.

  Roger smiled. “We just need to handle things as they come up. Thankfully, the problem involving Brad went away when you guys broke up. I know it hasn’t been an easy time for you, but I have to say I’m glad you got rid of him.”

  She frowned. “What makes you say I got rid of him?” Her official line had been that she and Brad had mutually decided they were better off as friends than as a couple. She couldn’t stomach making him look worse in other people’s eyes.

  “Er... that’s what I heard.”

  She tutted. “Indulging in gossip, Roger? I didn’t get rid of Brad. It was a decision we both made after realising we’re not ready for permanence. What exactly did you hear?”

  “It’s just people speculating, Erin.”

  “Please tell me.”

  “Well,” Roger said reluctantly. “Some think that you’d had enough of Brad’s unprofessional behaviour, and that you’re right to distance yourself from him so your integrity won’t be further questioned. Others say that there must have been a third party involved—and most think it’s Brad who’s cheated.”

  “They’re all wrong,” she said, deadly quiet. “Brad’s a decent man who happens to have enemies who couldn’t stand watching his rise to success. Our break-up wasn’t his fault. It was just one of those things. And it’s so unfair that he’s suffering from accusations that have never been proven.”

  “I’m sorry,” Roger said with an apologetic smile. “I don’t know what I can do to stop false gossip, but I’ll do everything I can to stem the flow. With Paula’s recent actions, be prepared to cop some more heat. I don’t know yet what this means for us, but guess where she’s worked as a temporary receptionist for two weeks?”

  “Where?”

  “Delsant Team-Building Adventures.”

  “What?”

  “She doesn’t work there anymore, thankfully. Anyway, don’t worry too much. We’re keeping an eye on her actions.”

  “Thank you, Roger,” she responded sincerely.

  As she returned to her desk, an interesting thought popped into her head.

  Sections of the media would be out in force at the Carmichaels’ charity ball, with a select few allowed inside. With all the talk surrounding Brad lately, would some of the media interest be focused on her and Brad during the event—particularly on her, with Tristan as her date for the night? That would be handy, especially if it would help neutralise Paula’s accusations that she was having an affair with Kevin.

  More importantly, having the spotlight on Erin being with Tristan might put a stop to the rumour that Brad had cheated on her. Brad most certainly didn’t need the extra negativity.

  Brad was not the man she’d be spending the rest of her life with, but her love for him was still strong. Whether he liked it or not—whether she liked it or not—she couldn’t help but want to make things better for him. At the very least, they were still friends.

  *****

  Erin’s heart skipped, before galloping in her chest. She quickly averted her gaze from the big doors of the ballroom—and from Brad, who’d just arrived to the Carmichaels’ charity ball. No doubt he’d be making his way to Rick’s table, where Lexie and her other best friends were also seated.

  Thankfully, she was with the Grants at their family table. She and Brad wouldn’t have to suffer the awkwardness of having to sit together when they hadn’t really spoken to each other yet since they’d split up. That was her fault. She just hadn’t been ready yet, because she’d been missing him like crazy. She was scared she’d beg him to give them another chance if she heard his voice.

  But tonight, having an agenda that would hopefully work for both her and Brad’s benefit, she was positive she could keep her composure. Luckily, Tristan was all for helping out and promising to keep the secret to himself.

  Tristan’s grandmother’s engaging laughter attracted her attention.

  “Oh, I can’t wait for the dancing to start,” the eighty-something lady said to her husband. “That’s about the only fun you give me lately.”

  “Is my nan behaving herself?” Tristan whispered as he sat down next to Erin, having come back from greeting other attendees.

  “Yes,” she said with a grin.

  “I have to warn you to brace yourself for some suggestive teasing from her. She’s been wanting me to find a girlfriend for years.”

  “She already asked if you and I are dating. I said we just both happened to be dateless tonight and have decided to come to this event together. I couldn’t lie to her face.”

  “I can guarantee you she won’t be stopped by that comment, especially since we’re doing some acting tonight. Just ignore her when she gets too pushy.”

  “Don’t you two look lovely together,” Tristan’s grandmother interrupted. “Whispering sweet nothings to each other.”

  Tristan rolled his eyes. “Don’t make Erin feel uncomfortable, Nan. She’s our guest at this table.”

  “Aw, you know that’s not my intention. Anyway, do you know that there’s going to be a bachelor and bachelorette dance auction tonight?”

  “Dance auction?” Erin and Tristan said together.

  “Yes. Marilyn h
as managed to convince the Carmichael boys—I believe through their wives—that it would be another great way to raise money for the kids.”

  “Marilyn,” Tristan grumbled under his breath.

  Erin sighed, dreading the thought of standing in front of over three hundred people. “We really don’t have to participate, do we?” she whispered to Tristan. “It would be voluntary, I’m assuming.”

  “I’m most certainly not getting up for it. But I don’t like our chances when Marilyn gets that mic and calls on all single boys and girls,” he said dryly.

  She made a face. Yes, Marilyn wouldn’t let go until each unattached person was participating. It was what made her so effective with these things. “I’ll have to tell her about our little secret, then. She’d have to excuse us from taking part.”

  “Yes, please. Thank you,” Tristan said with relief.

  She looked around for Marilyn. Last time she saw her, she was still chatting with the other guests.

  Oh, there she was, talking to a group of young ladies who looked horrified. She chuckled. No prizes for guessing what Marilyn was informing them right this moment. She’d wait for a better opportunity to talk to Tristan’s cousin.

  Would Brad join the auction?

  She was tempted to glance at his table, but forced herself to sit still. This wasn’t the time to be making cow eyes at him. In fact, there would never again be a good time to throw yearning looks his way. She doubted that their friendship could withstand it if Brad thought she wasn’t getting over her feelings for him.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Brad returned to his seat, a fake smile on his face. Some woman in a green dress had just won one dance with him tonight, and she’d been very generous with her winning bid. It was great for the charity, but it hadn’t exactly been a fun experience being up on the stage with the other bachelors.

  Erin hadn’t bid for him. Not even a single dollar. Perhaps that was to be expected, but it still stabbed at his chest, especially since she was sitting with Tristan.