I left the condo early and went to visit Penny.
She was wide-awake and in a good mood.
She knew me today, tweaked my nose, and we talked and laughed until she fell asleep. I
sipped my coffee while she napped, looking at some of her little pieces she'd been painting.
I chose one I liked in particular of some wild flowers, and was admiring it when she stirred. She watched me, then rolled her chair over, holding out her hand for the painting.
"I like this one." I smiled. "It reminds me of when we'd go and pick flowers in the summer."
She nodded, looking distracted. "You'll have to ask my daughter if it's for sale. I'm not sure where she is."
My breath caught in my throat. She was gone again. The moments of clarity were getting further and further apart, and I knew better than to upset her.
"Perhaps I can take it and go find her."
She reached for her paintbrush, turning for her easel. "You can try. She may be at school. My Ruby is a busy girl."
"Thank you for your time, Mrs.Johnson."She gestured toward the door, dismissing me. I left the room, clutching her painting, stifling the tears.
She didn't know me, yet deep in her heart, she still thought of me as her daughter. The same way I thought of her as my family.
It was a sobering reminder of why I was doing this with Ethan. Pretending to be something I wasn't. It was for her.
I wiped my eyes, and headed back to the condo.
When I opened the door, Ethan met me with a scowl on his face.
"Where were you? You have an appointment!"
I drew in a deep breath and counted to ten.
"Good morning to you, too, Ethan. It's only ten. My appointment is at eleven. I have plenty of time."
He ignored my greeting.
"Why didn't you answer your phone? I called. You didn't take your car, either."
"I visited Penny. The home she is in is close, so I walked."
Reaching over, he tugged on the small canvas I had clutched to my torso. "What is this?"
My grasp was ineffectual, and he held the painting in his hands, studying it.
"You aren't hanging this crap in here."
I swallowed the bitterness in my throat. "I wouldn't dream of it. I was going to put it in my room."
He pushed the small canvas back at me.
"Whatever." He walked away, glancing over his shoulder.
"Your clothes arrived. I put them in the closet in your room and left the bags on the bed. Burn whatever you're wearing now. I don't want to see it any longer."
Then he disappeared.
Later that afternoon, when I returned to the condo, I felt like a different person. I had been buffed, scrubbed, and waxed within an inch of my life.
My hair had been washed with some body infusing shampoo, conditioned, cut and
layered, then blown dry so it hung in long, luxurious waves down my back. Once my makeup was done, I barely recognized myself.
My eyes looked huge, my mouth full and
pouty, my skin like porcelain. I hurried upstairs and slipped into the new lingerie and dress Amanda and I had picked out for the afternoon; she told me it was perfect.
Off-white with a flowered overlay, it was pretty and floaty, and it looked like summer.
The low-heeled sandals were comfortable, and I was sure I could stay upright.
I took in a deep breath as my nerves began to tighten.
It was time to see if Ethan agreed.
—Ethan Pov
I Impatiently, I drummed my fingers on the counter. I heard the tapping of heels and turned my head, the glass I was about to drink from freezing part way to my mouth.
The Ruby I was used to seeing wasn't this woman. As I suspected, with the right clothes, a good haircut, and some makeup, she was quite pretty.
Not like the flashy, confident women I was used to, but rather an understated beauty she carried well.
Not my usual type—however, in this case, it
would work.
I glanced down at her hand and frowned.
"Where is your ring?"
"Oh."
She opened her small purse, took out the box, and slipped on the ring.
"You need to wear it all the time. Leave the box here."
"I took it off for a manicure. I forgot to put it back on." She smiled—a wide, almost teasing smile.
"Thank you so much for reminding me, my darling."
I raised my eyebrows. "My darling?"
"You didn't like Han, so I picked another endearment. You know, like lovers."
I crossed my arms, glaring. "I think you're laughing at me."
"I would never." She tossed her hair, the dark waves rippling down her back. "So, will I pass?"
"My money was well spent."
She picked up her purse. "You have such a way with words,Ethan. So smooth and lyrical. I'm shocked women weren't lined up pretending to love you."
Her remark made me chuckle. She had a cutting sense of humor, which was something I liked.
I followed her to the door, opening it for her.
She waited as I locked it, and with a smirk, I offered her my hand.
"Ready, sweetheart?"
She rolled her eyes, placing her hand in mine. "Anywhere with you, my darling."
"Let's do this."
Ruby accepted my extended hand, letting me help her from my car, her eyes huge in her face as she took in the extraordinary house and grounds.
Even I was impressed.
Mateo Brook's estate home was lavish.
"Try to control your emotions," I murmured, tugging her close, hoping it appeared natural. She didn't fight me, leaning her body into mine as the valet drove off with my
car.
"You need to relax."
She looked up at me with a frown. "Maybe you're used to this sort of opulence, Ethan. But I'm not."
Her gaze moved around rapidly; panic beginning to show on her face. "I don't belong here," she whispered.
"They're going to see right through this shame."
I bent low so I could meet her eyes. "No, they aren't," I hissed.
"I'm going to stay beside you, and we're going to act as if we're in love. Everyone here will think I chose you and us over my career, and you, damn it, are going to act as
though you fucking adore me. Got it?"