The Marriage Bargain (7 page)

“She did, did she?” Camille shuddered inwardly. “Did she also tell you that she’s an unreasonable shrew?”

Tasha’s eyebrows shot up.

Camille cleared her throat as they approached the maître’d, signaling Tasha to keep quiet.

“Ah, Mrs. de Laurent. Will you and your companion be joining us for lunch?”

“Yes. Could we have a private table? Somewhere out of the way?”

“But of course.” He led them out to the garden area.

“Mrs. de Laurent?” Tasha whispered.

Camille shushed Tasha, and turned her attention to the maître’d, saying, “Mr. de Laurent will be joining us shortly.”

“Thank you,” the girls said in unison.

He pulled out two chairs at a table surrounded by plants and foliage in the café’s exquisite botanical gardens. While daffodils and snow drops were in full bloom behind their table, Camille recognized the scent of jasmine lingering in the air.

“Unsweetened iced tea?” The waiter confirmed her choice.

Camille nodded.

He turned to Tasha, “And what would you like? A pomegranate martini perhaps?”

She hesitated, in thought. “Yes,” she nodded, “I believe I will.” She watched him walk away and turned to Camille. “I believe I’m going to need it.”

“Why are you here?” Camille asked again. “I told you I was on a story. You could’ve easily blown my cover.”

“You’re not on a story. You were fired.”

“I wasn’t fired. I quit.”

“You say tomato. I say tomato,” she said, using the American and English versions of the pronunciations. “Did you marry that guy?”

She thought about lying, but it wasn’t a good idea. Camille was knee-deep in lies as it was. “Yes.”

“What?” The long lashes shading her cheeks flew up. “Where’d you meet him? I didn’t know you were seeing anybody, much less thinking about getting married.” Tasha studied her suspiciously. “Is that why you quit?” she said, with a flash of curiosity. “Where’s he from anyway? Somewhere in Europe, I bet.” An enlightening smile curled on her plump, red lips. “Ooh...that’s why Margo’s so mad because you up and quit.”

Maybe the best thing for everyone was to let Tasha think the marriage was real. “Look, don’t say anything to him about my employment at Disclosure Magazine or what happened. I don’t want him to start thinking he’s robbed me of my career.”

“Yeah, that’s not a great way to start a marriage, is it?” She paused, reaching for a goblet of water. “Maybe you should just tell him you’re an aspiring actress. That way, it’s easy enough to explain away your lack of
real
work.” Tasha was reiterating her parents objections to her acting career, or lack thereof, as Tasha was the epitome of an aspiring actress who hadn’t caught her big break.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I am curious about one thing though?” she said, with a hint of questioning in her tone. “When you called, why’d you say you were on a story?”

“I thought you’d try to talk me out of marrying Julian.”

“Why would I do that?” she asked. “It’s obvious he’s crazy about you.”

Surprise blasted through Camille. Tasha didn’t need to see her composure crumbling. She held her breath and arrested the astonishment, holding it inside.

“When were you going to tell me?” Tasha threw an accusing glare at Camille.

“When I called to invite you to be a member of the wedding party for the ceremony in France.” Well, it sounded good anyway.

“France?” Her mood changed, turning buoyant. “Are you shitting me?”

Camille shook her head. “His family lives in Marseilles. Most of the time.”

She looked at Camille’s attire again and drew a sharp breath, like she’d discovered the queen’s jewels. “This guy’s like super rich, isn’t he?” The words came out like a question but there was no inquiry in her tone.

Camille considered lying. Again. But abandoned the idea. “Yes.”

“Oh, man, no wonder you didn’t tell me about him.” Her devilish laughter validated Camille’s reservations.

“Precisely.”

“I wouldn’t have hit on him, though. Not when you’re so clearly into him.”

Camille snorted. “Since when did that ever stop you?”

“Well okay, there was that one time,” she said, as if it wasn’t as important as Camille had deemed. “But he provoked me.”

“Just stay away from Julian, okay.”

“Oh, no worries there.” Her mouth pulled into a tight-lipped smile. “He’s not into me. He’s all about you.”

Good
. She was glad Tasha saw it that way—no matter how distorted her view was. It saved Camille a lot of grief in the long run.

“Okay, so, remember not a word of Disclosure or any of that stuff.” Camille hoped her stern voice was effective.

“Mum’s the word.” Her friend nodded her head slyly. “So, when’s the French wedding?”

Camille had no idea. But she knew the European wedding needed to take place soon because of the pre-nup provisions. So, the sooner the better. “Probably a couple of weeks.”

“I’ll bet there are some hot guys in France. When do I get to come?”

“We’ll see what Julian says. I don’t even know where we’re going to live.” She laughed, her confidence wavering. “He said something about a family home in Marseilles.”

“Oh, god, you’re not going to have to live with his parents, are you?”

“Geez, I hope not.”

Camille hadn’t really thought about that, but she should’ve when he told her about his family home. Maybe she could talk him into leasing a place in Marseilles. If not, hopefully his family home was a really big house. The last thing she wanted was to feel like she was under someone’s scrutinizing eye.

She saw Julian crossing a gardened path and straightened in her chair. “Oh, here’s Julian.”

Camille’s gaze followed Tasha’s to Julian who’d stopped a waiter in his path. After a few verbal exchanges the waiter walked away and Julian moved toward them, smiling at Camille. Sitting, he scooted his chair close to hers.

“Well, are we all set now?” he asked.

“Yep,” Tasha said. “We’re all on the same page.” She reached for her glass. “I am invited to the wedding, right?” She asked Julian in particular.

“Of course you’re invited to the wedding.” He draped his arm around Camille’s chair. “I’m sure Camille will want you by her side.”

“Since the wedding isn’t going to be for a couple of weeks, could Tasha join us in France in maybe a week or so?” Camille’s insecurities leaked out as she spoke to Julian.

“Sounds perfect. Whatever you want.” Julian glanced at Tasha. “I can send a jet for you when you’re ready to come.”

“A private jet?” Tasha’s eyes lit with excitement, but she masked it with smooth composure. “Cool.”

Uneasiness knotted inside Camille and escaped in her nervous laughter.

“Say, Julian...?” Tasha asked. “You got any brothers?”

“I have one brother.”

“Older or younger?”

“Younger, by two years.”

“Is he married?”

“No.” Julian smiled.

Camille kicked Tasha’s shin under the table.

“Ouch!” Tasha yelled and glared at Camille. She bent over, rubbing her leg.

Julian hid his chuckle behind a cough.

The waiter Julian had stopped to talk to earlier appeared with a tray of food, including a plate of hamburger and fries for Julian—he’d told Camille that he loved the American delicacy—and a slice of apple pie with a side of vanilla ice cream for Camille.

After serving them, the waiter hesitated over Tasha with a plate of cheesecake. “Mr. de Laurent asked me to choose something from the dessert menu for madam.” He sat the dish in front of her. “I’m sure you’ll find it to your liking. Or, if madam prefers something else...?”

“No, this is fine.” Tasha smiled politely and grabbed her fork, ready to feast on the café’s sweet treat.

As the trio munched, they reserved the conversation to minimal small talk until they’d nearly finished with their desserts.

“Well, Tasha, are you going back to L.A. tonight?” Julian asked, pushing his plate aside. “If you’d like to say in Vegas a couple of days, I can extend our villa upstairs for you.” Julian paused, catching his breath. “I do hate to risk looking like a poor host, but we are due at the airport soon. We’ll be leaving for London this afternoon.”

“Well, Vegas ain’t exactly London,” she said in lighthearted quips. “But okay, I’ll take it.”

The three of them stood and went back inside the hotel lobby where Julian made sure the staff knew Tasha would be staying on through the end of the week—four days away. They were to see to her every need and desire.

Camille was surprised to learn that while they were lunching, her belongings inside the suite had been packed into brand new designer
luggage. A notion that made Tasha swoon.

The girls said their goodbyes. Tasha went upstairs and Camille climbed into a limo with Julian, Soren, and Heinz, Julian’s pilot. During the drive to the airport, uneasiness crept over Camille and left her with a troubled feeling. Leaving the country with three men she’d known for less than a week might not be construed as prudent.

She knew her qualms were crazy. Julian and Soren were honorable men; even though they came from two separate classes of society, their morals and principals were the same. Maybe that’s why each was able to put so much faith and trust in the other. They got as good as they gave.

A
t the airport, Julian showed Camille the stateroom on the plane. “Once we’re in the air,” he said, “you can rest in here if you’d like.”

He wondered about Camille’s friend. She was loud and flashy. The exact opposite of Camille. How had they become friends? But no matter, if Camille wanted her to come to France, he’d bring her there. Better yet, he’d send Andre to get her. That’d serve him right.

“So, we’re going to London and then on to Marseilles?” she asked, as if she was just trying to fill the silence.

“We will spend a day or two in London where you can do a little more shopping.” He felt an eager attraction coming from her and it pleased him. “Then we’ll head to Paris where you’ll meet with a designer or two.”

“Designer? Why?”

“To make you the wedding dress of your dreams.” One way or another, Julian was going to charm his way into his new wife’s good graces. And at the end of six months, when he’d grown tired of her and she of him, they’d go their separate ways and he’d be free. Free from the bonds of matrimony his father was so sure he needed.

Her mouth opened in dismay, but she remained silent.

“What is it, Chéri?” Seeing the uncertainty in her eyes, a flash of loneliness stabbed at him. “A dress designed specifically for you does not please you?”

Her faint smile held a touch of sadness. “Julian, that’s very generous of you.” Camille’s face went grim. Something was on her mind, and judging by the demure smile, she wasn’t talking.

“But...”

“I guess dressing properly comes with playing the part, huh?”

“Well, you might as well enjoy it.” Her lack of enthusiasm surprised Julian and somehow pleased him at the same time. Not that he didn’t want his wife attired in the finest designs, but her indifference was appealing. There was something comforting in the notion that Camille was unmoved by designer fashions.

Julian wanted to see her smile though. “Someday, when you do it for real, you can just think of this as a...how do you Americans say it? A dry run?”

Camille’s smile fell into laughter.

He thought he knew her problem. Camille was about to have the wedding of her dreams for a marriage that wasn’t real. Women got that way about weddings. All mushy. Julian knew he should have considered the ramifications of their ‘pretend marriage’. “Well, at least I can make you laugh.”

She squared her shoulders and plastered on an overzealous smile. “From here on out I will play the part with complete enthusiasm and absolutely zero regret.”

Julian wasn’t sure if she believed what she’d told him. But it didn’t matter. He trusted his instincts and they assured him Camille was the solution to his troubles. She held a certain appeal with her sentimental mind-set over a real dress for a faux wedding. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, Julian sensed her disappointment.

A soft knock in the hallway accompanied Soren’s serene voice. “Sir, we’re next in line for takeoff. We should take our seats.”

Julian gave Camille a carefree shrug. “Shall we?”

She followed him into the lounge and they sat together on the couch.

“Did you tell your friend the truth?” he asked, fastening his seatbelt.

“No.” Camille didn’t bother looking his way until her belt was fastened. “I thought it was best to let her think it’s real. Besides, wasn’t that part of the deal?” she said in a peculiar searching way. “Everybody’s supposed to think we’re married in more than name only?”

She had a point. The fewer people aware of the scheme, the better their chances of success. So far, only three people knew. Julian, Camille, and Soren. If word did get out, it wouldn’t be hard to unearth the culprit.

Julian fiddled with the jewelry box inside his jacket pocket. Camille was looking a bit disenchanted, but this might raise her spirits.

“Speaking of believability.” He paused and pulled out the trinket box. “I thought you should have these,” he added, offering her the gift.

Her eyes radiated joy. She accepted Julian’s present and opened it as if it was made of fragile glass. She gasped and one hand flew to her chest.
Her jaw dropped as she stared at the diamond-studded rings inside.

Julian slipped the box away from her and put the marriage symbol onto her ring finger. “Every beautiful bride deserves beautiful rings.” He backed up his statement with a wink and a smile. “No matter the circumstances.”

Her face softened into a desirous
I-want-to-believe-you
look.

She was caving; he could see it happening. In no time, Julian would win her over with his charms.

“Why me?” she finally said. “I know you said ‘I’m perfect for the part’. But why?” she asked, as if she thought she was a speck of nothing. “What makes me perfect? And say, not my friend Tasha?”