She shook her head. “Sorry. Not going to happen. I’m not going to perpetuate something that’s not true. I’m not going to lie to reporters or anyone who asks and say I’m engaged. More importantly, I would never in a million years tell my kids to lie. I am sorry if this hurts you and your political career, but I can’t do it.”
He leaned forward. “I’ll admit that there is a level of concern with how this could impact my campaign. There are some more conservative members in the party who will be overjoyed to have this as ammunition against me. But the public’s opinion on my moral integrity and its effect on my campaign isn’t my only or even primary worry. Because this is bigger than just me. The rampant speculation won’t just affect me. It will affect my daughter. And most assuredly it’s going to affect you and those three kids as this all plays out in the media in the coming weeks. For me, this engagement plan really is the lesser of two evils.”
She hadn’t really considered that, about how this might affect her kids. She was an adult, and as hard as hearing the innuendo might be, she could take it.
But her kids?
She remembered how hard it had been those first few months after Leo left her with nothing but debt and a tanked credit score that had brought her back home to Utah. It had been tough for her, that feeling of helplessness and abandonment and utter failure, but even worse for the kids. Especially after they started school. Because then the questions from the other kids about why they didn’t have a dad around made them wonder the same themselves.
How would the kids handle the questions, the humiliation and shaming that might follow if people thought she’d shacked up with the soon-to-be governor even for a night? She could deny it until she was blue in the face, but it didn’t mean there wouldn’t be some who would still doubt her.
She closed her eyes. “I would do anything to avoid having my kids hurt any more than they have been. This last couple of years with the divorce has been so tough on them.” On all of them, really.
“Daisy, I know this proposal is more than a little crazy. But let’s look at it from a different perspective than only what we have to lose if we don’t do this. What about what we could gain from this partnership?”
She looked at him skeptically. “Partnership?”
“Of course. We can make this a business agreement of sorts. You agreeing to be my fiancée for the next few weeks won’t just save our children from nasty gossip and speculation, it could help me buoy up public opinion as I take my first steps as governor. Everyone loves a fairy tale, and a widow engaged to a tough and beautiful single mom has all the makings of one.”
“Sounds like you have everything to win here,” she said drolly. Images of flashing bulbs and public attention on every facet of her life up until this moment as reporters delved into her background made the prospect of faking an engagement more like a horror story than a fairy tale. At least for her. “But I’m a fairly private person. Right now, all I am trying to do is provide for my kids as best as I can, make sure they’re not permanently scarred by the divorce. I’m not sure how shining that spotlight even brighter on us is going to be any better.”
He smiled, not appearing the least phased by her less than excited response. “Like I said. This is going to be a partnership. We both need to get something out of this. That includes you.”
“If you’re about to offer me a chunk of money, I can tell you right now that as hard up as I might be financially, I’m not going accept a penny of it. I don’t accept handouts. I want to be able to provide things to my family because I earned them. Not because they were given to me.”
“I’m not talking about a payout.” He paused. “Tell me more about the small business loan that you’re applying for.”
“My loan? What does that have to do with this?” she asked, trying not to sound defensive. She hated that she’d left those forms out. The fact that she was even considering applying for the loan was something she hadn’t really shared with anyone except her sister Benny.
“I’m not a banking expert, but I do have some familiarity with the subject and I know that there are certain things that lenders like to see before they approve financing thousands of dollars. Things like assets, personal savings accounts, credit scores. How are you looking on those fronts?”
O
uch. It was precisely the answer to that question that had her sitting on that application for the past month. Because her answer would be…nothing. Her savings was constantly being tapped for one emergency after another—such as whatever was going to be the cost of fixing her car this week. Her credit score was in the dumps thanks to her ex. As for assets, aside from the 1997 minivan, she had nothing. The house she and the kids lived in was rented from her sister-in-law.
She hated his question, hated how futile he made her dream of getting a loan to finance her business sounded. He seemed to realize this, his blue eyes softening in sympathy. That was the worst. Having someone feeling sorry for her. And not just anyone, but this man whose pity she didn’t want.
“I might not have everything in order right now, but it will happen one day.”
He seemed to hesitate, as if measuring the impact of his words. “Have you considered a cosigner? If someone with deep pockets could guarantee the loan, the prospects would be better.”
Even though she was certain every one of her family members would jump at the chance to help her, no questions asked, she couldn’t ask that of them. If her business failed, it would be her failure. “I get this loan on my own, or I don’t get it at all. I would never ask my family to risk so much.”
He didn’t look surprised. If anything, he seemed only more satisfied as he sat up a little straighter. “Then don’t. Let me offer my name. My guarantee. Mind you, from the short time I’ve known you and seen your stubbo—determination”—he corrected, grinning again—“I’m left with zero doubt that your business will become a success, so I don’t think my agreeing to cosign will ever result in any loss. But if it should, it’s a small price to pay for the benefit I have to gain from your fulfilling your obligations under our agreement. Again, this is just all part of a business agreement. You help me, and I can in turn help you. This isn’t a handout.”
Daisy would be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that the prospect of getting that loan approved, the wheels put in motion on getting her very own bakery finally up and running, didn’t fill her with hope and excitement. It was something she’d always wanted.
“A business proposition,” she said, testing the words and the idea.
“Precisely. You pretend to be my fiancée for the next few weeks, including doing any necessary public appearances to help maintain the story, and I’ll sign my name and offer the guarantee you need to get your business loan approved. No money will exchange hands at all. And in doing so, we can protect both of our families from the nasty speculation we’re currently facing.”
She still hesitated, hating the risk he’d be taking if it should fail. “I couldn’t let you guarantee the loan without offering anything in return. Five percent. If you guarantee the loan, I insist that you take five percent of any profits.”
“Okay,” he said, agreeing quickly. “It sounds more than fair.”
Only leaving her to decide…
A fake engagement.