That reality of his whole life being up in the air scared the hell out of him. He tried to manage everything around him and suddenly his usual skills failed him. Admitting that he might be on a road that was off his plan made him want to head to work. Do something to burn off the odd sensation running through him. This unsettled feeling he was losing control of every single part of his life.
“Right now. I mean, I feel that way right now.” He had no idea why he’d added that except that he’d been trying to convince himself it was true.
Her smile fell. “Interesting qualification.”
“I’m not sure what you want me to do here. I feel like there isn’t a right answer.” If there was, he sure as hell couldn’t find it.
She sighed at him in that way that told him he was missing the mark by a mile. “Who is Abby? A real answer this time.”
“She and Spence had a thing. It’s complicated, and messy, and my dad screwed it all up. Honestly, it’s not my story to tell. I mean, I will if you want me to, but we have a bigger issue.”
“Noah.” She nodded. “He delivered some envelope to the Insider about you cheating on me, or is about to. I think this might be your new PR issue.”
“No one is going to care that a single businessman is sleeping around.”
She snorted. “How comforting.”
He sensed trying to explain would only make it worse, so he skipped ahead. “My point is I can fix it.”
“What?”
His heart thundered in his chest. It echoed in his ears. This wasn’t supposed to mean anything. They had talked about it and she had known it was coming. But taking the step proved bigger than he thought.
He forced his fingers to work. Clicking the locks, he opened the briefcase and dug around until he found the small box. The one he’d had since the day after their first date.
“This is the way we start taking control.” He took the blue box out and skidded it across the marble countertop in her general direction. “Here.”
She stared at it but didn’t pick it up. “What are you—?”
“An engagement ring.”
When she looked up at him again… That was not happiness he saw. Her teeth clenched.
“Did you hand me a box with a fake diamond ring in it?”
What the hell? “It’s not fake.”
“You’re offended by my comment about the cost?”
The conversation was spinning away from him. He could see it, feel it. Hear the thread of anger in her voice. He ignored every warning sign and dived in. “I picked the ring out for you.”
“You did?” She didn’t sound even a little impressed.
“Of course. It has to look real.”
She glared at him then took a turn glaring at the box. “And now you’ve handed it to me.”
“Okay, wait a second.” He rested his palms against the counter. “I don’t get this. Are you upset about it being real or do you need it to be fake? Fill me in here.”
She looked ten seconds away from kicking him. Derrick appreciated that there was a heavy kitchen island between them right now.
“You shoved an unopened box at me and said ‘here.’” Her eyebrow lifted in challenge. “Yes?”
Okay, that sounded bad. Even he could admit that. “Uh, yeah.”
“Derrick, you have to know there’s a better way to do this.” She waved a hand in the air. “Forget that. You should see your face. You clearly don’t get it.”
“Do I look confused? Because that’s kind of where I am.”
“Fine. I’ll take this.” She grabbed the box and opened it.
She made a noise that sounded like a gasp. Hesitated before picking it up. But she did pick it up. Slid it on her finger as if it didn’t matter to her at all.
Yeah, this was not going well. “Wait.”
“I have the ring. Next provision of our agreement satisfied. Congratulations.” She slid off the bar stool and headed toward the stairs.
He didn’t even realize they were done talking. “You’re upset?”
“Yes, genius. I am.”
“But this is what we agreed to.”
She shrugged. “Then I guess we’re good.”
She sounded far from good. And if the kicking in his gut was any indication, he wasn’t doing so great, either. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”
“Your fake fiancée is going outside.”
It was nighttime and she had a rock on her finger and a heap of attitude. “Why?”
“Because you’re not there.”
* * *
Ellie managed to ignore him for the rest of the night and all of the next morning. Maybe it was immature but she needed a Derrick break. He hadn’t even let her walk away from him in peace. He’d texted her the second she stepped outside and said he was worried about her safety. She stayed on the front steps until she cooled off enough to go inside and walk right by him.