“Well, I just got a modeling contract from Ford. The thing lasts for an entire—”
“That’s right!” I interrupted quickly. No need in him finding out that even her new employer had given up on her already. “A prestigious contract. What else?”
Come on—give me anything. Anything I can use.
“I’m allergic to peanuts.”
Nick and I both blanked.
Okay, uh...literally ANYTHING besides that.
“Well to be honest, my life’s pretty much an open book.” She started trailing a sharply manicured fingernail across the tablecloth, inching it closer and closer to Nick’s side. “I just got to New York from a town in Oklahoma—of all places—so I’m brand new. Just looking for someone to show me the city. Someone who won’t be afraid to get their hands a little dirty—”
“That’s right,” I intervened, leaning forward to give the speech myself. “She just got to the city, so she’s brand freaking new. No scandal. No skeletons in the closet. How many models, heiresses, and actresses living in New York can say that with a straight face?”
Granted, Ella looked like she was ready to change that scandal thing in a big hurry...
“I also really like Zumba—” she ventured again.
“She comes from a mid-western Protestant family. No criminal record. No sex tapes that she swore she didn’t have, but a month later, the entire internet is watching her in a bee-keeper uniform, committing every blasphemy under the sun.”
(Texas. Ten months ago. Don’t ask.)
“She doesn’t drink. Doesn’t smoke. And in the last election, she voted the same way as over half of the board.”
“Wait a minute,” Ella set down her sparkling water, “how do you know which way I—”
“Plus—her great aunt is actually Robin Campbell. As in, famed New York Times journalist, Robin Campbell.”
It was a massive point in my favor. Although, to be fair, it was also something I’d found out only after scheduling the meeting.
Ella fiddled with her straw, pouting because I was the one talking. “We don’t really talk to that side of the fam—”
“So you see?” I locked eyes with Nick across the table. “She’s just about perfect.”
On paper. In real life, she was probably classified as some kind of sexual predator.
Ella giggled and blushed, throwing me a ‘thanks for talking me up’ wink, before turning to bat her eyes at Nick some more. “I guess it looks that way, doesn’t it?”
But Nick only had eyes for me. In fact, the longer we stared at each other, the harder we found it to stop. But the longer we stared, the more it looked like he was starting to understand.
A dawning glimmer of realization started dancing in his eyes, and for the first time since he’d been groped in front of those Japanese tourists, his lips curved up in a genuine smile.
“She is perfect, isn’t she?” His sparkling eyes never left my face. “For the company.”
...but not so perfect for me.
My face blanched as every single bone in my body locked into place.
Yep—he’d come to the exact same conclusion I’d come to myself, plotting on my bed just a night before. The burning question of why, was still completely beyond me. Why the hell I’d want to create the distinction. But at this point, it hardly mattered.
I’d been found out. Outed. Finished. All my scheming and trickery exposed for all the world to see. Nick knew the truth. It was written all over his face. There was no way in hell I would have actually selected this kind of girl for him. This kind of girl wasn’t fit for anybody.
But maybe...just maybe I could somehow manage to deflect some of the blame.
“It’s always such a...a treat when you read about someone on paper, but then get to know the real thing.” I laughed lightly. “Ella’s so...vivacious in person. I really had no idea—”
“Oh, don’t be so modest. You must have had some idea.” Nick leaned forward, suddenly enjoying himself. Without missing a beat, he reached over and took Ella’s hand. “Otherwise, I can’t think of a single reason why you would have pulled dear Ella’s name out of the hat.”