“But…” She was about to protest but stopped when Ryan’s hand lightly touched hers. He had put the paper down and crooked a smile at her, shaking his head.
“Don’t bother arguing with Margaret,” he said. “She’s vicious and always gets her way.”
“I heard that,” Margaret said over the sound of sizzling bacon.
Margaret threw a glance over her shoulder at Ryan, who winked at her.
Faith caught the housekeeper’s grin before she turned back to her cooking.
Interesting. Faith hadn’t thought Ryan had feelings for anyone.
Apparently she’d been wrong about that. His relationship with Margaret seemed close, almost like parent and child.
They rode to the office in Ryan’s car but didn’t speak. He started his business day early and spent the entire time on the phone.
“What will you be telling everyone at the office?” she asked when he ended his call.
“About what?”
“About us. Don’t you think when everyone left on Friday they’d expect you’d be on your honeymoon today instead of coming back to the office?
And that you’d be married to Erica, not me?”
Ryan didn’t answer.
“You don’t even have to tell anyone you married me,” she said. “I certainly understand that you wouldn’t want anyone to know.”
He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I want anyone to know?”
“That’s quite obvious, don’t you think?”
“Not to me.”
Was he going to force her to say it? “Because you married me. Not Erica, not one of your friends. Me.”
He swerved into a fast food parking lot, threw the car into park and turned to her. “And?”
“I’m merely stating the obvious. I’d like to know how you wish me to handle the inevitable questions.”
“Tell anyone who asks that Erica backed out and you were gracious enough to marry me.”
He had to be kidding. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“You want me to tell everyone that I was gracious enough to marry you.”
“Yes.”
Right. Promptly followed by their hysterical laughter. “They’ll ask questions. They’ll want to know why.”
“If they want more information than that, tell them it’s none of their damn business. And if they still persist, then let me know and I’ll handle it in a way I’m certain they won’t care for.”
He accelerated out of the parking lot and continued the drive to work.
That was it. End of discussion. She was supposed to tell all the employees and all of his business associates that he had married her.
And then offer no explanation other than none of your business.
Sometimes he made her job difficult.
“Besides,” he added, “Everyone at the hotel saw us Friday night. We did get married there, remember? By now, they all know.”
Of course, he was right. She cringed at the thought and wondered what kind of reception she’d get when they showed up at work together.
They were greeted by thunderous cheers and applause as they entered the office. Faith was stunned. Ryan had been right. Everyone knew.
Her desk was littered with cards and congratulatory banners, paper wedding bells and confetti. She tried to mask her thrill but couldn’t help the silly giggle that escaped. What fun!
How much of everyone’s enthusiasm was sincere and how much was due to the employees’ attempts to kiss up to Ryan she didn’t know, and frankly didn’t care. It beat the cold stares or laughs she had expected to receive.
Ryan tolerated it for about fifteen minutes before he placed his hand on Faith’s shoulder, lightly squeezing. She turned her head in his direction and he placed a soft kiss on her cheek, completely surprising her. And eliciting more applause from the crowd.
“I have some calls to make so I’ll leave them in your capable hands,” he whispered before retreating to his office and closing the door.
She spent a few more minutes socializing and then begged everyone to let her tackle the mound of paperwork on her desk. In a few minutes they were gone.
Faith smiled and sighed as she sat at her desk and twirled the large diamond ring around her finger. It wasn’t at all as bad as she expected.
Everyone had been nice.
At least no one had laughed in front of her. But later, when she wasn’t around, she was certain the gossip would begin.
“Do you think he was drunk that night?”
“Who knows? He would have to be to marry her.”
Ryan stopped at the doorway to the kitchen.
“She’s so dowdy. And what’s with those ugly suits she wears?”
“And that hair, can you imagine? It looks like a bird’s nest.”
“Well the bird’s nest goes with those glasses. They make her look like an owl.”
Laughter erupted as the gossip continued. With every word, Ryan’s blood pressure rose. He hated gossip. It was malicious, cruel, and often overheard by the person being discussed, leading to very hurt feelings.
This time they weren’t discussing him. God knows he’d heard employees talking about him before, and it just rolled off his back. He was the head of the company, and was used to making decisions that someone didn’t like, which invariably led to the staff bitching about him.
But these people were talking about his wife. And he didn’t like it one damn bit.
“I’ll bet he has to put a bag over her head to sleep with her.”
That got the crowed laughing madly.
And was the straw that broke the boss’s back. He’d had enough.
As soon as he entered the kitchen, all laughter and conversation halted.
“Afternoon everyone,” he said, trying to sound cheerful. Inside, he was seething. He’d almost stepped in and blasted them, but decided on a different tactic.
Ryan fixed his coffee, making sure to take his time. Then he turned to them.
“I wanted to tell you all how much it meant to Faith to be received so well this morning.”
Uneasy smiles filled the room.
“She was so nervous about what everyone would think. I told her not to worry at all, that McKay employees were the best of the best and would be more than happy about our marriage.”
People shifted in their chairs.
“It’s nice to know I wasn’t wrong in that assessment. I was afraid some people would be jealous of Faith, or even make nasty comments about our marriage and the reasons for it. But I know that you all see in her what I’ve always seen.”