Morgan
“I’ m not going to lie, Morgan. You’ve really thrown Conrad’s lawyers for a loop.” Donovan and I are
in the middle of a conference call with Jason, my lawyer, while waiting for the plane to take off as we
head to Cabo. While I don’t love being in volved in a lawsuit, especially against family, I will admit that
it’s helping distract me from the flight ahead. This is the third flight of the trip and I’m getting a little
better at stomach flying but, 90% of this particular flight is over the ocean. I’m not sure which has me
more nauseous–the idea of plummeting to my death in the Pacific or legal talk. Either way, I am grateful
that Scarlett is passed out in her seat, eye mask and earplugs in place. “That is the idea,” Donovan says
with a smile. But I’m not amused by any of this. “Let me guess,” I say. “They’re pissed.” “That’s a good
word for it,” Jason admits. “Basically, Conrad doesn’t buy any of it, and he’s doing everything he can to
prove the relationship is fake.” Donovan looks at me with a perfect poker face, and I ke ep my eyes on
the screen, my expression also impeccable. “Sounds like grasping at straws to me,” I say with a sniff,
and Jason studies me. This man has known me for a long time. I hired him shortly after the
business was handed over to us. And while originally, he worked for both Conrad and me, eventually he
lost interest in anything Conrad related for all the reasons I’m sure I don’t have to explain. “Who’s
r epping the devil anyways?” Donovan asks. He has a way of beating me to my own questions, but I’d be
lying if I said that I minded. “St ephen Galinski,” he answers. “Jesus,” Donovan lets out. “Isn’t he one of
your rivals?” I ask. “Since I threw my graduation cap in the air,” Jason says, and I shake my head.
Conrad would. There’s no way he didn’t know that. But I’m not surprised. Everything Conrad does
these days is calculated. “Don’t worry, though, boys,” Jason goes on. “Because I’m not. The thing about
lifelong rivals is they’re the devils you know. All these holes your brother and that snake are attempting
to blow in your case are pointless if you’ve got shields. And you do have shields, right? None of it is
fake?” “The relationship you mean?” Donovan asks. Jason nods. “Of course it’s real,” I say. “It better
be,” Jason says. “A fake engagement or even a marriage you plan to annul in an attempt to gain the
inheritance and secure the CEO position of Bale would be a scandal with the power to cost you
everything.” The tiniest of worried sounds es capes Donovan’s throat, but not loud enough to be audible
to Jason. “Nothing to worry about there,” I tell him. “This is the most authentic thing I’ve ever
experienced,” I say. And as I glance over at Scarlett, sound asle ep in her chair, I’m not lying. Not at all.
“Good,” Jason says. “I’ll let you guys go since you’re probably about to take off. Just ke ep doing what
you’re doing, but don’t do anything
reckless.” “You hear that, Morgan?” Donovan asks. “No getting your bride to be pregnant or anything.”
All of us chuckle at that.
Once we are at altitude, I pull my phone out to relax a little. It’s getting easier, I’ll admit that. Still,
distractions are good. And the best kind of distractions are the ones that come in the shape of Scarlett
Moore. As I scroll through the photos and posts from Moore To Explore, I can’t help but smile. Never in
a million years had I imagined doing this. And yet, it’s proving to be brilliant. In fact, as I slowly scroll
through her work, I’m starting to truly believe that influencer style travel blogging might have just
saved me.
When no single trope wins, a little browsing usually helps.
And speaking of things that are saving me... I take a look at the photos from the beach again. How on
earth a woman who is so naturally gorgeous, so perfectly curvy and healthy and vibrant could even
believe for two seconds that she’s not beautiful or that she has a bad angle to her is flabbergasting. I
don’t know that I’ve ever seen a woman quite like her. In fact, I’m fairly certain I haven’t. “Admiring
the scenery?” Donovan asks, and I’m suddenly aware of the obvious fact he’s been sitting next to me all
along. “I’m just working on–” “You don’t have to defend yourself to me,” I tell him. And I frown. Not
at his words but at the words of a few of the commenters. Comments that are not so savory about
Scarlett’s body. “This is the problem,” I state, and he glances over again.
“It’s the internet. Trolls always come out from under the bridges. But it’s not enough to derail the
positive media,” he says. “No, but it’s enough to convince Scarlett that the opinions of these assholes
are true!” I blurt out, flagging one comment after another. There aren’t a ton of them, but even one is
more than enough for me. “They have no right to look at her that way. To speak about her that way,” I
mutter. Donovan smiles carefully. “Things are getting pretty intense, yeah?” he asks. “What do you
mean?” I ask, hunting for more comments. If she even reads one, Scarlett is going to deflate, and it’s
going to kill me. And I’ll kill whoever is responsible. “With you and Scarlett,” he says. “Assuming
everything you told Jason was true.” I should know better than to think I can hide anything from
Donovan. Like I said, he’s been here since the beginning. He’s seen the worst. He can also see the best.
And whether or not I saw it coming, I am definitely my best when I’m with Scarlett. “Can I offer some
advice?” he asks. “D epends on what it is,” I tell him, still surfing the comments and photos. “Not
employee to employer. Not even man to man. But friend to friend,” he goes on, and I don’t say
anything. “Be careful.” “Why would I need to be careful?” I ask. “Because you’re getting invested,” he
says. “In the best journalist I could possibly have hired? You bet I’m invested,” I say, fully aware of the
pussyfooting I am doing right now. “I’m talking about you and her. Playing the part of lovers can be
faked. Real chemistry and connection? Not so much,” he says and I glance over at her. Scarlett is still
asle
Ep I can tell because I’ve grown used to the rhythm
of her breathing. The way her laugh lines soften. Her lips forming the smallest of O’s. Still, I lower my
voice. “She’s something else,” I say. “I’ve known it since day one.” And while I don’t actually clarify
what day was day one, I know I don’t need to. He knows Scarlett is the girl from the Sapphire. “Well,
like I said, friend. If real heartstrings are getting in volved, be careful. All this faking it combined with
close proximity can lead to not faking it. Which is great if you are looking to fall in love. But it’s
dangerous if this really is just a business transaction, especially with how much is at stake.”