The Billionaire's Fake Marriage - MacKenzie Stowe Page 0,4
he found out his father had hired me. Stating he didn’t need any help, that he was fine on his own. It was a trait that I would find was very characteristic of him. He liked to have control over everything including all that happened in the company if he could help it. He didn’t take too kindly to his father telling him what to do, another trait that was very common with Ryan.
I didn’t let Ryan’s lack of enthusiasm get to me. I took it as a challenge, a way to prove him wrong, and slowly, over time, he started to see that I was a good fit for him. That we worked well together and that he needed me. He would never admit as much but I knew it and that was enough.
When Mr. Ashton died, it was such a shock that I knew that it would be too overwhelming for Ryan and Cole to have to deal with it. I quickly took it upon myself to start planning the funeral and the reception to follow with Faith. It was going to be a big event in New York and it had to be done tastefully, respectfully, and with decorum. Not that Cole or Ryan couldn’t do that themselves but it was something that I was happy to do for them. It was out of respect for them and their father that I would do whatever I could to help them out.
The knock on my door had me coming out of my thoughts and saying, “Come in.”
“Here’s the program for the services, I was hoping I could get another pair of eyes on it,” Faith said as she walked in.
I smiled at her and sat up in my chair as she walked towards me. I admired how sophisticated she looked, yet she always did. She wore a simple black pantsuit with a white silk blouse. She had a way of making the most classic of styles look new and amazing. It was something that I could never do. Her high heels made her even taller than her five-foot-eleven something I was also equally in awe of. At five-feet-three inches, I would never even come close to being as tall as her or look as astounding in a pantsuit.
“Of course, I’d be happy to,” I said, and reached for the program.
“The East is all set to host the reception,” Faith said as I looked over the program.
“How did you manage that?” I asked.
The East was one of the most prestigious restaurants in the city, and one of Mr. Ashton’s favorites. He dined there at least every week. But getting the place to close for an afternoon to host a reception was unheard of.
“I can be persuasive when I need to be,” Faith said with a shrug.
“There is no doubt,” I said and looked back at the program.
“The Church of New York is all set. The program should show how things will go. If you want to change anything, let me know. I will be meeting with the minister tomorrow morning,” Faith said.
“Is it okay if I come with you? Get a lay of the land and help coordinate?” I asked.
“Of course, I would love the company, and the extra eyes,” Faith said.
“Great,” I said and handed her back the program. “It looks good but I think pallbearer is spelled wrong.”
“Dang. How did I miss that?” Faith said and opened the program. She nodded when she saw I was right. “I’ll get that changed.
“No worries. I appreciate all your help,” I said.
“There was no way you could do this on your own and the guys would have no clue what to do,” she said with a soft laugh.
“They would have managed. It wouldn’t have been as nice as what we have planned, but they would have been fine.”
“How is Ryan doing?” Faith asked.
I leaned back in my chair and motioned to the chair in front of me for Faith to sit in. “Want a drink?” I asked instead of answering her question.
“That bad?” she asked.
“No. I could just use one and think you could too,” I said and reached down and pulled out a bottle of Scotch and two glasses.
“Not my normal drink, but on this occasion, I will make an exception,” Faith said.
“Me either, but it was a Christmas gift from a client and it felt appropriate to leave it here. What is your normal drink?” I asked as I poured.