One day, there was almost no one left on our floor by the time I finished a financial analysis.
I pushed open the door to Mr.
Barnaby’s office.
“Mr.
Barna—” I started, and then my heart stopped.
Mr.
Barnaby and Dominic were embracing in a way that was unmistakable.
They both jumped back the second I spoke.
“Dominic?” I asked, looking from one to the other.
No one said a word.
The three of us just stared at each other.
“I’ll…
I’ll come back later,” I said, hurrying out the door and back to my desk.
I busied myself with some typing, but mostly I just waited.
“Ginger,” Dom said, stopping at my desk a few minutes later.
“Let’s go home.
I’ll explain everything on the way.” I nodded.
In the car, Dom was clearly deep in thought.
“I never said it out loud, but I assume you knew about me,” he said suddenly.
I nodded.
“I had a feeling,” I admitted.
“How long has this been going on?”
“Two months,” he answered.
“It started not long after we were hired.
We didn’t plan it; it just happened.”
“I’ll keep my mouth shut, Dom,” I replied.
“But you could have told me.
You’re just an intern; Mr.
Barnaby isn’t really your boss in that sense, and you deserve to be happy.” I smiled and reached out to squeeze his hand for a moment.
“You’ve really opened up since the internship started,” he said, glancing at my hand.
“The internship has been good for both of us,” I answered.
“What kind of person is Mr.
Barnaby?”
“He’s very kind and funny,” Dom said sincerely.
“Though no one really knows the truth about him.
His family is pretty conservative.”
“Well, that explains where you sneak off to at night,” I laughed.
“If you want, you can invite him over to our place.
He can stay the night.
Connor was never an issue, after all.”
“With Cas there, that’s going to be difficult,” Dom said.
“We’ll figure something out,” I said.
“We’ll think it through.”
“Thank you, Ginger,” he said.
“You’re a great friend.”
“You too, Dom,” I smiled, closing the subject.
“Cas won’t be home for a few more days.”
“How much do you guys talk?” Dom asked curiously.
“He calls daily, but only for a few minutes,” I answered.
“He asks if we’re okay and things like that.”
“He likes you,” Dominic said.
“And you’ve changed so much for the better since he’s been around.”
“I like him too,” I admitted.
“But it would only stay that way until he finds out how repulsive I am.”
“You aren’t repulsive, Ginger,” Dom said gently.
“You’re very beautiful.
Promise me that if Cas asks you out, you’ll give him a chance.”
“He doesn’t know what I really look like,” I said softly.
Dom just took my hand.
“Maybe it’s time you told him,” he suggested.
“Though I doubt he’d care.”
The next afternoon, Mr.
Barnaby called me into his office.
Dominic was already inside and closed the door behind me.
“Have a seat, please,” Mr.
Barnaby said.
“It’s about yesterday.”
“I won’t tell anyone, Mr.
Barnaby, but please, don’t fire me,” I said immediately.
“I have no intention of doing that,” the man smiled.
“I have an offer for you.”
“An offer?” I asked, glancing at my friend.
He just gave me a small, encouraging nod.
“Hear him out, Ginger,” Dom urged.
I nodded.
“My parents expect me to be in a relationship, and I’d like you to be my public girlfriend,” Mr.
Barnaby said straight out.
“I don’t understand,” I said.
“Dominic told me you’re single and that you’ve just started opening up to the world,” he began.
“I know you don’t like being touched, and I promise you right now,” he said, “I will never touch you.
If you want, you can take my arm.
I’ll provide someone to look after you, whether it’s at the bistro where you play or elsewhere, so Dominic’s time is freed up.
In return, I ask that you occasionally come with me to visit my parents as my girlfriend and accompany me when I meet with Dominic.
You know the truth about me, and I can help you slowly open up to the world.”
“How much did Dominic tell you?” I asked suspiciously.
“That you aren’t seeing anyone, that you don’t like being touched, and that your brother has been in a coma for years—but I’m not interested in anything beyond that,” he said directly.
“I’m not going to dig into your life.
If you want to share something, you will, but for now, I’m just asking for your company for a few hours every now and then.”
“How long would we be a ‘couple’?” I asked.
“For as long as it works for both of our lives,” he said.
“I’ll also give you a credit card so you can dress in a way that satisfies my parents and makes you feel comfortable.
One thing is certain: as soon as our relationship comes out, people will definitely gossip about you.”
“I don’t care about gossip.
Can I think about it?” I asked.
“If I say no, you still won’t fire me?”
“Take your time, and no, I won’t fire you.
You’re far too talented.” He smiled.
“Ben,” Dominic spoke up, “the thing I asked for.”
“Right, yes, of course,” Mr.
Barnaby said.
“If you accept my offer, I’ll have your brother moved to a private hospital and I’ll pay the bills.
I know some expensive tests could help his condition.”
“For how long?” I asked.
“Until he wakes up,” he answered.
“However long we stay together, I’ll take that on in exchange for this favor.”
That was the sentence that made my decision easy.
“I’ll do it,” I said.
“I’ll be your girlfriend, Mr.
Barnaby.”
“Benjamin, or Ben,” he smiled and held out his hand.
I took it.
“You only have to hold my hand when you want to,” he said.
“I’ll book a table for the three of us tomorrow so we can discuss the details.” He smiled, and I nodded.
“Thank you, Ginger,” Dom said.
I nodded and walked out the door.