“Good things, I hope,” I say, with a laugh. I hold my hand out across the table to shake Don’s. He’s got a firm grip, the kind that businessmen always seem to have. It’s a little bit like meeting some of the politicians that my father goes golfing with.
Using that mindset, I feel like I’m actually able to hold my own. We go through the basic introductions, though when Cheryl introduces herself, Grant puts a hand on the back of my forearm and tells his mother, “Ashley’s read some of your articles, Mom.”
“Really?” Cheryl asks. “Are you interested in the business world, dear?”
“Just in journalism,” answers Grant, before I have the chance.
Cheryl nods. “Lovely. It’s an important career. People rely on it.”
“It is. And it’s definitely a more interesting profession than the one I'm in now,” I add. I thought I might enjoy the real estate world when I started my job, but something about it just doesn't suit me. It's okay for now, but it's certainly not my passion.
But I don’t want Grant's family to think I’m some random, jobless woman that’s after their son and his money. Although my family’s name should give me a couple brownie points— I’m overthinking this. There’s no reason for me to prove anything, I just need to be pleasant.
But Cheryl seems interested and probes further. I give her a quick overview, trying to sound more excited about real estate than I really am. Once she's satisfied, she turns to Charlie’s date. “What do you do for a living, Eliza?”
“I’m in marketing,” Eliza says, brightly. She’s clearly not someone that either parent knows well. I’m concerned that Charlie and Grant had the same idea about pretending to be in a relationship, but—I know Charlie has always been a player and if that’s the case, he’ll have a harder time selling it.
I don’t think that Cheryl likes her. Eliza doesn’t seem interested in trying to make either of Charlie’s parents swoon over her. She’s more into flirting with Charlie, making comments that are borderline inappropriate for a ‘breakfast with family’ type ordeal, and all around causing a loud, almost frantic scene.
By the time breakfast is over, even Charlie looks relieved. And here comes the big show. I lean over and give Grant a kiss on the corner of the mouth, telling him, “Good luck today.”
He curls one arm around my waist, brushing the hair from my eyes. “I don’t need luck, baby. But I hope you have a good day.”
Don suggests, “Why don’t you and Eliza spend the day out together? I’m sure that two lovely ladies like yourself can find something to do.”
“That sounds great,” I say. We finish up our well wishes, drifting out of the restaurant and into the main lobby of the hotel instead. The three men leave first, and then Cheryl bids us goodbye. She heads back up to her hotel room for her own work.
And then it’s just me and Eliza.
She’s tall and pretty, though there’s a sharpness to her that I don’t really like. Eliza asks me, “Did you have something in mind?”
I shake my head. “Not really. I’m happy to go do whatever you’d like.”
Eliza fishes a credit card out of her purse and flashes it at me. It clearly says Charles Denfield on it. “I'm going shopping.”
“Oh! Shopping sounds fun,” I say, nodding. “Were you… actually looking for company, or should I head off elsewhere?”
“You can come along,” Eliza tells me, heading for the front doors of the lobby. She pulls out her phone with one hand, clearly calling for a cab. “I figure we’ll take a cab out to the Garden and just walk from there.”
“That sounds great.” We step outside to wait for the cab. “Have you and Charlie been together long?”
“I’m not sure that I would call it… being together,” says Eliza, with a smile. “It’s nothing serious. We only met a few days ago.”
“A few—what, really?” I can’t keep the surprise out of my voice.
Eliza laughs. “We’re both in the city for business. I’m handling something tomorrow and the day after, and he wanted some company before then. I’m always down for company.” She smiles. “Especially when they don’t mind dropping a lot of cash on me.”
“I mean, what’s fun is fun,” I tell her, with a laugh.
Eliza asks, “How about you? Have you known… what is it, Grant?” I nod. “Have you known him long?”
“I’ve known him for years,” I tell her. “But we only got together recently. I just couldn’t resist that smile of his.”
Eliza smirks. “Honey, I’m not his parents. You don’t have to say that it’s his smile that pulled you in. You can be honest with me.” She laughs. “It sure isn’t Charlie’s smile that has me hanging around!”
“No, I mean it,” I tell her, with a laugh. I can’t really say we’ve never been intimate, especially to a stranger. But I also can’t just pretend and talk about our imaginary sex life. “It took some time until we reached that point.”
I’m not sure that sounds better, but it should put an end to this topic.