Page 11 of Accidentally Hitched (Unintentionally Yours #1)

Amanda

I fucked my boss.

That is not something I ever thought I’d say.

That’s not a me thing to do.

A Kate thing maybe.

But not me.

Yet here I am saying it and as hard as I have tried to wake up from this whole nightmare, it turns out this is very much my reality.

I met a man in Vegas. Excuse me. I won a man in Vegas.

I got drunk with said man.

I fucked said man.

And now, as the universe would have it, I am married to that man.

And to double ice the cake, he doesn’t want a divorce.

He is actually proposing that we STAY married!

Some cake.

Some life.

While the thoughts swirl around in my head like cows caught in a tornado in Nebraska, Callum is pacing casually. His words, which I haven’t really managed to process for at least two solid minutes as my life falls apart before my eyes, are just as chill.

“We can see this as a problem, or we can use it to our advantage.”

“I’m sorry,” I cut in. “But how could there be an advantage to this? No disrespect, but how is it going to look if the company finds out you married a new hire? Even if they know nothing about Vegas and all that? It can’t possibly look good, can it?”

“That’s the thing,” Callum takes in a breath. “I have a proposition for you. But this information stays in this room.”

“You mean like what happens in–”

“Don’t finish that sentence.” He cuts me off and I bite back a smile.

I guess he’s not in a joking mood.

“Alright, I’m listening. If it means I get to work here, I’m listening.”

“I’m sure you’ve heard of Hiram Hardin.”

“The owner of Hardin Records, yes. Believe it or not, I have done my homework.”

Callum clenches his jaw, sending a jolt of excitement through me, and then he goes on. “He’s my father. Currently the top tier in the triangular shaped hierarchy that is Hardin Records.”

“And below him is you and your brother.”

“Twin brother.”

Fuck. I knew that too. But I didn’t put much thought into it. Because Hiram is the CEO, I didn’t actually put much energy into research on the Hardin twins.

“So, Hiram, your dad, is the kingpin,” I repeat just so he knows I am paying attention, not that I know why any of this is relevant to my prenuptials.

“For now. But that’s about to change. He’s looking to pass the title down, and with that comes the weight of the Hardin name in its entirety.”

“To you and Avery, yes.”

“To me OR Avery.” Hardin corrects me and I narrow my eyes.

“Wait. You mean only one of you will be CEO?”

“CEO…president…probably owner of his estate too once he passes. Not that I care too much about that.”

I shake my head in desperate need of backpedaling. “But why would he only pass that to one of you? You’re twins.”

“Trust me. We have had this conversation with him. But it is what it is and for now, we have to play the game.”

“And what are the rules of this game?” I ask and Callum grins.

I think he likes that I can keep up. Or he likes torturing me with those lips.

He’s tortured me with them before. His lips…

his tongue…other parts of his anatomy that I have to force myself not to look at, even though that fitted Armani of his is making that very hard to do.

It’s even fancier than the one he was wearing at the auction.

If I had to guess, the man is wearing about a thousand bucks right now.

I don’t even have a thousand dollars in my checking account, hence the reason I haven’t run out of the building screaming.

That and the Martin on the wall.

“As medieval as it sounds, whoever gets married first.”

I stare at him.

I’m sure I’m catching flies right now.

Then I back up towards the door a little.

“Wait. When did you find out about this…stipulation?”

Callum looks at me funny before he realizes where I’m going with this.

“Calm down, Amanda. It wasn’t before Vegas.”

“Are you sure?” I half laugh, “Because all of this is starting to look very, very conspicuous.”

“What exactly are you accusing me of?” he asks, his arms crossing over his broad chest. And suddenly it’s not his muscular pecs I am focusing on, it’s his now showcased forearms.

“Oh, I don’t know. It just seems a little suspicious, doesn’t it?

Hiram Hardin is on his way out the door, his twin sons have to fight for the position of top dog and whoever puts a ring on it gets the throne.

You run into me in the city known for knee-jerk matrimony.

A couple cocktails and a stroll to the chapel around the corner and you have all the requirements for taking that seat. ”

With that, Callum marches towards me. “First of all, what did I say about putting words in my mouth? And second, even if that were my plan, I’d pay someone to do it.

But it wasn’t my plan. Christ, Amanda. I’m forty-five years old.

If I were interested in a ball and chain, I would’ve locked one on years ago.

But I wasn’t interested and I’m still not.

However, Dad sprung this on us minutes before you walked through that door and I’m an opportunist. The whole thing feels like… like…”

He’s fishing for the word, and I can’t help my snarky smirk when I cross my arms and pop my hip sassily to the side and offer it to him. “Luck?”

Callum scowls and I have to admit, being able to fluster him gets me a little hot. “It’s advantageous.”

“Sure. And even if all of that were true, what’s in it for me? This isn’t just about you and staying married to you is my choice. So is working for you and everything else linked to this monkey bus that has become my life as of two days–”

“I’ll double the salary.”

I stop. Not just talking. I stop breathing, moving, blinking…hell I don’t even know if I have a pulse.

“Double?” I ask.

“With a sign on bonus.”

“That’s…” I stutter.

“More money than you’ve ever dreamed of making if I had to guess. So, you better be worth your salt. Your recordings are good, and you look decent on paper.”

I snap back to reality, even though I’m still stumbling on numbers.

“Decent? Decent enough that you let me stand in a room with a Neve 80’s series console? That mixer is from the mid-sixties and if I had to guess, it’s been here as long as Hiram has.”

Callum’s lips twitch in the tease of a smile. “And that is why you are the perfect person for this job. The whole job.”

I pace the floor slowly, nodding my head. “So how does this go down? I stay married to you and we somehow convince everyone it wasn’t just a marriage of convenience. You get the keys to the castle, and then what?”

“And then we quietly divorce, and you go on with your life and I go on with mine.”

“So, I lose the job?”

“I didn’t say that. Prove yourself in the studio, write some chart toppers and you will stay employed. Your job and my proposition have nothing to do with each other. It’s merely fine print.”

I bite my lips in thought. I like the numbers. I’ve never even dared to daydream of such numbers.

Still. Marriage is not fine print.

People are going to ask questions.

The normal people that are very much a part of my life outside of all of this. My sister, Iris, my parents.

You can’t just keep a marriage a secret, especially when it’s to someone as well-known as Callum Hardin.

As if he can see the wheels cranking back and forth in temptation and hesitation, Callum speaks. “I know it’s a lot. But we can work out the details.”

“What happens if people see us together?”

“You work for me. They know that. Our relationship outside of that doesn’t matter to the press.”

“Clearly you don’t watch a lot of reality TV,” I snigger.

“And clearly you don’t know how heavy my hand is in this industry,” Callum steps in front of me. “I will give you twenty-four hours to think it over.”

“And if I say no?” I ask.

“You keep the promised salary, and we get an annulment. That should be enough money for you to live comfortably.”

It would be. I could change my 30-year loan to a 15. Maybe snag a new car. Pitch in for my sister’s honeymoon.

But the other number…that would change my life in less than a month.

And…if my sister thought I was seeing someone, she might get off my back.

No more double dates.

No more hooking me up with her fiancé’s air-head friends.

Hell, I might even be allowed to live my own life! That in itself is worth more than gold.

Callum hands me a folder. “These are the artists we just signed. They’re going on tour in a few months. Familiarize yourself with their music style and write something better.”

I nod, taking the folder.

Callum heads for the door but looks back just before walking out.

“Oh, and Amanda? I don’t regret it. Any of it.”

With that, he disappears down the hall, taking my breath and my better judgement with him.