Page 2

Bree

Three Years Later

“I’d rather lick the inside of a lead pipe, Ashton."

"Dad won't make you CEO of Carmichael Chemicals if you show up alone to another company event."

I swivel in my chair to face my brother. "So what? He'll give our family's company to Vince Matthews because I don't have a date?"

“Because he thinks you’re all bars and clubs—”

“That has nothing to do with how I could run this company.”

"You're right. You're perfectly qualified. I'm just a hockey player who thinks H2O is water and my locker room smells like sulfate of something."

"Sulfur," I correct. "And that's exactly my point. I have two degrees in chemistry. I've developed projects that could transform this company. But Dad won't even look at them because he's too busy worrying about my marital status."

"He wants the company to stay in the family. And if you don't give him hope for that..."

"He'll hand over our grandfather's legacy to Matthews? A man who blocks every innovative project because it might cut into his profit margins?"

“Exactly!”

"Matthews already shut down our ag project," I say, anger rising at the memory. "He said it wasn't 'cost-effective' to help small farmers. And now he's trying to shut down my veteran housing water treatment project."

"The filtration system?"

"Do you know what's in the water at those VFW housing complexes?

Lead levels that would make Flint blush.

But Matthews says there's 'no clear ROI' in helping veterans.

" I stand up, too frustrated to sit still.

"So yeah, I'd rather die than pretend to be some docile, marriage-minded woman just to please the board. "

"It's just for the anniversary week, Bree. The gala, the charity dinner, the—"

"A whole week of pretending to be someone I'm not?" I laugh without humor. "Playing the perfect corporate wife while Matthews schmoozes the board members who still think women belong in the kitchen, not the boardroom?"

"If you don't, Matthews wins. He'll be CEO, and you know what happens then. He'll gut R&D, lay off half your team—"

"And turn Carmichael Chemicals into another soulless corporation that poisons communities for profit." I sink back into my chair. "Just like when he covered up that contamination issue in the east side development."

"Wait, what contamination issue?"

“The one that conveniently disappeared from our records right before the board vote.”

“I didn’t know that. The more reasons for you to do whatever it takes to convince Dad it should be you.”

"Even if I wanted to date—which I don't—where would I find someone? I'm supposed to hop on Tinder between running lab trials and fighting Matthews for basic funding?"

"I might have a solution—"

"My project is my priority right now. I don't have time for dating drama or inevitable heartbreak when some guy realizes I won't quit my job to pop out babies."

"Actually, I was thinking more like a fake date—"

"What, like a male escort?" I snort. "That'll look great in the society pages."

"Bree, why not just play along?"

"Why not? Because I refuse to become Mom."

Ashton stiffens. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"She compromised who she was to please Dad. She gave up everything, Ash. A promising career in ballet, her dreams of dancing professionally— all because Dad offered her this 'amazing' life."

"He never asked her to give up dancing. She chose—"

"Is that what you think?" I lean forward. "Men never ask directly. It starts small. 'Teach part-time so you can be home more,' 'The kids need their mother.' Until one day you wake up and realize your ballerina slippers are gathering dust in the attic."

"Our cousin Lily loves being home with her kids. She's never complained—"

"Of course she doesn't complain. She always wanted to be a wife and a mom. Some women do–others don’t. That’s our right. But I'm sure you think all women need babies to be complete."

"Bree—"

"No."

"Would you at least consider it? For me?"

I laugh bitterly. "See? Another man using emotional blackmail to get what he wants. You just proved my point–and beautifully, I must say."

"I can see why you crushed it on the debate team. Maybe you should've been a lawyer instead of a chemist."

"Right, because the only reason I became a chemist was to please Dad? Every woman's success must be about a man, right?"

"I take it back. You should've been a psychologist."

“To be a better mom?”

"Stop it. Actually..." Ashton shifts his weight, and I recognize his 'I have a brilliant idea' face. Usually right before suggesting something stupid. "One of my teammates might be perfect for this."

“For what?”

“To play your fake date.”

"A hockey player?" I stare at him. "A hockey player has nothing in common with me. Plus—didn't you just say your whole team smells like sulfur?"

"He's different."

"Different how? Does he shower more than the others?"

"He's smart. Very smart. Quiet, intellectual type. He even looks like Clark Kent."

"Which teammate?" I narrow my eyes. "Do I know him?"

"No, he's new. A rookie we picked up this season, but we've become good friends."

"So your solution is setting me up with some guy who probably thinks Marie Curie is a porn star?" I shake my head. "Great. A week of nodding along while he explains what a slapshot is, because that’s all he can talk about? Nice image will Dad get of me."

"Would you just—"

“No, Ashton. NO."