Right Man, Right Time (The Vancouver Agitators, #3)(30)

“You are one of two who got the email. Don’t take it for granted.”

One of two . . . I can only imagine who the other person is. Mentally grinds teeth together Seems like I’ll be spending more time with Candace since there’s no way she didn’t get it.

“I won’t,” I say. “I’m very grateful. Thank you.”

He nods. “We have a fundraiser tonight at the Walton. I suggest you bring your boyfriend to it. I’ll be expecting him.”

“Oh, uh . . . sure.” I swallow hard.

“Connect with Candace, and she’ll give you the details.”

Great.

“Wonderful. Thanks.” I wave awkwardly, and he turns on his heel and walks away as I slump into my chair.

A fundraiser? Roberts attends many events during the year, and I’ve never been invited to one. But now that Silas is in the picture, I’m invited. I don’t like how this feels, not even a little.

Yet . . . I’ll also do anything to move forward in my career, so it looks like I need to get in touch with my fake, doting boyfriend.

Phone in hand, I head down the hall toward Candace’s cubicle, where she’s typing away on her computer. Tacking on a smile, I knock on the side of her cubicle and brace myself.

When she turns, she says, “Oh, Ollie, didn’t expect to see you.”

“Roberts came by my desk. Told me he wanted me at the fundraiser tonight and said to get the info from you.”

“Ah, I see,” she says as she turns back toward her desk and grabs a Post-it Note. She scribbles something on the paper and hands it over to me. “Here you go. It’s black tie. Do you have something to wear?”

No.

“Of course,” I say as I glance down at the information. “Uh, do I have to come with an invite or anything?”

She shakes her head. “Just say you’re with Roberts, and you’ll be let in.”

“Are you sure?”

She rolls her eyes. “Yes, would I tell you the wrong information?”

Yes, yes, you would.

“I suppose not.”

“Will you be bringing your boyfriend?”

“Roberts requested me to, so yes,” I say, hoping Silas isn’t doing anything tonight. They’re still in preseason training—that’s what he told me last night—so unless he has another engagement, he should be free.

“Great,” Candace says with a smile. “Then I’ll see you two there.”

“Yup, see you there,” I say. “Thanks for this,” I add because she seems to be acting nice, so I’ll return the favor.

Moving away from her desk, I bypass the kitchen and head into one of the private conference rooms. I lock the door, then pull out my phone and click on Silas’s name. I have no idea what he’s doing, but at least I can leave a message.

The phone rings a few times, and then he picks up.

“Hey,” he says quietly. “Everything okay?”

“Umm, sort of,” I reply. “Are you busy?”

“I have a second.”

“Okay, well, long story short, my boss invited me to a fundraiser tonight and kind of made it a requirement that I attend . . . with you. And I’m sure you’re busy or whatever, but—”

“I’ll be there. When and where?”

“Seriously?” I ask, my breath escaping me all at once.

“Yes, we agreed to help each other out, so I’ll be there. I can’t promise I’ll be as flexible when the season starts, but I can do this.”

“Wow, okay. Thank you. This means a lot to me.”

“Of course,” he says softly. And for the rough and tough exterior he exudes, he really is a softy at heart.

“I’ll text you the details. It’s black tie, though. Is that going to be a problem?”

“You fail to realize the number of events I’ve gone to just like this. I have everything I need.”

“Okay, awesome.”

“Want me to pick you up?”

“Hmm, we should probably show up together, huh?”

“Might look best.”

“Okay, sure. That would be great.”

“Just send me the details. Gotta go.”

“Okay, thank you, Silas.”

“Any time,” he says before hanging up.

Instead of returning to my cubicle, I sit in the silence of the conference room for a moment, gathering myself. In the matter of a week, my life has drastically changed. Before all of this, I was gearing up to finish up my final assignment, happy I was able to intern with Alan Roberts. Now I feel like I’m living in this tangled web that’s becoming increasingly complicated with no escape.

The only lifeline I have is the man who I felt helped me get tangled in the first place.

No, let’s be honest. I brought this on myself.

I was the one who wanted to show up Yonny.

I’m the one who kissed Silas.

I’m the one who agreed to Silas’s fake relationship terms.

If anyone is to blame, it’s 100 percent me.

If only I didn’t need to keep Silas on the hook to impress Alan Roberts.

And I just wish I didn’t care so much about proving my father wrong. If I didn’t care, then keeping my hockey-legend fake boyfriend wouldn’t be a necessity.