Chapter 1- Unemployed
Melanie woke up in his arms and smiled. She still felt a sense of wonder that they were together. In six weeks, she’d gotten used to the bodyguard that followed her like a shadow and dodging press that still hounded after her hoping for details about her relationship with Max Hathaway– tech billionaire entrepreneur– incorrectly labeled as a jet-setting playboy. She hoped the thrill of being with him would never fade.
She looked at the clock– 6:30– time to get up and get ready for work. She decided to be romantic and wake Max with a kiss. He reacted quickly and drew her back when she would have ended the kiss.
“I like this wake-up call much better than an alarm,” he said when he finally released her. “I don’t suppose there’s time to take this a step further?”
“Not this morning. I have to stop off at home and at the bakery before work. It’s the monthly staff meeting today.” She got out of bed.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you… when are you planning on moving in with me? We’ve spent every night together since I proposed.” He got out of bed and stretched. “And, if you’re worried about your mortgage, I can pay your half until Jackie can get a new roommate. Or better yet, I can buy it outright and give it to her as a gift to thank her for her instrumental role in bringing us together.”
“Oh um…” Melanie tried to stall by putting on her robe while she processed all that. It should be an easy answer, shouldn’t it? Why did she hesitate about moving in with Max? Was it because she was secretly afraid of making another step in her commitment to their relationship? She had accepted his proposal which would mean living with him anyway when they were married. What difference was there about moving in before? “Oh I have so much junk I need to sort through before I can move here. I just haven’t had the time.”
“Bring everything. There’s plenty of room. We can convert the spare bedroom into an office for you.”
Melanie thought of her Ikea furniture in Max’s house and almost shuddered. She couldn’t possibly bring over her cobbled together furniture set into a house that had authentic Moroccan rugs and antique Japanese screens. She wasn’t ashamed of what she had, but she couldn’t picture merging her stuff with Max’s. “I’d really rather sort through stuff first. No need to move it twice.”
“Oh, okay.” Max looked downcast but said no more about it. “Remember we have that interview with Castilla this afternoon.”
Melanie groaned. “I’d forgotten that. Can’t we postpone?”
“We’ve already rescheduled twice because of conflicts on my calendar. And, the rest of the press will start making things up if they haven’t already.”
“I thought you said they would find something else to chase after we put our own story out there.”
“I underestimated your appeal– something I’m ashamed to admit since I find you irresistible myself.”
“Sweet talk all you want, I still don’t want to do the interview.”
“I’m sorry, but if we don’t manage our story, the press will.”
She sighed dramatically. “Okay. I’ll be here.”
He came over to her side of the bed and kissed her forehead. “Thank you, love.”
She pulled his head down to kiss him properly but pulled away when his hands moved to take off her robe. “Ah, ah, ah. Time to get ready for work.”
“I need a mental health day– one that involves the both of us.”
“I have stuff to do and so do you, mister tech billionaire. Your companies don’t manage themselves.”
“With as much as I’ve invested in hiring competent staff, they should run themselves.”
“But it’s your vision that guides them. Really, what would they be without you?”
“Probably more stable, but not nearly as fun,” Max grinned.
“There you go then,” she grinned back. “I’ll use the guest shower.”
“Or we could share the master.”
“I’m running late as it is. If I let you help me scrub my back, we’d be in there all day.”
“Also more fun.”
She playfully hit his arm then went down the hallway to take her shower. While she washed her hair, she mulled some more over the thought of moving in with him. She had been basically living with him for the last six weeks, only going home occasionally to swap out clothes in her closet. She had all her meals prepared for her by Max’s personal chef Greg, including her lunches to take to work. She didn’t even do her own laundry anymore because Max’s housekeeper always did it. She had basically adapted to Max’s way of living as soon as she had accepted his ring. Why did it seem like such a big step? She finished her shower and still didn’t have an answer.
Max
I can’t believe it’s already been six weeks since Melanie accepted my ring. Things have been going so well with her and at my companies that it’s seemed like a dream. But this morning, I broached the subject to Melanie about her moving in with me and the bubble burst. She was evasive, saying that she had stuff to sort through. When I said she could bring everything, she insisted that there was no point in moving stuff she was going to get rid of. I backed down, my heart hurting, and changed the subject to the interview with Castilla.
She didn’t want to do that either, no surprise, however I didn’t cave on this. We’d been fortunate that the media had mostly left us alone. They still tried to corner Melanie on campus from time to time, but Joe, the new bodyguard I had hired from the security agency I contracted with, was good at keeping the wolves at bay. Derek and Mike did the same for me although I missed my trusty friend Hawkins; he had moved out of state when his wife got a new job.
After failing to woo Melanie to have a morning love-making session, I did my morning routine in the bathroom. She’s so contentious and reminded me that my companies don’t run themselves. I thought again of how easy it would be for me to become a sex addict if she would only let me.
I went downstairs to the kitchen. Greg was there as usual, making breakfast. “Good morning, Greg. What’s on the menu today?”
“Gluten-free muffins, scrambled eggs, chicken-sausage patties, and a green smoothie.”
“I’ll skip the smoothie, but I’ll have everything else.”
“No sir, you hired me to make sure you have a balanced diet. I don’t want you to come back later and accuse me of not making you stick to it.”
I sighed. “Okay fine. But I’m not going to lie and say I enjoy it.”
“I won’t dream of expecting you to.”
“Oh, are there enough of the muffins for Melanie to take some to work? She has a staff meeting that she’s supposed to get treats for.”
“Sure thing. I’ve got enough batter for another dozen. I’ll put in a second batch.”
“Cool, thanks Greg.”
“My pleasure.”
Joe came into the kitchen at that moment and scored a muffin from Greg.
I said, “Melanie will be down in a few minutes. Would you warm up her car for her?” It had turned off chilly even though it was the first week of June. Typical Seattle type weather.
“Absolutely, sir. Thanks for the muffin Greg.”
My phone rang. The caller ID showed that it was Angela from Freedom through Light, an organization whose mission it was to fight violence against women, human trafficking, and slavery. I had a few minutes so went to my office and I answered, “Hello Angela, what can I do for you?”
“Mr. Hathaway! I’m so grateful to you for taking my call. I know you’re busy so I’ll try to make this brief. The foundation has started an investigation into a major designer brand called G&L owned by Hilda Greer and Johnny Levits. There are reports that they are using slave labor– including children– to make their clothes in Thailand.”
“Okay. How can I help?”
“We only have one agent in that region but are hoping to send a small team in to work with the government to set up the investigation. A small donation would help us get in place.”
“Sure thing. How much?”
“Two thousand should be more than adequate.”
I was surprised. “That’s all?”
“We operate very leanly, Mr. Hathaway. It is mostly for airfare to get our agents in place.”
“You’ve got it. I’ll have my assistant Nicholas wire the money sometime today. Can you send me what information you have on this Greer and Levits? And keep me apprised of your progress?”
“Absolutely! Thank you so much for your time and partnership in our cause.”
“My pleasure, Angela. I hope to hear a progress report as soon as possible.”
“You can count on it. Have a good day.”
“You too.”
My phone pinged with a text from Angela with a link to the G&L website as well as an attachment of statements from various sources reporting the abuses going on at the fashion house’s plant in Thailand. It sickened me to think that such things still went on in this day and age, but that is why I had sought out an organization that was doing work to change it. I was still sounding them out before telling Melanie because I knew that she would want to put her full support behind the organization. So far, I was impressed with their operation.
I texted Nicholas to set up the wire transfer from my foundation to Freedom though Light. He replied that he’d get on it right away. He was a fan of this endeavor and had actually been the one to help me find Freedom through Light in the first place.
I took a quick look at the website for G&L fashions and discarded it as the usual buzzword crap that didn’t hint at anything being wrong with their organization. Glancing over the reports, I was glad I’d agreed to the small donation. If even half of the reports were true, G&L was in serious violation of basic human rights. I decided to devote some time later to go through the reports more thoroughly.
When she got downstairs, she could smell the delicious breakfast that Greg was making. She was sad that she didn’t have time to eat.
She snatched a banana from the fruit bowl. “Hi Greg, smells delectable as always.”
“Pull up a chair. This is almost ready.”
“I can’t. I’m running late. I have to stop at the bakery before going to work.”
“Max told me, and I have some gluten-free muffins with your name on them.”
“Ah Greg, you don’t have to do that. I feel like I’m always stealing food from Max’s staff.”
“You
were
on Max’s staff until recently. Now that you are dating, there’s even more reason for me to cook for you.”
“Still…”
“No argument. These are for you. Enjoy.” He handed her a basket with a towel over the top to keep the muffins warm.
“Thank you.”
She exited the house to find her bodyguard Joe waiting for her. “Good morning Joe. Hope you haven’t been waiting long.”
“No, ma’am. Mr. Hathaway found me loitering in the kitchen and told me you’d be down in a few minutes and told me to go ahead and get your car started for you.”
“Oh thanks.” Her car wasn’t new enough to have the remote start option so it was nice to have someone get it warmed up for her, especially since the weather had turned cold. “And you can call me Melanie. Ma’am sounds like I’m the queen or something.”
“Then it would be ‘your majesty’,” Joe replied solemnly. “I got quite a lecture from Mr. Hathaway about how I should look out for you, and I mean to do so.”
“Calling me Melanie isn’t going to affect your job performance.”
“Okay, Miss Melanie, ready to go?”
“Yes. I’m stopping by my house first.”
“Roger.”
She pulled into the driveway to find Jackie outside in her pajamas holding a garden hose. “Jackie, what’s going on?”
“Those frickin’ tabloiders were on the sidewalk again waiting for Max– or you– to show up. So I hit ’em with the hose.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought that was over since they hadn’t been around in weeks.”
“I think they’re getting antsy. You and Max haven’t done any interviews since the first one with Castilla over a month ago.” Jackie rolled up the hose and they went into the house.
“Yeah, we’re supposed to do one this afternoon.”
“Good. Are you going to make your big announcement?”
“What? That we’re engaged? I don’t know. Max and I haven’t talked about it.”
“You might want to clarify that with him before he blurts it out.”
“Max doesn’t blurt out anything. He just doesn’t think through things from my perspective sometimes which is a totally normal thing for anyone to do.”
“Still, I think you need to make a plan. It’s big news.”
“Yeah, thanks for the reminder. I’ll text him now.” She pulled out her phone and then pushed Jackie away when her friend looked over her shoulder. “Do you mind?”
“Just curious as to what you are going to say.”
“Only that I want to talk with him before the interview.”
“Are you
for
announcing your engagement or
against
it?”
“I’ve got to talk to Max,” Melanie said evasively.
“You
are
against it! Girl, if I was engaged to the man of my dreams, I’d want to broadcast it over every freakin’ vlogger’s YouTube channel out there.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that… I don’t know. It’s special, you know, it being just between Max and me… and you. I’m afraid that once it gets out there that it will become all about Max’s public image.”
“You can’t hide it forever. I mean, when you get married…” Jackie interrupted herself. “Say, when is the big day going to be? Have you even discussed that?”
Melanie evaded the question again. “It’s only been a few weeks since he proposed.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“We haven’t discussed anything related to the wedding.”
“Don’t you think Max is going to get nervous if you don’t start discussing such things?”
Definitely, she thought. “Probably. I’ll talk to him about that too this afternoon. Okay?”
“You’d better or I’ll have to do an intervention.”
“Okay, okay, I’m texting him now.” Melanie sent a message,
Max, I need to talk with you before the interview. Do you have time this afternoon?
The reply was prompt.
For you, I’ll make time. See you this afternoon
❤️[heart emoji]
❤️ [heart emoji] back
She showed the texts to Jackie. “Satisfied?”
Jackie gave her a look. “Provisionally. As your maid-of-honor-in-waiting, I want to start getting details of what this wedding is going to be.”
“Believe me, you’ll be the first to know.”
Jackie gave her a hug. “Okay girl. You better get moving otherwise you’ll be late for work again.”
Max
I went back to the kitchen. Greg told me Melanie had left. Rats. I had hoped that since she wouldn’t have to go to the bakery that she would have time to eat breakfast with me. I realized the last six weeks had spoiled me with her company. I reminded myself for the thousandth time that even though we were engaged, she still had her own life to live. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.
I was just starting to sort through my email for the morning when she texted me that she wanted to talk to me before the interview this afternoon. I promptly texted back that I would make time. I wondered what she wanted to talk about. If it could wait until this afternoon, surely it wasn’t to try to talk me into canceling it. Castilla and her crew would be at the house long before Melanie got home from work. Melanie didn’t care for the vlogger, but she was more considerate of other people’s time than that.
I decided it was useless to speculate and went back to my emails. Nicolas– who has replaced Jarvis as my personal assistant– and my executive assistant, Barbara, from CyberRenitence arrived and we went through the materials for the upcoming annual meeting.
She got to work only a few minutes late but still her new supervisor, Ann, was waiting for her. “Late again, I see.”
“I stopped to get muffins for the staff meeting. There was a line at the bakery.”
“We don’t need muffins. It’s not going to take that long.”
Melanie wanted to retort that her supervisor’s definition of ‘long’ was different from hers but refrained from comment. She merely set the muffins down on the breakroom counter and moved to go to her cubicle.
“A word with you in my office.”
Melanie’s heart rate sped up. This couldn’t be good. “Okay.” She followed Ann into the office.
Ann folded her hands on her desk, obviously trying to keep her face from showing her glee as she said, “I had a conversation with the President of the University regarding your recent rise to celebrity and how it is effecting this department and the University in general.”
“Okay.”
“He agrees with me that it is impinging upon our image. We don’t want Max Hathaway’s notoriety associated with this school.”
“Max has nothing to do with this school.”
“Your… partnership with him has brought the media flocking onto campus. His controversial personality…”
“Controversial? He does have some opposition to what he’s doing, but I wouldn’t call it controversial.”
“Regardless, the President and I have agreed that since Professor Watkins has taken an indefinite leave of absence and will likely retire at the end of this year, that your position is no longer needed in this department.”
“You’re firing me?”
“Not firing, more of a redundancy– layoff.”
Melanie knew that whatever they called it, she was being fired for being in love with Max Hathaway. “So what about the open position in the Art History department? Professor Sanders was begging me to apply.”
“It is not for me to say, but it would be better for all concerned if you take the severance package and look for employment elsewhere.”
Melanie stood up. “I understand.” She marched out of the office, grabbed her personal stuff from her cubicle, and retrieved the muffins from the breakroom, then left the building.
Her bodyguard Joe, who had been lounging against his car, jumped to attention. “Miss Melanie! You are leaving?”
“Yes,” she said curtly. “Have a muffin.” She thrust one at him.
“Um, no thanks. Is something the matter?”
“Yes. I was just fired.” She took a vicious bite of the muffin.
“What?” Joe was taken aback.
“Apparently,” she spat out the words, “my association with Max Hathaway is bad for the University’s image.”
“That’s a load of crap. Excuse my language, Miss Melanie.”
“I would use stronger language but it’s not worth the effort.” She sighed. “Would you drive me home? I don’t think I can deal with the traffic at the moment.”
“Of course. I’ll come back with Mike to get your car.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that. I don’t think I can step foot on this campus ever again.”
“Mr. Hathaway will know what to do. I’m sure there is a case for wrongful termination in there somewhere.”
“I shudder to think what Max will say but I guess I’m going to have to tell him something because he’ll wonder why I’m home so soon.”
She was correct. Max did ask why she was home early. “Can we talk in private?”
Max waved his staffers out of the room then shut the door behind them. “What’s up?”
Melanie said in a rush, “I was fired. They’re calling it a layoff but it’s because I am dating you that they did it and they don’t want to tarnish their precious image with anyone so controversial as you. As if they haven’t had their fair share of scandal over the last hundred years of history.”
“Wait, what? Slow down. They fired you? Because of me? That’s ridiculous. I’m calling my lawyers.”
“No, no. I don’t want to go into a legal battle. I wouldn’t go back there for all the tea in China. I just had to tell you the truth because it made me so mad, and I wanted you to know that I stand by you no matter what others might think of you.”
Max pulled her into his arms and she rested her cheek against his chest. “Still, I think we should pursue the legal angle. They shouldn’t get away with this. If they do, what about the next person they terminate without due cause?”
“I’d rather start an image campaign. If their reputation is so precious to them, then how will they feel when I announce to the world what they are really like?”
He drew away so he could see her face. His expression held concern. “Are you sure you want to go that route? Publicity wars can be ugly. I don’t want you starting something you’ll regret later.”
She sighed. “You’re probably right, as usual. I was letting off steam.”
“It’s allowed,” Max laughed. “I have to say, you can look pretty scary when you are on the warpath. I’m glad I wasn’t the target.”
“I hope you never infuriate me so much that you have to be.”
“I’ll do my best.” He changed the subject. “Now what was the thing you wanted to talk to me about before the interview?”
“Oh, well. I just wanted to know what your thoughts were about telling Castilla that we’re engaged?”
“I’m all for it.” He saw her face fall. “Unless you don’t want to?”
She repeated the excuse she’d given to Jackie. “It’s special being just between the two of us– and Jackie– and I wouldn’t even have told Jackie except she saw the ring. I mean, once it’s out in the open, all the tabloids and vloggers out there are going to have something to say about it. This is so special, I don’t want to let go of it.”
“I understand. If Castilla asks– and I know she will– we’ll just say we are taking it slow. There’s no lie in that. It’s not as if we’ve set a date or anything.”
“Um yeah, about that. Jackie said I needed to talk with you about that too.”
“Jackie is pushing to be a bride’s maid, I take it?”
Melanie smiled. “Maid of Honor. But, I guess she has a point. An engagement does sort of point to a wedding eventually.”
“We’ve got time. I know my mother will be pushing for us to set a date as well, as soon as we tell her, but I don’t want to rush you. I know it’s a major adjustment to step into my life. When I look at you, I want to be ordinary and have an ordinary life but then my real life comes back and I have to deal with facts. But those facts don’t have to dictate how fast or slow we take this relationship.”
“I love you Max Hathaway, no relationship status is going to change that.”
“I love you, Melanie Greenwood, and no amount of publicity is going to change that.” He kissed her, long and deep then reluctantly let her go. “I better get back to work. There is a design meeting that is critical to move forward and I have to weigh in.”
“I understand. I might as well take the opportunity to prepare for the interview this afternoon. I’m not going to let Castilla pick my wardrobe this time.”
“You could wear a potato sack for all I care. You’d still look wonderful to me.”
“Sweet, but totally impractical advice, Max. I don’t have your charisma to just wear anything and still be uniquely me.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit, but do whatever makes you happy.” There was a knock on the door. “That’d be the five-minute reminder. I’ll see you later.” He kissed her again and then opened the door for her.
“Good luck,” she said and left to go upstairs to check to see if she had anything good enough to wear for the interview.
Max
She doesn’t want to announce that we’re engaged. I’m fine with that. At least, that’s what I’m trying to talk myself into believing. She accepted my proposal only days after we declared our love. I didn’t even court her like she deserved. It’s unfair of me to expect her to want to publicize our engagement when we haven’t even known each other for three months yet. I’m starting to forget what life was like without her– when all I had was work to give me purpose in life.
Speaking of… I didn’t pay close enough attention in the meeting so I had to tell them I’d think about it. I’ll have to review my AI’s transcript summary so I can catch up. I know it was about Stella’s sensor suite but for once the technical details escaped me. I guess this proves I am hopelessly in love.
