Alice's POV
Dinner was not only for food, to be honest. Richard asked me question after question about my background, my family, my education, and my job. I answered carefully, sticking as close to the truth as possible without mentioning Sterling & Cross or the real reason Bryan and I were getting married.
"So, you work for Bryan now," Richard said, cutting into his steak.
"As his executive assistant."
"Yes, sir."
"And how did you two meet?" he asked.
I looked at Bryan, panicking slightly as we hadn't discussed this part.
"At a hotel," Bryan said smoothly. "She was staying there for business. I own the building. We ran into each other, literally. She spilled coffee all over me."
I tried not to show my surprise at how easily he lied.
"And you fell in love over spilled coffee?" Richard asked, his tone skeptical.
"Not immediately," Bryan said. "But I was intrigued. She didn't apologize profusely or try to flirt with me. She just said sorry and left. Most women throw themselves at me, but Alice didn't care who I was." That part was actually true.
Richard looked at me. "Is that right?"
"I didn't know who he was," I said honestly. "I was having a bad day and wasn't paying attention. When I realized he was the CEO of the company I'd just applied to, I was mortified."
Richard smiled slightly at that. "So, it wasn't planned."
"No, sir," I said.
"Good," Richard said. "I was worried she might be after your money, Bryan. But she seems genuine."
"She is," Bryan said, and something in his voice made me look at him. He was staring at his father with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.
After dinner, Richard took Bryan aside to talk privately. I waited in the living room, looking at family photos on the mantle. There was one of Bryan as a child with a woman who must have been his mother. He looked happy in the photo, younger and less guarded.
"That was taken before she left," a voice said behind me.
I turned to see Richard standing there.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."
"It's fine," Richard said, walking over to look at the photo. "Bryan probably told you she left when he was young. What he probably didn't tell you is why."
I stayed quiet, not sure if I should respond.
"She left because I chose the company over her," Richard continued. "Over both of them. I worked constantly and missed birthdays, anniversaries, and important moments. She begged me to slow down, to spend time with her and Bryan. I told her the company was our future, that everything I was building was for them."
He turned to look at me. "She didn't care about the money or the success. She just wanted a husband who was present and a father for her son who actually acted like a father."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked quietly.
"Because Bryan is exactly like me. He puts work first, always. He doesn't know how to let people in and how to be vulnerable. His mother's leaving destroyed something in him and made him think love is a weakness."
"I know," I said softly.
"Do you?" Richard asked, studying my face. "Because if you're going to marry my son, you need to understand what you're getting into. He will disappoint you, and he will choose work over you. He will push you away when you get too close."
"Then why do you want him to get married?" I asked, confused.
Richard smiled sadly. "Because I don't want him to end up alone like me. I want him to have what I couldn't keep. But he has to want it too, and I'm not sure he does."
Before I could respond, Bryan appeared in the doorway.
"Ready to go?" he asked me.
"Yes," I said quickly.
In the car, Bryan was silent and angry. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, and his jaw was clenched.
"What did he say to you?" I finally asked.
"The usual. That I'm making a mistake, that marriage won't change me, that I'm incapable of commitment."
"Do you think he's right?"
Bryan glanced at me. "Does it matter? This isn't a real marriage anyway."
"Right," I said quietly. "I forgot."
The rest of the drive was silent, and when we got back to the penthouse, I went straight to my room without saying goodnight. I was exhausted, emotionally and physically.
I changed into my pajamas, and when I was about to get into bed, I heard a knock on my door.
"Come in."
Bryan opened the door. He'd changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt, looking more relaxed than I'd ever seen him.
"I just wanted to say you did well tonight," he said, leaning against the doorframe. "My father liked you. That's rare."
"Thank you."
He nodded and turned to leave, but I stopped him. "Bryan?"
"Yeah?"
"What your father said about your mother leaving," I started carefully. "I'm sorry that it happened to you."
His expression hardened. "It was a long time ago."
"But it still affects you."
"Goodnight, Alice," he said firmly, closing the door before I could respond.
I sat on my bed, staring at the closed door. This was going to be really harder than I thought. Living with someone I barely knew and pretending to be married.
But the worst part is, I was starting to care about Bryan Hale.