CEO Needed A Plus-One For A Big Event, Never Realizing He’d End Up Falling For The Woman He Invited
An Unexpected Arrangement
“I need a date tonight.”
Cameron Bishop’s voice was sharp as he stood in the middle of his corner office. One hand tugged at the knot of his tie while the other gripped his phone.
“No, not just anyone. Someone who won’t embarrass me in front of the board, the press, or the governor’s wife. I need someone normal but stunning and fast.”
Across from him, his assistant, a petite woman with anxious eyes, bit her lip.
“Sir, everyone’s booked. It’s a charity gala. You’re not the only CEO in New York.”
Cameron exhaled hard and ran a hand through his dark hair.
“Find someone. I don’t care if she’s a caterer or a poet. Just make sure she doesn’t talk about crystals or conspiracy theories.”
That’s when the assistant hesitated.
“What about Delilah?”
Cameron frowned, not recognizing the name.
“Delilah Hayes. She’s my cousin. She just moved here from Chicago. She’s smart, down to earth, and honestly gorgeous. She could pass for a model, but she’s the kind of woman who still shops at thrift stores.”
He narrowed his eyes.
“Is she looking for a job?”
“No, she works in nonprofit. Teaches art to underprivileged kids. She’s not interested in your money, trust me.”
That was oddly refreshing. He waved his hand.
“Fine, call her. Have her here in an hour.”
Delilah showed up at the office wearing jeans, sneakers, and a fitted white tee under a denim jacket. Her dark curls were pulled into a messy bun. She looked entirely out of place among the polished glass and marble of Bishop Enterprises.
“You’re Cameron?” she asked, looking at him like she wasn’t the least bit impressed.
Cameron blinked.
“Yes, you’re Delilah.”
“Mm-hmm.” She gave a half smile. “So, you need a date to look good for your billionaire club, or…?”
He stared at her. She was beautiful, no question. She had big brown eyes, golden skin, and a mouth made for trouble. But it was the way she looked at him, like she didn’t care who he was, that caught him off guard.
“It’s a formal gala,” he said. “Black tie. You’ll need a dress. I’ll have one sent to your place.”
“I live in a studio above a bakery. You send anything there, it’s going to smell like muffins.”
He blinked again. She tilted her head.
“You want me to play pretend for a night? Fine. But don’t expect me to laugh at boring jokes or act like I’m impressed by overpriced wine.”
A slow grin tugged at his lips.
“You might be the most honest person I’ve met in a decade.”
Two hours later, Delilah stepped out of a private dressing suite inside an exclusive designer boutique. Cameron had shut down the entire place for her. The moment she walked out in a deep sapphire gown that hugged her curves and swept the floor, he stopped breathing.
She caught him staring.
“You’re going to trip over your jaw.”
He cleared his throat.
“That dress looks expensive.”
She raised a brow.
“You picked it.”
“I didn’t think you’d actually wear it.”
“I didn’t think you’d actually have good taste,” she paused, then added, “Don’t get used to it.”
The gala was held in a historic hotel ballroom lit with crystal chandeliers and music from a live string quartet. Cameron guided Delilah through the crowd like she belonged there, his hand on her lower back, whispering introductions in her ear.
She played the part perfectly: charming, witty, and effortlessly graceful. But every now and then, she leaned in and whispered something sarcastic that made him laugh when he wasn’t supposed to.
“So,” she said during dinner, spearing a piece of lobster with her fork. “Do you always bring strangers to black-tie events, or am I just special?”
Cameron leaned in, his voice lower than before.
“You’re definitely not like anyone I’ve met.”
“You say that now. Wait until I spill something.”
“You won’t.”
“I might.”
“I’ll still be impressed.”
She looked at him for a beat, her teasing tone fading.
“You’re not what I expected either.”
“What did you expect?”
She shrugged.
“Arrogance. Ego. A guy who’d bring a woman here to show her off like a watch.”
He leaned closer.
“And you haven’t done that yet.”
She laughed, soft and surprised. Later that night, outside the hotel as the car pulled up, he opened the door for her. She paused, turning to him.
“I had fun,” she said.
“Weirdly,” he nodded, “so did I.”
“I mean, I spent the whole night pretending to be someone else, but it wasn’t terrible.”
“You weren’t pretending,” he said quietly.
She blinked.
“You were just being you.”
Delilah looked away for a second, then back at him.
“Don’t go falling for me, Cameron Bishop.”
He smiled.
“I wouldn’t dare.”
But even as he said it, something inside him shifted, because he already was.
