Close Calls

Lena's POV

We both froze, looking at the door.

"Lena?" Liz knocked again. "Open up!”

My mind went completely blank. I couldn't let Liz find Liam in my room.

Liam stared at me completely lost. As if I was the one who had decided that knocking at another woman's bedroom door during my engagement celebration was a brilliant idea.

However, if Liz opened this door and found Eleanor's fiancé standing inside my bedroom, everything would be over.

Without wasting another second, I grabbed his wrist. "This way."

"What?"

I practically dragged him into the bathroom before he could argue, and shut the door behind me.

"Don't make a sound."

Then I walked over to the shower and twisted the handle. I quickly splashed water across my face, neck, arms, and legs before wrapping a white bathrobe around myself. Then I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to make it look damp, before taking one last look at Liam.

"Stay here." Before he could answer, I shut the bathroom door.

"Lena!" Liz laughed from outside. "Open the door already. I have something important to tell you."

“I'm coming,” I called back, trying to make it look like I'd just stepped out of the shower.

I quickly unlocked the bedroom door.

Liz stood there with her hands on her hips.

"There you are!" she said dramatically before looking me over. "Oh... were you taking a shower?"

I laughed awkwardly. "I was, but I'm not done washing my hair."

She walked past me, and threw herself onto the edge of the bed.

"I was starting to get worried about you. I thought you fainted or something.”

"So," Liz continued, kicking off her sandals, "I came because I found so many amazing places we could visit while we're here. There's this luxurious spa in town, I heard it's incredible. We should try it. We could go to the beach too. The rocks by the shore glow at night, we'll have to see that before we leave. We could get canoe rides, go jet skiing, there's also the museum. I also found this café not far from the lake, we could have a picnic in the garden as well…”

"Today?" I asked, interrupting her.

"Of course not. These are just part of the things I planned for us to do before you leave, who knows the next time we'll be able to hangout once you get a job? I know we came for a wedding but we also came for a vacation, so we need to get maximum relaxation.”

I almost laughed. There was nothing relaxing about pretending to be engaged to her cousin, a billionaire. While watching my ex-boyfriend get married to his sister.

Instead I said, “Sure. You know what? How about you pick an activity for us to start with tomorrow?”

“Okay, then it's settled,” she squealed. “We're going to the spa first then we can have lunch at the cafe, I heard it has the best pastries.”

“Alright,” I replied. “That reminds me, isn't there supposed to be a family dinner tonight? Aren't you going to get ready?”

I knew the dinner was at 8, and there was more than enough time for her to get ready. I just wanted her to leave.

“Yeah there is,” she replied. “This is the first time the entire family is coming together in years, so we just decided to have dinner together.”

“Anyway,” she continued. “I have to get going. I promised Eleanor we'd have lunch today and catch up.”

She stood up to leave, but just as I was about to celebrate, she turned around quickly.

“Can I use your bathroom? I really need to pee,” she asked, as she started walking towards the bathroom door.

“No!” I yelled, stepping in front of her.

Liz stopped, raising an eyebrow. “No? Why not? It's not like you're hiding a body in there.” She asked with a chuckle.

“Uhm… the toilet got clogged,” I lied. “I was just about to unclog it before you came.”

“The toilet got clogged?” she asked. “Should I ask someone to call a plumber?”

“No,” I replied quickly. “There’s no need for that. I was just about to get it done myself.”

“Alright. I have to get going, I really need to pee. See you later, okay?” She said, quickly leaving the room.

I waited until I was certain she'd gone, before locking the bedroom door again.

I hurried into the bathroom, and found Liam crouched inside the bathtub, looking like he wished the floor would swallow him whole.

I left the bathroom and opened the room door. I looked around to make sure no one was watching, then I turned to Liam who was already in the bedroom.

“Leave,” I told him.

He looked embarrassed. “Yeah, sure. I'll see you around.”

I didn't say anything, I just stepped aside so he could pass. As soon as he left, I locked the door. Only then could I breathe properly.

Yesterday, I had travelled all this way hoping to surprise the man I loved.

Today, I'd just hidden him in my bathroom so no one would discover he'd come looking for me.

If someone had told me a week ago that this would become my life, I would've laughed in their face. Now, it didn't seem funny at all.

I pushed myself away from the door. There was no point dwelling on it.

Dinner was still hours away, and I didn't want to spend the rest of the afternoon thinking about Liam.

I took a towel and headed back into the bathroom. I took a shower, and changed into a simple cream-colored sundress.

I decided to take a walk around the estate. It was enormous, and I had barely seen any of it since I arrived.

The estate looked even more beautiful in the late afternoon. I wandered around till I went out through the back gates.

Eventually, I ended up in a greenhouse behind the estate. I walked inside and saw an elderly woman lying on the floor, surrounded by rows of potted plants and blooming flowers. Her cane had fallen a short distance away, just beyond her reach.

I hurried over and picked it up before kneeling beside her.

“Here,” I said gently. “Let me help you.”

As I reached for her arm, she frowned and waved me off.

“I can manage,” she muttered, looking embarrassed. “I'm not as helpless as I look.”

“You don't look helpless,” I said with a small smile. “Everyone misses their footing sometimes.”

She sighed, clearly reluctant, but finally allowed me to help her to her feet. Once she was standing, she brushed the dirt from her clothes, took her cane from my hand, and straightened her shoulders, clearly determined to regain every ounce of her dignity.

“I was trying to water the plants, but couldn't find the watering can. Can you pass me the hose over there?” she said, pointing towards the edge of the door.

I walked over, picked up the hose and handed it to her.

She took it and turned it on. But the pressure was too high, and she began wrestling with the garden hose, which seemed determined to spray everywhere except the flowers.

Water splashed across her shoes.

"Oh, honestly..." she muttered.

I smiled. "Need some help?"

"I do not."

The hose sprayed her again.

"Are you sure?"

She looked at me over her shoulder.

"I've been watering flowers longer than you've been alive, so I don't need assistance."

Another spray of water soaked the front of her cardigan. I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing, and walked over anyway.

"May I?"

She hesitated before handing me the hose. I noticed the valve hadn't been turned completely, so I twisted it. The pressure steadied immediately, and the water flowed normally.

"There we go,” I said, handing the hose back to her.

She took the hose and started spraying the flowers.

“Are you new here? I haven't seen you around here before,” she asked.

“Yes,” I replied. “I came for the Hartley engagement celebration. I just arrived yesterday.”

“Oh, you must be a friend of the bride’s.”

“No. I'm her brother's fiancée.”

“Marcus? So he truly does have a fiancée? I was beginning to think he'd stay single forever.”

I didn't know how to respond to that. After a few minutes of silence, I realised it had been a while since I left. I needed to get back to prepare for dinner.

“Do you need help with anything else?” I asked. “I'll be heading back soon.”

“No, that'll be all,” she replied. “Thank you for your help.”

“It was no problem,” I said, and turned to leave.

By the time I got back to my room, I had barely an hour to prepare.

I quickly showered, dried my hair, and put on the dress Lauren had brought earlier.

While I was putting on my earrings, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” I called.

Lauren stepped inside with a polite smile.

“Mr Hartley asked me to let you know that everyone will be gathering in the dining room in ten minutes. If you're ready, I'll show you the way.”

I nodded, took one last look at my reflection, and followed her downstairs.

Tonight would be my first official dinner as Marcus Hartley’s fiancée. His entire family would be there. I had to make sure I played the part perfectly.