Falling For My Playboy Boss
Chapter 32

Cora's POV

Iris, Livi, and I arrived for brunch at 10 just like we always do, but our regular booth was taken and full and the table had also been pushed up to the booth. We enter and start looking around for a place to eat but notice the ladies in our booth are waving at us. I suddenly realized the women already here in our booth were Ava, Marlowe, Emily, and Catherine, and the table was pulled up for us to sit at, so we each grabbed a seat and Ava reached over and squeezed my hand. We all place our orders with the waitress and sit

back to talk.

"Cora, I am so sorry that happened, there was no way to know that Maddie was going to be there last night. I am sorry she is such a vicious b***h", Ava tells me.

"It wasn't your fault at all, Ava, I am OK. I really don't want to talk about it. I am embarrassed enough as it is, over it", I told her.

"You don't have anything to be embarrassed about, honey. It is always that jealous girl, Maddie. She is a horrible person, and I don't know what has gotten into my sweet boy. Now that he knows he can get away with it, he does. It is my dream for him to settle down with a good girl like you, but I fear that he won't be fully interested in you until he knows that you are Shea honey, are you sure we can't tell him?" Marlowe asks me.

"I am sure because I want someone who wants me for me right now with a plain face, a smart, sometimes nerdy girl, who loves math. I know it sounds bad, but I want someone who knows ME and loves me. I don't want to be arm candy to someone who only values me for that, I want to be loved and appreciated for being Cora. Looks fade and all you have left is who you are on the inside. If all Collin is on the inside is a vain playboy, who only wants someone because they are the next "big thing", or to make his friends jealous because he got them before they could get them, or to always have the prettiest women around him, then I will count myself lucky for not getting drawn into that net. If that is what he genuinely wants, then I really wish him good luck, as he replaces more of the same that he had already been dating. I want someone who is smart and funny, who thinks that I am great, and loves me, Cora, and doesn't need to parade "Shae" around to show her off, because Cora is enough for him" I tell them and manage to not let my voice break until the end.

"I saw his reaction when you were exiting Jerry's office and you backed into Christian. Collin was jealous, and it was clear that he was jealous. That is why he stepped into your area and demanded that Catherine bring you back to your desk right then. He was infuriated that she didn't. He gets jealous of Dalton and Nicolas talking or flirting with you. He does have feelings for you, Cora. The problem is that men are visual creatures. They do love to have the current fresh, new, beautiful thing out there. All men do that. They love their women to look nice. Even Nicolas and Dalton go gaga over you when you are on that runway, Collin has been calling in favors from several people trying to replace out about you, with no success. He pumps his sister for information on her, and with no success, it is driving him crazy, and maybe he is so focused on chasing down "Shea" that he isn't focused on what is right in front of him. I will tell you this, I got up to get some water last night at 10 pm and I overheard Collin telling Michael that he is ok with him dating you if you will allow it, but that he better not even try if he is going to "hit it and quit it". Collin cares for you, but I think he even realizes that you are not like the other girls that he knows. You are special and he doesn't want you hurt, and on some level, I believe that he knows that he will hurt you and is trying to avoid doing that. I am simply scared that we all know that you are "Shae", and he doesn't, that one day he may upset you enough for you to leave, and he will not get another chance to do this right between you, and that is not fair to him. I think if he knew that YOU were "Shae", I actually think that he would be ready to commit to you, and right then, as you would then be considered the "Perfect girl". He would see you as a smart, sexy, efficient, caring, beautiful, hard- working, nurturer, nerd, and a math fanatic, and just like him in so many ways. Please don't let you get wrapped up in the venom that Maddie spews, because she is so jealous of you, she can't see straight. She is the one worried that you will get Collin and she won't be able to do anything about it. So don't let her and her words keep you from being happy honey. Life is short: wear the perfume, eat the cake, date your dream man, get married and give me my beautiful grandbabies, please", Marlowe tells me.

I looked at her opened mouthed I didn't expect her to say all that, and then burst out laughing.

"I am good with it all, but can you give me a little bit of time on the grand babies? I have no plans right now to have children, but I do want them, but please give me a few years to build up my career", I told her. I see smiles and laughter coming from the table and I see Ava reach out her hand to touch me on the arm and tell me that I should come to dinner at her parent's house tonight.

"Michael had really wanted to meet you after the show, but you were all over the place talking to people yesterday and he couldn't replace time to get to talk to you. He was planning on sitting near you at the table for dinner last night and was really frustrated with Maddie for ruining that for him too. So, he was pretty mad at Collin last night. I also think that it could be a good thing for you to meet Michael, he is a great guy and gives you options. It also could drive Collin crazy with jealousy and help to push him to make a move sooner. No man wants someone so bad as when they feel another man might take it from them", Ava tells me with a knowing nod. Each of the women present also nods as they know it to be correct as well.

"I will come, Ava, if it is OK with your mother, but I don't feel like doing that to Collin. If I like Michael, I would not mind going out with him for dinner and seeing if we have a connection. But I won't play a part in doing this to try to "get" Collin. Either he likes me, or he doesn't. Either he wants to be with me the most, or he doesn't. Either way, it is up to him, and unfortunately for him, I don't want him to know that I am "Shea". I already know that he would just want me solely based on him wanting her so badly, and his previous track record. I know that you all are probably thinking I am too hard on him. But I saved myself for the man I love. I am not saying that I love Collin, because I don't know that I do, right now. But I know if he gave me the same charm I have seen him give to others and pour his attention on me, and treat me lovingly, I am quite sure I would fall in love with him, and quickly. I just don't want to give up the thing that I hold most precious for my husband and give it to Collin when I have first-hand knowledge of what he does, and that he would not value that kind of gift like another man might. I will take Olivia's advice and go to work like nothing is wrong with me and play it casually. Maddie embarrassed me so much last night, and I felt humiliated and knew I had to get out of there before I burst into tears. Let's talk about something happier because I am not enjoying the talk being just about me", I say to them, and I suddenly know that no matter what happens in my dating life, I will be all right.

"Ava, do you and Emily have any exciting news in your life?" I suddenly asked them and saw Emily blush.

"Someone I have a crush on saw that I was working for Mateo, and he asked me out. I am really excited about it and my confidence is really high right now from walking the runway and I am so happy. Confidence and happiness are just showing everywhere in my life, and I couldn't be happier", Emily said to us all, and we started yelling out congratulations with all the diners looking over at us.

"I have nothing to report other than I am so happy you got me to model for Mateo, and that I would also be happy if you married either of my brothers," Ava said. I bumped my arm into her arm from elbow to shoulder and smiled at her.

"Ava, I wish it was up to me, but if I did it and Collin just wanted me because I was "Shea", there would be no real depth to our relationship, it wouldn't last. But I will totally give Michael a chance. Collin isn't coming tonight, right?" I said to Ava.

"No, he was taking Eden out tonight as she has to leave town in a few days, and he wanted to take her out one last time," Ava said.

"Then that is fine. Do I need to bring something with me for dinner, and what is the dress code? I ask Ava.

"6 pm, you only need to bring yourself. We dress up for Sunday dinner, not formal, but no blue jeans either.

I get to spend the next hour and finally catch up with Catherine and tell her how much I miss her. I also tell her if she wants to come when she is in the area, to be sure and come with me to get lunch, my treat. I miss her so much at work. I am glad I got to catch up with her.