My Fiancée Thought I Was the Car Cleaner

PART 1 - THE MAN WITH THE BLUE CLOTH

"I want the most expensive car here."

I heard Natalie's voice before I saw her.

I was wiping dust from the hood of a black Rolls-Royce when she entered with her mother, Lorraine.

Natalie stopped when she recognized me.

"You?"

Her excitement became disgust.

"You clean cars here?"

Lorraine folded her arms.

"How humiliating. My daughter's fiancé is a car cleaner."

I placed the cloth on the hood.

"I'm doing my work."

Natalie's face reddened as customers began watching us.

She had known I worked for Mercer Automotive, but I never discussed my position. I wanted our relationship to exist separately from my family's business.

She apparently assumed I held an office job.

"I will never marry a man who cleans cars!"

Lorraine smiled.

"You have no class at all."

I did not argue.

My father began washing cars at seventeen. He eventually built one garage into forty-three dealerships.

After his death, I continued his rule.

Every executive spent one week each year working beside cleaners, receptionists, mechanics and drivers.

That morning, an employee had left because his wife went into labor.

I took his place.

Mr. Alvarez, the general manager, hurried onto the showroom floor.

"Sir, the VIP clients are waiting in the private lounge."

Natalie's expression collapsed.

"Sir?"

Mr. Alvarez looked confused.

"Mr. Mercer owns this dealership."

Lorraine slowly lowered her arms.

Natalie stepped toward me.

"Darling, I didn't know who you really were."

I picked up the blue cloth.

"You knew exactly who I was. You just didn't know what I owned."

Mr. Alvarez handed me a black folder.

Inside was a purchase application for the Rolls-Royce.

Natalie had listed me as the financial guarantor.

The signature beside my name looked perfect.

But I had never signed it.