The Billionaire's Fake Fiancee - Lauren Wood Page 0,38

glad Greg had enough sense to make the right decision.

I felt relieved and proud as I sat down at my desk and immediately started tweaking things for the big meeting with the client that Friday. I hadn’t been working long when Chuck darkened my doorway.

“Well. You actually pulled it off,” he huffed.

“All I did was present my ideas on how to best market the toys, Chuck. You had the opportunity to do the exact same thing, and Greg made his decision. Fair and square.”

“I don’t mean that. I mean your whole fiancé schtick. Listen, if I was way off … and you and this Ben guy really are engaged … I owe you an apology.”

It was not the time for my face to lock up with tears threatening to stream down from my eyes. But it happened beyond my control. The last thing I needed was to hear Ben’s name right then.

“We are,” I replied, trying to hide the ache in my voice.

“Well, then I’m sorry. Congratulations. On this pitch … and him,” he offered before turning to walk away.

I jumped to my feet, racing over to shut the door before sinking back down into my seat and bursting into tears.

16

Ben

Once again, I found myself back at Damon’s club. Only this time I was slouched over the bar by myself, eyeing a shot of tequila. The water next to it looked more appealing, but I threw it back anyway. I was vaguely aware of the figures sliding onto the stools on both sides of me. Damon appeared in front of me, and I looked up to see Nick on one side and Joey on the other.

“Intervention time,” Nick warned me.

“Ah come on, you guys. It's been a rough week. Just let me sit here and drown my sorrows,” I pleaded.

Joey glanced down to the watch on his hand. “I’m all for a Friday happy hour, but it’s barely noon.”

“So what?”

“You’ve been slipping at the office,” Nick continued. “You’ve missed two deadlines this week and I’m waiting for your signature on at least five different contracts.”

I patted the briefcase that was leaning up against my stool. “They’re all in here. I was planning to look them over right now, thank you very much.”

Damon looked down at me. “You’ve been sitting here for over an hour and you haven’t touched that briefcase once.”

“I haven’t seen you like this since college,” Joey observed.

“Thanks a lot for divulging that little tale to Kate, by the way,” I huffed.

“Doesn’t she have her big presentation at work today?”

I hated the reminder of what she was up to. “How do you know that?”

“Angel said she saw her posting something on social media about asking everyone to wish her good luck,” he replied. “I assumed that’s what it was about.”

“Oh great. They’re friends on social media now?”

“You’re the one who brought her to eat at our house and introduced her to Olivia,” he defended. “Besides, girls you mess around with are always hitting up our wives on social media. It’s like they think it gives them some kind of advantage with you. You never cared before.”

“This is different,” I sighed. I could feel the burn of their prying eyes and quickly sat up, trying to play it cool. “Actually, no. It’s not different. You’re right. Let them be friends on social media. It makes no difference to me.”

“So, you’re fine with everything?” he questioned. “Then you won’t care that she posted this picture of her on a date with some other guy last night.”

I shot up and lunged for the phone in his hands. “What!? Let me see that.”

“I was just messing with you!” He yanked the phone back, sliding it into his pocket.

“If everything that happened with Kate really is no big deal,” Nick started in again. “Then what’s going on with you? Why have you been so off your game this week?”

I let out a groaning sigh and decided to take a drink of my water after all. I didn’t have the heart to tell them what had really happened. That every time Kate and I slept together, it was better than the time before. And the last time damn near did me in. It was intimate and personal. It scared the hell out of me. Then she said those three little words and I freaked out. I couldn’t risk letting myself fall for her, only for one of us to get hurt.

I woke up before dawn and couldn’t fall back asleep with her next to me. I figured we were both