FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 104

CHAPTER 104

AMIE

Friday morning, I came downstairs with my suitcase and found Jack, Sam, and Lily lined up in front of the elevator like a tiny farewell committee. Jack was trying hard to look unaffected. Sam was holding a folded sheet of paper. Lily was still in her pajamas, wearing two different socks.

“Are you really going?” she asked.

“For three nights,” I said, crouching down to hug her. “By the time you wake up Monday, we’ll almost be home.”

“Almost home isn’t home.”

“You hear that, counselor?” Simon said behind me. “Legally sound argument.”

I smiled at Lily.

Simon pulled out his phone and checked the time. Dark pants, crisp white shirt, jacket folded over one arm. He looked ready to close a nine-figure deal. My skin was still very much aware of the decidedly unprofessional consequences of the night before.

Lily ran to him. Simon scooped her up, and some of that cocky confidence slipped from his face when she wrapped both arms around his neck.

“I’m gonna miss you.”

“I’m gonna miss you too, sweetheart.”

Sam held out the paper.

“I made travel rules.”

Simon unfolded it.

“Don’t fall into a volcano. Don’t swim with sharks. Bring presents.’ I appreciate the order of priorities.”

“The present can be small,” Sam clarified. “As long as it’s expensive.”

“This kid’s going places.”

Jack came over last.

“If Chloe doesn’t know how to make Lily’s sandwich, she won’t eat it.”

“Crusts off, cheese cut into triangles, and nothing green touching anything,” Chloe said from the kitchen doorway. “I wrote it down.”

I hadn’t heard her come in.

She wore beige pants and a pale blue blouse buttoned all the way to the collar. Her blond hair was pulled into a flawless ponytail. There was absolutely nothing inappropriate about her appearance. Still, some

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

annoying part of my brain registered the soft perfume and the makeup that seemed a little too carefully done for six-thirty in the morning.

Ridiculous. Maybe she’d made an effort because it was her first day alone with three kids and her billionaire boss was about to leave town.

“Good morning,” Chloe said, looking at Simon first, then me. “I hope I’m not too early.”

“You’re right on time,” he said. “Emergency contacts are on the fridge, and Kelly sent over the school authorization. The driver will handle drop-off and pickup for all three of them. If there’s an actual emergency, call me. For anything routine, talk to Mary or Kelly.”

The emphasis on actual emergency was unmistakable. Chloe nodded.

“Of course. I want you two to enjoy your trip without having to worry about anything.”

She reached for the jacket draped over his arm before Simon seemed to realize what she was doing.

“I can hang that up while you finish saying goodbye to the kids.”

“No need.” He took it back easily. “We’re heading out.”

The whole exchange lasted maybe two seconds. Completely harmless. Still, Chloe glanced at her empty hand as though something had been taken away from her.

Or maybe I was imagining things.

Lily hugged me again. Sam made me promise to send him a picture of a volcano.

As the elevator doors slid shut, I saw Chloe rest a hand on Lily’s shoulder. She was smiling down at her, but her eyes stayed on Simon until the last strip of metal blocked him from view.

I should’ve let it go.

“You’re quiet,” Simon said.

“I’m thinking about work.”

“Before seven in the morning? Pretty sure that violates labor law.”

“Chloe seems… eager.”

He tipped his head.

“Was that the diplomatic version of something?”

“There is no something.”

“Good.” His hand settled at the small of my back. “Because I plan to spend the next eleven hours making sure you don’t think about anyone but me.”

“We have a meeting in Hawaii, Hart. Remember?”

“Speaking of which, baby, one of the meetings got moved up. We’re doing it by video on the plane.”

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“So you’re working now?”

ma man trying to close one of the best deals of his career. Occupational hazard.”

A disappointed little sound escaped me before I could stop it.

Simon grinned.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“Sounded like my girlfriend filing a formal complaint.”

“I just thought you were going to relax on the flight. Maybe pay some attention to your girlfriend.”

“Is she demanding?”

“Absolutely unbearable.”

The elevator opened into the garage. The driver was waiting beside the car. Simon guided me toward it with his hand still at my lower back, then leaned close to my ear.

“I’ll close the laptop in an hour. After that, she gets my undivided attention.”

“Is that a promise, boyfriend?”

“It’s a threat.”

At the private terminal, the jet was already waiting. I didn’t bother pretending I was used to walking straight onto a runway without a security line, a screaming metal detector, or somebody weighing my

suitcase.

The second we boarded, Simon pointed down the aisle.

“Conference area, galley, bathroom, bedroom.”

“Bedroom?”

“For sleeping.”

“Of course.”

“Collins, your mind is filthy.”

“My mind? You introduced the bedroom while staring at my mouth.”

His phone rang before he could answer. Chloe’s name flashed across the screen.

Simon frowned.

“We haven’t even taken off yet.”

He answered.

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“What happened?”

ould hear her sweet voice from the other end.

“Sorry to bother you. Lily wants to know if she can wear her tiara to school. She said you let her on Fridays.”

Simon closed his eyes for a second.

“If it doesn’t violate school rules, she can wear it.”

“I knew you’d understand. Have a good trip, Simon.”

The call ended.

He stared at the phone.

“Mary has never called me about a tiara.”

“It’s her first day. She’s probably nervous.”

“Maybe.”

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