FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 107

FAKA DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

CHAPTER 107

MON

Jamie waited until the suite door closed before turning on me.

“Soon”?”

I carefully took off my jacket and hung it up before the box in my pocket could give everything away.

“It was a social answer.”

“Oh.” She exhaled, visibly relieved.

“You didn’t like me introducing you as my girlfriend?”

“That’s not it. I was just caught off guard.”

She set the folder on the table.

“You could’ve warned me.”

“I did. This morning. I called you my girlfriend at least six times.”

“It’s different in front of international business partners.”

“Why? You’re my general counsel in every country. And my girlfriend in all of them.”

Color climbed her neck. I stepped closer and brushed my thumb over the warm skin.

“I’m not hiding you. And I don’t want anyone thinking I’m available, because I’m not.”

The irritation in Jamie’s face softened.

“I just would’ve liked time to prepare my face.”

“Your face was beautiful.”

“It was red.”

“My favorite color.”

She shoved a hand against my chest, but she let me pull her back and kiss her forehead.

. My phone rang.

Chloe again.

I answered without taking my hand from Jamie’s waist.

“What happened?”

“Sorry, Simon. Sam won’t do his homework before playing video games. He says you let him.”

15:43 Tue Sep 29 1 MT.

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“I don’t.”

That’s what I thought. I just wanted to make sure.”

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“Chloe, you were hired to handle routine decisions. You don’t need my permission to enforce a rule that’s already written on the kitchen list.”

A pause.

“Of course. I just want to do everything the way you like it.”

“Do it the way that’s best for the kids.”

I ended the call.

Jamie raised her eyebrows.

“That was a little rude.”

“That was the fourth call since we left.”

“Third.”

“There was another one during the meeting. She wanted to know if Jack could order pizza.”

“Maybe that’s what happens when you’re suddenly responsible for three kids.”

“It wasn’t like this with Mary.”

“Mary’s older and probably has more experience with children.”

“You’re defending the woman you were jealous of yesterday?”

“I’m being rational. I don’t want to be unfair to anyone, and neither should you.”

“I hate when you do that.”

“Do what?”

“That whole painfully reasonable good-girl thing. It suits you way too well.”

Jamie smiled, but her eyes stayed on my phone.

“What did she mean by ‘the way you like it’?”

“She’s trying to please her boss.”

“Probably. You’re right.”

I lifted her chin.

“Look at me.”

Jamie met my eyes.

15:43 Tue Sep 29 71 MT

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS. MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“Back to the marriage thing. I need you to understand something. There’s no uncertainty on my end when it comes to what I want with you.”

She drew a slow breath, like she already knew exactly where this conversation was headed.

“Simon, remember when we agreed to take this slow?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“You’re going to anyway.”

“Probably.” I tilted my head. “What does slow actually mean to you?”

She thought about it before answering.

“It means not rushing into things. Giving something enough time before you make decisions you can’t take back.”

That pulled a smile out of me.

“Then we have a problem.”

“Why does that not surprise me?”

“Because my version of slow is still fast. I don’t need to stand in front of a door for six months to know whether I want to walk through it. I can reach a decision quickly, Jamie. That doesn’t mean I reached it without thinking.”

She watched me in silence.

“When I know something, I don’t keep circling it just to look cautious,” I continued. “And when I decide I truly want something, I don’t usually wake up the next morning wanting the opposite.”

Her expression softened.

“I think that’s a good thing.”

I smiled.

She caught it immediately.

“What?”

“Nothing. Just thinking about something.”

“About what?”

“You said the problem is rushing into a decision, not necessarily moving fast. So if I know exactly where I’m stepping, technically I’m allowed to pick up the pace.”

She rolled her eyes.

“You can turn any conversation into a loophole. Are we sure I’m the lawyer here?”

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“If you leave me a loophole, that’s hardly my fault.”

mie tried to hide her smile.

I saw it anyway.

“Fine. Technically, you can move fast if you’re sure.”

“Excellent.”

“I don’t like that ‘excellent.””

“Too late.”

She shook her head.

“I think I’m going to take a shower.”

I watched her walk away.

While Jamie showered, I called Kelly.

“Everyone confirmed their positions?”

“Yep. Photographer behind the bar structure, lighting crew at the agreed spot, champagne in the suite. Forecast’s clear.”

“No drone anywhere near her until the right moment.”

“Got it. Anything else, boss man?”

I looked toward the closed bathroom door.

“If she says no, no one publishes a single photo. No one talks about it. The crew gets paid in full.”

Kelly went quiet for a beat.

“Boss, she’s going to say yes. With all due respect, who turns down a hot billionaire proposing to her?”

I let out a low laugh.

“You clearly don’t know Jamie Collins.”

“So you think she might say no?”

I looked at the small box in my hand and smiled.

“I think Jamie Collins is perfectly capable of making me sweat before she says yes.”

Then I ended the call.

Jamie came out wearing a simple blue dress, her hair loose around her shoulders, no jewelry except a pair of small earrings. I’d pictured the proposal a hundred times. In none of those versions had my heart started pounding like this.

15:43 Tue Sep 29 ) MT.

FAKK DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILI IONAIRE BOSS

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.

Because you’re beautiful.”

She smiled and picked up her purse.

“Where are we going?”

“Dinner.”

“That’s it?”

“You’re way too suspicious.”