FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 129

CHAPTER 129

AMIE

When we got back to the apartment, the first thing I did was take a long shower.

I stayed under the hot water long enough to wash the day off my body and, more importantly, clear my head. When I got out, I put on something comfortable, tied my still-damp hair back, and went down to the kitchen determined to do something perfectly normal.

Cook.

It seemed like a much better idea before I started.

By six forty, there was a pot on the stove, another in the sink, way too much garlic on the cutting board, and I was staring at a piece of salmon like it had personally offended me.

Sylvia had been cooking for Simon for years. She was efficient, discreet, and capable of producing dinner for ten without leaving a single spoon out of place.

I had decided, for some reason, that I wanted to cook.

Maybe because that apartment was starting to feel like my home too.

Maybe because I wanted to do something ordinary.

Not have someone else handle it.

Just make dinner.

The elevator door opened while I was trying to figure out if the oven really needed to be that hot.

“Jamie!”

Lily came running in.

I stopped.

She was dressed as a fairy.

Not a subtle fairy. A full fairy, with a lilac dress covered in tulle, transparent wings, sparkly ballet flats, and a crooked crown on her head.

“Oh my God.”

Lily spun in the middle of the living room.

“I was the Spring Fairy!”

Jack and Sam came running in behind her, but barely glanced at their sister’s costume before they shot upstairs, arguing about something I couldn’t make out.

Chloe walked in after them, carrying Lily’s backpack, an activity folder, and a wand that had probably

16

29

O

10

G

1

13:52 Tue Sep 29 JIM

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

survived a war.

school did an activity about seasons,” she explained.

“I made it rain flowers,” Lily said.

“On three kids’ heads,” Chloe added.

“It was an accident.”

“Sure.”

I dropped the spoon.

“Don’t take that off yet. I need a picture.”

Lily immediately struck a pose.

55

My hands were covered in oil and garlic. I looked at the phone on the counter and then at Chloe.

“Can you take it for me?”

“Of course.”

I nudged the phone toward her with my wrist.

Chloe picked it up.

The screen lit up.

“What’s the password?”

I said it without thinking.

She typed it in, opened the camera, and crouched in front of Lily.

“Okay, Miss Spring Fairy. Look over here and say ‘cheese’!”

Lily put one hand on her hip, tilted her head, and gave a huge smile.

“Cheese!”

“Perfect.”

Chloe took several photos, then one with me next to Lily, still in my apron and holding a wooden spoon.

“Now a funny one,” she said.

Lily put the wand under my chin.

“I’m going to turn you into a frog, Miss Jamie.”

“Simon’s going to be devastated,” I said, smiling.

26

29

O

G

10

O

<

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS. MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“I can turn him into one too.”

hen that’s fine.

Chloe laughed, took one more photo, and handed the phone back.

“These came out beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

I took the phone and set it back on the counter.

For a second, I thought about Ethan’s message I still hadn’t opened.

Then Lily asked to taste the sauce and the thought disappeared.

After dinner, Simon took a shower while I pretended to organize the next day’s clothes.

Actually, I sat on the edge of the bed with my phone in my hand.

I opened the conversation with Ethan.

There were three messages.

ETHAN: Got ahold of Vivian. You’re not going to believe this.

ETHAN: The family keeps some dates off the calendar for exclusive events and a cancellation just opened up for ten weeks from now.

ETHAN: Her mom said she can meet you tomorrow for a visit. Since I made the contact, she asked me to come along to introduce you two.

I stared at the screen.

Ten weeks.

My heart sped up.

I opened the Whitmore House photos again. The garden. The library. The porch.

It was almost ridiculous to get this excited about a place I hadn’t even seen in person.

I typed.

ME: Perfect. Let’s go tomorrow then. I’ll ask to leave early and we’ll meet there. Just don’t mention it to

anyone.

Sent.

I read the sentence.

Frowned.

36

29

O

O

G

10

O

15:52 Tue Sep 29 MT.

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS. MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

It looked weird on its own.

dded immediately:

ME: I want to tell Simon when I know if the place works.

There.

55 Vouchers

If I got there and hated it, there was no reason to get his hopes up. If I loved it, I wanted to show him the photos and tell him I might’ve found where we’d get married.

Ethan replied almost instantly.

ETHAN: Understood, boss. Secret’s safe.

ME: Thank you for making this happen.

ETHAN: Thank me if you like it. Tomorrow, 3:30 pm.

I locked the screen.

The bathroom door opened.

Simon walked out with a towel low on his hips and another in his hands, drying his hair.

I stopped breathing for an amount of time that was honestly embarrassing.

He noticed.

Of course he noticed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re staring at me.”

“You’re mine. I can look, can’t I?”

A slow smile appeared.

“You can.”