FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 143

CHAPTER 143

MIE

On the drive back to Manhattan, Simon kept one hand on the wheel and the other on my thigh.

Simon liked touching me when he drove. My thigh, my hand, sometimes just resting his fingers on my knee as if he needed physical proof that my soul was still tethered to his.

And I liked it more than I probably should have admitted.

My phone buzzed inside my purse.

I pulled it out.

Chloe.

I opened the message and found a picture of Lily and Sam asleep on the couch, one curled up on either side of her. Lily’s head was resting in her lap.

Underneath was a single line.

“I’m going to miss them so much.”

I frowned.

“That’s weird.”

Simon glanced over at me. “What is?”

I turned the screen toward him. “Chloe sent me this.”

He gave the picture a quick look, then turned his attention back to the road. “Oh.”

“Oh’?”

“I talked to her today.”

I waited.

Simon didn’t elaborate.

“Simon.”

“Hmm?”

“About what?”

He let out a breath. “I’m hiring a new nanny.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Chloe stays through the end of the month. After that, she’s done.”

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FAKA DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

I turned fully toward him in my seat. “You fired her?”

officially, Lold her I’m replacing her.”

His hand stayed perfectly relaxed on my thigh.

“I want someone older, more experienced, and preferably less intrusive in my home.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

I couldn’t exactly say I didn’t understand.

“She’s good with the kids.”

“I know.”

“Really good.”

“I know that too.”

I looked at the picture again. “And they like her.”

་ས

“Jamie.” He finally looked at me. “Being good with the kids is the bare minimum. It doesn’t give her the right to ignore basic boundaries in my house.”

His eyes returned to the road.

“And I know you. I bet you heard her story, felt sorry for her, and immediately started looking for reasons to excuse certain things.”

His hand tightened gently around my thigh.

“I don’t work that way. I can understand someone’s past and their trauma without letting it become an excuse for what they do. Chloe had more than enough chances to understand the boundaries. She chose to keep testing them. So as far as I’m concerned, we’re done.”

That killed most of my argument.

I locked my phone. “I think Chloe does a good job with them,” I said. “But I trust your instincts.”

His expression softened. “Thank you.”

I placed my hand over his.

Simon immediately turned his palm up and laced our fingers together.

We stayed like that for a few minutes.

Then I realized he’d taken an exit that didn’t lead downtown.

“Hart Enterprises isn’t this way.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “I know where my company is.”

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“Just checking.”

Wrust me?”

I looked down at our intertwined hands. “Unfortunately.”

He laughed.

Twenty minutes later, he pulled into a small tree-lined overlook above the Hudson.

“What are we doing?”

“Getting out of the car.”

“Simon, I have work.”

“This won’t take long. I promise.”

He was already opening his door.

I rolled my eyes and got out.

Then I saw the view.

“Oh my God.”

The river caught the afternoon light. Manhattan rose in the distance against the blue sky, looking strangely quiet from up there.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Very.”

Simon came up behind me.

His arms wrapped around my waist, and my back settled against his chest.

I closed my eyes when his lips touched my neck.

There was no rush.

Just one slow kiss.

Then another.

“Ten weeks from now,” he murmured against my skin.

“What?”

“You’ll officially be my wife.”

I smiled. “You sound very pleased with yourself.”

“I am.”

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He kissed the spot below my car.

Were going to be so damn happy, babe.”

He turned me in his arms.

“I can’t wait to be your husband.”

I laughed softly. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m serious.”

I knew he was.

That was exactly what undid me.

For years, I’d been in a relationship where I had to interpret silences, weigh every word, and wonder if I was asking for too much. With Simon, it was different. He could be bossy, controlling, and unbelievably full of himself, but I never had to wonder if he wanted me.

He made damn sure I knew.

And against everything I’d once believed about myself, that need for control didn’t make me feel trapped.

It made me feel safe.

Completely loved.

Simon touched my chin. “Where’d you just go?”

“Nowhere.”

“Liar.”

“I was thinking about how much I like you.”

His eyes narrowed. “Like me?”

“Don’t ruin it.”

He laughed and kissed me.

“I love you so much, Hart.”

***

By the time we pulled into the private garage at Hart Enterprises, I was already mentally rearranging the afternoon I’d lost.

I unbuckled my seat belt. “I have at least three contracts waiting for me…”

“You’re coming with me to the Maison Veyra show tomorrow.”

My hand froze on the buckle.

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Veyra was one of the crown jewels in the empire Simon had built Hart Enterprises into. Fashion, jewelry. watches, fragrance, hotels. Hart held stakes in some of the most expensive brands in the world, but Veyra

s one of the few couture houses the group owned outright.

I turned to him. “What?”

“The spring collection show.”

“I know what Veyra is, Simon. I reviewed the acquisition.”

“Great. Saves me the introduction.”

I opened the door.

He caught my wrist.

“Jamie.”

I looked back at him.

“Come with me.”

There was something almost vulnerable beneath all that arrogance.

“As your attorney?”

“As my fiancée.”

My stomach did that stupid little flip.

“Simon, I have work tomorrow.”

“I know.”

“A lot of work.”

“I know that too.”

“I have the Bellmont contracts, the review of…”

He caught the back of my neck and kissed me.