FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

– JAMIE

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I walked to the living room, trying to convince myself I was eager for him to leave my apartment. The sooner he went, the sooner I could process everything that had happened in the last day.

My gaze drifted to the plants on my small balcony. Poor things, they’d been neglected all weekend. I grabbed the watering can and stepped outside to tend to them.

That’s when I heard the bathroom door open. I turned and found Simon sprawled on my sofa, his six-foot- three frame of pure self-confidence spread across the cushions like he’d lived there his whole life.

“You’re not leaving?” I called out.

“Got no one waiting for me at home.” He shrugged lazily. “What’s the rush?”

“I thought you loved being alone,” I shot back. “Wasn’t that what you said in that video? Two months is your limit?”

“Apparently, I make exceptions.”

“So I’m an exception, boss?”

Simon shrugged, that arrogant half-smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

“You’re the only person I can spend hours with and not start counting the minutes until I can leave.”

Before I could help it, I smiled.

“Well, well, well… look at this,” he said suddenly, his tone curious.

I frowned and looked in his direction. “What?”

“I’m looking at your Netflix profile,” he said, remote in hand, gesturing toward the TV like he was presenting evidence in court. “What kind of movies are you watching, Counselor? Spicier than the next. Didn’t know you had this side to you.”

My stomach knotted. I followed his gaze and saw my shame exposed on the screen: a gorgeous man, shirt open to his chest, hand sliding up a woman’s thigh. “The Chef and His Boss’. ‘My Billionaire Neighbor’. ‘Sugar Daddy: The Arrangement. My secret guilty pleasure collection, on full display in all its glory.

“Female porn, huh?” Simon grinned, amused. “Who would’ve thought. New York’s most straight-laced lawyer, watching some good sex scenes in her free time. Is that what you do when you’re not working, Counselor?”

I crossed my arms, feeling the temperature of my face rise dangerously.

“It’s not porn. It’s romance.”

“Oh, right.” He rested his elbows on his knees, leaning forward like he was about to hear a confession.

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“Romance. With deep plot. And sex scenes so frequent you probably lose track of the story. Look, I’m not judging. I’m just impressed that the woman who walks around with a permanent resting bitch face has a movie list that would make any wanker blush.”

“I don’t have to justify my entertainment habits to you.”

“I’m just saying.” He spread his hands.

“Don’t you have anything better to do on a Sunday?” I shot back.

“It’s Sunday,” he repeated, like I was the irrational one. “And now that I’m your fiancé-” he paused to wink at me, insufferable as always, “-you have to accept that I’m part of your Sunday routine.”

I rolled my eyes so hard I almost pulled a muscle. “I need to finish watering my plants.”

“I’ll wait.” He reached for the remote. “I’ll watch your little movie. Pick up some tips on how to be a better fiancé.”

I went back to my plants, my skin tingling with a mix of irritation and something I refused to name. I was trying to focus, trying to breathe, when the intercom buzzed.

“I got it,” Simon yelled, already on his feet.

He pressed the button, and moments later, I heard a knock at my door. I heard him open it.

“Delivery for the lady of the house,” a man’s voice said. “From yesterday.”

I finished with the plants and walked in to find Simon holding a black box. Discreet, no branding.

“Who was it?” I asked, drying my hands on my dress.

“The doorman. He said someone left this for you yesterday while you were out.” Simon’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. “What’s in the box, Counselor?”

I frowned.

“I have no idea.”

“Can I open it?”

I shrugged.

“Go ahead.”

I walked back to the balcony and continued watering the plants, trying to remember if I’d bought anything in the last few days.

Then the memory hit me.

The impulse purchase.

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The forbidden order.

Oh God.

“Simon, don’t open that!”

I rushed off the balcony so fast I almost dropped the watering can.

Too late. I walked in to find Simon sprawled on the couch, holding a giant pink vibrator that was buzzing cheerfully in his hand.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Please don’t say anything. Just leave.”

By some miracle, he put the toy back in the box without making any comments. But the effort to hold back his smile was so obvious it only made the situation worse.

“Right. I think it’s time for me to go.”

He walked to the door, and I followed, determined to get rid of him before he decided to open his mouth again.

“Jamie.”

His voice was quieter this time, and I stopped.

“What?”

“I’m heading to Chicago tonight. Have a meeting with the board of one of the brands tomorrow morning.”

I nodded.

He rested one hand on the doorframe and held my gaze for a few seconds.

“I’ll be gone for a few days. But our Friday commitment is still on, right?”

I exhaled slowly.

“Right. I gave you my word.”

“Perfect!” He smiled, and for just a moment, the sarcasm faded from his expression.

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