FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 178

CHAPTER 178

AMIE

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The landing was smooth. A car was waiting near the small airstrip, and we drove along a narrow road surrounded by tropical greenery. The air smelled of salt, sun-warmed leaves, and flowers I couldn’t begin

to name.

The house appeared between the palm trees, with pale walls, warm wood, and wide windows overlooking the ocean. It didn’t look like a hotel. It looked like a private home tucked away from the rest of the world.

“Where are all the other guests?” I asked.

“There aren’t any.”

“You rented the entire island?”

“Something like that.”

I stopped on the terrace, taking in the deserted beach. The ocean stretched all the way to the horizon. No boats, no voices, no photographers.

“Simon.”

“Jamie.”

“What exactly does something like that’ mean?”

He took off his sunglasses and gave me that infuriatingly calm look of his.

“It means we don’t have to ask anyone’s permission to stay here.”

“Who owns the island?”

A slow smile spread across his face.

“I do.”

I stared at him, waiting for the punch line.

“What do you mean, you do?”

Simon slipped his hands into his pockets.

“I bought it.”

“Y-You bought an island?”

He leaned one shoulder against the doorframe, looking entirely too comfortable.

“That’s what I said.”

“An entire island.”

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“Buying half would’ve been a little complicated. We’d have to share the beach with someone.”

tared at him

“Simon, I’m serious.”

His smile faded slightly.

“So am I.”

I walked farther onto the terrace. The ocean glittered beneath the sun, almost impossibly beautiful. There was an infinity pool, a table set for two, and a stone pathway disappearing into the trees.

The whole thing was unbelievable. And suddenly, a little overwhelming.

Simon chuckled as he came up behind me and slipped an arm around my waist.

“I’ve been planning this for weeks, Jamie. Long before that whole mess with Vérité started.”

I looked up at him.

“So that’s why you wouldn’t tell me anything about the honeymoon?”

“Exactly. I wanted to see your face when we got here.”

“Well, congratulations. I think you’ve managed to leave me speechless for the first time in my life.”

“I’m not finished yet.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Simon brushed a strand of hair away from my face.

“I have another surprise.”

“Simon…”

“What?”

“You just told me you bought an island. What else could there possibly be?”

He glanced toward the beach before looking back at me.

“Every island needs a name.”

It took me a second to realize where he was going with this.

“Oh, no.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”

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“I know you. And judging by that look on your face, I’m already scared.”

‘s called Jamie”

My smile vanished.

I stared at him, waiting for some explanation that would make what he’d just said a little less outrageous.

“What?”

“The island is called Jamie,” he repeated, as casually as if he’d just told me the weather.

I covered my mouth.

“Simon, you didn’t.”

“I did.”

“You named an island after me?”

“I did.”

I shook my head, struggling to wrap my head around it.

“Oh my God…”

He seemed thoroughly entertained by my reaction, but he didn’t say a word.

“Are you serious?” I asked.

“Absolutely.”

I looked out at the beach, the palm trees swaying in the breeze, and the impossibly blue ocean. Then I turned back to him.

“Why?” I asked, my throat suddenly tight.

Simon stepped closer and rested both hands on my waist.

“Because the moment someone offered me this place, I thought of you.”

“Me?”

“Beautiful, warm, and incredibly rare.” A small smile touched his lips. “Need I say more?”

I smiled, feeling my cheeks grow warm.

“I’m serious, Jamie. I was thinking about the life I want to build with you, too.” His thumbs moved slowly over my waist. “I’ve spent most of my life building things. Companies, businesses, properties. There was always something bigger to go after, something else to achieve. And for a long time, I thought that was enough.”

I swallowed hard.

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

He continued, looking straight into my eyes.

When you came along and showed me I could have all of that and still be missing the one thing that really mattered.”

My eyes began to sting.

“Simon…”

“I want us to have a place that’s just ours. Somewhere we can bring the kids, and our future children, too Spend our vacations here. Grow old together. Somewhere you can run away with me whenever the world becomes too much.”

I smiled and looked away, trying to hide the tears gathering in my eyes.

“And I named this island after you because you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Nothing I’ve ever built or bought comes close to what I have with you.”

A shaky laugh escaped me.

“You can’t just say things like that and expect me not to cry.”

“I’m not expecting anything, sweetheart.”

“I don’t even know what to say.”

“Then don’t say anything.”

Simon lowered his head and kissed my forehead.

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