FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

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– SIMON

I tossed my phone onto the king-size bed and loosened my tie, the silk sliding through my fingers like water.

The penthouse was silent, Manhattan glittering beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, but my head was still in that cramped Village apartment.

The vibrator.

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. The way Jamie’s face had gone from pale to crimson in under three seconds-it was the cutest thing I’d ever seen on her. My best attorney reduced to a stammering mess over a pink plastic toy.

She’d been adorable.

Not that I’d ever say that to her face. She’d probably sue me for workplace harassment and win.

I undid the first two buttons of my shirt, still smiling, when my phone buzzed against the duvet. A single vibration. Short. Discreet.

I grabbed it, expecting Stephen with some idiotic meme, or maybe my father checking in to make sure I was still breathing.

The name on the screen made my blood go cold.

Abby.

I sat on the edge of the bed immediately and opened the message.

Abby: Stephen said you’re coming to the annual reunion this year. Thought I’d be polite and say it’ll be good

to see you.

I dragged a hand down my face and exhaled slowly. I was thirty-seven, not seventeen. I had a company to run, too many responsibilities, and I was old enough to know that dissecting a text from Abby like it held some secret meaning was ridiculous.

I needed to get a grip.

I cleared my throat, straightened up on the bed, and tapped the screen.

Simon: Likewise! I’m bringing someone with me. My girlfriend.

The reply came almost instantly.

Abby: You’re seeing someone? Let me guess… it’s been a week.

She still had that same dry humor.

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

Simon: This one’s serious.

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I stared at the screen, watching the three dots appear and disappear. Appear. Disappear. For a full minute, she typed and deleted, typed and deleted.

Then:

Abby: I’m glad you finally found your special someone. After all these years.

Something tightened in my chest.

Simon: Thanks! See you Friday?

Abby: See you Friday.

I pocketed the phone and shook my head slowly, a crooked smile tugging at my mouth before I could stop it.

Seventeen years later, and she still got to me like that.

I shook my head once more and headed for the walk-in closet.

Time to pack for Chicago.

***

Three days in Chicago should have been enough to clear my head. Three days of board meetings, product presentations, and enough leather samples to upholster a small country. I sat through every meeting, delivered my usual sharp observations, signed off on the new campaign budget, and still, my mind wandered.

To Friday.

To her.

The day finally arrived, and I found myself in my office at Hart & Co., watching the security camera feed from the legal department on my laptop.

Jamie was at her desk in the corner glass-walled office. As always. Head down. Focused. The picture of professional composure. Her dark hair was pinned in a low bun, reading glasses perched on her nose, and she was frowning at something on her screen like it had personally offended her.

I’d never seen anyone so beautiful while scowling.

Then a delivery guy appeared at her door, carrying a box that took up his entire torso. I watched him set it on Jamie’s desk, watched her blink at the package like she’d never seen a delivery before, watched her mouth form the words: What the hell is this?

I dialed her number.

“Like the surprise?” I asked, leaning back in my chair.

“Simon?” Her voice came out in a whisper. “You sent me this?”

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“I wanted you to be appropriate for tonight. Consider it part of the deal.”

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She was quiet for a moment. I could picture her fingers tracing the box, imagining what was inside.

“You want me to wear this to the event?”

“Exactly. The venue’s a rooftop bar, nearby. If you want to get ready at my penthouse, feel free. I have extra space.” I paused. “Just saying.”

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