FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 187

CHAPTER 187

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– SIMON

I watched the clip Jamie had pulled three times. The woman appeared at the edge of the frame, pushed a cart across the floor, and disappeared behind a partition. Nothing in the footage proved she’d done anything wrong. The problem was, nobody could tell us where she was.

“Just because we haven’t found her doesn’t mean she’s guilty,” Jamie pointed out. “But we need every piece of evidence we can get before the hearing. We can’t afford any surprises.”

“You’re right.”

I pulled the laptop closer and opened the files someone in HR had just released. The employee records were outdated, full of old phone numbers and addresses nobody had verified in years.

We found the woman’s name on the shift roster for that batch. I flagged her file and copied the address.

“It’s an old record,” Jamie said. “She might not even live there anymore.”

“Then let’s find out.”

She folded her arms.

“You really want to go yourself?”

“Don’t you?”

Jamie studied me for a few seconds, then shut the laptop.

“I’ll get my purse.”

I grinned.

“Knew I married the right woman.”

I traded my dress shirt for a dark T-shirt and pulled on a baseball cap. Jamie came back wearing jeans, a jacket, and sunglasses.

“You look like an actor trying not to get recognized,” she said with a smile.

She adjusted the brim of my cap.

“There. Now you look like a movie star.”

I caught her by the waist and kissed her.

“You have excellent taste.”

“Unfortunately.”

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We took the side staircase. Before we reached the garage, Chloe appeared in the hallway carrying an empty

mug.

“Mr. Hart? Miss Jamie?” she asked softly. “Sorry. Are you going to the office?”

Jamie started to answer.

“Actually, we’re…”

“Yes,” I cut in. “We have a few things to take care of at the office.”

Chloe nodded.

“Oh, I see. I hope everything goes well. Call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Chloe.”

She stepped aside to let us through. The second the door closed, Jamie looked at me.

“Why did you lie?”

“No idea, babe. Come on, let’s go.”

“Okay.”

We got into my Ferrari and headed out of Manhattan. Gradually, the elegant buildings gave way to older structures, small storefronts, and streets that had seen better days.

The address took us to an outlying neighborhood of modest houses and worn apartment buildings. Kids played on the sidewalks, people chatted in doorways, and music drifted from an open window.

Jamie peered through the windshield.

“Your car kind of stands out.”

“I know, babe. Starting to think I should’ve brought something else.”

I parked near a corner where the road narrowed too much for the car. I killed the engine and took a look

around.

“We stick together,” I said, unbuckling my seat belt.

Jamie nodded, and we walked up a narrow hill lined with makeshift additions and patched-together buildings.

At the top stood a house made of wood and brick, its paint peeling and its window curtains faded. According to the address the woman had given when she was hired, this was where she lived.

I knocked and waited a few seconds. Tried again. No answer.

“Maybe the address is wrong,” Jamie said.

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

A window opened next door, and a gray-haired woman leaned out, looking suspicious.

“Who are you looking for?”

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Jamie answered before I could, using that calm voice of hers that could get even a hostile witness talking.

“Good afternoon. Do you know if anyone still lives here?”

“Sure does.”

“A woman who used to work at a factory?” I asked.

The neighbor narrowed her eyes.

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