FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 191

CHAPTER 191

– JAMIE

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The bathtub in the primary suite was already full when Simon walked in with two folded towels draped over his arm. I’d spent the last ten minutes trying to convince my husband I could manage a bath on my own. He wasn’t interested in hearing it.

“Are you just going to stand there and stare?” I asked as I undressed.

“Why? Are you thinking of charging admission?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Simon…”

He gave me that devastating smile.

For a second, I almost forgot how badly my wrists hurt.

Simon set the towels on the counter, took off his watch, and rolled up his sleeves. The bathroom was enormous, all pale marble and a tall window overlooking the backyard. The whole house still felt unfamiliar to me. Somehow, though, his scent had already made its way into every corner.

“Water okay?” he asked.

I dipped my hand into the tub and nodded.

He crouched beside it and offered me his hand. I let him help me in. The moment the warm water reached my shoulders, I released a breath I felt like I’d been holding since everything that happened earlier.

“Better?”

“Much.”

Simon dipped a soft sponge into the water and gently ran it over my shoulders. For once, he didn’t crack a single joke. He just took his time washing me, careful around every spot that still ached.

“You’re spoiling me,” I murmured, already feeling calmer.

“That’s the plan. Better get used to it, because I’m going to spoil the hell out of you tonight.”

“Dangerous promise. What if I get used to this and start expecting it every day? You won’t have the time.”

He glanced up, a crooked smile tugging at his mouth.

“I spend half my day deciding which companies to buy and the other half thinking about you. You really think I can’t make time to pamper Mrs. Hart?”

I laughed, but the sound died when he took my hand. Purple bruises circled both wrists where the rope had

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11:27 Fri, Oct 16

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

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dug into my skin. Simon brushed a fingertip over one of them, barely touching me. Even so, pain shot through my arm. I whimpered and pulled away on instinct.

He stopped immediately.

“I’m sorry, baby.”

“It wasn’t your fault. If anything, it was mine.”

He kissed my fingers, staying well clear of the bruises.

“You know what I can’t stop thinking about?” he asked, his expression turning thoughtful. “That woman. Something about this whole thing doesn’t add up.”

I looked at him.

“Actually, with everything that happened, I never even asked. Did you find her?”

“I did. But she ran off again.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I got close, she kicked me and took off.”

His brow furrowed.

“Nobody runs like that for no reason.”

“Or maybe she was scared. Come on, if I lived in that neighborhood and some stranger came looking for me, I’d run too.”

“Maybe.” He considered it for a moment. “But I think she knows something.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Call a detective friend of mine. He might be able to track her down without scaring her any more than she already is. And without compromising whatever evidence might be out there.”

I nodded.

“I’m calling the legal team tomorrow. I need an update on the case and I need to coordinate what everyone’s doing. I’ve been away from work long enough.”

“You can talk to Legal on the phone,” he corrected me. “And you’re not setting foot in that office until I’m sure it’s safe for you to go back.”

“Simon…”

“Jamie, don’t start.”

“I haven’t even said anything!”

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“I know that look.”

I rolled my eyes but decided not to argue. Not yet, anyway.

“Fine. But I want to know everything your detective friend finds.”

“You’ll be the first to hear.”

“And if you find Annie, I want a say in how you approach her.”

“Deal.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You’re agreeing with me awfully fast.”

His mouth curved.

“That’s because I’ve figured something out.”

“What?”

“Arguing with my wife while she’s naked in a bathtub is a terrible idea.”

I burst out laughing.

“And why’s that?”

He cleared his throat, pretending to be serious.

“Because one look at you like this and I forget every argument I had.”

“So you’re saying I can get anything I want if I stay like this?”

“Don’t even think about using that against me, Jamie.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

“No promises.”

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I leaned out of the tub, not caring that water streamed down my body, and kissed him. Simon kissed me back slowly, one hand settling at the nape of my neck. When we drew apart, he kept his forehead pressed to mine.

I studied his face for a few seconds before finally admitting it.

“I was so scared, Simon.”

His smile vanished,

“I know, sweetheart.”

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11:27 Fri, Oct 16

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