FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 194

CHAPTER 194

– JAMIE

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I found Simon in his office, his phone propped beside his computer while three men argued over numbers on the screen. He looked up when I appeared in the doorway. Two seconds was all it took for him to realize I hadn’t come looking for a kiss.

“Gentlemen, we’ll pick this up tomorrow,” he announced.

Someone started to object. Simon ended the call before the man could finish.

“What happened?”

“You didn’t have to cut your meeting short.”

“Yes, I did. Come here.”

He pushed his chair back and held out his hand. When I reached him, he caught me around the waist and settled me sideways on his lap. His cologne mingled with the smell of coffee he’d left untouched on his desk.

“Now tell me. What’s got you so worried?”

I ran my fingers along the collar of his shirt.

“Actually… it’s about Chloe.”

His smile vanished.

“What did she do?”

“Nothing. Nothing wrong, anyway. She’s having trouble paying her rent. Her landlord put her things out on the street.”

Simon frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“I accidentally overheard part of a phone call. She was begging her landlord not to evict her. I talked to her afterward and offered legal help, but she said she’s so far behind on rent that it wouldn’t do much good. I tried to push a little, but I didn’t want to embarrass her.”

“Asking whether there’s an eviction case wouldn’t embarrass her.”

“I know, Counselor Hart.”

“You’re the lawyer in this family. I’m just trying to understand.”

I took a breath.

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“I offered her one of the staff rooms for a few days.”

He stared at me.

“You offered before talking to me?”

“I told her I’d talk to you first.”

“Jamie.”

“Simon.”

“You know I’ve been keeping an eye on her since those last few incidents.”

“Baby, she’s desperate. I couldn’t just leave her with nowhere to go. Besides, she’s been so dedicated lately. I think maybe we misjudged her.”

Simon ran a hand over my thigh, thinking.

“I’m not suggesting we leave her sleeping on the street. I’m saying living in our home is different from working in it.”

“She already knows how things work around here.”

“Exactly. She knows our routines, the kids, our schedules. That’s why we need to be careful. I don’t want her taking advantage of our trust again.”

“So you’ll let her stay?”

“What choice do I have? She’s our children’s nanny, and she has nowhere to go. I’ll agree to a temporary arrangement. Management needs to be notified today. I want a temporary addendum to her contract spelling out the dates, responsibilities, and access rules. No wandering into the family’s bedrooms outside working hours. No keys to private areas.”

“Oh my God. Are you going to fingerprint her, too?”

“Keep making fun of me and I’ll take both hands.”

“You’re being way too strict.”

He cupped the back of my neck and tipped my face toward his.

“Strict, huh?”

His kiss was hot and unhurried. My lips parted beneath his, and his tongue slid against mine. His hand tightened at my waist, drawing me closer until there wasn’t an inch between us. By the time I could breathe again, Simon was still smiling against my mouth.

“I’m not being strict, Mrs. Hart. I’m being careful. Protecting our peace comes first.”

“Our peace could use a bodyguard lately.”

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“It’s already got one. A very handsome one, I might add. That would be me.”

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I burst out laughing, and he took the opportunity to kiss me again. His fingers drifted slowly down my back, and my body responded before my brain caught up. I caught his hand.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“I wasn’t thinking anything.”

“Your smile says otherwise.”

“My smile is perfectly innocent.”

I rested my forehead against his.

“I should let you get back to work.”

“Terrible idea.”

“You ended a meeting because of me.”

I kissed his chin one last time and stood. At the door, I glanced back. He was already reaching for his phone, but his eyes were still on me.

“Jamie?”

“Yeah?”

“Next time, we talk it through and make the decision together, sweetheart. I don’t want you feeling like you have to do something just because somebody’s in a tough spot.”

I nodded. Deep down, I knew he was right.

Later, after management emailed over the paperwork and Chloe agreed to the terms, I took her to the staff wing. The room had a comfortable bed, a built-in closet, a small bathroom, and a window overlooking the side garden.

“This is so much more than I expected,” she said, clutching the strap of her bag.

“Don’t feel awkward about it. I just want you to have a chance to get back on your feet.”

I showed Chloe the bathroom, the closet, and the door leading to the laundry room. Simon and I had only just moved in, so I was still finding my way around the house myself. I even took us down the wrong hallway, which made us both laugh. I explained what little I knew about the rooms reserved for the family and told her Simon would arrange her access through management, since I didn’t have any keys to hand over.

Chloe listened carefully, thanking me more than once.

“Mr. Hart really agreed to this?”

“He did. He just likes having everything in writing.”

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“He seems like the kind of man who doesn’t miss a thing.”

There was admiration in her voice. Or maybe apprehension. I couldn’t tell.

“He pays attention,” I said.

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When I returned to the living room, Simon was with the kids, trying to settle an argument about who got to pick Friday night’s movie. He gave me a look that silently asked if everything was okay. I nodded discreetly, and his shoulders relaxed.

At dinner, he sat beside me and stole a fry off my plate.

“A millionaire and a thief,” I complained.

“What’s mine is yours. That’s marriage.”

“That doesn’t include my fries.”

He solemnly returned a bigger one, like a man signing a peace treaty. I was still laughing when his phone

buzzed.

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