FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 2

~ JAMIE

Overnight, I became the woman everyone pitied.

The wedding was canceled. My life derailed. I ended things with Oliver, and within two weeks, they went public. Within three months, they were married. Ten years together, and it was like I never existed. He moved on as if I'd been nothing. And all the while, people whispered about the jilted bride.

The gossip reached my office—I still don't know how people got the details. Six months later, no one seemed to forget.

"Jamie, are you okay?" Elizabeth from accounting hovered near my desk, her face pinched with pity. "You look... you know."

"Fine." I forced a smile. "Totally fine."

"I just remember last year and..."

"Different year. Different life." I turned back to my computer. "Thanks for asking."

She hesitated a moment longer before retreating. I let out a slow breath.

My phone buzzed. Mom.

"Hey, Mom."

"Sweetheart! How's my favorite daughter?"

"Your only daughter."

She laughed. "Listen, I have wonderful news. You remember Linda from my book club?"

"Vaguely."

"Well, her son just moved back from London. He's a lawyer. Very successful. Thirty-five. Handsome, if I do say so myself, and I know what you're thinking—"

"Mom, I don't want to be set up with anyone."

"Jamie, it's been six months! You're thirty-two. I don't want you to end up alone."

"I'm not going to end up alone. I'm just..."

"Just what? Bitter? Wasting your best years?"

"I have work. Can we talk about this later?"

"Fine, but I have something to tell you. Your grandmother is turning eighty-seven next week, and she really wants you there."

My throat tightened. Oliver and Vanessa would probably be there too.

"Mom, I'm not going."

"Jamie, listen." Her voice went serious. "Your grandmother has cancer. Advanced stage. The doctors gave her months. This might be her last birthday."

The world stopped.

"What?"

"I know it's hard, sweetheart. I know what happened. But she loves you. She's asked about you every day. Please come. For me. For her."

My heart split in two—one piece for my grandmother, the other pure terror at facing those people.

"Okay, Mom." My voice came out hollow. "I'll think about it."

I hung up. The tears came hot and fast, streaming down my face before I could stop them. I didn't know if I was crying for my grandmother or the humiliation waiting for me. Maybe both.

My office door opened.

Shit.

I turned my face away, yanking at my drawer for a tissue. My shaking fingers found nothing.

"Counselor?" Simon Hart's sardonic voice filled the room. "You're..."

He stopped. Those blue eyes scanned my face, the tear tracks, the red nose.

"Hold on." He tilted his head, a crooked smile on his lips. "Were you crying, Counselor?"

"Shit." I muttered, giving up on the drawer.

Simon walked to my desk and held out an immaculate handkerchief, embroidered with the initials S.H.

"Here."

I wiped my eyes, trying to salvage my dignity.

"Thanks." My voice came out hoarse. "I'll get this back to you, washed."

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