FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 42

CHAPTER 42

MON

“Welcome, sir. How can I help you?”

The jewelry store saleswoman was young, with a polished smile and eyes already calculating the cost of my suit.

“I need an engagement ring.”

“Wonderful. We have an incredible selection. Do you have an idea of what you’re looking for?”

“Something simple.” I didn’t even believe myself. “It’s for an arrangement.”

She blinked, confused. “Arrangement?”

“Fake. Fake engagement. It’s complicated.”

She hesitated, clearly trying to decide if this was some kind of joke. Then she smiled and led me to a display case.

“Maybe something classic, then. A simple solitaire…

She showed me a few rings. All beautiful. All… boring.

“Show me that one.”

I pointed to the back of the case. A diamond-encrusted ring, with a massive center stone surrounded by smaller ones.

“That’s our most exclusive model, sir. The stones are certified, and the setting is handcrafted by our jewelers in Italy. The price is one million dollars.”

My hand was already in my pocket, pulling out my card.

“I’ll take it.”

Her face lit up. “Excellent choice, sir. I’ll wrap it up right away.”

While I waited, I looked at the ring. The center stone sparkled under the store’s lights, catching every beam and reflecting it like fire.

That ring was ridiculous. Extravagant. Absolutely inappropriate for a fake engagement.

But it was exactly what Jamie deserved.

Because even if this was a lie, she had to look like my real fiancée.

Besides, her mother wasn’t going to question a ring like that.

***

15:28 Tue Sep 29 ) MT.

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

I walked back into Hart & Co. with the box in my jacket pocket. I passed through the legal department, ready to grab Jamic for lunch.

Hex office blinds were drawn.

I frowned. Jamie never closed her blinds. She liked natural light, said it helped her think.

“Kelly,” I called to the assistant hurrying past with a stack of files. “Is Miss Collins in?”

She stopped, a nervous smile flickering across her lips. “Yes, Mr. Hart. She just got a visitor.”,

“Visitor?” I frowned. “Who?”

She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Her ex-fiancé, sir. Dr. Oliver. The one who cheated on her with her own cousin.”

I felt my blood run cold. “What?”

“He arrived about ten minutes ago. Said he needed to talk to her, and Miss Collins asked not to be interrupted…

I didn’t wait to hear the rest.

My hand was already on the doorknob. “Kelly, if anyone asks, you didn’t see anything.”

“Mr. Hart, don’t you think we should-”

“What did you see, Kelly?”

She swallowed hard. “Nothing, Mr. Hart. I didn’t see anything.”

I pushed the door open.

The scene that greeted me made my blood boil.

Oliver had Jamie cornered against her desk. His hand was clamped on her arm hard enough to leave marks. His face was inches from hers, teeth bared, voice a venomous whisper.

“Did you know he’s a criminal?” Oliver’s voice was poison wrapped in control. “That he was arrested for assault when he was younger? What do you think a guy who broke someone’s face is going to do to you?”

Jamie tried to pull away. “Oliver, let go of my arm. Now. I have nothing left to say to you.”

“You have five seconds to get your hands off her.” The growl came from somewhere deep in my chest.

He turned slowly, a crooked smile on his lips. His hand still locked on Jamie’s arm. “Oh, look. The hero arrives.” He blinked at me, challenging. “Your big tough boyfriend. Aggressive men are always aggressive with their partners. You think she’ll be any different? That he won’t do the same to you?”

“Idiot. I know Simon.” Jamie’s voice came out steady. “More than you could ever imagine. And he would never lay a finger on me.”

Oliver let out a bitter laugh and turned his gaze to me.

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“Do you really know him that well?” he sneered. “Tell me something, Jamie. Did you get to know Simon so well over the last six months, or were you already sleeping with your boss when we were still together?”

“Careful what you’re implying, Oliver.”

But he didn’t stop. His eyes swept the office before landing back on me, cold and calculating.

“Three years. You’ve worked here for three years and climbed way too fast. Almost too fast, don’t you think?” He gave a venomous smile. “Do you really expect everyone to believe you became head counsel on merit? Or did you get the job because you were sucking the CEO off during lunch breaks?”

The blood drained from my face.

Jamie’s eyes went wide. “Oliver, how dare you-”

“What, Jamie? It’s the truth, isn’t it?” He yanked her closer, his hand still on her arm. “You shameless little whore. You were with him while you were still with me? How long were you cheating on me, huh?”

That was it.

No thought process. No conscious decision. Just primal instinct that exploded through my veins like fire.

I crossed the distance in two steps. My hand grabbed Oliver’s collar and I hurled him away from Jamie with enough force to knock down a wall. He crashed into the bookshelf, which toppled with a deafening crash, scattering papers and files across the floor.

“You don’t get to—”

Oliver’s fist was already flying toward my face. I dodged, feeling the air whistle past my cheek, and countered with a straight shot to his jaw. His body spun and dropped to his knees, and I was on top of him

before he could recover.

“I’m going to teach you how to treat a woman, you piece of shit—”

Another punch. This time to his nose. Blood poured between Oliver’s fingers, staining his white tie in splatters of red.

“This-” he stammered, trying to scramble away on his knees. “I’ll report you. I’ll—”

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