FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 51

CHAPTER 51

MIE

We didn’t stay much longer after that.

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My mother was already planning our imaginary wedding in her head, and my father was on his third bottle of wine, telling the same story about his first car for the third time.

“I think it’s time we head out,” Simon said, rising from his chair with that easy charm. “Jamie and I have an early meeting tomorrow with some Chinese investors.”

My mother practically swooned. “Of course, of course.”

The night air hit my face as we walked to Simon’s car, and I finally felt like I could breathe again. My mother’s lasagna sat heavy in my stomach, along with the weight of all those hopeful looks she’d thrown Simon’s way when she thought I wasn’t paying attention.

Simon opened my door with that annoyingly charming ease, and I slid into the leather seat without a word. The engine purred to life, and we pulled away from my childhood home.

The car stopped at a red light, and Simon’s phone buzzed against the center console. He picked it up. glanced at the screen, and—

There it was.

That goofy smile.

My stomach twisted.

“Abby?” I asked, and the name came out sharper than I’d intended.

He didn’t look up from the phone. “Yeah. She’s sending me the address for the party.”

“Right.” I watched his thumbs fly across the screen, watched that smile widen. “You know, you never smile like that for any of your two-month girlfriends.”

He finally looked at me, one eyebrow raised. “Are you jealous?”

“Of course not.” I crossed my arms. “I just think it’s funny. You’re a man with an entire phone book full of models and actresses, and you turn into a puppy wagging its tail because a woman who dumped you fifteen years ago sent you an emoji.”

The smile on his face flickered. Just a little. Enough for me to notice.

A horn honked behind us. The light had turned green.

Simon hit the gas, and the car shot forward.

He glanced at me, something unreadable in his eyes. “Come to my apartment tonight.”

The invitation hung between us, and my body reacted. I knew what was waiting for me if I said yes: Simon and that absurd ability to make me come apart in every way possible, until I forgot everything else.

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FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS: MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

But that smile at the phone. The way his face had softened.

I said, the word escaping before I could stop it. “I’m tired. I just want to sleep in my own bed.”

Confusion flickered across his face.

“Jamie-”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said firmly.

The rest of the drive was silent. He pulled up in front of my building and killed the engine/turning to face

“Let me walk you up.”

“That’s not necessary. It’s late. You should go home.”

I reached for the door handle, but his hand caught my arm, gentle but insistent.

I turned, and he leaned in to kiss me.

I turned my face away.

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