FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 59

CHAPTER 59

MIE

My entire body froze. The air stopped in my lungs, and for a moment-just one moment-I couldn’t believe what I’d done.

The red mark was already blooming on his cheek

“Simon, 1-” My voice came out shaky, fractured. “Oh my God, Simon. I didn’t mean to-”

He didn’t say anything. Just stood there, motionless, his hand still hovering where my slap had landed, those dark blue eyes unreadable.

“I’m sorry.” The word came out a whisper. “I’m not okay. I’m not ”

I turned and ran.

I didn’t look back. Through the roof door, down the stairs, past the empty hallway, into the elevator, hit the lobby button, and breathed like I’d just survived drowning.

What did I do?

I spent the rest of the week in survival mode.

Came in early, left late, hid behind stacks of documents and endless meetings. Avoided the hallways I knew he used. Asked Kelly to deliver the reports. If I saw Simon in the corridor, I turned the other way before he could spot me.

He tried. I saw it.

One morning, he showed up at my office door, and I was already grabbing my bag, saying I had a meeting with legal. On Wednesday, his name appeared on my phone, and I let it ring until it hit voicemail. I didn’t listen to the message. I couldn’t.

But I couldn’t avoid what I saw.

Abby was showing up at the office.

Not once. Not twice. Three times that week-each time with a different excuse: “I brought food,” “I was in the neighborhood,” “Lily wanted to thank you for the gift.”

And Simon always received her.

Through the glass walls of his office, I’d watch from a distance when she appeared. Her laughing at something he said. Him tilting his head, attentive. That easy familiarity between two people who shared history I’d never know.

Jealousy was a strange animal. Because I had no right to it. We had an arrangement-pleasure, nothing

more.

So why did it bother me so much?

12:31 Tue, Sep 29 1 MT.

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

Why did I spend my days counting the minutes until I saw him, and when I did, want to run?

Friday, fate decided to take the wheel.

I was in my office, reviewing contracts, when Ethan appeared in the doorway.

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“Finished that analysis you asked for,” he said, stepping inside with a smile that was way too casual. “Mind taking a look? Just wanted to make sure I didn’t mess anything up.”

“Sure.” I took the papers, and he leaned in too close over the desk, his shoulder brushing mine.

“You look exhausted, Jamie.” His voice dropped lower now. “I’ve told you-a little fun never killed anyone.”

“Ethan-”

“I’m serious.” His green eyes met mine with an intensity that made me look away. “A person can’t live on work alone.”

I laughed a dry, humorless sound. “It’s what I do best.”

“Then it’s time to learn something else.”

I was about to respond when my office door swung open with a sharp bang.

Simon stood in the doorway.

His gaze swept the scene-Ethan leaning over the desk, his hand still hovering near mine, the smile on his lips. Simon’s jaw tightened.

“Collins.” His voice was ice. “Emergency meeting. Now.”

“I’m in the middle of-”

“Now, Jamie.”

Ethan stepped back, ears going pink. “I can wait, boss. We can finish up after.”

“That’s fine. I’ll look at the documents later.”

He nodded and left, but not before shooting Simon a look that was anything but submissive.

The door clicked shut.

Simon didn’t say a word. Just turned and walked down the hall.

I followed.

He entered his office. But when I stepped inside, Simon was already pulling the curtains closed, blocking out the view from outside.

“What are you doing?” My voice came out higher than I meant it to.

He didn’t answer. Just walked toward me with slow, deliberate steps until my back hit the desk.

15:31 Tue, Sep 29 MT.

FAKA DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

“One week.” His voice was low, controlled. “One week, Jamie. You avoided me for an entire week. And now

walk into your office and find you laughing with the intern.”

“I wasn’t laughing. I was-”

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