FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 70

CHAPTER 70

MON

New York at night already had that frantic rhythm when I pulled out of the underground garage. The sky was pitch black, and rain was hammering against the windshield, turning the city into a blur of red and blue lights. The kind of storm that makes even the most impatient slow down.

That’s when I saw her.

She was walking down the sidewalk in front of the building, her bag held over her head in a useless attempt to shield herself from the rain. Her blouse was plastered to her body, outlining every curve I’d been trying, and failing, to get out of my head.

I pulled the car up right in front of her, rolling down the passenger window with a soft touch.

“You know, there’s this invention called an umbrella. I recommend it.” The irony dripped from my voice like the storm itself. “Very useful against that thing called water falling from the sky.”

She turned, dripping, strands of hair glued to her cheeks like wet spiderwebs. Her glare was molten.

“Real funny, Hart.”

“Jamie.” My tone shifted, lost its amusement. “You’re soaked. My car is dry. The math isn’t hard.”

“I can take the subway, I don’t need-”

“I’m not asking.”

She hesitated. I saw the internal war in her eyes, pride against common sense. And then, with a sigh that carried all the resignation in the world, she opened the door and dropped into the seat next to me.

Cold air rushed in with her, along with the smell of rain and the perfume I knew so well. She shivered, and the movement was small, almost imperceptible. Almost.

“Here.” I shrugged off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders before she could protest. The fabric still held my body heat. “You’ll get sick, and then who’s going to review my contracts?”

“I didn’t ask-”

“I know you didn’t.” My voice came out lower than I intended. “I don’t care.”

\ She looked at me. That look that always seemed to see through all my defenses, like she could read every

unsaid word in the back of my eyes.

For a moment, I thought she was going to argue. But then her fingers closed around the lapel of the jacket, pulling it tighter around her body.

The rain drummed on the roof, filling the silence between us. I kept my eyes on the road, but every movement she made hit me like a gut punch. She looked so vulnerable there, wet, her lips slightly blue, her defenses temporarily disarmed by the storm.

It was impossible not to look.

10:35 Tue, Sep 29 JI MT

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

I parked in front of her building, killing the engine. The silence was abrupt, just the rain against metal and the heater whispering through the vents.

“The walking you up.”

“Simon, you don’t have to.” She already had her hand on the door handle, ready to bolt. I knew that move. “I’m fine, you can go. It’s just one floor.”

“I have an umbrella in the back.”

She stared at me, her gaze hardening. Hand still on the handle.

“You’re wearing my jacket. It’s raining hard enough to drown a fish. And I’m not letting you go up alone

She opened her mouth. I was already turning, reaching into the back seat, pretending I hadn’t seen the protest forming on her lips. My fingers found the plastic folder, the paper inside dry and intact.

I turned back and placed it in front of her.

“This came in late this afternoon. Looks like the head lawyer forgot to sign. And I need to deliver it tomorrow morning.”

She frowned, taking the folder with fingers that were still trembling. Opened it, read. I watched her eyes move across the lines with the precision of someone who reviews every word with the skill of someone who does it every day.

“Impossible.” Her voice was low, but carried professional indignation. “I swear I signed this. It was the last thing I reviewed before I left.”

She read it again, like she expected the document to magically change. And then she let out a sound. An irritated, frustrated sound. One of the sounds I found sexiest coming from her.

“Do you have a pen?” She looked up, hope flickering there. “You must have one in the glove box.”

I pretended to think, sliding my fingers through the compartments, making sure I looked convincing.

“Hmm… I don’t think so. Must have left it in the office.”

She sighed, biting her lower lip. The movement was involuntary, distracted. I had to look away.

“Fine.” She tucked the folder into her bag. “I’ll have to go up. I should have a pen in the apartment.”

“You should.” My voice was strangely rough. “I’m coming with you.”

She looked at me for a long moment. That piercing look, the one that always seemed to know all my intentions before I’d even formed them. She didn’t say anything. Just opened the door and stepped out.

I grabbed the umbrella and followed immediately. When I reached her side, the umbrella was already open over us, but the rain was so heavy that even then some drops hit her face. She raised a hand to wipe her eye, and I could see she was shaking.

“Come on.” My hand found the small of her back, guiding her toward the entrance. The touch was intentional. She didn’t pull away.

15:33 Tue Sep 29 ) MT.

FAKA DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

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