FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 83

CHAPTER 83

MIE

The sun was warm on my face, but I felt hollow.

I’d spent the entire night hunched over my laptop, redoing the analysis Simon had demanded like it was some kind of punishment. By seven in the morning, I’d sent it to his inbox with a dry note that made t clear I’d done my job-and nothing more.

Now I was sitting on a picnic blanket in Central Park, surrounded by coworkers who had no idea I was running on caffeine and resentment for the past eighteen hours.

“This is exactly what you needed,” Ethan said, handing me a plastic cup of white wine. “Fresh air, sunshine, and absolutely zero corporate drama.”

I took the cup but didn’t drink. “I’m not sure corporate drama takes a day off just because I do.”

“You’re thinking about work again. You’re never going to learn how to relax, are you?”

“Relaxing isn’t exactly my specialty.”

“Then let me help.” He stood up, extending his hand. “Come walk with me. Just a lap around the lake. Ten minutes, and then you can go back to being a workaholic.”

I hesitated. But the truth was, I needed a few minutes away from the noise. Elizabeth had been giving me knowing looks all afternoon, and the other assistants wouldn’t stop whispering about Simon and the kids and how adorable he’d been with them that time he brought them to the office.

“Fine,” I said, taking Ethan’s hand. “Ten minutes.”

We walked in silence for a while, the path curving around the lake. The water glittered in the late afternoon light, and I could hear children laughing somewhere in the distance.

“You’ve been different lately,” Ethan said finally. “More distant. Everything okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.” He stopped walking, turning to face me. “Jamie, I know we’re not exactly close. But I pay attention. You’ve been tense all week. Avoiding everyone.”

“I haven’t been avoiding anyone.”

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the truth was, he wasn’t wrong. Since the night on the terrace-since Simon threw those roses into the city below-I’d closed myself off from everyone.

“I’ve just had a lot on my mind,” I said quietly.

He nodded slowly, shifting his weight, suddenly looking nervous. “Can I tell you something?”

“Yeah. What?”

15:36 Tue Sep 29 ) MT.

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

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He took a breath. “I know I’m just your assistant. I know you probably don’t see me that way. But I’ve been thinking about you for a while. More than I should.”

I felt a knot form in my stomach. “Ethan…”

“I’m not asking you to feel the same.” He stepped closer, his eyes sincere. “I’m just asking you to consider the possibility. I know I’m younger than you. I know I’m not exactly on your professional level. But I could be. I’m working hard, and I’m going places. If I got a real job-with real responsibility-would you reconsider?”

I stared at him, speechless.

“It’s not about your job,” I said finally. “And it’s not just about your age, although honestly, that is part of it.”

“Then what is it?”

“I don’t see you that way,” I admitted, hating how honest I sounded. “I wish I could say it’s complicated, or that it’s just bad timing, but that wouldn’t be fair to you. I care about you. I think you’re going to be amazing someday. But I see you as… a work friend.”

He winced, almost imperceptibly. Then forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Right. Okay. I should have expected that.”

“Ethan-”

“No.” He held up a hand. “It’s fine. Really. I’ll… I’ll get over it.” He cleared his throat, visibly pulling himself together. “We should head back. The others are going to think we got lost.”

We walked back in silence. The awkwardness settled between us like a third person, heavy and suffocating.

When we reached the clearing, I stopped mid-step.

There were more people now. At least five more. And in the middle of them, laughing as Lily climbed onto his shoulders like a little monkey, was Simon.

He wore a simple white shirt, sleeves rolled up, sunglasses pushed into his hair. Mary was sitting on a blanket nearby, and Jack and Sam were chasing each other with a soccer ball.

“Miss Jamie!” Lily’s shriek cut through my paralysis. She’d already jumped off Simon’s shoulders and was running toward me before I could react, her little legs moving frantically.

I crouched just in time to catch her as she launched herself into my arms.

“Miss Jamie! You came! I was hoping you’d be here!”

“Hey, princess.” I hugged her tight, feeling her little arms squeeze around my neck. “Good to see you.”

I stood up with her on my hip, walking toward the blanket. When I looked up, Simon was watching me- those blue eyes unreadable beneath the shadow of his brows.

“Jamie.” His voice was neutral, but I knew him well enough to hear the tension underneath. “What a coincidence running into you here.”

“Could say the same.” I looked around at the crowd that had gathered while I was gone-Elizabeth, Claire,

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15:36 Tue Sep 29 ) MT

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

some paralegals I barely recognized.

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