Page 29 of The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée

“What’s a couples dynamic?” I regret the question as soon as it’s out of my mouth.

“A couples dynamic is a snappy phrase that explains how we fit together emotionally. I’m sassy and fun, and you’re the alpha male who’s gruff to everyone but me. Only I get to see your soft side. I’m the only one.”

“Can we get on with it?” I ask.

“Okay. What is your greatest fear?”

I say, “You already know more about me than every woman I’ve ever been with.”

“Come on. Greatest fear.”

“My greatest fear is not landing Gail Driscoll’s account.”

“It can’t be a business fear,” she says.

“Who put you in charge of our fear parameters? Landing that account would triple our size. Give me all the fuck-you power I’ve ever wanted. I can’t be where I want to be without this account. I’ve even hired a fake fiancée.”

“All of this for just one account?”

“It’s a massive portfolio of funds. Billions more that I’d have under management. The toothpaste that you use, the cars you ride in, your snacks, your cleaning products, your devices—the Driscolls control a stunning number of international brands, and all of those employees earn pensions; Driscoll is one of the few firms that still doles out pensions, and they need me to help them grow that money.”

“You think you can grow it?”

“I’vebeengrowing it. I have a small percentage of their assets under control and I’ve outperformed everybody else they’re working with. This account should be mine, but then Gail seemed to get cold feet, and suddenly she’s considering someone else. Something changed. We think it’s the article.”

Tabitha nods. “Ah.”

“The Driscolls are allergic to scandals. Gail’s got a stick up her ass the size of Norman Rockwell. You and I are going to show her how wholesome I am.”

“You can count on me, okay?” she says. “But if you think that gets you out of telling me your greatest fear…”

“I just told you.” I grab my phone for a quick check of the markets.

“Maybe your fear is what happens if you don’t get the account,” she says. “It’s not as if you’ll be out on the street. What has you so flipped out that you’d hire a fiancée?”

“I’m not flipped out. I just want it.”

“When people are frantically runningtowardsomething,” she says, “it actually means they’re running away from something.”

I look up. “Says who?”

She tries to look serious, but her dimples give her away.

Something churns in me.

“Says who?” I repeat.

“Um…somebody onDays of Our Lives? But it’s somebody very wise.”

I clench my jaw. I knew it would be something like that. Good god, how are we ever going to pull this off?

“What?” she says.

“We’re overpreparing. We’ll be spending most of our time in our cabin not talking to people. We’re newly engaged, after all.”

“Ahh.” She smiles mischievously. “Because ours is a very passionate affair,” she says. “Because we’ve been sneaking around so much that it’s a huge deal that we get this unrestricted time together. Now we’re secret lovers on vacation together, and all bets are off.”

“Though in reality, I’ll be working, and you’ll be staying quiet as a mouse in your room.”

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