Page 54 of The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée
I'd been eighteen and about to leave for university. Tom and I had been on a few dates together, but it had never developed further. Not for my lack of trying either. I couldn't get past the 'friend' stage with Tom.
We never had that kind of chemistry.
The last time Tom and I met, I'd been going to tell him so. Break off any hopes he'd been holding out for me. That's when he'd claimed he loved me and would miss me. Begged to kiss me.
And I had let him?but things got out of hand. Tom had pleaded with me to sleep with him, but I'd turned him down.
What I didn't know is that he'd filmed that entire encounter.
"Why?" I grip the phone, the skin stretched white over my knuckles, unable to tear my eyes from the screen. A morbid fascination has me watching the video.
Reliving the moments when we'd kissed. Passionately. And I'd tried to respond. Initially. Trying to feel something for the person who had been my best friend. Hoping for a flare of chemistry that would help me reciprocate what he felt for me.
I'd gone so far as to take off my shirt and bra. And we'd kissed again. Till his hand clamped on my breast and I'd panicked. Slapped his hand away. Right then, I'd taken a step back and told him to back off.
The video only shows the first part.
He takes the phone from my nerveless fingers, pockets it.
"I told you the truth then, Sienna. I was in love with you. Perhaps I still am," his voice is serious. "Thought I'd never see you again. This was my way of remembering you."
"And now you're going to use it to blackmail me?" I snap.
"I'm not blackmailing you," he protests.
"Sure you are. You want the money, you hold the video against me, and if I refuse to pay you, what, you release it? Go ahead, see if I care." I call his bluff, my voice firm. Inside I'm quaking, praying he'll back off.
Knowing he won't.
"I can do worse," he says. "Release it to the tabloids."
"You wouldn't," I whisper.
Fear crawls up my spine.
My pulse speeds up. Realizing I'm chewing my fingernails, I hastily drop my arm, curl my fingers into the palm of my hand.
"A video of the girlfriend of the Walker family scion making out with an old boyfriend, naked breasts on display? The tabloids would have a field day."
"All it shows is us kissing. It's not interesting enough for the newspapers." I bluster. But know he's right. There's enough there to damage me.
Jace had specifically asked that I keep our involvement out of the media. And now Tom's threatening to make this video public, to do the one thing I'd promised not to.
He'd also warned me to up my game, to do everything possible to show I am committed to our relationship. If Tom goes to the tabloids the deal is off, no chance of redemption this time.
As for the money already received from Jace? That's for Bella and to pay the salaries of my start-up team. I am not letting Tom touch that. Just thinking of it makes me angry.
"No," I say.
"What?" Tom asks.
Phone in one hand, with the other he grips my shoulder.
"If this were to come out, Jace would drop you." Tom warns. "That's the last you'll see of your 'fiancé'.”
A flare of anger, and I clench my fists.
I am not going to be blackmailed into parting with the money.
