Pretend to Be Mine

o? The words still felt unreal in my mouth: a fake relationship with Adrian Harrington. I'd left his office

e made my stomach flutter like a trapped bird. My chest tightened

son I trusted with som

voice high and urge

a's bedroom door. "Emergency, or did you

us!" I snapped

off one shoulder, braid messy, a pen still tucked behind her e

." She plopped onto the couch, eyes gleaming. "If

t across from her, voice hushed, gu

pid like you bought a juicer? Or stupid

blurted, then clapped

n Harrington? Billionaire, b

d me to... pretend to be his

d heartbeat. Then Maya exploded-ha

ow, I

he air. "You said YES? To the human

ered-connections, opportunities, security. For us. And

iterally fanfiction. Fake dating the billionai

a trope, i

But then her humor faded, h

with him? He's not going to... I do

my stomach tightened. "He's not dange

chin, eyes narrowing.

yth

dramatic photo online of his hand near yours, I'll march to Harrington En

elf, I laug

ou can do this. Remember when you tried to 'cook

Please don't

nd the spaghetti is a billionaire. And hey-if this comes with fr

I'd made a decision that couldn't be undone, and May

city lights glinting against his reflection. Marcus lounged a

ced her?" Marcus ask

cufflinks. "Convince

omise her your private island? Or unleash the lege

ugh to cut glass. "It's a mu

. Not personal at all." He raised his gla

he bait. But Marcus's n

break

und his glass, a silent adm

ng" me. She queued influencer videos on "How to Survive Ri

like you

int near c

rich-people

exits: alw

"You're r

o billionaire territory," she

. My sister's absurd loyalty steadi

of Adrian's smirk, of the way he'd looked at me like he was already sure I'

ce, my carefully built world was shifting. And for someone who had spent years try

ick message to Maya: Promise I'll

t: I'll come swingin

formance would begin. But tonight, I had Maya's

Tower, Marcus lingered as

this will work?" M

't look up.

arper. "Careful, my friend. Performanc

ghtened, but he

. And as I drifted into uneasy sleep, neither Adrian nor I knew just