Page 33 of The Billionaire's Marriage Dare

It was all in the aura, Jane thought. These two acted like it was the world’s privilege to give them a Disney moment or two.

“Is this her?” The woman was sneering at Jane.

Jane blinked. What did I do?

Merry looked like she was enjoying herself, drawling throatily, “Jane, darling, I don’t think you’ve met Elizannie yet?”

Elizannie? Really? That made for a rather complicated name, like parents vomiting on the names Eliza and Anne until the two were one unidentifiable mess.

“Bonjour,” the woman said coolly.

Oh. French. How properly intimidating. She gave the two a dutiful smile. “Bonjour, Elz.”

The Frenchwoman scowled. “It’s Elizannie.”

But I don’t want to say it, Jane protested silently. It sounded stupid. But since Merry’s friend was still scowling, she reluctantly added another syllable, hoping it would be sufficient. “Bonjour, Eli—-”

Still scowling.

“Zan—-”

Really scowling now.

“Nie,” Jane finished glumly. Gah. That tasted horrible on her tongue.

The other woman finally deigned to smile.

Oh, goody, Jane thought. She was being rewarded.

“It’s so nice to see women like you two so civilized,” Merry enthused. Seeing Jane blink, she elaborated with vindictive pleasure, “Elizannie used to date Christian. They’ve known each other since their university days.”

Jane struggled to hide her surprise. “I see.”

“Georgette must be overjoyed,” the Frenchwoman murmured.

“I...suppose?” Who was Georgette?

Elizannie’s icy gray eyes went wide with incredulity. “Do you mean to say you haven’t met Christian’s mother?”

Shit. Why hadn’t she ever thought to ask the name of Christian’s mother?

“It’s been a whirlwind thing,” Jane said lamely.

“Évidemment,” the Frenchwoman purred.

“Évidemment.” Jane threw the words back without thinking, hoping she could purr like a cat, but instead she ended up croaking like a frog.

The two women laughed as they walked away.

Shit. What the hell had she said anyway? Jane stared hard at the wall.

Head, meet wall.

Just as she started making good on her introduction, her head leaning towards the wall, she heard a voice murmur lazily behind her, “Good morning, Jane.”

Jane whirled around in surprise and saw AMC’s CEO partially hidden behind the row of digital boards, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets.

How long had he been standing there, Jane wondered anxiously.

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