Page 81 of My Fake Fiancé

My nerves again get the better of me and I drain the rest of my drink wondering what Juliana wanted to talk about.

"Hey, Kurt! Glad you could make it." Mike gives me a smack on the back and then shakes my hand.

"Congratulations on the engagement. I heard you both proposed. That must have been fun."

"Oh, for sure. We spent almost a week and a half alone in my apartment celebrating. First, because she proposed and then with renewed energy after I proposed. Haha," Mike's laugh booms in the enclosed patio. "So how are you and Juliana doing? Any update there? Of course, I hear things from Tatyana but I assume you have a side to this story as well."

I want to ask him what Tatyana had told him or hell even what Juliana may have said but I don't ask.

"We haven't spoken in a while," I admit and Mike shakes his head disappointed but acknowledging the truth in it. "Tonight is the first time I've seen her since about three weeks ago. She said she wanted to talk but she got busy with other guests so honestly I don't know what she was going to say."

"It's bothering you, huh?" Mike asks, looking at me.

"That obvious?"

"Oh yeah," Mike takes a few seconds to scan the room then points to a corner where a table is set up with little games on it. "There she is. Go grab her. I have to admit, Tatyana and I are rooting for you two."

"Thanks, man." I chuckle and shake his hand before I head off in the direction of the table, watching the pretty girl in the gray dress hand out games to different guests. "Juliana," I say when I reach the table, stopping in front of her.

"Oh, hi. Sorry, I got pulled away earlier." She starts to say more but I lean in closer to her and she goes quiet. I breathe her in and try not to lose my train of thought by how amazing she smells.

"Can we go somewhere to talk privately?" I try to say quietly so only she can hear but with all the noise and loud music, I guess I'm not very quiet.

"You can use my office," I look over and a man with the name tag "Don" hands us his keys with a sly smile on his face. Juliana laughs and takes them from his outstretched hand.

"Thanks, Don. We won't be too long." As we make our way to Don's office Juliana explains. "Don is the owner of the restaurant. He's been very helpful and quite accommodating as well."

We remain silent the rest of the way to the office, getting stopped a couple of times by friends of the couple and Juliana. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Juliana's mother approaching us.

"Hello, Kurt, Juliana," Juliana's mother stops us before we can disappear into the room.

"Mother," Juliana greets her mother and allows for a quick hug. She opens her mouth to say something more but her mother quickly starts speaking.

"I was so sad to hear that the two of you ended your engagement. And sad that I had to hear it from a third party. But then again, I learned about the engagement from someone else as well," her mother chuckles sarcastically, teasing us and Juliana blushes.

"Mom," Juliana says quietly and I honestly don't know what to say.

"Thank you," I say. "I think I can say for the both of us that we were quite excited then quite devastated. It was a whirlwind of an engagement and then as quickly as it began, unfortunately, it ended." Maybe, I think to myself. Hopefully, it won't be over for long. Juliana looks up at me and gives a small smile of gratitude.

"It's nice to see you two together and being civil towards each other," her mother continues and Juliana gives her mother another look.

"Of course, we can be civil. Just because we broke up does not require us to hate each other." Juliana rolls her eyes but she smiles over at me, blushing slightly. "Have you congratulated Tatyana and Mike on their engagement?"

"Seems insensitive for them to get engaged so soon after you two ended your engagement." Her mother looks at both of us, giving each of us a sympathetic/sad smile.

"No, actually, I was ecstatic to hear about their engagement," Juliana opposes and I nod my head in agreement with her. "I am very happy for them. Everyone is happy."

Her mother smiles and reaches out to squeeze her hand before she nods and steps back. "I think I will go find them now and congratulate them.”

"That's very thoughtful of you. Now, if you'll excuse us." I step back and gesture for Juliana to go in front of me down the hall to the office. "We have some things to discuss," I say before following Juliana. "It was nice seeing you," I add to be polite, throwing the comment over my shoulder as I continue down the hallway.

When we reach the office, the room grows quiet as the door shuts behind us. We stand silently for a few seconds before she speaks.

Chapter 68

Juliana

Once I shut the door to the office, it gets significantly quieter and suddenly I feel nervous and shy. I look up at Kurt and can tell he feels similarly. With the slight confidence of knowing we're both nervous here, I press forward.

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