Page 68 of Fake Out

Her bright eyes meet mine, and I’m reminded of how beautiful she is — not just in looks but in spirit. Her decision to be here with me, despite everything, fills me with gratitude.

“Thank you,” I say softly, the words barely audible over the hum of the plane’s engines. “For coming.”

“Of course,” she replies, her smile genuine and warm. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The hum of the airplane engine vibrates through my chest as I buckle in. Marissa is here. She made it.

And we’re gonna kill this meeting.

Marissa gently clears her throat. “Hey, um. I’m… I’m proud of you. You’ve clearly made an impression on the San Antonio reps. They still want to meet you even after finding out we lied about…”

She trails off and winces, and I get it. The lie about our relationship isn’t my proudest moment, either.

“We made an impression,” I correct, not wanting her to sell herself short. “The rep said they want to work with you, not any other agent.”

At this, Marissa blushes a deep shade of pink, making the few freckles on her nose stand out even more. She lowers her gaze, but her smile is evident. God, she’s beautiful.

“Thanks,” she murmurs, tucking her hair behind her ear. “That means a lot.”

As the flight attendant begins her safety demonstration, I watch Marissa out of the corner of my eye, wondering if there’s still a chance for us. But I know I shouldn’t be thinking this way, and I’m probably just getting my hopes up.

She was clear: I ruined things for her and she doesn’t want me in her life.

But, then again, she’s here. She’s giving me another chance as a client. And that counts for something, right?

With a sigh, I lean back in my seat, trying to focus on the task ahead. It’s time to prove myself — to the team, to Marissa, and most importantly, to myself.

CHAPTER 30

MARISSA

Neither one of us says much on the flight to San Antonio. I’m too busy trying to calm my sweating palms and racing heart, and Charlie stares out the window most of the time.

After the flight lands, we barely have time to rush out of the airport and hail a cab. As I slide into the back seat next to Charlie, the air between us feels electric.

His cologne surrounds me, making my heart race even faster. I try to focus on the scenery passing by outside the window, but I can’t ignore how close he is, his thigh brushing against mine. I want nothing more than to throw myself into his arms, but I hold back. Today is about proving ourselves professionally and securing the future we’ve been fighting for. There’s no room for distraction now.

We pull up to the building next to the stadium, our nerves on edge. Evan waits for us at the entrance, his usually carefree demeanor replaced by a serious expression. He knows what’s at stake here, too.

“Hey there, you two,” Evan says, clapping his hands together as we approach. “Good to see you.”

“You, too.” I shake his hand. “Thank you again for this.”

“If things go well in there, I’ll be thanking you soon. You’ve got this. Just be yourselves, like you have been with me. They’ll see the passion and dedication you both have.”

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. Charlie’s hand brushes against mine, sending shivers down my spine, and I step away from him.

This is it. We’ve come this far.

And yet I can’t shake the knowledge that one misstep could unravel everything we’ve worked so hard for.

We follow Evan into the building and up several floors, past a secretary and down a short hallway.

“Here we are.” He pushes open a boardroom door, which creaks ominously.

Inside, we’re faced with the rest of the reps, as well as the team’s owners. I swallow hard, following Evan and Charlie inside.

There are introductions and handshakes made all around before the three of us take our seats, and the whole time I feel like I’m in a dream. I’ve studied the owners, of course, and I know who everyone is — and it’s a good thing because right now my brain feels like soup.

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