Page 125 of The Match Faker

‘We’ll see about that.’ I stormed into the cubicle.

She might be confident about winning, but I had a good chance too.

Once I came out of the toilets, I spotted my parents standing arm in arm next to Liam and Trudy. I’d reluctantly invited Alice and Jack, who hadn’t arrived yet, and Liam had asked Nate and his fiancée, Melody, too.

I hoped that the ceremony would start straight away so that I could get it over and done with. But first there was a three-course meal. I supposed they had to justify the extortionate ticket price. Liam had generously paid for everyone, which was sweet of him.

As I walked into the grand hall, I gasped. Love heart decorations and displays of red roses were strategically placed around the perimeter.

The sea of tables were covered with thick white linen, polished cutlery and wine glasses and sprinkled with heart-shaped confetti.

The stage had a backdrop with the Happily Ever After and the various sponsors’ logos, and a huge flying Cupid, complete with a gold sparkly arrow was suspended from the ceiling. It was all very glamorous.

Food was served relatively quickly and everything looked so fancy. I reached into my bag to get my phone to take a photo of the dessert, but it wasn’t there.

‘Shit,’ I said, retracing my steps. I’d had it earlier. In the toilets. When I was about to text my parents. Then I’d seen Gillian. I jumped up.

‘You okay?’ Liam touched my arm.

‘I left my phone in the toilets.’

I raced back into the hallway and spotted Gillian walking towards me.

‘Not now,’ I huffed.

‘Looking for this?’ she called out, dangling my phone in the air.

‘Yes!’ Relief washed over me. ‘Thank you.’

‘Or more specifically…’ She opened the phone flap and pulled out a piece of paper. My eyes widened in horror. ‘Are you looking for this?’

No. No. No.

Please, God, no.

‘Wait… I…’

Gillian opened the piece of paper.

‘“Four dates, to include first date, interview, one other date and the ceremony”… so cute! And so sad! I thought you just said you were here because of your abilities?’ She smirked.

My stomach plummeted and bile rose in my throat.

‘What are you going to do? What do you want?’

‘Want?’ she laughed. ‘There’s nothing you can offer me. I told you, I’m going to win. Anyway, telling tales isn’t nice. Us girls need to stick together, right?’

She flashed an evil grin, tucked the piece of paper back into my case and handed the phone back to me.

‘Th-thanks?’ My eyes narrowed. She’d seen the contract between me and Liam and knew we’d faked our relationship but she wasn’t going to do anything? Sounded fishy to me.

‘But if you ever feel the need to disagree with us sticking together, I’ve taken a photo of your sad little contract, in case I need it in the future. Enjoy your night, and try not to look too sad when they call out my name!’

She breezed past me, leaving my jaw on the floor.

I returned to my seat in a trance.

‘What’s up?’ Liam asked. I took his hand and led him out of the hall into a corner.

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