Page 127 of The Match Faker

As the compère read out the names of each of the five finalists, our photos flashed on the screen, then a video clip of our clients giving testimonials followed.

When mine appeared, my parents cheered and Liam, Trudy, Nate and Melody whooped, whistled and banged on the table enthusiastically.

My face broke into a smile. Knowing they were rooting for me made my heart flutter. Then the nerves returned.

I swiped a napkin from the table, then dabbed it across my forehead to mop up the beads of sweat.

Come on.

I willed the compère to put me out of my misery. If this was a TV talent show, right now he’d say they were going to a commercial break to build the suspense.

‘And the winner is…’

I held my breath and Liam gripped my hand tightly.

This was it.

Please, please, please let it be me.

Please.

I really need this.

‘Gillian Madeley! Congratulations!’

So that was it.

I’d lost.

Gillian was right. She’d won.

As the realisation hit me, the air was knocked out of my lungs. My stomach felt like it’d been carved out with a chainsaw. But I couldn’t show it. I had to put on a brave face.

Using every ounce of strength, I plastered on a big smile, then reluctantly pulled my palm from Liam’s hand to give her a round of applause.

‘So sorry,’ Liam whispered in my ear.

‘Outrageous!’ Trudy snarled. ‘You were robbed!’

My parents looked at me like I was a sick puppy that’d been abandoned on a street corner. The pity and sadness in their eyes almost made me burst into tears.

This was what I’d dreaded: letting them down.

All of this was for nothing.

I was going to lose my business. The only job I’d ever had that I really enjoyed.

And as well as that, I was hours away from losing the only man I truly loved.

Yep.

Somehow, in that moment I realised—I loved Liam.

I’d always loved him. Long before the world knew his name.

I’d loved spending time with him ever since we were kids. That was why I was so upset when I thought he’d left without saying goodbye. Turning that love into hate was my coping mechanism.

But these past two months hadn’t just rekindled my original feelings. They’d amplified them.

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