Page 12 of Fake Fiancé for the Billionaire Rockstar

"It is when it's one of your clients," Jace spits, looming over me.

Heat floods my face, anger overriding panic. I step closer, refusing to back down despite his linebacker build. "Oh really?" I seethe. "Where was this attitude when Evan started dating Mia? Or Ryker and Wren?"

My eyes flick to Donny. Why am I fighting so hard for this fake relationship?

I arch a brow, waiting for Jace to answer, and the other guys grunt in response behind him. “I’m sorry,” I say with a smile, “didn’t quite catch that.”

“You’re right,” Brent mutters, then runs a hand through his hair. “We’re on edge after everything that happened with Mack, but you’re right.”

I relax my stance slightly, giving each of them a soft smile before turning to Donny, my frustration boiling over. “How the hell did they even find out? We agreed to talk to them together.”

Donny shifts uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck as he stares at the ground. “Well… about that… we were kinda spotted today, and some pictures of us walking together are already circulating online.”

How did I miss something this big?

I should’ve gotten an alert the second Donny’s name was mentioned in an article—just like I have it set up for all the guys. “Shit,” I mutter under my breath.

This is not good.

As soon as my family sees that, it’s over and this charade will go on for a lot longer than it was meant to. I frown at Donny, studying his reaction, and wonder for a brief moment if he meant for it to happen.

I shake my head and mentally scold myself. He wouldn’t do that, everyone knows this isn’t a boundary I would cross.

“It’s not real,” I blurt.

Everyone’s gaze snaps to mine, even Donny’s — who looks more hurt than anything, which is weird — and Brent cocks his head to the side. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s nothing, just helping one of my guys out.”

Brent jerks his attention to Donny and nudges him. “What’s the deal, man?”

Donny sighs heavily and kicks at an imaginary rock in front of him. “My mom. She’s been up my ass more about marrying and having babies running around everywhere, so I told her I was engaged.”

Evan snorts at that and shakes his head. “God, I can’t wait to see this train wreck.”

“We’ve got it under control. Right, Sunshine?”

My mouth falls open when every gaze darts to me, impatiently waiting for an answer, and I swallow thickly with a nervous smile. “Everything is peachy.”

Where the hell did Sunshine come from?

Everyone asks their round of questions for the next five minutes, then I calmly clap my hands and tell them to get to work. We only have the space for another hour and a half, which doesn’t give anyone much time to get through the set list, and I guess I’ve got a date to prepare for tonight.

Mia walks up to me silently and waits a few beats before leaning into me. “So, helping Donny, huh?” Mia's eyes, usually sharp and vigilant, soften with understanding. She's been here before,walked this tightrope between professionalism and passion. Her hand on my arm is both a comfort and a warning.

I groan and shake my head. “Please don’t start, it’s nothing.”

She smirks. “Mhm, I’m sure that’s what I said about Evan. Look where we are now.”

“Nope. Band members are off-limits for me. You know that, as well as everyone else.”

The amusement that’s shining in her eyes makes me wonder if I’m kidding myself, but I shake the thought away. I can only hope that this charade will only have to last a few days and my family will never know what’s been swirling around on the internet. What’s the odds that my siblings saw it and told my parents?

Very likely.

How likely is it that my siblings have had the time to see it with their work and family’s?

Less likely.

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