Page 8 of Forever Fake

Releasing his arms, I slide my back against the wall and side-step to escape him. I step away until there’s plenty of distance between us. Until I can breathe again. Clearly think again.

I can’t believe I just let him grope me. I mean, if I was drunk, sure, that kind of thing happens all the time and I let it. But I’m sober—too fucking sober for this situation. What was I thinking?

He’s no different from any other man. They’re all perverts.

“Well?” he lazily prompts. “What will it be?”

My laugh comes out high-pitched and slightly hysterical. “You aren’t serious.”

“Dead serious.” The heat in his bright blue eyes from earlier has dimmed to indifference. Was the lust ever there, or did I imagine it? He looks every inch the foreboding, moody billionaire that he is. One who has no interest in me, at least not in any way that’s good.

“I can’t. I have a boyfriend.” I make the first excuse that comes to mind. He’ll get tired of this game soon enough, laugh at my expense, and call it a night.

“Break up with him,” he drawls, as if that’s the obvious solution.

“I can’t.”

“You will if you don’t want to go to prison.”

I wave him off. “Even if I was single, I can’t marry you.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re old and boring.” I do my best to act unaffected by him, smoothing down my sparkly dress.

“Old?Boring?” His jaw ticks.

Did I hit a nerve?

Why am I poking this beast? What is wrong with me?

I fake a yawn. “So boring. In fact, you’re boring me with this game.”

A ruthless gleam sparkles in his astonishingly blue eyes. Those beautiful blues should belong to someone who deserves them. Not this evil man.

“This is no game, Ginevra.” His tone sends a chill up my spine.

“I’m calling your bluff.” I fold my arms under my breasts. His gaze flicks to my tits then is gone so quickly that my head spins. Did he really check me out? Or did I imagine that too?

Do Iwanthim to find me attractive? When I know he’s wicked and I should avoid him?

“Fine. Have it your way.” His bored expression almost convinces me that he doesn’t care which option I choose. I don’t buy it. He needs a fake wife for something, otherwise why try to blackmail me into filling that role? “Just know that I’ve destroyed people much more powerful than you—for the fun of it. Your daddy can’t get you out of this. I’ll eat you alive in court. See you there.” He pulls out his phone.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

Without glancing up, he replies, “Reporting a theft. My security cameras caught it all.” Turning away, he casually strolls along the hallway toward the stairs.

He’s not bragging, or lying, about his capabilities. I know that he’s dangerous, powerful, and can make me disappear with a snap of his fingers. He did it to Viviana, to herandher entire family.

Poof. Gone.

My hands tremble at the memory. Fourteen year old me was devastated.

“Wait!” I stumble after him.

Blake Baron, rightly calledThe Black Baronby everyone who knows he has a rotten soul, stops and angles toward me. He waits, phone in hand.

“Why? Why do you want me to pretend to be with you?” I ask.

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