Page 55 of Faking the Face Off

“You’re fake-dating?” Ben’s expression is beyond puzzled.

I nod, glancing at Molly for strength. “It started as part of the job. But it’s more than that now.”

“It isn’t part of your job. You work for us.” Ben’s jaw tightens, but he stays silent, clearly waiting for me to elaborate.

“It’s for Sutton—and Jimmy,” I say, trying to steady my breathing. “Sutton asked me to help Ollie with his public image, but it’s not just that. Jimmy apparently was threatening to get rid of Ollie if he wasn’t seen as a more marketable player.”

Ben’s face immediately darkens, his eyes narrowing in fury. “Wait—hold on. Jimmy’s messing with Ollie? He’s been causing problems for my guys?” His tone is sharp, furious.

My eyes flick to Molly’s, then back to Ben’s. “He’s made some threats behind the scenes. And I stepped into it. I made the bed, and I’m currently lying in it.”

Over the next few minutes, I explain the whole arduous ordeal to these two: from my dad and the Ponzi scheme to Ollie being on the chopping block. I feel both sick and lighter as the words fly across my lips.

“And this is why I have Travis bringing me those contracts.” Ben’s nostrils flare as he processes the information. “This is insane. Jimmy’s trying to mess with one of my players, and I won’t stand for it. I’m going in there right now, then I’m writing a letter to the league, taking this straight to the top.”

Molly rushes forward, placing a hand on his arm, as he gets carried away. “Ben, don’t.”

I nod in agreement. “If you go after Jimmy like that, it’s only going to make things worse for Ollie, and I think we’ve got him off Jimmy’s radar now. I don’t want to make things harder for him.”

Ben’s face flushes with anger, but he slowly exhales, his shoulders dropping as he tries to rein in his emotions. “But Ollie doesn’t deserve this. It’s not right.”

“I know,” I say softly, my voice catching. “He’s trying to survive the mess Jimmy and Lara created. Sutton and I are trying to help him, but since I’m involved now, I need to get this next payment from them so I can put it towards my dad’s bills.”

Ben shakes his head, clearly still upset, but his anger softens a little. “I didn’t realize it was this bad, Anna. I’m sorry.”

I cut him off. “No, it’s okay. I get why you’re upset. I’m upset, too. But I needed to tell you the truth.”

Molly steps in, her voice calm but firm. “Anna, you’re doing the right thing by helping your dad. This is on Jimmy, not you. He’s the one causing all the drama.”

I offer a small smile, grateful for her support. “Thanks, Molly. I just didn’t know how to explain it. It’s all a bit incestuous and really crazy now.”

Ben exhales slowly, clearly still processing everything. “Well, if you need anything—if you or your dad ever do—we’ve got your back. But we’ve got to handle this carefully. I don’t want anyone caught in the crossfire.”

“I appreciate that,” I say quietly as Molly gives me a hug.

Ben looks at us, his frustration still bubbling beneath the surface, but he nods reluctantly. “Alright, I’ll stand down. For now. But if it gets any messier…”

“Thank you,” I say, feeling a little better, like I’m not carrying the weight of this alone anymore.

Molly smiles warmly at me. “You’re doing everything you can. Those two men in your life are lucky to have you on their side.”

I nod, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders, and for the first time in a while, I don’t feel quite as alone in this. “I just wanted you to know the truth.”

Ben gives a short nod. “Thanks for trusting us.”

I smile at both of them, grateful to have them in my corner, but I’m also quietly curious about a topic I may or may not need to worry about. I want to ask more questions, like what did this woman look like and did she touch him? But also, I have no claim here. We’re dating, but it’s fake. There’s feelings, butwe’re…I don’t know what we are, so it makes my confusion that much more murky.

But I also want to play it cool. At the end of the day, these two are my employers and I’m an adult woman who makes up her own mind about things. I decide if I’m going to let something like what Molly said affect me. It’s up to me, I’m the master of my mind.

But why does it feel so awful?

CHAPTER 19

OLLIE

By the time I get home for the day, I’m wiped. We’d traveled into the wee hours so we could get home and make it for the tuxedo fitting, which I still need to do after my surprise meetup with Mia.

The morning’s conversation with Mia and Les still swirls in my head, leaving me raw and restless. I collapse onto the couch, scrolling mindlessly on my phone, trying not to think too hard about anything.

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