Page 67 of Never Fake Date the Financier
Lillian scoffs, but my mother ignores her. As does everyone else. Her revelation is unraveling into absolutely nothing.
“I understand, Ella. It isElla,right?”
She nods. “Yes. Lucky that he found someone with a similar name.”
“No,” I rasp in her ear. “I’m lucky that I found you.”
She squeezes my hand, and I kiss hers again. But I can’t help but think that ring finger is looking a little too bare.
“Well, don’t worry about it. You had all of us fooled. My boy is smitten. Never seen him look at a woman the way he looks at you. Sorry, Sariah.”
She snorts. “It’s fine. I’d be the first one to agree. Right, Ella?”
She smiles sheepishly.
“This is ridiculous,” Lillian sputters. “She’s nobody. She’s after his money. She?—”
“Lillian.” My voice booms. It comes out like a damn missile, landing squarely on Lillian so hard that she takes a step back. “That’s enough.”
And for a moment, I think that’s the end of it. But then she barrels on. “You’re really choosing her? This—this fake?—”
“Enough.”
Lillian closes her mouth, eyes flaring as the rest of the restaurant becomes silent for a brief moment. The hum of conversation continues, and so do I.
“The only thing that’s fake is your concern. You don’t care about me or my family. You’re jealous and vindictive, and you’ve spent this entire weekend trying to undermine Ella at every turn. I don’t know what you think is between us, but it’s completely one-sided. Get. Over it.”
Lillian’s face pales, then flushes with humiliation. Without another word, she turns and stalks out of the restaurant.
There’s a beat of awkward silence, but then Sariah speaks up. “I’m so sorry. I thought it was a funny little crush. I had no idea she…”
“You had a wedding to think about,” Ella says soothingly. “No apology necessary.”
We spend a few moments catching up before my family disperses, leaving me alone with Ella.
I slide my chair next to her. “I’m sorry about that. Not exactly how I planned it.”
“I don’t know,” she says, leaning her head on my shoulder. “I kinda like that it’s all out of the way. No more walking on eggshells, wondering if I need to be in character or not. I can be myself.”
I sigh, breathing in her sweet scent as everything feels right in the world.
“But what are we going to do about that article?”
“I’ll handle it. Or more specifically, my lawyers will. Eugene is about to learn what happens when you lie to the press about BlackeThorne Entertainment. And about the woman I love.”
Ella sinks deeper into me as I wrap my arm around her.
I kiss the top of her head. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved. The only one I ever will.”
She glances at me. “Promise?”
“Promise.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, relishing the way she feels in my arms. I’ll never get enough of it, holding her. Breathing her in. Loving her. Even now, I’m thinking about ways to spend more time with her. Taking a step back at BlackeThorne. Taking a long vacation with her.Takingher.
My cock lurches at the thought, as I close my eyes, conjuring up Ella in my mind’s eye, tracing every delicate curve, every…fuuuuck.
“Still hungry?” I ask, nodding to the half-eaten burger she’d abandoned a while ago.
“Lost my appetite.”
