Page 52 of The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée
"Stop being so pigheaded and tell us when you need us to help, you obstinate fuck," Arpad growls at Jace.
Karina chuckles, "Couldn't have put it better, Moneybags."
"I got us into this trouble. I'll get us out of it," Jace says, voice serious. "But I appreciate the offer you guys. Means a lot to know you have my back."
"Always." This from Arpad
"You bet, bro," Damian adds.
"I gotta sign off. One mad film director coming up who I must bully into accepting my security measures. People don’t know what's good for them, do they?" Karina mutters darkly before signing off.
The screen goes blank.
By the time he's dressed and ready to head out, Jace knows he must find a way to put things right for the business. For Eric.
And his pride will not take let him take the help from his friends. Besides, it's been grilled into him that taking money from friends is the recipe to breaking a good friendship. Another of Darren's lessons that's stuck with him.
No, Jace decides. He'll do what it takes to convince Darren about his intentions toward Sienna. By the end of this trip, the old man would willingly hand over the first part of the inheritance.
And if this means he has to tie Sienna to him in the most public of fashions, so be it.
25
Sienna
* * *
I walk down the wide staircase to the hotel lobby, where I'd told Natalie I'd meet her this morning. I head toward the door that leads to the sprawling garden outside. The space separates the main hotel from the large pool house where last night's reception had been held.
A man walks by, his arms full of fragrant flowers. He walks out the door and toward the far end of the garden where Natalie is. She directs him to place the flowers in one of the large vases next to her.
It’s an outdoor wedding.
In front are rows of large pillows, set out on colorful blankets, as well as massive cushions, with little glass mirrors that catch the sun.
The entire space feels set up for a relaxed evening among friends instead of a wedding. Different from the setting last night.
"Sienna." Tom walks up to me. He hesitates, then asks, "You okay?"
I flush, knowing he's referring to my rather spectacular exit with Asher last night.
"Why wouldn't I be?" I snap, then bite my lips, "Didn't mean to yell at you."
"No offense taken, Sen," he smiles.
His calling me by my childhood name makes me feel worse. It also reminds me that he is one of my oldest friends. That I am nothing like the girl I was when he knew me then.
I look past him to where Natalie is in the distance talking to the wedding planner.
"Gorgeous, isn't she?" Tom follows my gaze. "We met at our internship in a London law firm. She didn't last a week." He grins a little. "Threw a fit when one of the partners laid a hand on her ass, slapped him and walked out."
"You saw the internship through, didn't you?" I ask.
Tom had been as keen as me to get out of Gainesville. He'd wanted to earn enough money and fast. For Tom that meant becoming a lawyer.
"We need to talk, Sienna." His serious tone makes me look up at him curious.
"Now? I'm waiting for Natalie and—"
