Page 58 of The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée
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Natalie bounds back toward us, oblivious to the tension in the air. Linking her arm through mine, she waves Darren away.
"Thanks for keeping her company, but you can leave now."
"She's all yours." Half bowing to us, Darren leaves.
The tension between my shoulders slides off, leaving me limp. I lean on Natalie, and she puts her arm around my waist, looking down at me.
"You all right?" she asks, her voice concerned.
"Yeah." I nod. "You sure you still want to hang out with me this morning?"
"You bet," she says. "Besides, when else am I going to get a chance to get to know more about Jace's mysterious girlfriend?"
"You mean the one who 'suddenly' appears on the scene, someone very different from everyone else he's brought in the past?" I smirk, echoing Darren's words.
"Very different," she agrees. "Beautiful, and not only on the outside."
"You still think so, even after last night?" I flush at the knowing look in her eyes. No doubt my little 'incident' was the main topic of discussion around the breakfast table.
"Especially after last night." She grins, no shock on her face.
I peer into her eyes. Wow. She's not joking.
"So you don't think I'm unfit for the 'scion' of the Walker family?" I punctuate my words with air quotes.
She laughs at that, "About time someone put Jace in his place."
"Yeah, right," I mutter in disbelief.
"No, really," she grips my arm, all mirth dropping away from her face.
"You're good for him. You stand up to him, and that's what he needs. Someone not afraid of his power, and who isn't after his money."
If only she knew.
Natalie continues, unaware of the conflict swirling inside me. "I hope Jace holds onto you." She says.
"He didn't take very kindly to my antics," I clear my throat. "If you'd seen him last night …" my voice fades.
To my surprise, I find tears pricking my eyes. I'm not over the incident either. And I do regret my actions. But I'm unsure now how to make amends.
"Hang in there." Natalie says. "Jace can be quite macho, and overbearing. But inside he's the real deal. Honest." Voice earnest she takes both my palms between her own. "Jace has been through a lot growing up. You've met Darren, he's not an easy father. And all this" she waves around her, "growing up with this kind of money has only made it more difficult for Jace to find himself. Who he really is. That is why he needs you. You are the first genuine person in his life. You are good for him, Sienna."
I blink at the seriousness in her tone.
Her honest concern for Jace is my undoing. I want to tell her right then, that everything between me and Jace is a sham. But seeing the hope shining in her eyes, I can't bring myself to speak.
Perhaps I want to believe there's still hope for Jace and me?
Foolish.
When I don't react to her words, she says, "Well no. That wasn't all true. You are the second genuine person Jace has in his life."
"What?" I burst out.
"I am the other first." She giggles. "Gotcha."
