Page 65 of Boss's Baby: A Fake Fiance Romance

She turned the phone to me, and, sure enough, it was the front page of some gossip site. There was a picture of me and Cass in the clothes we were wearing at that moment, the title “Playboy Energy Mogul Engaged to Mystery Woman.” Someone at the party had taken a candid shot of us and sent it around. The secret was out.

“’Mystery Woman,’” I said. “How do you feel about that description?”

“Guess it could be worse.”

I glanced around, spotting more than a few pairs of eyes on us. No doubt we were the center of attention. And not only there, but likely in New York too.

“The secret’s out,” I said. “As much as a secret as it might’ve been.”

“No going back. I mean, not that we had that option, but now it’s extra no going back.”

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a trio of figures coming toward us. I looked up to see that it was Paul, Mike, and Carter—my high-school friends from in town.

“Buddy!” said Mike, a big grin on his face like he was about to try to sell me something. “Congratu-fucking-lations!”

The three of them formed up in front of us, each of them taking a look at Cass as if trying to figure out what to think of her.

“Thanks,” I said. “Been a hell of a month.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet,” said Carter. “Can’t believe we only found out about this shit tonight. Your ass went and got engaged, and you didn’t tell us about it?”

“All kind of happened so fast.” I gestured toward Cass. “But you guys know Cass, right? Cass, this is Mike and Carter and Paul.”

Cass was tense—no doubt about it.

“We know each other,” she said in a terse voice.

Mike appeared thoughtful, his eyes going wide once he’d realized something. “Oh, shit! You’re Cass—the girl from the ice cream shop!”

“Two Scoops,” she said. “And yeah, that’s me.”

“Fuck,” said Carter. “I remember giving you all kinds of shit back in the day. And now, damn, looks like you’re marrying up.”

I didn’t like Carter’s tone. There was something antagonistic and teasing about it. Brought me back to high school, and not in a good way.

“Marrying up?” asked Cass.

“Yeah,” said Paul. “Girl from the poorhouse finally lands her rich husband.”

“Like something out of one of those Hallmark movies,” said Carter.

“Shit,” said Mike. “I remember when you were working back at Two Scoops, what was that car you drove? That Toyota or some shit all covered in rust?”

“You still have that thing?” asked Carter.

“Guys,” I said, stepping in. “Take it easy.”

Paul flashed a big grin. “Just busting her balls. If she’s going to be hanging with us, then she’s gotta get used to it.”

“Where you working now?” asked Carter. “Heard you went off to New York, right? What, Two Scoops open a spot in Manhattan?”

The guys laughed. It was fucking wild—they were well into their thirties, like me, but at that moment they seemed more like sneering, immature kids. Cass, on the other hand, looked like I’d never seen her before. She’d always been one to speak her mind, but instead she stood still as a statue, her eyes wide.

“Anyway,” said Mike. “You made a good choice with this asshole. He’ll take good care of you. A few months of the good life, and you’ll forget you were ever poor as shit.”

That was enough. “Hey! What the hell’s wrong with you guys?”

The faces on my friends, if I even wanted to refer to them as that, went blank. It was like I’d pulled the plug on their fun.

“We’re only messing with her, dude,” said Mike. “Think of it as an initiation.”

“A below-the-fucking-belt initiation,” I was quick to add.

The guys all made the same face of confusion, as if I was the one acting out of line. Cass was still stunned, not saying a word.

“Dude, what’s up with you?” asked Carter. “You’re acting like we don’t screw with each other the same way. We’re bringing her into the group.”

“That’s not what’s going on, and you know it. You’re being real assholes.”

Mike spoke up, a sharper edge to his voice. “Well, maybe this is a little fucking weird. Of all the girls to end up with, you pick out some low-class trash from the shitty part of town.”

I couldn’t believe what the fuck I was hearing.

“To be honest, bud,” said Carter. “People are talking. And we’re being friends here and saying it to your face.”

“Talking about what?”

“Talking about how this is about the strangest fucking match Pine Shades has ever seen.”

That appeared to be about all Cass could take. “Excuse me,” was all she managed to get out before breaking from the group and rushing out of the room. I watched her leave, still processing what the hell had happened.

“Are you guys fucking serious? That’s my fiancée you’re talking about.”

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