Page 14 of The Fake Dating Plan

“No, but—"

“Then leave me be.”

He laughed. “The way your brow was furrowed, I thought you were doing something serious. You even did that thing with your tongue.”

“What thing?”

“When you lick your lip in deep concentration?”

“I’ll have you know, that delivering crops to my co-op is a very serious task.”

“As long as you’re not leaking to the press, I’m fine.”

“Why would I sabotage a deal that would help me greatly? You know what, I don’t want to know your answer.”

“It’s just that you’ve become a little cozy with the press for my liking. I read your little hashtag girlboss puff pieces. And that Forbes article…”

“Are you jealous the press constantly praises Caiden as the brains and calls you a playboy with daddy’s money instead?”

“So, you have been cyber stalking me as well?”

“Something, something know your enemies.”

He scoffed. The car was silent for a while and I thought the conversation was over until he said, “Do your fellow thirteen-year-old gamers know they’re playing with the CEO of a jewelry company.”

He peered into my phone, which I immediately flipped over. “Can you mind your own shit?”

He leaned back and crossed his arms. “What a conundrum you are.”

I rolled my eyes and went back to my phone. The excitement of playing was gone, but before I could do anything, we arrived.

The restaurant Ax chose was upscale and exclusive. Practically no one except the staff there when we walked in, which surprised me considering it had a three-month waiting list for booking reservations.

“Where’s everyone,” I asked when we walked in.

“I booked the whole place,” Ax said as he strode beside me.

“And you didn’t stop to think of the people who might have wanted to dine here.”

“I thought of the staff who will have to serve ten people instead of a hundred.”

“Ah yes, Axel Reid: Champion of the working class.”

He gave me a shit-eating grin. “That’s me.”

The late lunch was great, even I had to admit that being served by a five Michelin star chef was amazing. Ax and I sat on opposite ends of the table, which was great because eight other people were between us and I didn’t have to worry about how his proximity was affecting me.

I was in the middle of enjoying my scallops and Bordeaux when we heard a commotion at the door. Someone was shouting and making a lot of noise. His screams sounded familiar. My back was to the entrance, so I didn’t see, nor did I have the time to react when I was shoved forward into my plate. Bits of scallops stuck to my dress as I veered back. Around me, I saw everyone standing up and all eyes were not on me but the person behind me.

“You bitch!” I heard Heron say. When I turned to face him, his face was flushed. His jacket and tie were askew, and he looked like he was coming out of a fight.

In a second, Ax came to stand behind me. Blocking me from Heron. “What the fuck, Heron?” Ax said.

“Him!” he said, looking behind Ax at me. “Really? You went to him!”

“Don’t get so emotional,” Ax said calmly, “It’s just business.”

“Just business? Just…” he spat on the ground. A few of the staff had gathered behind Heron, and they all looked prepared to tackle him at any second.

---