Page 17 of The Fake Dating Plan

I felt rather than see her coming. My body reacted to her presence as if some cosmic connection bonded us. When I looked up from my phone, I could see her gliding towards me in a white pantsuit that, while conservative and covered her entire body, looked sinful on her in a way only she could pull off. Her bright red hair fell around her shoulders in big, bouncy curls. She finished the look with one of her signature pieces, a gold interlocked metal chain with little entrails. I felt my dick harden in response. My eyes were only on her and everything ceased to exist once again.

“Hi.” She stopped a couple of feet from me. I was still mesmerized by her I had stopped to think of anything else but the idea of taking her back to her room and peeling off that suit, slam her against the window, and fucking her until we both came. Then I remembered where I was and that I was literally about to tent my pants in public. I stood up and noticed that I wasn’t the only one with my eyes on her. She had attracted the attention of every man in the lobby.

“Let’s go,” I said, taking her arm. The need to claim her in some form was too strong for me not to hold her. Show all those around us she was mine. Well, technically mine. If she was privy to my thoughts, I was sure she would wiggle out of my grasp and punch me in the face.

When we arrived at the store, most of the staff, press, and some of the guests were already there. We both gave our requisite speeches, mine shorter than hers, because I was having trouble forming sentences now, and we both did the ribbon cutting together giving the press our best smiles.

After that, the semi-party semi-showcase started and Emilia was unfortunately taken from my side as she explained her designs to the press and I got caught up with a gaggle of journalists who wanted to ask a ‘few’ questions.

“What made you take on a fairly unknown designer as part of the launch of one of your flagship stores outside the United States?” one British-sounding man asked. As I answered his question, my gaze couldn’t help wandering to the subject. She was in my line of sight, slightly blocked by the man interviewing me. Even her back looked good. I wanted to go up to her, run my hands through her hair. Maybe twist it, whip her face to mine and…

“I’m sorry, what was the question again?” I asked the other reporter who had asked something I was sure wasn’t that important. Not as important as Emilia, that was for sure. What if I went over to her, grabbed her hand, and took her to the back of the store? I’m sure there was some storage room here somewhere.

“Excuse me,” I said to the journalists and stalked over to Emilia. Thankfully, she was done talking to the press. I went to her side and, just as I was about to take her hand, I stopped. What was I doing? I was at a launch event and the only thing I could think of was having sex with my ex only because I had seen her in a pantsuit that covered her entire body. It was ridiculous. It made zero sense. It must be the lack of sex. Why I still hadn’t gotten a girlfriend in five months still was a mystery to me as it was to everyone else. I made a mental note to find one as soon as I got back home.

“What?” she said. Did she hear my thoughts?

“It’s going well, don't you think?” That was the best I could do given the dirty path my thoughts had taken.

“If you say so. One reporter asked me if I slept with you to get this deal.”

“Who? Tell me which motherfucker said that, and I’ll have him thrown out.”

She looked a little taken aback. “Is the idea of sex with me that repulsive? I know I don’t look like your other girlfriends, but there was a time when you used to like me.”

Huh? “I didn’t mean it like that? People shouldn’t be running around speculating about whether we slept together when it’s your work that should be on show.”

She shook her head. “Whatever. It’s best to let it go. You’ll only exacerbate the speculation if you say or do anything.”

I was about to refuse and question her further when I heard a familiar voice behind me. Could it be Tiago? I turned around and for sure it was my brother Tiago wrestling with security.

“Ask him. I don’t think I need an invite when I’m family.” I waved him over. “See?” he said as they let him go.

“What’s a tech billionaire doing fighting security in a store?” I asked when he approached us.

“Em! Funny seeing you here!” he said, giving her a hug, which she happily received, much to my chagrin. His gaze went to me. “This is an interesting development. You too are working together?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Am I not supposed to be at the launch party?”

“Thank you for coming,” Emilia said. “It’s been a long time. How have you been?”

“Nothing much. Busy with Netcom, but nothing I can’t handle. Big bro over here is the one with all the drama.”

I wanted to wring his neck. Hers too. They were both acting like long-lost buddies reunited when they only met a few times a long time ago. Hell, he was in high school back then.

“Shouldn’t you be at some meeting somewhere?”

“Meeting’s over. I just closed a deal with a Chinese partner. Now I’m celebrating.”

“Amazing!” Emilia said, giving him a playful punch. Now I really wanted to wring his neck. I took a flute of champagne from a passing server, just so I could do something with my hands.

“Amazing, is you,” he stepped back to observe Emilia. “You look fantastic.” He leaned in and whispered a little too loudly, “I hope big brother isn’t giving you any trouble?”

She giggled. Giggled. Like they were flirting. “Don’t worry. I can handle him.” She turned to me and wiped off her grin when she saw how serious I was.

Finally, Tiago paid me some attention and asked, “I thought you wouldn’t be here?”

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