Page 33 of The Fake Dating Plan

“Who said I want to?”

“Come on. Everything about your body language says so. Just don’t rip my dress when you finally do.” He gestured at Emilia, “the fabric is expensive.”

Before I could deny it, Marco was already on the other side of the room. I went to stand next to Emilia.

“What’s so fascinating about that ugly crown?”

She pointed at a ruby in the middle. “Do you see that?”

“What am I supposed to see?”

“It’s fake. The ruby is anyway. I can’t tell if the rest is.”

“How?” I leaned in closer, but I could see nothing.

“It’s too dull and it’s a little too light.”

When I looked at it for the second time, I could see what she was saying. “I would never have guessed. Where did you get such uncanny abilities?”

“College. And the pawnshop I worked under for a few years.”

“You worked for a pawn shop after you left college?” I don’t know why I assumed she started her business soon after graduating, but thinking back, she started her business five years ago.

“Not everyone has daddy’s money and friends in high places. Some of us have to hustle.”

“You could have come to me.”

She scoffed. “And beg you for a job? You would have laughed me out of your office. I was surprised you didn’t do that when I came asking for your backing.”

She was right. I would have probably done more. I would have made her beg on her knees.

“Aren’t these exhibits new? As in, they were recently acquired by the museum?”

“You think someone donated a fake?”

“Or rather someone sold a fake and pocketed the money.”

I looked down at the card below to see if there was a donor’s name. It said, ‘anonymous.’ “Who would be bold enough to submit a fake crown to a prestigious museum?”

“Few people can tell fake rubies just by the naked eye. It takes years of assessing jewelry in a dingy pawn shop in the Bronx to get my type of expertise.”

“Reid! Fancy seeing you here!” I turned to see Heron standing a few feet away from us. His tuxedo barely contained his ever-expanding belly.

“Heron.” From the corner of my eye, I saw Emilia stiffen and did the most instinctual thing that came to me at that moment. I slid my hand over her back and drew her to my side. Heron quickly registered my possessive gesture and said, “Fancy seeing you, Emilia. Things have been going well, I see.” His gaze was glued to where our bodies made contact.

“Things have been better since a recent investor reshuffle. It was the right move we needed to make.”

Heron let out a shaky laugh. “Hilarious. And how did you do it? You find opening your legs to him, better than to me?”

She leaned into me further, surprising me. “He’s a better lover than you could ever dream to be.”

“Careful with him,” Heron said. “I have eggs that have lasted longer than the women on his arm.”

“Don’t worry about me, Heron, I’m a big girl.”

Heron looked us up and down, undressing Emilia, and then he walked away. After he was on the other side of the room, Emilia’s shoulders dropped and she let out a deep breath.

“I didn’t expect you to be in full fighting with him.”

---