Page 3 of Billionaire in Disguise

“Does the mailman’s dog know?” Chloe asked dryly.

“Naturally.” Adrianna picked the tomato off the sandwich. Technically a tomato was a fruit, so she hadn’t truly followed her mother’s dictates.

“So what changed?”

“Their anniversary.” Throwing thehalf-fruitback, Adrianna stood. “When the office closes for renovations next week, I’m going to Orlando for the big celebration. My mother is insisting I bring Jonathon.”

“You gave him a name?” Chloe stared.

“I couldn’t tell my mother I didn’t know his name, and Invisible Man seemed a little suspect.” Adrianna held out her fingers. “I also gave him a job, hobbies, a favorite color…”

“Are you sure he doesn’t exist?”

All too well.“She’s asked about him visiting before. I always managed to avoid it, but this time she threatened to come here and introduce herself. It’s been hard enough pretending he was away every time she’s visited. I won’t get away with it again.”

“Why don’t you just tell her you broke up?”

Adrianna braced her hands on the narrow desk. Apparently less work space meant more productivity, at least according to Mr. Dobbs. Still, she managed to fit a small picture of her parents on the one thin shelf. “Anniversaries are a big deal for my family. If we broke up, it would ruin the whole celebration.”

“But youwillbreak up afterwards.”

“I promise.” Adrianna held up her hand. “Although if I planned a pretend wedding, I wouldn’t have to–”

“Adrianna!” Chloe hissed.

She smiled. “I’m joking. Right after their anniversary, this relationship is going to end.” She frowned. “Or go back to not existing.”

Chloe softened. “Why don’t you let me introduce you to some guys? Half the men here are interested in you.”

Adrianna opened her mouth to say no, yet hesitated. Perhaps it was time to consider other options. “When this is all over, you can tell me about some of them.”

Chloe brightened. “Fantastic. Before I find you a real boyfriend, however, I’m going to find you a fake one.”

“I’m sorry?” Adrianna blinked. “You do realize he can’t be invisible.”

“I considered it. But that would be a stretch, even for me.” Chloe waved her hand. “How long is the trip?”

“An entire week.” Seven days of pitying looks and enough comfort food to last a year.

Note to self: pack extra antacids.

“An entire week.” Chloe whistled lowly, scanning the workers packed into their mini-desks and roly-poly stools. “It’s lucky so many men work at computer companies.”

“You’re not suggesting I recruit someone from the office?” Adrianna gaped. “How would I face him afterwards? Plus, who would want to do that?”

“You’d be surprised.” Chloe pivoted, yet her frown deepened with every man. “You’re leaving the company, so who cares what they think? Plus, the office is closed all next week, so you know they’ll have the time.”

“I’m not quitting yet,” Adrianna returned. “If my venture takes longer than expected, I don’t want to run into my ex fake date by the water cooler.”

“We don’t have a water cooler anymore. Dobbs said it was superfluous, remember?” Chloe stopped, her lips curving into a slow, wide smile. “What about the new temp?”

“New temp?” Knight Technology didn’t use temps. Whenever someone quit, the other employees just picked up the extra work. “I hadn’t noticed him.”

“Then you’d be the only one.”

Adrianna followed her friend’s pointed finger. Then she stopped…

And stared.

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