Page 6 of My Fake Lover

»Of course,« I murmured, placing the plate down. In doing so, I came too close to Max and his irresistible scent. I gave the blonde a fake smile, nodded, and hurried to get away. I nearly tripped on the stairs, but I managed to catch myself just in time. It didn’t look like Max had thought much about our kiss that damned night. Of course not, when he had the chance to date such a stunning woman as his companion. They would have damn perfect children and live in a damn perfect villa.

»Shit,« I cursed when I arrived in the kitchen and burned my fingers on a sauceboat I wanted to carry out. Pete grabbed my shoulders and looked deeply into my eyes.

»Everything okay?«

»To be precise, no. At table one sits a guy who just took off after a kiss and is now on a date with a perfect blonde.«

»Ouch. I’ll take over the table.«

I breathed a sigh of relief. »Thank you.« Now I just had to avoid running into Max again, but that shouldn’t be hard if he stayed with his companion in the secluded seating area, and I hid in the kitchen like a coward. »Thank you, Pete. You’re a sweetheart.«

»I know.« He shrugged indifferently. »Don’t fall in love with me; I’m already committed to John Legend.«

»Doesn’t he have a wife and kids?«

Pete sighed. »That’s the only reason we’re not together. I don’t want to be a homewrecker. And you, go take a five-minute break. I won’t rat you out to the boss.«

»I can’t thank you enough.«

»Disappear,« he whispered, and I stepped out into the hallway that led to the restrooms and employee rooms. Of course, he was there. One hand in his pocket and the other pressing a cell phone to his ear. His gaze flew to me, and I found it difficult to breathe once again. What was it about him that made me dissolve into myself when he looked at me like that? I quickly lowered my head and rushed past him. In doing so, I caught snippets of a conversation that most likely was none of my business.

»I don’t think that’s a good idea, Ian. How long have you known each other? Damn six months!« Silence spread as if this Ian were speaking on the other end. Did he really have a brother? Family? »I’m fine, don’t start that again. How are you?« He lowered his voice as I reached the door to the staff room. »Are you taking...?« Before I could eavesdrop further, I pressed the door handle down and closed the door behind me. I took a deep breath. Let him discuss this call that apparently made him angry with his companion. Not my concern.

I headed to my locker and grabbed a piece of gum. I had to do something now, even if it was just straining my jaw muscles. The door opened, and I spun around. Without knocking, Max entered the staff room and closed the door behind him.

»Do you think you can just do whatever you want?« I burst out. »This area is for staff only.«

He looked around, and his expression took on a disgusted air. Yes, as beautiful as it was outside the door, there was little investment behind it. Nevertheless, he had no reason to judge everything so harshly. »Do you have anything to say?« I snapped, defiantly crossing my arms over my chest.

»You work here?« He asked, as if I should have sought his permission first.

»If you don’t mind, yes! I have to pay my rent somehow.«

»You’re capable of more than this,« he said, as if he hadn’t just paid me a compliment. I hesitated for a moment.

»Nice, but I lack the money for more,« I admitted candidly. He shoved both hands into the pockets of his jeans, which were likely more expensive than the contents of my entire wardrobe. His face grew serious, and his jaw muscles tensed. Just like the night he had looked at my truck. »Don’t you need to get back to your companion?« I retorted quickly before he could initiate anything that would make this situation even worse. Maybe offer me money or something like that.

He nodded as if he had just remembered her. Then he turned away but paused at the door for a moment. »She’s not a date,« he said before leaving the room, as if that would somehow interest me. Damn it, but it did. She wasn’t a date? Then what was she? A good old friend? Did he even have friends?

I spit out the gum before the manager could catch me, smoothed my apron, and went back out, marking off this encounter as what it was. Unnecessary and confusing.

7

Max

She was not my problem. That was my mantra for the rest of the evening as Cora Jenkins told me something about her project that I could barely follow. She had been asking for a meeting for a long time, and I had readily agreed to dinner. I didn’t expect her to dress up like this, having only seen her in jeans and plain blouses before. She was pretty, no doubt, and seemingly hoped that would play to her advantage. But I wasn’t swayed by appearances. She didn’t even need that, as the project she was developing was extremely promising.

Yet my thoughts lingered on another woman who confused and, above all, frustrated me immensely. She had money troubles? And she didn’t want help with them, as evidenced by her defiantly jutting her chin forward. Maybe it would be easier for her to accept help if I proposed a deal? A deal that could benefit both of us.

My thought grew into a full-fledged plan after my phone call with my brother. There was no question that I had to help him, but since he had been with that crazy Lizzy, he was no longer himself, and I could barely get through to him. Moreover, the constant matchmaking attempts at every single one of our meetings. And now a wedding? After not even half a year? I clenched my hands into fists under the table, crumpling the napkin I had spread over my lap. If I didn’t know better, I would think that Lizzy was just using my brother. I had to refocus my thoughts back to the person sitting across from me. The reason I was here. To invest or not?

A tall, slender waiter came to the table and brought us a soufflé as dessert for Cora. I politely declined when he asked me again if I wanted anything. In truth, I wanted just one thing. But since the appetizer and our encounter in that hallway, I hadn’t seen her again.

»And what do you think?« Cora asked, her blue eyes shining. I generally only invested in people who were completely convinced of their idea and passionate about it. Nevertheless, I never let anyone see my hand. I leaned back a bit and placed the napkin on the white tablecloth.

»That sounds very interesting. My assistant will get in touch with you next week.«

She put her spoon aside and looked somewhat disappointed. Of course, she had made a considerable effort in the past two hours. But I wasn’t here to give anyone a good feeling or create false hopes. Tomorrow I would look at her numbers and decide.

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