Page 11 of Taken By the Fake Fiancé

"Get the report of the meeting today printed and ready on Father's desk for evaluation as soon as you're back from the food errand."

Martin nods and begins to make his way out the door.

I settle at my desk and grab the telephone when it begins to ring.

"How was it?" Father asks without a preamble.

"It went better than I expected," I admit.

"See? I told you it would.”

"Now I know I didn't need to doubt that."

"The four walls of this hospital are depressing," Father complains.

"Sorry about that. You will be out soon. You simply need to do what the doctor says, so you can be discharged soon."

"Are you telling me to follow orders, Son?"

"It's the only way they'll release you from that dreadful dungeon."

Father grunts.

"I guess you're right. But need I remind you that the Grays do not follow orders? We do what we think is good for us, and we are never wrong about that."

"I think you will simply have to follow the doctor's lead on this one."

"There you go again, telling me what to do."

I chuckle.

I can't deal with this old man.

"Anyways, I would like to know what your decision is about the discussion we've had, you know. Have you found anyone? Have you been seeing anyone before now? What have you decided?"

"Well," I begin to say, the stunning image of Felicity comes to mind, clear and unbidden."I think I’ve found someone I am attracted to." I lie.

There's a pause on the other end.

"Are you serious about that?" Father asks as if he's doubting me.

I am doubting myself too, but he doesn't need to know that.

"Yes. She is gorgeous and someone I have ignored because I didn't think I wanted to have anything to do with women anymore."

"What changed?"

I blink when I realize that I am making up a whole scenario about dating Felicity in my head. A thought flashes into my mind, this thrilling idea that I currently have - fake date Felicity for the benefit of what I stand to gain from it.

"Everything. I've had time to think about our conversation, I think you're right. Eli needs a mother figure in his life. Amelia is in love and plans to start a new family of her own. I need to provide a stable family for Eli and show him that even though his mother and I are separated, we can both individually be happy with someone else."

I cannot believe this…

"That's a really shocking thing to hear and one that makes me very happy nonetheless."

"I am choosing to be happy too. I shouldn't be so negative as to think that the next relationship will follow the same course my marriage with Amelia did."

These are words that my father wants to hear, words that I am far from feeling, but ones I know I would have to feed him to get what I want.

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