Page 18 of Taken By the Fake Fiancé

What if I benefit from faking a relationship with Declan? Get Allard off my back?

He had appeared to be very afraid of Declan, there's no doubt that if he thought that I'd completely moved on with someone else, he would leave me alone.Even if he didn't, Declan could make sure that he did.

I remember the way Declan had Allard looking like a scared little boy. It wasn’t funny at the time, but now that I think about it, it's completely hilarious.

So, what if I faked being Declan's girlfriend? It will scare Allard away for good. Declan was honestly also the best person to assume the position of Managing Director. He has been working as hard, if not harder, than the rest of us. I believe him when he says that his work is the only thing that hasn't been swept away by the tide.

I don't think that Declan wants to assume his position as Managing Director for any selfish reasons.And as I begin to recite my favorite poem in my head, which always helps me fall asleep, I realize that I actually want to become Declan's fake girlfriend.

I wonder about his son, which he told me about. Having spent most of his childhood with his mother, will Declan's son be accepting of me as his stepmother? Guaranteed, Declan is going to keep the fakeness of our relationship a secret from him.

As I continue to think about it, I realize that this is something that Declan will have to think long and hard about to not make life-altering mistakes.

The next day, I arrive at work with the events of yesterday fresh in my mind. I get on with work as usual, taking my clients to several properties in town and returning later in the afternoon to get the paperwork done.

Even though I try to shelve thoughts of Declan and his out of blue proposal, I still find myself thinking at intervals about it. When a knock sounds on my door, my heart leaps to my chest, I consciously have to order myself to remain calm because there's no way Allard could gain entrance into our office area without notification from the receptionist at the front desk.

"Come in," I say, feeling proud when my voice does not tremble.

The door is pushed open and in walks one of my colleagues, Jasmine.

"I didn't think I would find you here," she says as she makes her way to the chair that is stationed in front of my desk.

"I have too much paperwork to do."

Jasmine chuckles.

"Or you have probably sold out all the units you were allocated."

I chuckled.

Jasmine gives me a knowing smile.

"Which is it?"

"I may or may not have sold out."

"See? I knew it!" Jasmine says. "You have to teach me how you do it. I still have twenty units to clear out."

"Open houses. I did loads of them this month; the result was tremendous."

Jasmine gives a nod.

"I don't think I can be trusted with enough resources to carry that out. But enough about work. How have you been?"

"I've been okay," I tell Jasmine.

I'm trying not to think about the situation with Allard. Jasmine is one of the people who knew about my relationship with Allard. Even though she's aware that we'd broken up, she doesn't know about the stalking and the harassment.

"What about you? What have you been up to?"

"Oh, I have been good. I think our Acting Managing Director is the hottest thing alive. What about you?"

I fight a low blush at Jasmine's words and try to chastise her without disclosing that last night when I had watched him undo his cuff buttons, I had thought along her lines as well.

"I don't think that's a very appropriate thing to say about your Acting Managing Director!"

Jasmine rolls her eyes.

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