Page 54 of Taken By the Fake Fiancé

No shit!

"I told you Eli is waiting for me to have dinner, Jason. Can we do this later?"

He ignores the plea in my voice and shoots the next question.

"Just Eli?"

Looking up, I take note of the way the veins on Felicity's neck jerk as she throws back her head to laugh at something Eli just said. I swallow a groan as a shiver runs through my muscles.

Fuck!

"Fuck?" Jason asks, echoing my thought.

“Wait! Did I say that out loud?"

"Yes. Are you okay?"

"I'm peachy."

"Doesn't sound like it."

I rock on my heels.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Jason."

"And my question?"

"I can't talk about that right now."

"Why? Because 'that' is there?"

I ball my fist.

"Felicity Goleman. Dammit, Jason! Her name is Felicity Goleman!"

"And you're pissed that your best friend is asking about the woman causing havoc in your home?"

Blast him!

"You're my attorney tonight, Jason. Let's stick with that."

He chuckles.

I scowl, regretting the fact that I hired my best friend to be my attorney. Well, Jason is one of the best in the city. It's either him-- or him.

"I'll go check her out on Instagram. See if she's worth this trouble you're about to drag me through."

I don't like the idea of Jason ogling Felicity's pictures on social media, but I can't argue, not after telling him there are no strings attached to our entanglement."Okay then," I say and hang up.

I'm so lost in the little argument that I missed the fact that the air has begun to change. Eli is no longer smiling and cheering Felicity on but glaring daggers at the younger woman. I take a few steps forward but stop in my tracks when Eli pulls back from Felicity's light grip on his wrist.

"Mom says you're going to take Dad away. She says you're going to destroy our bond. She-- she says--"The tears in his voice break me. I shut my eyes tightly to rein mine in.

It's all on me; all my fault! If I had been a good father and the perfect husband to Amelia, all of this could have been avoided. Father wouldn't have given me an ultimatum before handing me my dream job. It would have been easy peasy.

And then there's Felicity. Her face is devoid of color, her eyes, which were simmering with excitement just moments ago, are now clouded with emotions I can't fathom.

"I don't want us to fight again, Eli. Your father and I are just friends. I promise I won't come between you two."

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