Page 2 of Billionaire's Fake Plus One

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” I mutter, slowing sitting up on shaky limbs.

“What was that?” Rachel demands, suddenly whirling around to face me, her arms settling on her hips.

“I said I’ll practice a sufficiently surprised expression in front of my mirror before leaving.” She huffs but thankfully lets it go. Rachel continues on to my room to shower while I use the guest bathroom. Then we get ready together for mysurprisegoodbye party.

We take Rachel’s car – I don’t have one – to the sky view observatory center at Columbia Center, where the party is taking place. I tighten my grip on Rachel’s arm as the elevator climbs up to the 73rd floor. “I can’t believe you chose to have the party here.”

She grins at me. “I remember you saying you’ve never been here before. I can’t let you leave Seattle without visiting one of the best places to get an eagle eye view of the Pacific Northwest, can I?”

The elevator doors swish open softly. “Surprise!” Everyone yells, and I widen my eyes as much as they allow, trying to appear shocked.

“Oh, my God, you guys!” I smile as familiar faces come forward with wrapped gifts and warm hugs. At a point, a few tears slip down my face as the gravity of my decision hits me. I’ve been working with these people for five years. I’m not really close with any of them, but I’ll miss the familiarity and camaraderie at the law firm.

“Since you insist on leaving us.” Kane, my boss and Rachel’s fiancé hands me a small wrapped gift, then tugs Rachel into his arms.

“Kane, you didn’t have to. Thank you.” I give him a quick hug and hurriedly wipe my eyes. He grins at me and ruffles my hair affectionately, like a big brother might if I had one. I return his smile, grateful he and Rachel were able to work things out between them. Over the five years I’ve reported to him, I can count on one hand the number of times he’s smiled at me. But ever since he got together with Rachel, he’s been noticeably happier and less stiff.

“I told you to stop calling me that. You can call me Andrew.” He returns proving my point on just how much he’s changed. He used to insist on everyone calling each other by their last names at work.

“You guys are having your own little party over here without inviting me?” Jake, Rachel’s brother and the second partner at Kane and Wilson, asks, walking up to us with two champagne flutes. He hands one to me with a smile. “What’s the name of the fucker taking you from us again?”

I roll my eyes at him as he drapes a hand over my shoulders. “No one is taking me away. I just need time to rediscover myself.”

He ruffles my hair and I groan, bending down to escape from his arms. I try to rearrange my hair as much as I can without a mirror. “Between you and Ka…Andrew, my hair is going to look like a rat’s nest by the time this party is over,” I complain, although deep down, I love it. When Rachel and I became close, I didn’t just gain a friend; I got two annoying big brothers as well, and I’m going to miss them fiercely.

“I have to get in all the rufflings I can tonight. Who knows when I’m going to see your ugly mug again?” he smirks as he sips his drink.

I mock-glare at him. “If you ever want to see my ugly mug, you can come out to Bainbridge Island. It’s just across the Puget Sound, literally an hour drive, thirty-five minutes if you’re ferrying. I’m basically still in Seattle if you think about it. And God knows you and Andrew need to take a break from work.”

He rolls his eyes. “Don’t start, Willie, I have enough nagging from Mom and Rachel already.”

I gasp in outrage, “Never ever call me that again, Jacob Wilson.”

Rachel bursts into laughter. “I told you he’s terrible at making nicknames. He calls me Rach, for crying out loud.”

“That’s not so bad, Willie is just sacrilegious,” I protest and shudder.

“Hey, you guys keep quiet. The fireworks are about to start.” Andrew scowls at us.

We wade deeper into the party, making our way to the wide railings. I exhale as I watch the view spread before us. The Great Wheel, Elliot Bay, Pike Place Market, the Cascade Mountains, Mt Rainier, San Juan Islands, Mt Baker, Bellevue, the Space Needle and Bainbridge Island - the entire Northwest Pacific is laid out as far as the eye can see.

Crackling fills the air as a number of bright lights shoot up to the sky, where they spread out in arches of shimmering blues, pinks, greens and purples. The fireworks. I smile as I watch the beautiful display of colors. Rachel really went all out for me. I glance at her, but quickly look away when I see her making out with Andrew.

I turn my face up to enjoy the view, smiling because I’m thrilled my friend found her happily ever after. I don’t know what my future holds, or if it will ever include a love like theirs, but at the very least, I’m looking forward to a fresh start on Bainbridge Island and finally discovering myself… whatever that means.

2

Daily Update Rachel! The ferry just docked at Winslow Terminal.

Istruggle with the two suitcases, containing all my worldly belongings as I get off the ferry. I glance around the Winslow terminal, eyes lingering on the row of beautiful boats docked on Eagle Harbor. Lucien offered to come pick me up from the terminal, but I politely declined.

Spending time alone with him in an enclosed car isn’t exactly my idea of a good time. It’s bad enough that I’m going to be living in my ex’s older brother’s house for the summer, but when said brother famously disapproved of me for an apparent reason, from the very first time we me, it’s best to avoid him as much as possible.

I only met him and his girls twice in the one year over which Zane and I dated, but both times, his dislike was very obvious. He insulted me almost immediately, insinuating that I was with his brother because of their money. I didn’t even know Zane came from money when we first met!

I always try to avoid dating men outside my tax bracket, so I won’t have to go through the same humiliation my mother faced from my sperm donor’s family. Having to face that from Lucien made me so angry; I might have said things I had no business saying. But then I met his girls, and I thawed a little. Very, very little. Who does he think he is, anyway?

I take a deep breath as I glance around for an empty taxi. It’s okay, Willow, you haven’t seen the guy in two years. I’m sure he’s outgrown his judginess. And he certainly won’t remember the few insignificant words I called him. Hopefully.

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