Page 95 of Don't Fall in Love

Alex’s eyes fill with questions as she looks up at me. As I move past her, I squeeze her shoulder. “I’m just going to the bathroom, queen.” My thumb spins the cold band of my unfamiliar wedding band.

I weave my way through the restaurant, my focus on not falling down as I become lightheaded with the feelings coursing through me. As I crash through the bathroom door, I stumble to the sink, dropping my head to my chin as I pull in deep breath after deep breath.

What the fuck is happening?

I can’t surely believe that Alex’s eyes shone with… affection.

No, that’s not possible.

Lust, always. Annoyance, I’ve seen that a lot. But pure, unadulterated affection, and dare I assume, lo—

No. That’s insane.

I lift my head and my eyes catch my reflection in the mirror. I don’t recognize the man staring back at me. My confident facade has crumbled, and the usual sunkissed glow I pride myself on is pale and almost sickly. I need to pull myself together.

I’m overthinking this.Yes. That’s what’s happening. I’m overthinking afuckinglook.

Get it together.

I turn on the tap and splash the cool liquid on my face. Grabbing a paper towel, I dry my face, taking one last look at my reflection as I blow out a breath and force my shoulders to relax. I need to end this whole charade. It’s overtaking me and I’m done with living a lie. As I walk back to the table, I resolve to do just that.

I want this dinner over with so I can sign the papers andfinallyconfront George.

* * *

Dinner dragged on longer than I would have liked, but it did give me plenty of time to decide how I’m going to approach this. Or at least I thought it did. As George and I sit in my home office, I’m lost for words.

Instead of confronting him, I allow George to wander around, looking over the books of classic literature—which I haven’t had time to read since I moved in—that take up space on the bookshelves on one wall.

“You know, I didn’t think you’d actually do it.” George picks up, and then puts down, a picture of Cooper and I that’s sat on the mahogany credenza to the left of my desk.

My eyes follow George in the dimly lit room as he moves to the chair opposite my desk and takes a seat. Resting his elbows on the padded armrests of the chair, he steeples his fingers as he returns my stare.

“Excuse me?”

“I said, I didn’t think you’d actually do it. Marry Alex, that is.”

At the look of confusion on my face he continues, “I knew the second you introduced her as your fiancée that you were lying. She couldn’t hide the shock from her face. I’m guessing she didn’t know either.” He cocks a brow in question.

“You’ve got it wrong,” I argue, even though my heart isn’t really in it.

George chuckles. Taking a sip of his gin and tonic, he levels me with a stare as he says, “Don’t try and play me for a fool, Sebastian. I’ve seen a lot in my life, but I’ve never seen a man go to the lengths you have to get your hands on my club. I can see the girl has feelings for you. The question is, do you have feelings for her?”

“No, she doesn’t. You don’t know what you’re talking about George, and you sure as shit don’t know me,” I roar as I stand from my desk, towering over him.

Turning my back to him, I look out over Midtown Manhattan. The lights glisten, and down below I can see the tiny specks of people and cabs navigating the city. I paid good money for this view, so the heavy curtains are always open.

I’ve had enough of playing pretend, of being nice to this man who doesn’t deserve to even breathe the same air as me.

“You’re a blind fool if you can’t see it.” George sits in his chair, unaffected as I try to control the need to grab him and demand answers from him. “Tell me why you went to these lengths?”

Fuck. He knows and that means that all of this has been for nothing.God, it’s all been for fucking nothing. My lips press together and I lower my head, trying to sort through the jumble of thoughts in my mind.

Releasing a heavy sigh, my shoulders slump as I take a seat and down the remainder of my drink, leveling my gaze at George.

Why isn’t he angry? I deceived him. He should be furious.

“You want to know why I pretended?” I sneer.

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