Page 36 of Silver Fake

"Of course," John replies, his eyes twinkling with mischief. I roll my eyes at him playfully and stand, ready to head to the balcony and start indulging in the breakfast feast. Just as I start moving towards the door, John stops me.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" he asks, his tone suddenly a little less playful.

I blink up at him, genuinely confused. "What?"

"Pants."

A burst of laughter escapes me as I glance down, realizing that I'm still dressed in the tank top and underwear I had slept in. It's not indecent by any means, but I'm definitely showing more skin than usual.

I raise an eyebrow in challenge, "And what if I want to go outside like this? I like to feel the breeze."

John's answering smirk is infuriatingly sexy as he takes a step closer to me.

But then the playful glint in his eyes replaced with a look that sends a shiver down my spine. He's so close now that his nose almost touches mine.

"Fake girlfriend or not," he murmurs, his gaze intense, "I don't share what's mine."

Then he kisses me on the forehead.

"Now go put some pants on so we can eat. I'm fucking starving."

CHAPTER12

John

"What madeyou decide to become a lawyer, anyway?" Lisa asks.

It's almost noon and the two of us are lounging on the bed in my hotel room, Lisa on her stomach with her chin propped up on her hands, me sprawled out on my back beside her with my arms folded behind my head.

We've just finished devouring a breakfast fit for kings. I couldn't make up my mind about what to get when I went downstairs. After about twenty minutes, I decided to call room service and I told them to send us a little bit of everything. And boy, did they deliver.

Pancakes, waffles, French toast, an assortment of fruits, and a platter of cold cuts that looked like it could feed an entire army had arrived at our doorstep. We were like kids in a candy store, each bite more delicious than the last. It was an extravaganza, a feast that would have made the old kings of yore envious.

Now, we're lounging on the bed, our bellies full and satisfied. We're stuffed to the brim, almost unable to move.

I chuckle slightly, turning my head to look at Lisa. "Well, it's a bit of a story," I say, my eyes distant as I recall the series of events that led me down this path.

Lisa grins, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I've got plenty of time," she says, playfully nudging my side with her elbow. "I want to hear your story."

"Honestly, it's really not that interesting," I say, trying to brush off her curiosity.

Lisa rolls her eyes, looking at me with a pointed look. "If we're going to continue pretending to date, then I need to know at least something about you."

I sigh, feeling the corners of my mouth twitch into a small smile. I should have known she wouldn't let it go.

"Fine," I concede, "but don't say I didn't warn you about my lack of an exciting origin story."

I take a deep breath, my gaze focusing on a distant point on the ceiling. "Well, it all started when I was a kid," I begin, my voice steady and calm. "I always had this deep-rooted love for reading and writing—buried my nose in books every chance I got. I also loved to argue, making my case, and standing my ground. I guess you could say that the seeds were planted early on."

I pause momentarily, chuckling to myself as I recall the fond childhood memories. "I was a huge fan of Perry Mason. The thrill of the courtroom, the art of argument... it all mesmerized me." My expression becomes more serious as I delve deeper into my past. "But, when I was twelve, something happened that truly set the course for my future. Someone tried to take our family's hotel away from us."

At this, Lisa gasps, her eyes wide with surprise. "What?" she exclaims, clearly taken aback by this revelation. "They tried to take your hotel?"

"Who was it?" Lisa asks, her voice filled with concern and a hint of anger.

I pause before responding, my gaze locked with hers. "My mom," I say quietly.

Lisa gives me a confused look. "Nancy?" she questions, referring to the only mother she knew I had.

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