Page 38 of Seduced by Her Billionaire Fake Fiancé

“A nightmare.”

She watched as he moved to the salad, stirred it around, then carried it over to the table. She stood, reaching for their wines and did likewise, standing behind one of the chairs, watching him retrieve the final bits of the meal.

It was unusual for him to have cooked. Since they’d been doing this strange domestic-share arrangement, they hadn’t really eaten together. Not more than coffee at breakfast time. She’d grabbed quick meals on her way to work, or had eaten late at night, just some cereal or something easy. Like they’d been avoiding each other, she thought, with a frown.

And weren’t they still supposed to be avoiding each other? What was this all about?

“What happened?” She asked, sitting down, her stomach rumbling once more at the delicious smell.

“The CEO of one of my companies has been charged with murder.”

She gaped. “What?”

“Mmm.”

The sound gave nothing away.

“So…wow. What did you have to do?”

“Hire an immediate replacement. If it weren’t for the acquisition of our stake in your company, that would have been me,” he said with a tight smile.

Andie’s heart dropped to her toes at the thought of that. Of how close he’d come to needing to leave. But because it was important to her to hold onto her independence, and to show him that, she said, “Well, you could still go.” She tacked on some fluttering eyelashes. “I can keep you up to date via email.”

He laughed. “I’m sure you could.”

“I’m serious. Do you need to be there?”

“The trial will be long. A couple of years at least—it is a complicated situation. We need a permanent replacement, and fortunately, happened to find someone suitable. But it took a week, and in the meantime, I had to keep things running at the company.”

“What a mess.” She sipped her wine. “Do you think he did it?”

Max frowned. “I couldn’t say. The police seem to think he did.”

Andie nodded, eyes on Max’s face. “Is he capable of it?”

“Anyone is capable of anything, if provoked.”

“I don’t agree with that. Nothing on earth would make me hurt someone.”

His smile was slightly indulgent. “What about someone who hurt a person you care deeply about? Your brother or your father?”

Andie bit down on her lip. “I see your point. But while I mightwantto see that person hurt, I wouldn’t personally be able to do it.”

Max studied her for a long time. “I think you’re probably right.”

Andie leaned forward, food and her hunger momentarily forgotten. “Is that how you felt, after the accident?”

His eyes lifted to hers and clung, almost as if trapped by the intensity of her gaze.

“Yes,” he said, eventually, lips flicking into a frown reflexively, as though the agreement was the last thing he’d expected to give. “I was very angry. His recklessness had killed Antonio. Had deprived Megan of a husband and their baby of a father. And for what? Because he had drunk too much, driven too fast.” He shook his head with disapproval. “Of course I wanted to kill him. I was furious.”

Andie nodded, not wanting to speak lest it stop his flow of communication. She liked it when he talked, when he opened up to her. It felt…normal. It felt real.

“And then the trial came, and I sat face to face with him.”

Andie waited.

“He was pathetic. Young and very poor, and obviously terrified. I realized there were more victims here than I had at first comprehended. He wept all day. Andie, I have never felt—,” he stopped speaking, clenched his jaw, as if he didn’t want to admit it. “How could I feel sorry for the man who’d killed Antonio? How could I find myself wanting to help him?”

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