The Billionaire's Fake Girlfriend: The Billionaire Saga, #2

Chapter 1

THERE MARCUS WAS, PROMISING me eternal love in a room full of people. He asked me to marry him on bended knee full of emotion. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve fallen for it myself. It came back to me stilted, in broken fragments. Like a child watching from beneath a table—the memory was unreliable but the image was there. The collective gasp from one side of the room, perfectly timed with the rush of cold air from the other as someone opened a door. And me, stuck in the middle, feeling like all the oxygen had been sucked off the stage.

I wasn’t sure why he didn’t discuss this with me. I was completely taken by surprise. Everything was so beautiful. And this was exactly how I would have loved to get proposed to if it was real.

But this wasn’t real, I reminded myself.

He did this for the shock value. He wanted me to look shocked. And boy, had he pulled it off. Did he not trust in my acting abilities? Everything seemed to be a blur.

What I do remember, quite clearly, was the series of micro-expressions that transformed Marcus’ face as I stared at him hard. How dare he do a public proposal without going over it with me first? We didn’t have an official script for this fake weekend getaway. But dag! Proposing to me? I said I would be his fake girlfriend. We never agreed that I would be his fake fiancée. But being the terrific actress I was, I acted shocked. Okay, I was shocked, so that didn’t take any acting. I gazed into his eyes and mustered up all the emotion I could as a tear slipped down my cheek. I so totally got into character.

Yeah, I told him I’d bring home the Oscar.

Oh, Marcus, I breathed out.

He gazed deeply into my eyes while a backdrop of cascading fireworks boomed. It was some kind of laser light show.

Yes! I squealed. I would love to marry you! The answer is yes!

He slid the sparkler on my finger and I stared down at the glittering ring.

Wow! It was the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen.

This is the most romantic thing you’ve ever done, I said as another tear rolled down my cheek. It’s so sweet and flattering that you’d do all of this for me.

I love you, Rebecca. I’d do anything for you.

I know that. I really do. You’re everything I ever wanted and more.

He wiped away another tear from my face. I played the part of happy future bride as he lowered his lips onto mine. The entire room exploded with clapping. Flashing bulbs snapped all around us. People cheered and clinked glasses in celebration. Everyone was so happy for us. I’d never seen anything like it.

"Did he just propose?" I heard a woman off to the left say.

Yes, I thought. He fake proposed to me. It’s all pretend.

We toasted, and I played the part perfectly as I smiled like I was the happiest woman on the planet. Countless people congratulated us. I said thank you and pasted on the biggest smile. When the attention died down, I made my way to the door.

Rebecca, Marcus said, chasing after me. I can explain—

Is there somewhere private where we can talk? I asked.

Never in my entire life had I been so caught off guard. Not when my father walked out on us when I was twelve, not when the Giants lost the World Series. Not ever.

He took me to a private, secluded room and shut the door.

What were you thinking? I screeched before he had a chance to reply.

Please, he held up his hands. I can...I can fix this.

You have done quite enough.

I kept turning to the door, kept turning to leave, but every time I put my hand on the knob to open it, I ended up turning back with more things to say.

"I mean...what did you think was going to happen!"

He ran his hands up helplessly through his hair. I didn’t know what I thought would happen, he admitted. Mr. Takahari was having doubts. So I upped the ante. I figured a public engagement would convince him for sure... I thought it would buy me time to—

You can’t throw surprises like that at me. My voice was abruptly soft and low. I don’t like being caught off guard like that. We should’ve talked about it. Because a proposal wasn’t in the deal. Am I supposed to go along with this? Do I lie to my family and friends too? I can’t let them be happy for me and fake happiness in my own personal life. That’s not fair! I can handle being your fake girlfriend, but not your fake fiancée. You so crossed the line. If my mom finds out about this, she’ll be beyond upset I didn’t tell her I was in love.

No, this wasn’t fair to you, and I apologize for that. It was a last-minute decision.

You said all I had to do was give you the girlfriend experience in public. And I did that. I even went above the call of duty and kissed you. Not once did you ever mention plopping a ring on my finger.

You can have the ring.

Bonus pay for saying yes?

Yes. You know I will pay you for all your valuable time and any blunders I’ve caused in your life. I’ll pay you anything you want.

Your money won’t stop my mother from flying down here and giving me the third degree. This little ploy of yours has spilled into my life big-time.

I wish I could take it all back, he said. I wasn’t thinking clearly. Was the proposal over the top?

No. It’s what any girl would dream of. I glanced down at the gorgeous ring. My expression softened. "It was the perfect proposal. You’ll make some girl very lucky one day...that is, if you ever settle down."

Thank you. And thanks for happily accepting, and not kicking me in the groin.

It was part of my job. Even if you took it a step too far. So I wouldn’t have kicked you. I only kicked you when I thought you were offering me some kind of indecent proposal. And I only Maced you because I was scared I was about to get mugged. I swear I’m not a violent person. I’m glad it all worked out for you. I didn’t want to see you lose that deal. I was really rooting for you. You deserve another chance. Just like your pet peacock, Eduardo.

You did a fantastic job. You pulled it off like the skillful actress you are. Thank you. And don’t worry. This engagement is nothing permanent, he exclaimed quickly, cocking his head toward the ballroom. By the end of the week, they will have forgotten all about us.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall, I literally glared them back into hiding.

What’s wrong? he asked.

Nothing.

You’ll be able to get back to your normal life soon. This was all fake. It wasn’t real. It was just an acting gig. And yes, I shouldn’t have crossed the line without discussing it with you, but you’re an actress. I figured you could handle it. Good actresses can handle anything thrown at them. Besides, you told me you were at the top of your class in impromptu acting.

Acting at the spur of the moment is my specialty. I hope I proved that tonight.

When you teared up, it made me start to tear up. You’re a natural.

"Was all of it fake?" I asked.

Yes, of course it was.

We kissed. Was that fake too?

You said you were going to bring home the Oscar. And I think you did just that. My image consultant said people are already saying good things about me. Our engagement is really helping. People love that I’m marrying you.

Rich guy marries poor girl. It’s every girl’s dream. I see why the story is so sensational.

Yep. Our kissing escapades meant absolutely nothing to Marcus. It was just a way for people to see him in a better light. He was truly a playboy at heart. He just enjoyed kissing a girl. I should’ve never crossed the line either. We should’ve kept it strictly business. I could’ve played the part without diving into a passionate kiss. Maybe I told him I was just trying to sell this relationship, but deep down inside, I knew it was more.

What was I thinking?! How could I let my feelings get involved? I couldn’t fall in love with every actor I kissed. Okay, I was an idiot. I was hired to be an actress, but it turned into something more. It hurt to know he thought our kisses meant nothing. Yes, I said they were fake too. But darn it, I felt emotion. How could he not feel that? He kissed me passionately and intimately. I thought chemistry of this magnitude couldn’t be contained, and I just let go. It’s like his kiss touched my soul.

I didn’t want to think about this anymore. I needed to leave...right now. This situation had gotten way out of control.

Can I go home? I asked.

He looked like I’d stabbed him in the gut. His mouth opened and closed, but for possibly the first time since I’d met him, the great Marcus Taylor could think of nothing to say. There was a knock on the door, but neither one of us acknowledged it.

Mr. Taylor? It was Niles again. Mr. Taylor, we need you to come back to the party.

Marcus’ eyes flickered to mine, but I just shook my head with indifference, feeling suddenly apathetic and numb. Moving almost robotically, I reached up and yanked the priceless diamonds off my neck and dropped them on the desk next to me. They fell with a disapproving clatter, lying like shards of broken glass between us. Our eyes rested on them for a moment, and when we looked back up, my face was hard and sure.

You were paid to be an actress, he said. That was an added bonus.

And I delivered, didn’t I? I thought I looked pretty happy.

You did a wonderful job. And I can’t thank you enough. We’ll go home tomorrow and you can go back to your life. You’ll never have to see me again.

So that’s all I get? A handshake and a pat on the back?

You’re being paid very well.

I blew out a long breath. Yes, thank you for reminding me.

You took this acting job and did a great job. I don’t understand what’s wrong.

We kissed.

That wasn’t expected at all. But it was an added bonus. A very nice one. It really made everyone buy it.

Then let’s cut the charade while we’re ahead. You got what you wanted, and I got what I wanted. I touched the bracelet one last time. You can keep the bracelet. Turns out, I don’t want anything to remember you by.

I slid the ring off my finger and slowly handed it to him as he frowned. I left without another word. Left the whole mess behind me. Left it for him to clean it up.

I have no idea what he ended up saying to everyone, or to Takahari and his aides, or to the ballroom of people for that matter. I didn’t care. This wasn’t my world anymore, and it certainly wasn’t my problem. It was time for me to go home.

The good thing about a crowd of people is that they all seem to swarm in the same direction. I was able to slip out a side entrance and get on the path back to the bungalow without anyone being the wiser. Once inside, I took a quick glance around to take stock. Marcus would be here soon—as soon as he battled his way through the people in the ballroom—and I certainly didn’t want to be here when he did.

I grabbed my oversize purse from the coffee table and flitted quickly around the little cottage, stuffing it to the brim. Aside from raiding the minibar for my flight home, I took only what I came with. The treasure trove of little dresses and bikinis Marcus had purchased for me stayed right where they hung in the closet. I even left my new bottle of sunblock behind because he had paid for it at the gift shop. In the end, all I had were two shirts, a skirt, a pair of sandals, and my passport. The rest would be left behind.

Without stopping to think, I called a cab and headed to the private airstrip. By now, it looked like a futuristic stable. A dozen or more jets and planes were parked in neat