FAKE FIANCÉE FOR MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

ing late

f Vinz Hotels' flagship location, my heels click-clacking ag

her thing to str

ke from the front desk. "Cu

mile. "Save me a muffin

et one aside for you

over my shoulder, already r

zzed, and there are shadows under my green eyes that even my trusty concealer couldn't quite hide. But my

my personal life might be, I refuse to let it affect my work. As Head of Events for one

s working for the most infuriat

onference room, my mind already racing through today's to-do list. There's the

Goo

r. That voice. Deep, smooth, and cold as ice.

. "Good mornin

eccably tailored, emphasizing broad shoulders and a trim waist. A blood-red tie provides the only splash of colo

ose eyes. Or those h

ing the unwelcome thoughts. "I w

t too long? "Try not to make a habit of arriving at the last minu

arrassment and annoyance. "Of course

cent of his cologne-sandalwood and something spicy-teasing my sens

y hot, incredibly arrogant boss who you happened to have mind-blowi

s, I follow Vincent

_____________

ten rounds with a prize fighter. These quarterly review meet

etching endlessly before me. Someday, I promise myself, I'm going to take

screen lighting up

s appointment go

drama that I'd almost forgotten about my sister's doctor visit th

ck in a meeting.

e wants to put it off, to live in blissful ignorance for a few m

ring. "Hey, sis! I was w

, twirling a strand of hair a

to make my stomach clench. "Well,

aby sister still hasn't outgrown her morbid sense of humor. Us

me promise, but..." Another pause. "They want to try a more aggressi

the air between us, loaded wit

ask, already dre

y. "I'll figure something out. Maybe I can

to focus on getting better, not working you

dy done so much. The house, the medical

asking, I'm offering. That's wha

of money or mortality. By the time we hang up, I feel hollowed

ine outside my window. The numbers dance in my head, a g

nting medical bills, my savings account is looking decidedly anemic these days. I'm already working e

me out of my spiral. "Come in,

ueberry muffin like a peace offering. "T

k smile. "You

in the chair across from my

five years ago. He's seen me through breakups, family drama, and more than one Vinc

ing the muffin gratefully. "Just typi

t he doesn't push. "Well, if you change your mind, I'll be drowning my s

I've got a mountain of

s he passes. "Don't work too hard, Penny. The ho

ment to slump forward, forehead resting on my desk. Get

There has to be a solution here. Maybe I can pick up so

Hotels' biggest charity event of the year. I've been planning it for months, calling in every

s, eager to flaunt their wealth for a good cause. If I could somehow wi

's too risky. If Vincent found out, I'd be fir

imes call for desper

aybe I can discreetly ask around, see if anyone needs a plus-one for the night. I

miss the ping of an incoming email. My hear

t fresh he

f, I click op

Good

e immediately. We have an

Fl

years I've worked directly under Vincent, I can count on one hand the number of t

irt and checking my reflection on my phon

_____________

Years

ballroom has been transformed into a winter wonderland. I weave through

agne,

holding out a flute of bubbly, a rare smile playing at the

ut seeing him like this-bow tie slightly askew, a faint

," I demur. "Still on

brow. "I won't t

m to smolder in the low lighting. Or maybe I'm just tired of being the respons

, clinking his flute against mine. "Y

rare praise. "Thank you, Mr. F

honey, sending a shiver down my spine. "I thin

d suddenly I'm seeing a whole new side of my usually stoic boss. He's funny and charming, even reg

bridezilla client, and the next, his lips are on mine, hot and insistent. I know I should pus

essed moans. When I wake up the next morning in Vincent's bed, hea

eak of that

_____________

eart hammering against my ribs. It's probably nothing, I te

ver's waiting for me behind that do

reath, I raise