FAKE: An Enemies to Lovers Standalone Romance

by Sarah J. Brooks

  “Okay, so you dumped me because I was real.” He seemed amused by this.

  “Partly.” My heart began to thud in my chest.

  I had to confront him, but I could barely speak about it without wanting to cry.

  “And the other part is?” He leaned in, all dominant and amused.

  “You’re an asshole.”

  “How did you figure that out?” Now he was less amused.

  “You bought the building we were going to use as our crisis center today, and you must have known that Every Dream was the only other bidder on that property.”

  Oh, my God, I was definitely going to throw up.

  I started choking and guzzled more water. I had to get home, and as far away from Alec Blair as I could.

  “I have a reason for buying that building, Kylie.” His voice remained calm though heated slightly.

  “Was your bid on me tonight to make up for buying it? If so, thank you, but the problem is, we’ll never find a building that size for a price we can afford.” I was about to tear into him, but he stopped me.

  “I’ll lease it to you.”

  Chapter 16

  Alec

  The look of shock on her face was priceless. The moment was almost as good as I had fantasized.

  “Why? You’re a billionaire, why lease me the building when I could have bought it myself? I had the money, but now …” Her face reddened as she grew angry.

  “It’s two hundred years old. I have the building report as I’m sure you do too. You knew what you were up against when it comes to that building. Broken windows, bad plumbing, an outdated electrical system. In order to get the building up to code, you’d spend every single dime you’ve made here tonight to fix it up just enough that the city doesn’t condemn it. Does that help anyone? No, you’d have a barely renovated derelict building that you couldn’t afford to inhabit. I have the resources to do the work on the building and this leaves you tonight’s proceeds and whatever you’d saved up as a down payment to get your foundation up and running properly.” It felt amazing actually doing something good and for a woman, I had more than a passing interest in knowing more intimately.

  “Why would you do that?” The look of shock and bewilderment on her face hurt a little, but I handled it.

  “It feels good to do something altruistic. More importantly, I believe in what you’re trying to accomplish. If you can get at least one of those kids off the streets, it would be worth it. What’s a couple of million dollars to the price of human life? And I expect hundreds of lives will be changed by what you’re planning to do. Foster kids don’t get adopted after a certain age and then the statistics really become appalling. How many are in jail, on drugs, dead? You don’t have the collateral to help these kids at the moment. I do.” I took a sip of my drink and let the warmth of my triumphant moment wash over me.

  “Why did you pay so much for me? You didn’t have to, especially after buying the building …” Her voice trailed off into confusion, and she looked like she might cry.

  “Let me ask you. Why did you run away from me? I want the real reason. I know you gave me your answer, but why did you stay away?” I never got nervous around women, but my heart slammed against my chest. I was actually terrified of what she might say.

  She looked down at her plate of salad she hadn’t touched. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

  “I didn’t ask for an apology. I would like an answer, please. I’ve tried to devise one on my own, and I just can’t. I’m the catch of the century according to Cosmopolitan Magazine.”

  “Maybe your ego might be part of the problem.” She laughed for the first time all evening.

  “My ego isn’t the issue. You knew the immensity of it the moment you recognized me in the bar. So …” I stared at her beautiful blue eyes that had widened with stress.

  I didn’t want to be causing her such alarm and yet, I needed to hear the truth.

  “But you aren’t really that bachelor, are you?” She started timid and shy at first, but her courage built as she spoke. “You were too intense. I couldn’t ... I …”

  “Did I hurt you?” I suddenly worried.

  “No, but you would have.” Her eyes met mine, and my blood ran cold.

  I knew exactly how I could hurt a woman like Kylie.

  A fragile bird with a feigned strength that protected her from a world that was always clamoring for more. I could find the chink in the armor and bring her down. She had to be brought down so she could live and not always be in the fight, but by doing that it would mean I’d also have to fall, and I couldn’t allow that. In knowing my own weakness I better understood hers.

  “You only want sex. Actually, you don’t want just sex, you want a weird, submissive all-consuming sexual exchange that lays me open and makes you feel powerful. You got a taste and wanted more. The problem was, you wanted to open me up and then just leave me bleeding when you were done. I like you, Alec. I’m unreasonably drawn to you. I could give a shit about your billionaire status, but there’s something about you. Like that building, you might charge me too much for it and the fact that I don’t know if you will scares me. You aren’t real, and what we had that one night wasn’t real either, but you were there. I saw a glimpse of you. I liked who I saw, and it scared me too, so I ran because Alec Blair doesn’t do relationships, he fucks … and I ... I’ve been fucked over before.”

  Her feelings and bombshell observations crashed all over the table, waylaying both of us.

  “Excuse me, Kylie.” Our waiter interrupted us, though neither of us had finished our salad. “Sue Sararkian wants to take some pictures with you, and there’s a line of people who are asking for a moment of your time.” The panicked look on Kylie’s face had me wanting to rescue her despite her just laying my moral character out flat and stomping all over it.

  “Tell them she’s leaving.” I stood up and offered her my jacket.

  She was still wearing a gorgeous wedding dress. I knew she’d have clothes somewhere, but I didn’t care, I was getting her out of the spotlight. We had a lot more we needed to discuss.

  “No, it’s okay,” she interrupted me.

  “Tell them she’ll follow up with them in a few days. Also please gather her things and have them ready for us. I’m calling a car now.” I pressed the app for my car service and gave Kylie my coat despite her protests.

  I was going to change this narrative, but I had to be on my turf.

  “I don’t want to go home with you,” she whimpered as I brushed her cheek with my finger while putting my coat on her.

  “You will be going home with me; what we do there is up to you, but it's the only place where I feel comfortable speaking honestly, and I won’t have you leaving me tonight until you hear me out.” I didn’t know why I was angry, well not angry, determined.

  I was not going to lose her again.

  “Fine,” she relented.

  As we stood and approached the door more flashes and people milled about us. We walked outside and were assaulted by paparazzi.

  “Is it true you spent a million and a half dollars for a date with Kylie Morgan?” A reporter shoved a mic in my face.

  I ignored them and pulled my jacket over Kylie’s head to protect her from the onslaught. As soon as we were in the car, I let her out from under the jacket’s protection. She shook out her hair and tried to stuff her dress into the seats so it wasn’t so everywhere.

  “That’s gonna end up on the nine o’clock news.” She seemed so disappointed.

  “We can’t just have some fun with this? You, well not you, but Kylie Morgan has done this several times ... she can handle it.”

  Her expression fell, and she turned her head as she watched the masses of people rush the car.

  “I was hoping ... things would be different.” I hated the disappointed look on her face.

  “I know. I’ve noticed. There are fewer men, less skin ... a more dignified wardrobe. I’ve been watching.” I reached out and took her hand. “W
hat do you think I’m going to do to you?” It truly hurt that she had such a low opinion of me.

  “Nothing you haven’t already done to others ... I just. I don’t want it.” She turned to me. “I want something real. I’m sorry. Now you know. Can you drop me home?” Her beautiful face was so marred by tears, something deep was upsetting her.

  “I paid a lot for the night with you. Please let me take you back to my white palace.” By the flash of anger that floated over her sorrow, I knew that wasn’t the right angle to take.

  “I’m not a whore!” Her face crumpled into a scowl.

  “Yes, we’ve established that you’re far from it. What I meant is, I have you until ten. It’s nine-thirty. I’m asking for at the very least, a half an hour more of your time. I won’t try to seduce you or coerce you, but I just want a chance to talk. If you choose to extend that half hour, I’ll take whatever you’ll allow me.” That was as much honesty as I’d given anyone and about as vulnerable as I was willing to get.

  “Okay.” A tiny smile peaked through the tears.

  “Thank you.” I brought her into me and pulled a tissue from my pocket to dry her eyes.

  For the rest of the ride, we didn’t talk. She seemed so tired and overwhelmed. She must have had such a long day with all the preparations for the event; she may have welcomed the quiet comfort I offered. When we went up to my penthouse, she could barely keep her eyes open as she stepped out of her dress and flopped down on my couch wearing her underclothes. She had on a boned bodice and a pair of lace panties over a pair of sheer white tights. I guess she was so over wearing the wedding dress she didn’t mind being half-clothed in front of me.

  Unfortunately for me, seduction was not her motivation for undressing. As soon as I brought a light snack to the coffee table knowing she was hungry and hadn’t eaten at the event I saw she’d fallen asleep on my couch. I stood staring at her for a moment noting her innocent beauty before lifting her into my arms and taking her to the bed. I carefully removed her bodice and forced myself not to fondle and enjoy her lovely breasts. I had noted that she was gaining weight, which I adored. Finally, her belly had a tiny curve, and her breasts were fuller. I left her panties where they were and wrangled her into one of my T-shirts. I unclipped the hair extensions she wore and her short hair spiked out in all directions. I did my best to smooth it back for her own vanity, though I doubted she had any.

  I then tucked her into the covers and set an alarm for six in the morning, remembering she said she had a photoshoot. I wasn’t sure if that was the truth or not, but better to have been safe than sorry. I wasn’t tired; I was on fire and was hoping I’d be having sex with her at least one more time. I brought my laptop to bed and worked while I watched her serene features as she slept peacefully. She tugged at my heart so hard. I vowed I wouldn’t let her go. I even thought about following her to the photo shoot. No doubt the press would be all over us for the next few days. It wouldn’t be strange for them to trail us, but it wasn’t something Kylie wanted or was ready for.

  Somewhere around two in the morning, I put away my work and forced myself to go to sleep. The alarm bludgeoned my head, and I flailed my arms to assault the offending noise with my forearm, and I found the space where Kylie was supposed to be empty. I opened my eyes to see her getting out of the bed. Panicked, I lunged across the mattress and grabbed her arm. She screamed and tried to wrench it back, but my hold was too strong.

  “No, no, no, you are not walking out on me again.” I tried not to sound menacing.

  Her breathing escalated as she stared at me, a little bird in the mouth of a vicious predator.

  “Let me go,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes again.

  What had her so sad? So on edge?

  “I’m not going to hurt you,” I said but didn’t let her go. “Just give me a chance.”

  She stared at my hand and tried to twist out of my grasp.

  “Please.” She struggled in earnest, and so I got up out of the bed.

  Standing next to her, I towered above, so I let her arm go, knowing the threat my mere size implied, but I stayed close enough to grab her arm again if I had to.

  “What are you so afraid of Kylie?” I was angry now ... damn me.

  “You! I’m afraid of you!” She stood strong but didn’t look me in the eye.

  “Why? Because you want me to be real? You don’t like eating turkey off my cock? I’m a billionaire ... I heard you. I’m willing to work something out, but I need to know this is going to be worth it. I don’t want to be another person on your agency’s list of people ‘Who Kylie has pretended to fuck this year.’ If I’m going to put myself out there, you will have to as well.”

  There was an awkward moment of silence between us as she stared at the floor gathering her wits. She sniffled, and I almost offered her a tissue when she turned to me, shaking.

  “I’m pregnant.” She looked up at me with big glossy eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  Shit

  “The baby is yours. I haven’t been with anyone in two years. I can get you proof if you need. I’ll take a DNA test. I don’t need anything from you,” she spoke as she bent her head back to the floor.

  I’d never seen her confidence so low.

  “Are you going to keep it?” As soon the words were out of my mouth, I knew how horrible they were.

  “You don’t have to worry about the baby, and we’ll find another building. It’s fine. Just leave me alone, Alec ...” At that point, she raced into the living space and grabbed her bag sobbing.

  “You can’t get into a cab wearing my shirt and your underwear. Take a shower ... get dressed, hold up a minute.”

  She threw on a pair of jeans from her bag and stepped into her shoes.

  “I’m fine.”

  She raced to the front door, and if I wasn’t naked, I would have run after her, but she needed time.

  My chasing her wasn’t going to help, and I had just been delivered a sucker punch to my heart and head. I had to take a minute too.Chapter 17

  Kylie

  I finally cried. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I hadn’t cried. I had just bottled up all of my emotions and kept them tightly inside. Seeing Alec again was bringing up all kinds of sad and unwanted feelings. I knew when he bid on me at the auction my life was about to blow up. I had to face the fact that my whole existence was about to change. I couldn’t hide it anymore. So, I went home to tell my roommates. They would give me strength, and from there, with their love, I could figure things out.

  As soon as I walked in, Avery was on me immediately. Upon noticing my tears, which I couldn’t get to stop, she went ballistic.

  “I’m going to kill him. Seriously, Kylie, give me that motherfucking asshole’s address. I’m going to razor blade his face.” I think she was serious.

  “No, it’s not like that.” I tried to calm her down.

  Madison heard the commotion and came out to see what was happening.

  “Ah, Kyle ... what happened?” She rushed to me and offered a warm hug. “We love you, you know that, right?” Her reassuring question was odd.

  “I know,” I said through my sniffles.

  “So, when I say this, you aren’t going to get mad and storm out?” She pulled away from the hug to look at me.

  “Yeah,” I wondered where she was going with the line of questioning.

  I hadn’t been out with a man for two years; she couldn’t be mad with me for wanting to date someone, could she?

  “So, um ... you’ve been pretty sick and not eating, but you’ve still gained a little weight. You’ve been emotional, pale, quiet. You hold your stomach, and I don’t think you even know you’re doing it, so ... perhaps your tears are because Alec didn’t like the idea of being a father very much.”

  Her sweet smile offered support, but the fact that she’d figured out I was pregnant worried me.

  If Madison could detect it, how long would it take the rest of the world to know?

  “No jud
gment,” she added.

  “No shit, Kylie, are you pregnant?” Avery, of course, was shocked. Though I worked with her every day, and she had measured me a few hundred times for the wedding dress, she never figured it out. “I just figured you were finally filling out; you were always a late bloomer.”

  “I didn’t give him a chance to say anything, but he didn’t stop me from leaving. He’s Alec Blair, he doesn’t want a baby. Especially with me. That’s not how these things work.” I plopped down on the sofa feeling horrible, drained, hungry … and more lost than I’d ever been.

  “He just paid a lot of money to eat dinner with you; I don’t think it’s like that.” Madison sat beside me and touched my knee. “It’s been three months, and you didn’t tell him or us, maybe he’s just in shock.”

  “He’s all about power. Having a baby with this week’s sex kitten isn’t his thing. Until last night, he hadn’t told anyone he knew me outside of being a generous benefactor. Hell, last night he was a generous benefactor. He can spin this all to make him look like a hero, and I’ll just be a slut.” That was it, the damn burst again … “For real this time.”

  “Oh, my God, Kylie, we’re having a baby!” Avery plopped down next to me, missing the point entirely. “Don’t cry. You have us. You don’t need that bastard.” Even the word bastard made me cry more.

  “I’m an idiot …”

  I could hardly breathe when he called.

  I glanced at my phone and just let it go to voicemail.

  “You don’t think you should answer it?” Madison asked, being the pragmatist as always, no wonder she was on Wall Street.

  I was happy it was Saturday; no one was rushing off to work. They could stay with me and just hold my hand through this.

  “He’ll leave a message.” I laid my head back on the sofa as my world spun around and around.

  “Or he’ll show up.” Madison’s face crumpled with worry.

  “No ... not this time. There’s no chance he’s gonna wanna hit this again.” I laughed, delirium must have been setting in.