My Billionaire Fake Fiance: A Romantic Comedy (Beaky Tiki Series Book 1)

by Elyse Riggs

  I make up my mind. Somehow, I have to convince her that I care about her. But where do I start?

  Then I get an idea. I go back into the bedroom and grab my cellphone. I text the board of directors. Then I text Mark:

  I want you to know that I just resigned my position as CEO for personal reasons. I know that when you opposed me, you did it because you felt it was best for the company. With that in mind, I give you my full and public support for the position.

  I hesitate for just a moment. Then I hit send. I expect a wave of fear and dread, which never comes. Instead, I feel relieved. For the first time since I can remember, I’m fully in charge of my own destiny. I just hope that Kaylee will join me on this journey that she set in motion.

  It feels really good, like the beginning of something new.

  My next call is to the real estate agent. “Yes, Fred? Remember that little cottage that I pulled the offer for? Well, it’s back on the table. I’d like it today, if possible. Okay, you check with the owners and get back to me.”

  That doesn’t sound certain enough for me at all. I need this for my plan to work. I decide to sweeten the deal. “Okay, tell the owners that I’ll pay twenty-five percent over asking price plus owner’s closing cost. Cash. But only if the deal gets done today.”

  Fred is so excited that he practically hangs up on me. I take a deep breath. I’m still feeling nervous about winning back Kaylee, but I’m feeling better and better about all of this new me stuff.

  Okay, Chase, what’s next? Coffee. Coffee’s definitely next. I make a cup while I consider what to do next.

  There’s a knock on the door. I answer it. Of course, it’s Ashley and Liam. I step aside to let them in.

  Liam’s got crazy eyes as he barges in the door. He starts yelling. “Chase, Mark’s gone mad. He’s spreading crazy rumors about you resigning so he can take the CEO job for himself. What are we going to do?”

  I walk toward the ocean side couch and tilt my head for him to follow. “I think you’re going to have to sit down, brother.”

  He sits. Ashley trails behind, interested. But she doesn’t sit.

  “Remember last night when Kaylee’s friend said that thing about me not liking my job? That was true.”

  As I’m saying the words, the irony hits me that Kaylee, who I’ve known for only a few days, knows me better than my friends, co-workers, and even family. It makes me miss her even more.

  “What?” He asks, surprised. “Then what the hell was all of this for? This whole weekend?”

  He has a very good point. I shrug. “I guess it was about winning. And I know now that’s wrong.”

  “You do?” Ashley breaks in, “what’s going on with you this morning, Chase? You quit the company just when you finally get the promotion, and now you admit being wrong.”

  She stops to eye me with suspicion. “Are you having a mental break? Because I know an excellent place where you can get help.”

  She pulls out her phone. “My friend, Eva, went there and she’s always talking about how much it helped her. I can get the number for you.”

  “I’m okay,” I tell her. “Really. I’m just seeing things more clearly. And I’m going to try to get Kaylee back.”

  “Shut the front door!” Ashley shouts. “That’s so fucking romantic!”

  She yells it too loud. I’m still slightly hung over and now I need some ibuprofen. And more coffee.

  The two of them are looking at me like I’m crazy, and I don’t blame them a bit. “I have a lot of things to do. But first, let’s get some breakfast.”

  “Here, here. I’ll second that,” Liam says.

  Chapter Sixty-One

  Kaylee

  I wake up in my crappy apartment. It’s an unhappy event. In my poor apartment’s defense, though, anything is going to be a letdown after Chase’s Royal Suite.

  And I miss him. Which sucks, because by now he’s long gone.

  Hey, at least I have a decent job. That was really nice of Ralph.

  Getting that job was a fortunate turn of events for sure. That being said, going to any job is the last thing I want to do today. What I want to do is curl up in a little ball and feel sorry for myself, but that’s not going to happen.

  I force myself to get up and take a shower, hoping to shed the heaviness that I feel inside. The shower doesn’t help, and neither does the coffee. It’s just going to be one of those days.

  Instead of driving, I decide to walk. It’ll take a lot longer, but maybe it’ll clear my head.

  A few minutes later, I’m outside in the fresh air. It’s hot, but there’s a breeze, and being outside usually helps my mood.

  Ten minutes into my mid-morning walk on the beach, holding my shoes and sweating under the sweltering sun, I officially regret my decision to walk to work.

  I pass the Royal St. Tropic. So much has happened there the last few days. It’s like I can imagine him still here somewhere, waiting for me to run into him. As much as I fight it, the image of his sea-green eyes and that adorable dimple pop into my mind.

  But that’s an image from back when we were getting along, when I thought that maybe we had something. I can’t believe how wrong I was.

  About Chase. And about walking to work. I’m seriously regretting my decision now, between the heat of the summer sun and the reminders of Chase Covington everywhere.

  Oh well, the only thing I can really do is get to Ralph’s restaurant. There is work to be done, after all.

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  Chase

  Room service delivers breakfast and I make coffee. I down some ibuprofen and start feeling better.

  Ashley finishes a bite of her pancake and catches my attention by waving her fork at me. “Hey, please tell me you have a good plan to win Kaylee back. I like her. And not just because of the chocolates.”

  ”I’m working on it,” I answer. A few minutes later, I’m full from breakfast and ready to get started.

  Chapter Sixty-Three

  Kaylee

  Once I get to the restaurant, things get better. Even though I’m early for my shift, the place is already busy with cooks and waitstaff getting ready to open.

  There’s even a spot in the back of the kitchen set aside for me and it’s all ready to go.

  I wave hi to Ralph and get to work making pastries. At the resort I always had to go for volume. But pastries at a fancy French restaurant will be even more fun to make. I can take my time and craft each one special.

  Honestly, it’s different and kind of fun. I lose myself in my work.

  So does Ralph. Unlike mornings at the resort, where he always looks stressed during the morning meetings, he now looks relaxed and happy. He goes from station to station overseeing everything before eventually settling in. The change looks good on him.

  It’s still the calm before the storm, though. Soon the doors will open with paying customers.

  I concentrate on making the fancy eclairs and other pastries needed for the day.

  By the time the doors open, I survey the pastry counter. It’s full and enticing. Ralph appears behind me and gives a nod of satisfaction. “Nice work, Kaylee. There’s no way I’d have been able to get another pastry chef on such short notice. I was too busy getting everything ready to open.”

  “I’m glad to be here,” I answer, “I think it’s a really great fit. If you’re happy with these pastries, I’ll make a few more trays of each and put them in the cooler. Oh, and Ralph?”

  He lifts an eyebrow at me.

  “Happy grand opening.”

  Chapter Sixty-Four

  Chase

  I’m getting more and more nervous as the day goes along. My life doesn’t feel complete without Kaylee and I have no idea what I’ll do if this doesn’t work.

  My first stop is to an out of the way jewelry store. I had to call half a dozen of them to find what I’m looking for. In the end it’s worth it. More than anything, I want to see her again. To tell her how sorry I am about everything. I wonder
if she’ll take me back?

  The gnawing at my insides only grows more intense as I get back to the resort. That’s when I head straight for the pastry shop display.

  I’m halfway there when I remember that they fired her. Shit. I’m sorry about that, Kaylee. Then I also remember what she said about her Plan B.

  Back into the car I go, and now Raymond is speeding toward the Banana Burger. I jump out and run inside.

  Only, when I do get inside the restaurant, I don’t see her. So I ask around. The consensus is that Kaylee isn’t here. I slump into a chair, not sure what to do next.

  Then a woman I haven’t seen before makes her way out to the dining area after whispering to the drive-through guy, who points at me.

  She crosses the dining room to where I’m sitting. “Hey, aren’t you that Chase Covington guy?”

  I rise and shake her hand. “Nice to meet you, um…”

  “Sally,” she says. Then I notice that her cheeks are flushed, and not in a good way. Uh-oh.

  “You’re asking about Kaylee, right?”

  “Yes!” A glimmer of hope rises in me. “I thought she worked here now. Do you know where I can find her?”

  “Not a chance,” she says, her expression turning hard. “I know you, you’re that Covington guy. She told me all about you. She’d still have her pastry chef job if it wasn’t for you. You have a lot of nerve expecting me to tell you where she is.”

  I exhale. And worry creeps into me. What if I’m too late to make up for the last couple of days? It doesn’t matter, I still have to try. I stand. “Please, I’m looking for her so I can make it up to her.”

  Sally shakes her head at me. “No way I’m going to sell her out after what you pulled.”

  She turns and all I can do is watch her walk away. Now what am I going to do? It feels like my heart just got ripped out of my body. I know how this looks. And I know I hurt her. All I want is a second chance.

  I head back outside. There has to be another way. I find myself shuffling through the parking lot when I pass a young woman employee hanging out by a side entrance. Even she gives me the stink eye. I continue past because what’s the point in engaging?

  “Hey,” the woman says.

  I look around, but I don’t see anyone else. She must be talking to me. “Are you talking to me?” I ask.

  “Yeah, you. Are you really trying to get back with Kaylee?”

  “Yes,” I admit, even though I’m suspicious of why she’s asking. I stand there waiting for the other shoe to drop. She looks like she’s considering telling me something. I feel a flicker of hope. “I promise that I’m just trying to find her to apologize.”

  She glances behind her to make sure there’s nobody else around before turning back to me. “Well, all I’m going to say is that I just took a second job at a brand-new French restaurant over by the beach. And let’s just say they have a killer pastry chef.”

  Chapter Sixty-Five

  Kaylee

  Lunch time sneaks up on me. Before I know it, I’m walking across the warm sand back toward the Beaky Tiki.

  Whatever else is happening in my life, at least I’m getting plenty of steps in.

  I’m not going to lie to myself and pretend that I’m fine. But at least I have the wind at my back, the ocean to my left, and my friends in front of me.

  Shit. I’m last again. I grin as I get to the table. Then I sit and grab my water, taking a long sip after the mid-day walk.

  When I look up, Fi and Angie are both staring at me. Abigail is there too.

  “Hi, Abigail!”

  All three are staring at me like they share some kind of secret. “What?” I ask, wondering what the hell is going on now. Pretty much all the drama of the weekend has been about me.

  But today is Monday, maybe it’s somebody else’s turn to have a crisis. “Did I miss something? Abigail, is everything okay?”

  “Your boy came by last night, after you left,” Fi says.

  It takes me a moment to process. “My boy? Did you all hit your head or something?”

  “Chase,” Angie says. “She means Chase.”

  I smile and then laugh out loud. On one hand, it’s a little soon for them to be messing with me about Chase. But on the other hand, it’s kind of funny. “Funny, guys. You almost had me going there for a minute.”

  “No, seriously,” Fi says. “He came here looking for you.”

  “He was mad about you giving back the money,” Abigail says.

  “Oh yeah?” I ask, surprised. “Well too fucking bad. Hey, wait. His flight left yesterday afternoon.”

  Angie grabs a chip. “Well, he wasn’t on it, then.”

  “No kidding,” I say, not sure what to make of the whole situation. Judging by the looks on their faces, they are still holding out on me.

  “Wait, there’s more?” I ask.

  Fi waits for me to take a breath. Her serious expression doesn’t change. That can’t be good.

  “Look, Kaylee. Remember when I called you last night? About Peter?”

  “Oh yeah. What a dick.” It’s such a relief to talk about somebody else’s man-child problem.

  “Well, I was going on and on about how much he sucked and what a rich prick he was, right?”

  I nod.

  “And that people only suck up to him because of his money.”

  “Yep,” I grab a chip. “I remember.”

  “And how rich people are the worst and spoiled and shallow and how we hate them and such?” She raises an eyebrow.

  She is hitting this point pretty hard, even for Fi. “I remember.”

  “Well, Chase apparently overheard just one side of that conversation.” She finishes.

  “Okay,” I say, dipping my chip and chewing. Then I slap myself in the forehead. Making myself choke on the chip. I cough and sputter and grab my water.

  My friends look concerned and I can tell they’re wondering whether they should Heimlich me, shake me to figure out the meaning of the dick Peter phone conversation, or call 9-1-1 because I might pass out from lack of oxygen.

  “I’m okay,” I wheeze through coughs. It gives me another minute to think. Then I suck in a deep, chip-free breath and exhale.

  “Shit, Chase must have heard that conversation and thought I was talking about him. Because it was after that particular conversation that it all went to shit. Great job, guys. Mystery solved. Then what happened?”

  “Oh, after that, Chase and his brother and his sister left.”

  I take another sip of my drink. “Good story.”

  The last thing I want to do is think or talk about Chase Covington, so I’m glad that’s the end of that conversation.

  And yet, when lunch is over, he’s the only thing on my mind when I make the trek back across the beach to get to work.

  Chapter Sixty-Six

  Kaylee

  The rest of the afternoon goes by quickly. I craft the delicate pastries with loving care and then shove them into the freezer.

  I also find it ironic because Chase would freaking love these pastries. They’re head and shoulders better than the assembly line pastries I used to make at the resort.

  I’m grateful that the place is busy today, it keeps the time moving by quickly. Trying not to think about Chase turns out to be a productive place for me. Before I know it, I’m filling up the freezer with several days’ worth of gorgeous pastries.

  Feeling accomplished, I slide the last tray into place and walk back to my area of the kitchen. I glance down at my watch. Day one is almost over. I guess it’ll be back to my apartment to eat ramen noodles and watch television tonight. It isn’t much, but it’s familiar. And it’s mine.

  I clean up my area, organizing everything for tomorrow.

  Chapter Sixty-Seven

  Chase

  As soon as I leave Banana Burger and start researching new French restaurants by the ocean, my phone buzzes again. It’s Fred. The real estate deal got approved. All I have to do is drive across town and sign the
papers.

  I get in and tell Raymond the address. Things are finally looking up. Now I know where Kaylee is. And when I find her, I’ll have the keys to the cottage.

  As soon as I sign the papers, I continue searching for new French restaurants. Bingo. There’s a little place called Ooh Lala. And I’m in luck, it’s not far from here.

  Raymond gets us there in a hurry. I have him park on the street out of the way since I want to surprise her.

  As I exit the car, the knot in my stomach returns. I can’t remember ever being this nervous.

  I walk through the parking lot in the heat of the afternoon sun and pause outside the door. Here goes nothing. My chest tightens. I open the door and go in.

  A little bell chimes as I enter. Customers mill around, and I’m happy for the cover. My eyes dart around the room but I don’t see her. Maybe she’s in the back somewhere.

  I try to figure out what to do next. Then I hear the door open behind me and I have to decide. Do I order to-go and hope I see her while I’m waiting?

  When I do see her, what then? Do I ask her to take a break like I did before? That didn’t work out so well for her last time.

  There’s a throat-clearing sound behind me and I get out of the way to let the other customers pass. As soon as they walk past me, I see Kaylee. She crosses from a back room in a chef’s coat. She’s adorable in a chef’s coat. It makes me smile.

  I should call out, run to her, something. But I can’t. Suddenly I can’t speak at all. This is not right. It can’t happen like this.

  And then, as soon as she appeared, she’s gone again. Seeing her solidified in my mind all of the things I want to say to her, all the things I want to be for her. But not like this. I can do better than this.