AUDREYHe's crazy if he thinks we're going to sleep together; I haven't even agreed to share the same room. This is a sneaky plan. I flinch a bit when I focus my attention on him. Is he undressing?"Hey!" I reply immediately. "What on earth do you think you're doing?" I cover my eyes with both hands."Well, undressing, people don't shower with their clothes on," he explains as if what I'm asking is foolish."Yes, but not here," I free one of my hands to gesture. "That's what the bathroom is for," I'm not sure if I'm pointing correctly, but I don't care."That's not the bathroom door; it's the bedroom door," he corrects me."Well, you better go through that door instead," I firmly demand."Why? This is my room, so if anyone should leave, it's you."Ah, now he's kicking me out? First, he said we should do this together if we didn't want the truth to come out, and now he's saying this. I think even he doesn't understand himself.I hear the sound of footsteps moving away, followed by a do
AUDREY"Why don't you two go out for a few hours?"the gray-haired woman with a kind smile suggests. "Come on, son, take her out to dinner, a movie or a dance.""You know I don't dance, and the dining options in Brisbane aren't very suitable," Daniel replies."If you mean they're simple and not as fancy and elegant as the ones you're used to in America, I'm pretty sure your girlfriend won't mind," Tabby winks at me.Without really getting to know me or spending a lot of time with me, she can already discover certain things that I like. I prefer simplicity a thousand times over something elegant where pretentious people pretend to be happy with their millions. Right now, I might be faking it, but it will never be happiness through money.I force a smile when he strokes my arm and pulls it to get closer to Daniel, who was watching his grandmother and me closely."Come on, take it," he insists, forcibly offering me his hand, which Daniel kindly takes. "Go out and have fun tonight."We hav
AUDREYIt seemed that dawn had already arrived; I could hear the birds singing and a gleam that I can deduce is filtering through the curtains of the large window.I slowly open my eyes, and as I do so completely, I remember where I am and where I slept. It couldn't be true; I couldn't have fallen asleep against his chest. I was supposed to have gotten up after he fell asleep, but I think I was the one who fell deeply asleep first.It was... so relaxing to sleep in his arms that I didn't realize when I actually drifted off.Oh God, no.I turn abruptly in the bed, the sheets tangled from my waist down. I realize that my breasts and abdomen are exposed, covered only by the thin fabric of my nightgown that barely manages to conceal me.I pull the white sheets to cover myself up to nearly my face and survey my surroundings. My left side of the mattress is empty; I touch the spot where Daniel was sleeping earlier, it's warm, indicating that he didn't get up long ago.I remain in a daze for
AUDREYI slump into the seat at my desk in front of my computer. It's still hard for me to believe that I'm the girlfriend of my boss, the CEO of Crawford. And it's not just me; I know it's the same for everyone in this building, and maybe even the whole town. It's strange for people to see us together.Although we usually avoid being seen together in public, unless it's a work-related social event. And I'm thankful that Daniel hasn't made any attempts to drag me to places just to show off our fake relationship.I need to be clear about this. My mind needs to think that this is just a plan with a single purpose: to deceive Daniel's father so that he keeps his position as the CEO.Part of me feels like a traitor and ungrateful. Anthony Crawford always looked out for me in some way, even though I was just an employee. That man is honest and charitable to his staff, and I was no exception. That's why I feel bad; his kindness toward me increased, and I even started to think that he cared
AUDREY"Bittersweet candy, that's you!" I raise my voice. "And stop calling me that, stop playing with me."I shouldn't have said that last part, but I didn't think before speaking, damn it."Play?" he pretends to think. "In what way, sweetie?" he emphasizes the letters when he pronounces that stupid nickname, he gave me."Don't call me that," I mutter under my breath. "And you know what I mean."I didn't even know it myself. Playing was part of the plan, right? But not playing with me, we were supposed to play the game together."You haven't even let me get closer to you, how am I supposed to play with you?" he raises an eyebrow."Pervert," I mutter. "I'm not talking about those kinds of games, but your lovers, like the one who just left," I point to the door the blonde woman exited from earlier.He leans back in his chair and rests his arms on the edge of the desk, closing his eyes as he watches me."Are you jealous, by any chance?" a glint of something highlights in his eyes, then
AUDREYThat idiot and womanizer, who does he think he is? He'll never have me, because Daniel is not the kind of man I want to be involved with.Yes, call me old-fashioned or whatever you want, it's possible that I'm not a virgin, but I don't just give myself to a man for experimentation or a one-night stand. I do it when that person means something to me and I mean something to him.I still haven't lost hope that someday that man will come and sweep me off my feet, that he'll mean something to me, more than just a one-night stand.Even though Nelly always tells me to experiment before getting into something serious with someone or before thinking about marriage, for me, the crucial thing is getting to know each other while sharing great moments and realizing we're meant for each other.Is it really that hard to find someone to experience something like that?I sigh as I take a sip from my Cookie Monster-shaped mug and enjoy my lukewarm coffee.I feel terrible, not because of what I d
DANIEL"Tell your little girlfriend she should be more accessible. I won't be joining you for dinner either today. What excuse will you come up with for your father now?"I was this close to canceling, using work as an excuse, but as always, my persistent mother, who never gets tired of being so, insisted that I hadn't visited them in days and that it could affect my relationship with my father now that we're somewhat closer. Even she doesn't believe that.I don't like the way my mother talks about Audrey. I've never been rude to her, and I don't want to lose respect for her now.She can't believe that Audrey is my girlfriend, no matter how many times I've told her it's not a scheme of mine or a ploy to gain the company. Eventually, I confirmed that she's my real girlfriend, not a fake relationship like she's assuming."And you could be a little more considerate with my girlfriend," I say through clenched teeth with each word.My mother can be really exasperating at times. I know her
AUDREY "Is this for real? Aren't you kidding with me? Nelly is still in disbelief over my confession. I'm sure she doesn't believe me because she knows I would never accept a crazy thing like that. "It's not a joke, I'm talking as seriously as when I told you about Tobby" reminding him of his cheating ex-boyfriend is already history, he has camouflage and I know perfectly well that it no longer affects him as it happened at first. He makes a gesture of disgust, probably for memorizing it. "I'm sorry" still, I apologize for bringing that up. "That doesn't matter anymore, he's already moved on to another life" he makes an unimportant gesture "But then if what you're telling me is true. "I nod, open my mouth with an O. "And I'll pay you something? A million dollars even. He threw the sofa cushion at her and she catches him in the air before he hits her face. "Of course not!" scream. "You know me and you know that I would never do something like that for money. "So, for sex?" he mov