THE BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND GIRLFRIEND

CHAPTER SIX- THE SURPRISE ARRIVAL

After hanging up on Damien, Chloe paced her hotel suite, replaying Damien’s phone call in her mind.

This was ridiculous.She’d said no.

Firmly, clearly and without hesitation. She wasn’t going to play pretend girlfriend for Damien Sterling, no matter how much money he offered.

She didn’t care about his family breathing down his neck, or that he had practically swallowed his pride just to ask. It wasn’t her problem.

And yet…She sighed, tilting her head back.

Forget the whole thing, nagged at her.Why did she feel bad? Why did she feel like she’d made a mistake?

Something about his tone- resigned, almost vulnerable – lingered in her thoughts. Chloe groaned, rubbing her temples. “I should just mind my business.”

But instead of staying put, “Ugh.” she dressed up, grabbed her purse and walked out of the room.

Nathan had just stepped into the hotel lobby when he spotted her. She wasn’t just waiting - she was waiting for him. Before he could process it, Chloe stepped forward, blocking his path with an unreadable expression.

He halted mid-step, blinking at her in surprise.

“Miss De Luca,” he greeted cautiously, adjusting his suit jacket. “To what do I owe this unexpected ambush?”

Chloe exhaled. “I can see you guys really investigated me. You’re Damien Sterling’s secretary right? I need his address.”Nathan blinked. “Yes and friend…Come again? His address?”

She shifted on her feet, regretting this already. “I-” She hesitated, then squared her shoulders. “I need to get there.”

Nathan stared at her for a second, then a slow smirk curved his lips. “The pretend girlfriend? You don’t say, I thought you declined.”Chloe rolled her eyes. “Changed my mind. Are you going to help me or not?”

Nathan exhaled, tilting his head. “Do you usually track people down in hotel lobbies and demand their addresses?”Her patience thinned. “Look, I don’t have time for this. If you won’t help, I’ll find another way.”Nathan hummed, considering her. “Well, that sounds dramatic.”She clenched her jaw. “Mr. …” Nathan chuckled “ Nathan Vaughn, but anyways relax I was just curious. But you’re really set for this, huh?"

Chloe didn’t respond, only met his gaze steadily.Nathan sighed, reaching into his pocket. “Alright fine. But if this backfires, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”Her phone buzzed a second later.

She glanced at the screen, the back at him. “Thanks.”Nathan watched her turned to leave, then called out, “You sure about this?”She hesitated for half a second but didn’t look back. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”With that, she walked away, leaving Nathan shaking his head slightly, amused yet intrigued.

As Chloe approaches the Sterling Court, she glanced at the gifts she bought and a smile left her lips but it disappeared as it came when she remembered that she doesn’t know what was pushing her to help Damien.

She got to the gate and was stopped by the security.“Miss, this is a private property.”Chloe sighed, realizing she’d underestimated how high-security this place was. “Um, I’m here to see Damien.”

The guard gave her a blank look. “Do you have an appointment?”She bit her lip, then took the gamble. “I’m his girlfriend.”The security guard’s brows lifted slightly. “The young master?” Chloe nodded, trying to appear confident. “Yes, Damien Sterling.”

The guard gave her a scrutinizing look, his hand lingering near the radio clipped to his belt. “Do you have an appointment, miss?”Chloe hesitated. She hadn’t thought this far ahead. Would Damien even let her in if she called? Would he refuse outright? Her fingers tightened around the gift bag, and she forced a small, nervous smile. “I wasn’t exactly planning on stopping by, but it’s…personal.”

The guard looked unimpressed. “I see. I’ll need to confirm with Mr. Sterling.” He reached for his radio.Panic flickered in Chloe’s chest. If he asked Damien, there was a high chance he’d deny knowing her-after all, they weren’t exactly close. And claiming to be his girlfriend? That was reckless.

Before the guard could speak into his radio, she blurted out, “Actually, Nathan! Nathan Vaughn knows me. You can ask him.”The guard narrowed his eyes, considering, before nodding. “Wait here.”Chloe exhaled quietly as he stepped away to make the call. Now all she could do was hope Nathan wouldn’t throw her under the bus.

STERLING MANOR

The grand dining hall of Sterling Manor was suffocating as Damien had expected. The rich scent of roasted lamb and aged wine did nothing to settle his irritation.

Seated at the head of the table was Reginald Sterling, his grandfather-the true patriarch, a man whose gaze could unnerve even the most seasoned businessmen.

To his right sat Alexander Sterling, Damien’s father, ever composed, his expression unreadable. Eleanor Sterling, his grandmother, occupied the seat to Reginald’s left, sipping her wine with quiet amusement, clearly entertained by the night’s unfolding events. Besides his father, Isabella Sterling, his mother sat with an air of quiet determination, watching him closely. And Damien? He was placed across his mother leaving a seat vacant beside his grandmother.

This was no simple family dinner.This was an ambush.

“Damien,” Alexander finally spoke, his voice measured. “You know why we’re here.”Damien leaned back, fingers drumming against the table. “To back me into a corner.”Reginald chuckled. “If that’s how you want to see it.”Before Damien could responds, a maid stepped forward from the doorway.

“Excuse me, madam, your guest has arrived.“Damien frowned. "Guest?“

The double doors opened, and in walked a poised, elegant young woman in a tailored dress. She smiled graciously as she approached the table. "Clara Hamilton," Isabella introduced smoothly, her lips curving.

"The lovely young lady we mentioned." Damien´s jaw tightened. Of course. The blind date. He should have known.

"Miss Hamilton," Eleanor greeted warmly gesturing toward the empty seat between her and Damien. "Please, join us."

“Good evening, everyone.” Clara said as she settled herself gracefully, her eyes flickering toward Damien with polite curiosity.He exhaled sharply, already preparing for a long, miserable evening.

When his phone vibrated against the table.Nathan.Frowning, he picked it up. “What?”Nathan’s voice held a distinct note of amusement. “You have a surprise visitor,” Nathan said, barely hiding his amusement. “She says she’s your girlfriend.”

Damien lowered the phone from his ear, staring at the screen like it had grown legs.Isabella narrowed her eyes. “Who is it?”Damien ignored her, bringing the phone back up.

But before he could brace himself, the maid reappeared. “Another guest has arrived, sir.”The family exchanged confused glances.

The doors opened once more, and this time Chloe walked in.

Chloe walked in gracefully confidence in every step, her silk blouse tucked neatly into a fitted skirt that accentuated curves in the right places. Heels clicking against the marble floor. A vision of effortless elegance.

But it wasn’t her outfit that caught Damien’s attention- it was the fire in her eyes, daring him to react.In her hands, she carried a small collection of elegantly wrapped gifts, a soft contrast to the fire in her eyes. She paused just inside the doorway, allowing her eyes to sweep the room with a cool composure before they landed on Damien.

“Good evening,” she said her voice calm and poised, with a hint of warmth that made it impossible to ignore her presence.

Damien’s jaw tensed, his dark eyes narrowing slightly, though he didn’t say a word. His mind, however, was racing. ‘What the hell was she doing here after rejecting my proposal? Is this the ‘surprise’ Nathan mentioned? Did she change her mind because she found out who I really am? The possibility simmered in his thoughts, making him frown. I’m sure Nathan had something to do with this. He knew about her arrival.

“And you are…?” Isabella prompted, her voice smooth but edged with curiosity.Chloe smiled, unruffled by the subtle scrutiny.

She stepped closer, stopping just near Damien’s chair, and set down the neatly wrapped gift bags she had brought on the table.