Pretending To Love Mr Hill

Chapter 1

"Congratulations!" my sister squealed through the phone. "You're engaged to the most eligible billionaire in the country!"

I stared at the diamond glittering on my finger and let out a long exhausted sigh, why me ??

Three weeks ago, Travis Hill barely knew my name, today, he had asked me to marry him and all because of that God damn file.

"I can hear you sighing from here," Cecilia said, amusement dripping from every word. "You do realize there are women out there who would sell a kidney to be in your position, right?"

I rubbed my forehead and groaned. "Then they are more than welcome to take my place."

She laughed so hard that I had to pull the phone away from my ear.

"I am serious, Ceci."

"I know you are, and that is exactly why this is so funny."

"There is absolutely nothing funny about this."

"You are telling me that the most eligible billionaire in the country asked you to marry him, and you expect me not to laugh?"

"He did not ask me to marry him."

"Oh?"

"He asked me to pretend to marry him."

There was complete silence on the other end of the line, she could tell her sister was trying and failing so heard to stifle her laughter

"So..." Cecilia finally said. "Let me make sure I heard you correctly. Travis Hill, the Travis Hill asked you to be his fake fiancée?

"Yes."

"The actual CEO?"

"Yes."

"The billionaire?"

"Yes."

"The man who has never publicly dated anyone?"

I don't understand what she's trying to point out so I groan

"Yes, Cecilia."

"And you are absolutely certain you did not hit your head today?"

I dropped my head against the back of the couch and closed my eyes.

"I wish I had."

"Oh, Amelia..."

"I am not joking."

"I know."

"I left his office less than thirty minutes ago, and I still cannot believe that conversation actually happened."

"I'm not even you but I'm confused too, what actually happened? start from the beginning."

"I already told you."

"No, you skipped everything important."

"I did not."

"You called me, screamed into the phone, said your billionaire boss wanted to fake an engagement, and then you went into a spiral of complaints, that's definitely not the beginning."

I sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that evening.

"It happened so fast Ceci."

"I have nowhere to be. Start talking."

I glanced down at the ring still resting in my palm, it was beautiful. It caught the light every time I moved my hand, almost mocking me.

"I walked into his office because he asked me to come back after the board meeting."

"Mhm."

"When I got there, Andre was standing outside. He opened the door for me and told me Travis was waiting."

"Who's Andre ?."

"His secretary, that's not the point Ceci"

"Sorry, sorry, go ahead "

"I walked in, and he looked... calm."

"That is somehow more terrifying."

"It was."

"So what happened?"

"He apologized."

I could tell Cecilia was frowning even if I could only see her, I couldn't blame her

"He apologized?"

"Yes."

"He actually used the words 'I'm sorry?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure this man is a billionaire CEO?"

I could not help smiling.

"Can I finish?"

"Go ahead."

"He said neither of us deserved to be dragged into the situation, but the board wanted answers. They were worried about investors, the company's reputation, and the headlines."

"And?"

"And before I could say anything, he opened a drawer, took out a small velvet box, placed it on the table between us and said he had a proposal.'"

"Oh my goodness."

"I thought he was joking."

"But he was not."

"He was completely serious."

"Oh wow?"

"He said that if we announced an engagement, the rumours would die down. People would stop calling it an affair because engaged couples are supposed to be together."

Cecilia was quiet for a moment.

"So he is marrying you to save face?"

I let out another long sigh. "Apparently."

She did not say anything for a few seconds then she spoke again, much more softly, from her tone I could tell she was serious

"Maybe this is not all bad."

I sat upright. "Excuse me?"

"Hear me out before you start shouting."

"I am already against whatever you are about to say."

"You have not even heard me."

"I know you."

She laughed.

"I do not think this is ideal, Amelia. I am just saying that there are worse situations."

"Oh really?"

"Yes."

"Please enlighten me."

"You have not lost your internship."

"I almost did."

"But you did not."

I stayed quiet.

"The company is trying to protect its reputation, and whether you like it or not, Travis is trying to protect yours too."

"I can protect myself."

"I'm not sure you can."

"But still I do not need him pretending to be my fiancé."

"I know."

"I definitely do not need the entire country thinking I am in love with my boss."

"I know."

"And I especially do not need to spend God knows how many months pretending to smile beside a man who barely smiles himself."

Cecilia laughed again.

"I was wondering when you were going to insult him."

"I am not insulting him."

"You just said he didn't smile"

"I said he barely smiles."

"Same thing."

I rolled my eyes."I cannot stand rich people."

"You are rich."

"You know exactly what I mean."

"I do, they always think they can solve everything by throwing money or power at it."

"And your father?"

"Our father you mean" I could almost hear her eyes rolling "and he is exactly why I think that."

"But you still love him."

"That is different."

Cecelia scoffs "ok"

I looked at the ring again, everything about today felt unreal. This morning, I had been worried about keeping my internship now I was holding an engagement ring that belonged to my boss.

Nothing about my life made sense anymore.

Cecilia's voice softened.

"You don't have to be scared."

"I'm not." I say quickly

"You have every right to be."

"I don't know what to do."

"You do know baby."

"I really do not."

"No matter what you decide, I am with you."

My eyes stung, it felt like I was going to cry "I know."

"You always have me."

"And you always have me."

I smiled a little

"Even if you become Mrs. Billionaire?" I groaned.

"Don't start."

"I am just practising."

"You are impossible."

"I am your favourite sister."

"You are my only sister." I pointed out

"And your best friend."

"Unfortunately."

She gasped dramatically.

"I cannot believe you would say that to me after I have been so supportive."

I laughed a real laugh for the first time all day, it lasted only a few seconds, then my phone vibrated I looked at the screen. It was Andre.

The laughter disappeared from my face.

"I have to go," I said quickly

"What's wrong?"

"It's Andre."

"Who ?? "

I swallowed.

"I'll talk to you later Ceci"

"Alright mama, bye"

"Bye "

"Love you, take care "

I don't wait to reply before I end the call to answer Andre's call

"Hello?"

"Miss Grant," Andre said politely. "Mr. Hill asked me to remind you that he needs your answer by nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

My grip tightened around the ring.

"I understand."

For the longest time, I simply stared at the diamond resting in my hand in less than twenty four hours, I would either walk back into Travis Hill's office and reject the most ridiculous proposal I had ever heard or I would agree to become the fake fiancée of the most eligible billionaire in the country.