Pretend Affair With The CEO

003: BE MY FAKE BOYFRIEND

~~Hazel~~

“So, I'm guessing your new name is Hazel,” Jace says as soon as Zoey is out the door with her fresh coffee. His tone is laced with amusement. I roll my eyes and walk to the sofa. “Did you keep your last name?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Ouuch.” His hand flies to his chest in mock agony. “You’re just as I remember. A rude crybaby.”

“I am not a crybaby.”

“Says the same person who was bawling her eyes out less than ten minutes ago.”

I expected him to mock me with that term sooner or later. He didn’t disappoint. Ignoring his jab, my eyes fall on the camera hanging from his neck again. “You’re a photographer now?” I question. “Shouldn’t you be at a board meeting in your dad’s fancy corporation? Bossing people around?” Not crashing into my life when the last thing I need is someone that knows too much about me.

His expression contorts into mild irritation. “The nepo baby narrative. I haven’t heard that one in a while.”

Jace had been the embodiment of youthful exuberance back in high school, yet he always got off the hook. The principal treated him like a golden egg who wasn’t to be messed with. Everyone wanted to be friends with him because of his father's influence. He looks like he has lost his immaturity, but the class that comes from being born into wealth clings to him.

“I left, moved abroad, stayed there for years.” His shoulders rise and fall in a nonchalant shrug. “And now I'm back.”

“What!” How can he say it so lightly? Like leaving such a perfect life is normal. I’d give anything to be an heiress. If I was one, then maybe Noel wouldn’t have dumped me the way he did.

My curiosity is eating me up, but I suppress it. Even though I have so many questions, it’s not in my place to ask.

“Wow, Claire," he exhales, sinking into a chair nearby. “Seeing as you didn’t notice that I was gone, maybe leaving was the best thing to do.”

I ignore the way hearing my former name makes me feel. How long was he gone? The last time I saw him was in high school, that fateful night that changed the trajectory of my life. I had been too focused on my own predicament to notice anything around me afterwards.

I push the unpleasant thoughts to the back of my mind, glancing at a clock mounted above the door. “Let’s talk about work, Mr Callahan.”

His brow arches at the sudden switch back to professionalism, but he doesn't say a word.

“We’re spending a week overseas covering a destination wedding.”

“I’ve been terrified of all that.”

“Our job is to observe, blend in, and catch the most memorable moments.” My throat is suddenly parched. I take a deep breath, reaching for my collar to adjust it. Jace frowns slightly.

“You don’t look thrilled about this assignment.”

“I’m fine,” I insist, but the way my nostrils flares indicates something else. I dip my head to hide the tears that are rushing back to my eyes. Jace leans back in his seat, watching me in silence.

“I can get Zoey to pick someone else for it.”

A scoff escapes my lips. “You’re just a photographer hired for this project, do you really think you have influence over her? Besides, I need the bonus that will come with this gig. I can handle myself. I just need…”

Oh my god! What is wrong with me? I haven’t even seen Noel and his fiancee together in real life and I can't hold my tears already.

“Hazel.” My name trolls off Jace's tongue with a seriousness that makes my heart skip a beat. His face is clouded with concern, thin creases on his forehead. “What is wrong?”

And before I can stop myself, I let it all out. “My boyfriend is the groom. Ex boyfriend, since I just got dumped. He’s getting married to someone else, and I'm forced to watch him slip a ring on her finger after spending the last three years of my life thinking I had a future with him. I’m not sure I'm strong enough to endure that, Jace."

I realise I've been rambling and clamp my lips shut, breaking out into sobs again. This is insane. I shouldn’t have unloaded all that information on a man I haven't seen in so long, but it feels undeniably good to get it off my chest. I wipe at the tears as heat crawls up my face. If Jace notices my embarrassment, he chooses to ignore it because he’s staring at me with a deep scowl etched on his face.

“That’s why you were crying,” he murmurs, his tone laced with something I can’t place my finger on. Fury? Contempt? “You shouldn’t go on this trip.”

“No!” My voice is sharper than I intend. I have lost Noel, but I can’t lose my job too. I can’t let this breakup weigh me down and make me pass on an opportunity like this. “I’m taking the job, Jace."

He leans back in his seat, regarding me with an intensity that makes it difficult for me to meet his eyes. “Okay, then. If you insist, then you should at least make it worthwhile."

“What does that mean?”

“You’ll be stuck with me anyway. Instead of looking like a loser in front of the man who dumped you for someone else, why don’t you make him know that he isn’t the only one who knows how to move on fast?”

I blink, taken aback. What the hell is going through his head. He surely isn’t suggesting what I think he is, right? “You want us to pretend to date?”

“For the trip, yes.” I open my mouth to protest, but he cuts me off. “Don’t overthink this. It’s just to save face.” His eyes trail over me. “You’re not exactly the type of woman I'd get into relationships with, but I'm willing to do this for you because we’re acquainted.”

A forced chuckle rips past my throat. “I wouldn’t date you either, for your information.”

He smirks, a glint of doubt in his eyes, but he doesn’t push it. “Good. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, tell me what you think about my offer?”

It was tempting, I couldn't deny that. I think about being alone on that trip, surrounded by everyone in Noel's circle, mocked by them. It’s way too frightening for me to imagine. If I'm going to concentrate on work while I'm on the cruise, I need something to take my mind off my boyfriend– ex boyfriend and his bride. Jace is the perfect distraction. Being with him will also shut some mouths up.

And to make things better, he doesn’t seem to have an idea of the case I was involved in all those years ago.

“What’s in this for you?” I narrow my eyes at him. There’s no way he’s going through all this trouble for nothing, even though he hasn’t mentioned it yet.

“A favour,” he replies casually. “One I'll state when the trip is over.”

For some reason, it feels like I'm getting into something deep, but I brush off the apprehension. What's the worst that can happen?

I should turn it down. Go home, pack for a trip that will probably be the most unforgettable adventure of my life. Cry myself to sleep while hugging a bottle to my chest. But instead, I succumb to temptation.

I give Jace a slow nod, new resolve building up in me. “Fine. Be my fake boyfriend, Jace Callahan.”