Fake Dating With My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 11 Final Decision

Gabrielle

I walked back to Oak Manor in a daze, my bare feet dewy with grass. Caleb was in his study, the golden glow of his desk lamp spilling into the hallway. I slipped past without him noticing, my heart pounding with a secret I couldn't bear to share.

That night, I lay awake in my childhood bed, staring at the ceiling. The moonlight cast silver patterns across the walls. But sleep wouldn't come. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Nathaniel's face-serious, unwavering, offering me something I desperately needed but couldn't quite trust.

What if he was right? What if this was the only way to keep Vance at bay?

And what if, somewhere beneath the calculated words and the businesslike proposal, there was something else-something Nathaniel refused to name?

The thought unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.

The next morning, I found a text from Nathaniel waiting on my phone.

"Thought you should know-I had the gallery locks upgraded last night. New keypad code is your birthdate. 0115. Let me know if you'd like to change it."

I stared at the message, my coffee growing cold in my hand. He'd moved fast. Efficient, practical, exactly the kind of man who'd plan a fake relationship down to the last detail. But there was something else in the gesture-something protective that made my chest tighten.

Then, as I was about to reply, another message came through. This one wasn't from Nathaniel.

"You think you can hide from me? I know where you work.You're going to pay for what you did to me, Gabrielle. I'll make sure of it."

My blood turned to ice. The number was unfamiliar-another burner phone, another attempt to claw his way back into my life. I blocked it immediately, but the damage was done. My hands trembled as I set down the phone, and the familiar knot of fear tightened in my stomach.

Vance wouldn't stop. He'd made that painfully clear. The gallery confrontation had only fueled his desperation, and now he was circling like a wounded animal, more dangerous than ever.

I needed protection. I needed someone with the resources and the will to stand between me and a man who had nothing left to lose.

And Nathaniel had offered exactly that.

By the time I arrived at the gallery that morning, I'd made my decision. My hands still shook slightly as I unlocked the new keypad-*0115*, my birthdate-and stepped into the quiet space. The familiar scent of linseed oil and old paper greeted me, steady and grounding.

I found Nathaniel in the back office, reviewing documents on a tablet. He looked up as I entered, his expression carefully neutral.

"Gabrielle. You're early."

"We need to talk." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "About your proposal."

Nathaniel set down the tablet, giving me his full attention. "I'm listening."

I took a deep breath, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess them. "I'll do it. I'll agree to the arrangement. But I have conditions."

He didn't smile-no triumphant gleam in his eyes, no look of satisfaction. Instead, he nodded slowly, as if he'd been expecting this outcome but had prepared himself for the alternative. "Tell me what you need."

I sat across from him, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. "First, Caleb can't know. Not yet. If he finds out we're lying to him, he'll never forgive us-and he's already been through enough with me. I won't put him through that."

Nathaniel inclined his head. "Agreed. We tell him when the timing is right. Not a moment before."

"Second, I need boundaries." I met his gaze, trying to ignore the way his dark eyes seemed to see straight through me. "We're playing a role, Nathaniel. In public, we act like a couple-convincingly enough to fool everyone. But in private, we keep things professional. No blurred lines. No confusion."

Something flickered across his face-too quick to read. "Of course. What else?"

"The arrangement lasts one year. At the end of that year, we go our separate ways, no questions asked." I paused, my voice catching slightly. "And I don't want compensation. Not money, not favors. This is mutual-you help me, I help you. That's all."

Nathaniel studied me for a long moment. Then he reached into his briefcase and pulled out a folder, thick with documents. "I had my legal team draft this last night. I figured you'd want to see it before you committed."

I blinked, startled. "You planned for this?"

"I told you-I've been thinking about this for a while." He slid the folder across the desk. "Take a look. The terms are all there-confidentiality clauses, a clear end date, provisions for exiting the agreement early if either of us wants to. I also added a section about public appearances, family obligations, and protocol for handling any media attention."

I opened the folder, scanning the dense legal language. It was thorough-almost unsettlingly so. Nathaniel had thought of everything: monthly public events, mandatory family dinners, a shared social media strategy, even a protocol for "affectionate gestures" in front of cameras.

"You really did plan this out," I murmured, half in awe and half in disbelief.

"I don't like leaving things to chance." He leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed but his eyes watchful. "I want this to work, Gabrielle. For both of us. That means getting the details right from the start."

I read through the document carefully, my finger tracing the neat rows of text. The confidentiality clause was strict, the non-disclosure agreement comprehensive. If anyone discovered the truth behind our arrangement, both of us would face significant consequences-a detail that made me pause.

"Who else knows about this?" I asked, glancing up.

"Just my legal team, and they're bound by strict confidentiality. No one else." He paused, his gaze steady. "And I intend to keep it that way."

I nodded slowly, my thoughts churning. The contract was comprehensive, fair, and carefully designed to protect both of us. And yet, as I reached the final page, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was signing away more than just my freedom to pretend.

"You said one year," I repeated. "What happens after that?"

Nathaniel hesitated-a tiny pause, almost imperceptible. "We renegotiate, or we end the agreement. Whatever makes sense at the time."

Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten. I told myself it was just nerves, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. But deep down, I knew there was something else-a flicker of hope I couldn't quite extinguish.

I signed the document with a steady hand, my signature looping across the final line. Nathaniel signed beside me, his handwriting sharp and decisive. When it was done, he slid the folder back into his briefcase and extended his hand.

"Then it's official. I'll have the final copy sent to you by the end of the week."

I shook his hand, his grip warm and firm. "I'm trusting you, Nathaniel. Don't make me regret this."

"I won't." He held my gaze, his voice low and sincere. "I promise."

That evening, Nathaniel arrived at Oak Manor for dinner. Caleb greeted him with an easy grin, clapping him on the shoulder like the old friends they were. I watched them from the kitchen doorway, my heart twisting with guilt.

"So," Caleb said, pulling out a chair at the dining table, "I hear you've been spending more time at the gallery, Nate. Checking up on my little sister?"

Nathaniel's expression remained neutral, but I caught the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes. "I have a vested interest in the gallery's success. The art market is volatile, but Gabrielle's taste is impeccable. She's been running the place efficiently."

Caleb raised an eyebrow, looking between us. "Careful, Nate. You almost sound like you're flirting."

I felt heat rush to my cheeks. "Caleb, don't be ridiculous."

Nathaniel, however, simply shrugged, his voice perfectly level. "I'm stating facts. If that sounds like flirting, I suppose you'll have to get used to it. I intend to keep paying her compliments."

The words hung in the air, deliberate and teasing. I shot Nathaniel a warning look, but he returned it with an innocent smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Caleb laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Just don't forget she's my sister. I'm protective."

"Noted." Nathaniel's gaze flicked to me, and for just a moment, something unspoken passed between us. "I'll be on my best behavior."

I spent the rest of the dinner making small talk, keeping my voice light and my gestures casual. But beneath the surface, my mind was racing. We were already playing our roles, already weaving the first threads of our deception. And though the contract was signed, I couldn't help but wonder-was I truly ready for the game we were about to play?