Fake-Dating A Star

FOUR

Lila’s eyes blinked open, squinting against the sliver of early morning light filtering through the curtains. Her head throbbed, and it took a moment for her to remember where she was, to piece together the memories of last night. And then it all came flooding back.

The stranger, the drinks, the laughter, the s*x; he'd made her moan louder than she had in a long time. And though it had been enjoyable and all, her stomach tightened with a pang of regret as she took in her surroundings—luxurious but unfamiliar, scattered with her belongings in a way that made the night all too real.

Her dress was lying on the armrest of a chair she hadn't even noticed last night, and her little black thong was hanging on the nightstand just beside the bed. She groaned from embarrassment.

Was she any better than Matt? She had f****d a stranger the very second they had a fight.

She winced, easing herself out from under his arm. Her mind swirled with shame and guilt. She needed to leave as soon as quickly as she could. As quietly as possible, she began gathering her things, slipping her dress back on, stuffing her shoes into her bag. She froze each time the guy shifted or stirred, holding her breath until he settled back into sleep.

Just a few more steps and she’d be out the door, leaving this mistake behind her. But as her hand brushed the door handle, she heard him speak.

“Going somewhere?”

She froze, her cheeks flaming as she turned to face him. He was awake, propped up on one elbow, watching her with a lazy, amused expression. He looked effortlessly handsome, his dark hair tousled, his gaze sharp yet drowsy.

And that was when she placed where she had seen him. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She was staring at the 'cute' boy from the Christmas movie she had seen years ago. Only he wasn't a boy anymore, and he wasn't cute; he was hotly handsome. And she had totally f****d him.

"Holy s**t, you're Nigel Lancaster." She breathed.

He was a f*****g superstar.

His brow arched slightly as he watched her wordlessly.

“I, uh…” She stammered, clutching her bag to her chest like a shield. “I thought I’d head out. You’re… probably busy."

Of course he was busy; he was Nigel Lancaster. A famous actor, and she had foolishly f****d him. What was she thinking?!

“Busy?” he repeated, raising an eyebrow. “At six in the morning on a holiday cruise?

Lila’s face flushed with embarrassment. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him, to explain why she was so desperate to leave. But as she fumbled for words, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, reaching for his wallet on the bedside table. She stared, horrified, as he pulled out a couple of bills and held them out to her.

“Here,” he said, offering the cash casually. “For last night.”

Her eyes widened, her face going pale. “Excuse me?”

He glanced at her, confused by her reaction. “I thought—”

“No!” she said, her voice cracking. He thought she was a w***e! “No, I am not… I didn’t… You think I’m some kind of…?” She clenched her jaw, anger replacing her embarrassment as she threw her bag to the floor. “I didn’t sleep with you for money! I didn’t even recognize you till now!"

Nigel’s gaze shifted, a mixture of amusement and surprise. “Aren't you the girl Shaylin sent?"

She shook her head immediately. He had been expecting someone else, that explained why he had been so quick to f**k her. How could she not have noticed? She groaned.

"No? Then why'd you let me f**k you?" Nigel asked.

"I was hurting, okay?" She bit out. “I just found out my boyfriend was cheating on me during a holiday cruise he planned for us. He even told me it was my fault.”

She laughed bitterly, but it was more like a sob. “And in that moment, I hated myself. I hated that I had ignored the cracks in our relationship, that I’d settled for someone who never actually cared. And I hated that I was so… hurt.”

Talk about over sharing.... But she couldn't help it, she was a mess right now.

Her voice faltered, but she forced herself to finish. “Last night was… I don’t even know what last night was. But it wasn’t because I’m…” She gestured to the cash in his hand, glaring at him.

Nigel paused, his expression softening as he slowly lowered his hand, slipping the bills back into his wallet. He watched her carefully, his amusement gone, replaced by something almost unreadable.

“Well,” he said after a moment, his voice surprisingly gentle. “That’s… quite the story.”

Lila swallowed, feeling a mixture of anger and embarrassment at her outburst. “You asked,” she muttered, rubbing her arms as if to ward off the shame and confusion that clung to her like a fog.

“Yes, I did,” he said, nodding. He seemed to study her, and for a moment, she wondered if he was about to apologize. Instead, his mouth curved into a slight smile, one that was oddly… sinister. “You know, I find you interesting, Lila.”

She raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “Interesting?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “In fact, I think we can help each other.”

She crossed her arms, torn between curiosity and annoyance. “Help each other how?”

He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with the same mischief she’d glimpsed last night. “You could get back at your boyfriend and probably get him back if you wanted if you played the right cards."

Lila’s brows knit together, trying to follow his train of thought. “What are you suggesting?”

“A little arrangement,” he replied, his voice as smooth as the silk sheets on his bed. “We can pretend to be a couple—just for the rest of the cruise. Everywhere he goes, there I’ll be, making him wonder what he missed out on. And you, my dear, will be on the arm of someone he definitely didn’t see coming.”

She felt her stomach flip, a mixture of excitement and trepidation at the idea. “Friends with benefits? Fake dating? You’re… you’re serious?”

He shrugged casually, leaning back against the headboard. “Why not? I’ve got time to kill, and you clearly have a point to prove. Besides,” he added, his voice dropping to a murmur, “I’m rather enjoying this whole revenge angle. It’s… refreshing.”

She hesitated, her mind racing. The plan was reckless, borderline ridiculous, and yet… she couldn’t deny the appeal. Matt’s words echoed in her mind, his indifference, his disdain. If he thought she was boring and predictable, maybe she’d give him a holiday surprise he’d never forget.

She took a deep breath, meeting Nigel’s gaze head-on. “Fine. Let’s do it.”

His smile widened, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. “Good. This should be fun."