Chapter 1:

Six years later,

“I am sorry, Miss. Roberts, but we’re going to have a pass on this one.” Mr. Hilton, one of the major investors in the gaming industry, just straight on rejected my proposal for a new game. 

The meeting room suddenly feels chilly and my mouth is hung open, due to the fact that I worked hard just to secure a meeting with Mr. Hilton only to be rejected on the spot. I look at Kathy, my assistant standing beside me and she has the same look of shock on her face.

I turn towards the slide that just projected the demo of the game I am about to launch in a few months. “But Mr. Hilton, was it the game? Did you not like it?”

He adjusts his cufflinks a bit, at fifty-five; he led gaming companies to their success by investing in them. 

“Miss. Roberts, your game is impressive, but your competition is quite fierce and investors like me aren’t just looking for impressive games that will lead to global success, we want stability. A family-oriented future.” Seeing the glittering wedding band on his finger and also the fact that he’s a father to triplets, one of his daughters being my closest friends, I know he isn’t playing around.

I force a fake smile, my jaw clenching tight. “Mr. Hilton, I started building my gaming company the moment I was out of college and now Eclipse Studios has been ranked the second best gaming company in all of New York, it proves that I don’t need a partner to succeed.” I am seething internally but he just gives me a hopeful smile instead.

“Oh Emma, we all need someone,” I have a feeling he is now talking to me as the father of my friend, not as my investor. “You need someone who will be there to share the weight, who will cheer you on throughout every single step.”

I swallow hardly, feeling the bile rise up in my throat. “You’re rejecting me because I am single?”

“Not rejecting. Just....waiting, find someone to stand beside you, Emma. The way that every great leader does.”

Either way, rejection burns badly, however I can’t just wait for a partner. This game, the one I poured all my energy into, is supposed to launch in  a few months, and I can’t put it on pause just because I am waiting for the right man to come sweep me off my feet.

I am going to regret this, I know I will but the moment I open my mouth, I know there’s no going back.

“I am with Jeremy Hart.”

Mr. Hilton finally looks at me, business evident all over his face. “Jeremy Hart of Titan Games? Isn’t his company leading first?”

I feel that familiar tug in my chest that evaporates into instant hate anytime I hear his name, but this is no time to revel in the past, right now, I really need to land this thing even if it means lying through my teeth. I plaster on the face of a woman very, very much in love. “Yes, that Jeremy! Him and I are a thing.”

Kathy, my assistant, looks at me in pure horror. “Are you crazy?” Is what I am sure she mouths, I ignore her and face Mr. Hilton, he is already standing, adjusting his tie.

“This is brilliant news, and you have a partner that is also in the industry, I want to have lunch very soon with the both of you. Though, I haven’t seen any press news about your relationship together?”

“Uh...yes that, we’re keeping it secret for now but pretty soon, we are going to announce it.”

He seems pleased by my answer because the side of his eyes creases with a gentle smile. “Of course, my wife and I had to keep our relationship private before we were ready to reveal it to the public. The life of rich people, am I right?”

“You’re right.” I walk towards him outstretching my arm, he shakes it.

“It’s settled then, let us have lunch together and I’ll take a look at your proposal all over again.” He says, walking out of the meeting room. Only when he’s gone does Kathy explode.

“What the hell, Emma?! Jeremy Hart? You hate him.”

“I do.” I say, already walking out, my heels clicking against the marble floor. Kathy follows beside me, clutching her tablet tight. We enter the elevator and I press the button to go down. 

Years ago, I stormed into a cafe one morning when I was just getting my gaming company started. I was a mess but Kathy, she was a barista, then wrote “breathe” in my coffee cup. She calls me out on my bullshit, rolls her eyes whenever I get dramatic and always writes ‘breathe’ on my coffee cup anytime I am stressed as hell.

Like right now, “Emma, what’re you planning to do?” The elevator door slides open and we both walk into the main lobby, the employees greet us. I come out of the company and locate my sedan.

“I need you to help me do something.” I say when I approach my car, her hair is breezy and she’s frowning. “Just help me post on my socials that Jeremy and I are dating.”

“Are you serious?” she asks, shaking her head. “The whole world knows that you despise him. The paparazzi has captured every time you shoot him insane dagger looks in convections. You haven’t spoken to him in six years; you avoid him everywhere you go, so how is the world going to suddenly believe that you both are in love now? Forget about Mr. Hilton, we can get another investor.”

 I turn towards her. “Kathy, the industry is something else. I spent years tolerating investors who pushed me aside just because I am too young to be a CEO, but this is my sacrifice. Yes, I hate bending to their insane rules but right now, I don’t have a choice and if fake dating Jeremy Hart, pushing my enormous hate aside and fake being in love with him, then I will do it. Now, I have a proposal to make.”

She nods, understanding. I get into the sedan, start the engine and drive to Titan Games, Jeremy’s company.

It takes thirty minutes to reach there. I have only been in his company once and that was three years ago. I couldn’t face him. I was still angry. Anytime I see him, the hate just bursts anew. 

The first thing I notice when I step into Titan Games is that it smells of riches. It isn’t the polished marble floors or the glass walls that twists my stomach. It’s the freaking screens, everywhere I look is Erevos.

There are floor-to-ceiling banners with the game’s logo, the game that I spent all night coding. The dark eyed antihero stares at me, his blade glimmering against the light. I remember sketching that blade on the back of Jeremy’s math notebook, I remember the way he laughed and said the blade looks like it belonged to a god.

People in suits pass by me, their lanyards displaying their position. All I feel is that familiar tug, the mixture of fury and grief I have carried around all these years. Even though our companies are almost at the same position, it still feels like Jeremy Hart beats me at everything.

I approach the receptionist with caution. “Hello there.” She gives me a rehearsed smile but there’s a look of surprise in her face and I am sure she recognizes me.

“Miss. Roberts?” she asks, opening her mouth then closing it back.

I look around, staring at the displays of over games. Games Jeremy created after me. Sequels, expansion packs. He built an empire without me.

I swallow the bitterness crawling in my throat and focus on the receptionist. “I would like to see the CEO, Mr. Hart, is he around?”

“I-think-so.” She sputters, pressing the telephone to her ear. She speaks into the phone, nods her head twice and then says to me. “Yes, his assistant just confirmed he’s in his office, and he’s free as of now.”

“Thank you.” Without waiting, I stride towards the elevator, pressing the button to the last floor. I am feeling all jittery, hate and fury colliding into one another.

This is what you have to do, Emma. Just this.

The elevator door opens and I am greeted with the sight of Jeremy’s assistant the moment I step out of the elevator.

“Miss. Roberts?” He asks, peering at me. I nod my head and he signals for me to follow him. We stop in front of Jeremy’s office door.

“You can see him now,” he says and I force myself not to roll my eyes. I push the door open, my heart suddenly hammering. Jeremy’s office is what I expected it to be, tidy and neat with a whole glass case dedicated to his awards. Touché.

Jeremy is standing behind his desk, staring down at the floor-to-ceiling window that frames the whole of New York, his golden blonde hair is a little longer than the photos in his recent social handles, it’s swept carelessly, making him look more matured from behind.

“Jeremy.” I say tightly, making him tilt his head and look at me. Memories threaten to crash down but I hold them strong and stand my guard.

“Emma-” he turns fully but I wave him off.

Don’t melt, don’t falter, don’t you dare. And so...I cut straight to the point.

“I need you to be my fake boyfriend.”