Billionaire Fake Marriage

Skylar's POV

I was skeptical about what to do at the winery party's opening, surrounded by the state's wealthiest people. I couldn't believe I'd been allowed at such an event, but as the manager of Zane Hills, who sat beside me, it was my job. I was growing tired of the role, and I'd been planning to leave soon, especially since it made focusing on my relationship nearly impossible. Today was my anniversary, yet here I was, spending it with my boss instead.

"Welcome, everyone, to the auction of the Azure Veil wine recipe," the hostess announced, snapping me out of my thoughts. I sat up, focusing on the stage.

"We have prominent businessmen with us, so we'll jump right in before starting the night's celebration." She gestured toward the curtains, and applause erupted as they parted, revealing a single blue bottle on a stand.

"The bidding starts now. Ten million, going."

"Seventy million."

"Eighty million."

"One hundred."

"Child's play," Zane muttered beside me, tapping his fingers on the table. "Five hundred million."

The hall fell silent.

"Going for five hundred million."

"Six hundred million." I didn't need to turn my head to know who had spoken. It was William, smirking as if he could outbid Zane Hills.

The hostess looked in William's direction. "Six hundred million, going?" The countdown began, and everyone glanced at Zane.

"Eight hundred million," Zane replied calmly. I could see William burning with rage, knowing that paying that much would put him in debt.

"Eight hundred million, going?" the hostess called out, and as the countdown reached zero, confetti burst through the room. "Congratulations, Mr. Hills."

Zane glanced at me, but I ignored him, staring at the wine bottle on display. I got up to finalize the deal.

"You should have handled that earlier," Zane said as I returned, eyeing me with mild annoyance. From the corner of my eye, I caught him watching me, as if waiting for me to say something, though I held back and turned my attention to the stage, where other events unfolded.

He seemed uninterested in the wines that followed, which were less intriguing than the first. "Did you receive the recipe?" he asked, his tone cool.

"Yes," I replied, slightly annoyed, as I reviewed it on the iPad with him.

"What's this?" he questioned in the same cold tone.

"It's an alcoholic drink, sir, best consumed slowly," I replied, though he'd already downed it in one go. It wasn't too sweet or bitter, but potent enough that he could feel its effects.

"Do you value your job, Miss Miller?" he asked, irritation creeping into his voice.

"Of course I do, Mr. Hills. But since you finished it before I could advise you, it's technically not my fault." I managed a small smile.

The wine's effects weren't immediate, but I could tell he'd feel it soon. I'd had my fair share, though it had been a while since I drank that much.

As he took the glass and drank, the warmth of the drink quickly took effect. I finally glanced his way, noticing his flushed face.

"You look like you've had too much, sir," I said.

"I'm fine," he replied, his voice hoarse, though his expression betrayed him.

"Are you alright, sir?" I asked, touching his forehead, which seemed only to worsen the drink's effect.

As I leaned toward him, from my tiny strapped dress, he could see the outline of my chest, and it made me move around, making his face burn hotter than it already was. "I'm fine," he replied as calmly as he could. "It's just a slight reaction." He waved me off and nodded gently before slowly looking back at the stage where other things were going on.

If I wasn't feeling anything unusual, did that mean only the first drink was drugged and not the second? But if the second drink was drugged, they wouldn't have specifically called me to take it; they'd have called him.

"Do you feel strange after the drink?" Zane asked me, his expression tense. I shook my head.

"I didn't drink much," I replied, glancing at the empty glass. He looked away quickly, probably to hide the redness on his face.

"Damn it. Just wait till I find out who's responsible for this," he muttered under his breath before glancing at his wrist. "Take me home."

I raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "But…"

"Drive me back home, Miss Miller." Zane said, wiping his hands with a towel. He started to walk out, staggering, still under the influence of the alcohol he'd drunk.

Back at the mansion, "Take me in," he commanded as I pulled open the door. I tried hard not to roll my eyes, but it was impossible. I knew his maid would have left by now, so I had to do everything he asked.

"Yes, sir," I sighed, taking his arm over my shoulders and leading him inside after locking the car and the front door.

I guided him to his room with a slight groan and pushed him down onto the bed. Damn, he was so heavy. "Come here," his hoarse voice said, pointing to his shirt.

What was wrong with him? I knew he was the difficult type, but the extent of that had usually been exchanging sharp words with me — not this.

"Pull it off," he said, and I complied, reaching out and pulling off his shirt. I gulped softly as my fingertips grazed his skin.

The sight of his chest was tempting, and my mind started drifting somewhere it shouldn't. I hurriedly shook the thought away. What is wrong with you, Skylar? You have a boyfriend.

"Oh my goodness — my boyfriend." Something snapped in my head. I had a date with him tonight, and I had skipped it because of this boss of mine.

As I tried to get up from the bed, I felt him grab my hand and pull me toward him, making me fall onto his chest. "W-what are you doing?" I asked as he rolled me over, pinning me between the bed and himself, gazing down at me with a flushed face and an unreadable expression.

"Have I ever told you how beautiful you look?" His voice came out hoarse and low, and it strangely made my heart flutter. "I've been looking at you for a while now, and I can't hide it anymore, Skylar."

His face drew close to mine before he buried it in my neck, sucking gently and biting my skin teasingly. "S-sir…"

"Shh…" His voice came softly. "Call my name."

"Uh?" I asked, and he bit me teasingly again. I tried to cover my mouth to suppress the moan, but he grabbed my hands, pinning them above my head.

"Don't hold back the moans, Skylar." He whispered, his lips traveling slowly up my neck. "I want to hear you, and I want to hear you call my name. Out loud."

I didn't know what to do. This wasn't right — but at the same time, I felt warm and fuzzy inside, not wanting the feeling to end. "Skylar," he called, his free hand suddenly cupping one of my breasts, and a moan escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"Zane," I gasped, arching my back.

"That's it, baby," he whispered, his lips slowly capturing mine in a slow, deep kiss. Everything around me disappeared, and all I could focus on was the warmth of it.

I lost track of everything else, and slowly I felt his hand on my shoulder, gently pulling down the straps of my dress.

I was so lost in the kiss I didn't notice when the straps came off. "You don't know how much I want you right now, Skylar," he whispered, and I gazed up at him, acting on pure instinct and buried desire.

I'd had thousands of fantasies about him, even as I tried to deny it, telling myself he was just an annoying boss. But it didn't feel that way anymore. I just wanted more of him.

"I don't think we should be doing this, Zane," I said, stopping him before his hands could reach my zipper. The desire burning inside me was stronger than the small voice urging me to back away.

"Why?" he asked, pushing my hair away from my face, looking down at me with his captivating eyes. "You don't want me, Skylar?"

"I do. I do want you… it's just…" Before I could finish, his lips covered mine, devouring them gently.

"Then let the only word in your head — and the only word on your lips — be my name."

I was awakened by the sound of a familiar ringtone blaring beside me. Slowly, I sat up, trying to get my bearings before realizing it was my phone. "Oh shit…" I quickly grabbed it without even checking the caller ID.

"Yes, sir?"

"So you weren't even expecting my call." A familiar voice came from the other end, and it instantly jolted me awake.

"Oh my goodness — Ray." I gasped, looking around the unfamiliar room. I had no memory of getting home last night. "I am so sorry. I was at a business event…"

"Business, business, business. It's always about business and never about us, Skylar. Do you know how long we've been together? Last night was supposed to be our perfect anniversary, and you ruined it because of that boss of yours — and because you think work matters more than your own man." I could sense the anger in his voice, and it shattered me. What had I done?

"I am sincerely sorry, Ray."

"You say that all the time, but you never change. Not once. And it disgusts me — I won't lie to you." He yelled, anger raw in his tone.

"Please, just listen to me. I had an important event. You know how my work is…"

"Yeah, I do," he cut me off quietly. "And that's exactly why I never regretted cheating on you."