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Chapter Nineteen: Margaret's Influence
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2025-05-08 12:51:50
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Fake Dating The Billionaire Chapter Twenty: Shared Dreams
Celeste's pov The faint creak of the floorboards in the hallway stirred me. Half-asleep, I reached out instinctively—but the other side of the bed was already empty, still faintly warm where he had been. Leo was gone. Frowning, I sat up. wondering if Leo had just stepped out., if he was the reason why the hallway floorboard squeaked. But why would he be up this early? And where would he even go? I slipped on a hoodie I’d left draped over the armchair and padded out into the corridor. The estate was quiet, the kind of stillness that settled in at night, broken only by the distant chirp of crickets and the occasional rustle of trees outside. I found him in the garden. Leo sat alone on the bench beneath the trees, back slightly hunched, a plain white mug cradled in his hands. Moonlight spilled across the lawn, catching on his hair and the line of his jaw, casting everything in silver and shadow. For a moment, I didn’t say anything. I just watched him—the calm way he sat
Fake Dating The Billionaire Chapter Nineteen: Margaret's Influence
Celeste's pov The kitchen at Kingsley Estate smelled like rosemary and lemon, warm and inviting. The soft, ambient light of the late afternoon filtered in through the windows, catching the dust motes in the air. Margaret was already in motion—sharp knife in hand, ingredients spread neatly across the counter. Two aprons hung from hooks near the door, ready to be used. “I’ll handle the roast,” she said with cheerful authority. “Celeste, you’re on prep. And Leo—unless you plan to just stand there looking pretty, grab a knife.” Leo, who’d been leaning against the counter like he owned it (which, technically, he did), gave a lazy shrug. “I’ll supervise.” “Supervise yourself into peeling something,” Margaret shot back, making me grin. I reached for one of the aprons, ready to slip it on, when I felt him behind me—close enough that the air shifted. Before I could react, Leo took the apron from my hands. “Hold still,” he murmured. His voice was low, steady, and way too close
Fake Dating The Billionaire Chapter Eighteen: Deepening Intimacy
Celeste's pov I sat curled up on the couch, the throw draped over my legs as I stared at the screen, feeling a lump in my throat. The Fault in Our Stars was nearing its end, and I knew what was coming. Still, I wasn’t prepared for the rush of emotion when Gus—one of the leads—passed away. I wiped my eyes quickly, but the tears just kept coming. It felt stupid, really. I hadn’t even planned on watching this movie, and yet here I was, a mess over some sad fictional romance. The somber music filled the room, and I tried to pull myself together. But every time I blinked, the tears came back, and I cursed myself for crying over a movie. Suddenly, I heard footsteps. Leo. He appeared from down the hallway, casual as ever, but his eyes flicked toward the screen and then to me. The second he saw the tears, his brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "Why are you crying?" His voice, usually so composed, now carried a tinge of genuine curiosity, but also disbelief. I quickly wiped
Fake Dating The Billionaire Chapter Seventeen: Navigating Feelings.
Celeste’s POV: I sat across from Leo at his sleek black desk, a legal pad in my lap and my laptop open beside me. My sweatshirt sleeves were pushed to my elbows, a pencil tucked behind one ear. Leo, in a fitted navy tee and dark joggers, looked anything but relaxed as he scrolled through a dense spreadsheet on his monitor. The warm, polished wood of his home office glowed beneath the overhead light, the only sound the soft click of his mouse and the occasional rustle of paper. “You're missing the implications in column G,” he said without looking up. “If the funding round pushes through under those terms, the board will demand an accelerated timeline. Which means the department heads will scramble, and the prototype delivery date becomes a noose.” I frowned, leaning forward. “But if we slow the rollout, we risk losing leverage with Westbrook’s side.” Leo finally glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “That’s the entire point of the bluff. We push, but not hard enough to
Fake Dating The Billionaire Chapter Sixteen: unspoken Tension
Celeste's pov It was the first time I’d beaten Leo to the office. The executive floor was still and quiet, bathed in soft morning light. I stepped out of the elevator and walked past the sleek, empty desks toward the familiar doors of Leo’s office. After punching in the access code, I stepped inside. Everything was still—his desk empty, the usual hum of tension absent. I settled behind my corner desk and pulled up the day’s agenda. A full lineup. Meetings, calls, preliminary reports on the upcoming merger.It was going to be a long day. The soft knock startled me. I turned just as the door cracked open and Maya stepped in, clutching a sleek folder. “Hey,” she said, voice low as if afraid to disturb the silence. “I brought the finalized PR breakdown for the travel side of the merger. Mr. Kingsley wanted it before ten.” “Thanks,” I said, standing to take it from her. “I’ll make sure it’s on his desk.” Her gaze flicked to the empty chair behind his desk. “He’s not in yet?”
Fake Dating The Billionaire Chapter Fifteen: Jealousy And Desire
Celeste's pov I thought things between Leo and me had changed for the better after everything that happened in Mexico. But I thought wrong. He’s been colder than ever—like none of it meant anything. Like Mexico never happened. It’s been three days since Mexico. Three days since the park, the hot air balloon, the moment Leo held my hand like he didn’t want to let go. And yet, the second we landed back home, it was like none of it ever happened. Leo’s been distant—barely speaking to me unless it’s about work, and when he does, his voice is clipped, formal. Cold. He hasn’t mentioned the trip, hasn’t looked at me the same way. It’s like he packed up whatever warmth he showed me and left it behind in Mexico. I told myself I imagined it—that I read too much into a soft look, a lingering touch. But I didn’t. And that’s what makes this worse. I scroll through his calendar and pause at the Kingsley Hospitality Mixer. It’s this afternoon—an investor-centered networking event the
Fake Dating The Billionaire Chapter Fourteen: Blurred Lines
Celeste’s POV The soft light of morning spilled through the hotel bedroom suite’s wide windows, casting a golden haze across the room. I stirred slowly, feeling the warmth of another body pressed against mine — strong, steady, and painfully familiar. Leo. His arm was draped lazily over my waist, his breath brushing against the top of my head in even, unhurried rhythms. For a moment, I didn’t move. I stayed there, suspended between sleep and waking up, memorizing the feel of him — the rise and fall of his chest. The kiss from the gala rushed in uninvited: his hand at the small of my back, the way his mouth had claimed mine under the blinding lights and the eyes of hundreds. A kiss that made me want things I wasn't brave enough to admit, not even to myself. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the thoughts away before they took root and twisted into something dangerous. This wasn’t real. This was an arrangement, a deal. No matter how real it had felt at the time. Carefull
Fake Dating The Billionaire Chapter Thirteen Part II: The Investor Meetings And Gala
Celeste's Pov The conference had gone off without a hitch. Leo's speech had made an impact, and the energy in the hall was still buzzing from his words. But as we stepped out of the room, the moment of victory was short-lived. The day wasn’t over yet. "Let’s move," Leo said, glancing at his watch. "Next meeting in thirty." We headed for the restaurant for a quick lunch. Leo barely spoke as he ate, his focus probably shifting to the investor meetings that would follow. He was mentally preparing for the next round of deals while I sat across from him, still hyper-aware of the whirlwind that was his day. The atmosphere around us was busy, filled mostly with conference attendees grabbing a quick bite. I didn’t say much either, using the time to review my notes and check my messages. As soon as the meal was over, Leo was on his phone, reviewing meeting agendas and making last-minute adjustments. I followed suit, keeping my own phone close, ready to handle whatever tasks he’d assig
Fake Dating The Billionaire Chapter Thirteen Part I: The Conference
Celeste's pov The ride from the airport was as smooth and silent as the man sitting beside me. Leo hadn’t said a word since we landed. The silence wasn’t unusual, but tonight it felt heavier. He watched the city blur past the window, unreadable as ever. I didn’t speak either. There was nothing to say—no conversation, no glance. Just distance. When the car finally turned into a long private driveway, my breath caught. The hotel—or rather, the palace masquerading as one—rose like a jewel against the sun-drenched Guadalajara skyline. Cream stone walls gleamed under the light, carved with ornate detailing. A waterfall framed the grand entrance, its sound mingling with soft instrumental music wafting through hidden speakers. Staff in crisp, modern uniforms moved with polished ease, greeting guests with practiced smiles and polite nods. And at the very top of the building, subtly etched in gold, the words Hotel Cielo shimmered. It was opulence without apology. I stepped out
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