Chapter 2

JAMIE'S POV

Each stroke of my brush was like a small piece coming together. They aligned, the image in my head finally coming to life.

Almost done. My creation. 

I was three brush strokes away from completing the face, when I felt the buzz from my phone and the song playing in my earphone stopped. 

I picked up the phone and looked at it. 

Ethan Cole. My heart skipped.

Instead of answering, I placed it down and continued painting. I wasn't ignoring it because I was mad. I was just…

Ok, maybe a little bit angry. I wasn't ready to play therapist to the billionaire who ghosted me for three weeks. 

We used to speak almost everyday, but now, he'd only call when he wanted something. 

The phone buzzed again and I gave in. I knew he wasn't going to stop unless I answered. 

“Wrong number,” I snapped. 

The line went silent for a moment, then I heard him sigh. 

“Hello to you too, Jamie.” And I felt my insides coil deliciously at the sound of his voice. 

It weakened the anger in me.

“Spit it out. What's wrong?” I could sense he was having issues just by his tone. We were attuned to each other's emotions as childhood best friends. 

“I need your help. I know this would be a huge favor, but there's no one to turn to right now.” 

I tensed up. 

“What's wrong? Is the company not doing well? Do you need me to take care of you?” I asked, adding bits of tease in between. 

If there was one thing I knew about Ethan, he was too serious and cold. I always teased him in order to pull down his altitude. 

“Unfortunately for you, it is going quite well. But… I'll still need you to take care of me. Can you do that?” His voice dropped an octave. 

My heart skipped a beat and I dropped the brush in my hands. 

“You can't say things like that to me, Ethan if not I'll take your words for it,” I playfully warned him. 

Although I wished he would look at me and be my husband. Ethan loved women and saw me only as a friend so my wish will forever be a wish. 

I heard him sigh through the phone. 

“Jamie, I'm at your door. Can you open it?” 

The phone in my hand almost fell. My heart started beating very fast. Ethan hardly came to my house. 

I was always the one running after him. What exactly did he want? 

I rushed out of my studio and went to open the door. There he was. One of Texas richest bachelors and the man I've secretly been in love with for years. 

“Hey, this is a surprise,” my voice wavered. 

Ethan's brown eyes appraised me and then he smirked. 

“You look good.” 

And that was when I remembered I was wearing only an apron. My chest was almost bare, with my nipples shooting through the sides. 

“Shut up and come inside,” I rolled my eyes, not wanting his words to affect me. 

Ethan came in and went straight to the couch. He fell on it and closed his eyes. I noticed the eye bags under his eyes and felt a bit of pity for him. 

Running a multimillionaire company at a young age must be draining. I quickly went to the kitchen and got him a glass of mango juice, his favorite and some Tylenol. 

“Here,” I offered it to him. 

He opened his eyes and when he saw the things in my hands, his gaze softened.

“You know me too well,” he took the drink and popped the pills in his mouth. 

I sat down beside him. “So can you tell me exactly what's going on? You don't look good.”

Ethan gave me the brown file in his hands. 

“I need you to be my boyfriend.” 

I froze for a moment, then I let out a small chuckle, waiting for him to say he was joking.

He didn’t.

“I’m sorry, you want me to… what? Have you fallen in love with me?” I swallowed the bile in my throat and pulled out the documents inside. 

It was a contract. A boyfriend contract to be precise, with a lot of clauses and…

“What the hell is this, Ethan?” I couldn't help but yell.

Ethan grabbed my hands. 

“Wait Jamie, listen to me. It's just for the holidays. I need someone to act as my partner for the next few weeks,” he hurriedly said. 

I shook my head and pulled my hands away. 

“Are you mad? Why would you come to me when you have tons of girls beside you that would jump at this opportunity? Besides, I'm a man!” 

“Which is exactly why I need you.” 

I stood up from the couch and started pacing. There was absolutely no way I would accept such an arrangement. 

“I might like men, Ethan but that doesn't mean I'll let you play with my feelings. I—” 

“I wouldn't dare!” Ethan jumped to his feet. 

“For the past few days I've been searching for a fake girlfriend but it has been futile. They are either too fake, or dull and stupid. None of them could even read a full script about me!” 

He paused and took a deep breath. “I'm doing this for my business and my grandma so you know I can't choose just anyone. The person has to know me and be smart.” 

“So the best thing you could think about was to ask me, your best friend?” I was flabbergasted. 

“Gay best friend,” he clarified. 

I flinched, like I had been hit. 

“You're an asshole,” I hissed and turned to walk away when Ethan grabbed my wrist. 

“Wait, I didn't mean it that way!” He hugged me from behind.

I tried to push him away but he wouldn't let go. I hate when he did this because it made my heart flutter uncontrollably. 

He was my soft spot. 

“Come on Jamie, you know my grandma cannot easily be deceived. She'd know if it were someone else,” he said, his lips so close to my ears. 

I bit the inside of my cheeks. His hot breath fanned my ears, causing my lower member to jerk up. 

“What about your ex? Why don't you ask for her help?” 

“And give her an opportunity to continue pestering me? Never.”

“Alright, let me go.” 

“No,” his grip tightened. “Not until you accept it. Please Jamie.” 

I closed my eyes and groaned. 

“If you don't let me go, I won't accept it.” 

Immediately he let go of me. 

I turned to him. 

“What do I get out of this?” 

He grabbed the contract and gave it to me. “I know you've always wanted a gallery of your own. I'm willing to pay for your next exhibit and any other thing you want. Just name it.”

I stared at him. He looked desperate, his eyes were clearly imploring me to accept him. 

But should I? I had been trying to hide my feelings for him for years and have finally gotten a hold of myself. Now, he has come back to disrupt my heart once more.

“Alright, I agree. But what does your relationship have to do with your company?” 

“That's a story for another day.” He pulled out a pen. “Here.” 

“Wait, before I sign, I have some rules I'd like us to establish,” I told him. 

If I was going to pose as Ethan Cole's boyfriend, then I had to save my heart from falling deeper in love with him. Else I'd get heartbroken. 

“Whatever it is you want, I'll abide by it.”