All Chapters of Black Ties and White Lies: A Billionaire Fake Engagement: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

CHAPTER 2EMMAMy grip is tight on the handle of my suitcase as I stop in the driveway of Winnie’s Hamptons home. My lips twitch as I look up, a wide smile spreading over my face.“This will do,” I mutter under my breath, gazing at my home for the summer until the Uber driver interrupts me from my thoughts.“Having a party?” he asks, handing me a tote bag with three bottles of wine.I shrug. “Those are for me.”The man quirks an eyebrow, staring me down with a speculative look on his face.I blow out some air, trying to ease the awkward tension. “Don’t judge me, Simon. It was Simon, right?” I add on, worrying that I may have messed up his name.“Yes, it’s Simon.” He turns around to get the rest of my luggage from the back of his sedan.Simon hasn’t been my biggest fan since the moment he picked me up from the airport. I had a luggage carrier spilling over with suitcases as I waited on the curb for my ride. I was supposed to arrive in Long Island hours ago, but due to my flight being d

EMMAA loud laugh bubbles from my throat as I take in the stranger staring at me with an unreadable look on his face. “Wow. It turns out you weren’t lying,” I mutter, wondering if I said it for his benefit or for mine.He cocks his head to the side, his sharp jawline now illuminated by the moon. “Lying about what?”“You are stupidly handsome,” I answer, wishing it wasn’t the truth.His lips twitch. It isn’t a full smile, but even though I barely know this man, I could guess that a full smile is hard to earn from him. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”My hands find my hips as I take another step back, the grass soft beneath my feet. “It’s a terrible thing. The more handsome a man is, the more of an asshole he is, too. It’s a proven fact.”One of his dark eyebrows rises as he watches me closely. God, does he have to be so attractive? His blue eyes are almost piercing, feeling like they’re staring me down right to my soul as he thinks something over.I use the silence to my advantage

MARGOON THE OUTSIDE, I hope I at least appear put together. With Beck no longer in my personal space, the spicy scent of his expensive cologne overtaking my senses, I’m attempting, yet horribly failing, to think straight. I’m at least attempting to appear normal. On the inside, I’m freaking the fuck out.The only thing in my mind is a constant replay of Beck’s words. The mental image of me bent over this table, wondering what it’d feel like to have him take me from behind. These are absolutely thoughts I shouldn’t be having—especially about my new boss who is also my ex’s hotter older brother. I’m apparently about to partake in a fake fiancée charade with him; plus, I’m now having dirty thoughts about the two of us and this table. It all equates to a terrible idea.“I don’t want to be embarrassed again, Beck,” I say, my voice lowered as I try my best to keep it steady. The last thing I need is for my voice to give away the effect his words have on me. “Everyone looked at me like I wa

MARGOI’M late by over five minutes.In my defense, it’s not really my fault. Emma takes four of those minutes by trying to get me to explain where I’m going with Beck. She doesn’t believe me when I answer truthfully. I have no freaking clue what Beck has planned for the day, what his motives are for showing up on my last day of work at 8-bit. But damn, I might be a little excited to find out.When I finally convince her that I’ll give her updates the moment I know what’s happening, it takes another four minutes for me to grab my things and check my appearance in the compact I keep in my handbag.The last minute is spent rushing out. Darla attempts to fire questions at me on my way out, but all I do is give her a smile. “I’m going to miss you, Darla,” I lie. Wrapping my arms around her, I give her one tight squeeze. I won’t miss her in the slightest, but part of me will miss this place. Even though I hated what I did here, it was my first real job. I got to start with Emma, it’s a bit

BECKMARGO ISN’T SHY about making her feelings known about the unexpected departure tomorrow. I’ve been sitting on the edge of her bed, taking in the mess that is her room, as she loudly packs her bags. She can’t do anything without adding some theatrics to it.Her bathroom door slaps the wall as she flings it open, a large toiletry bag in her hand.Even when she tosses the bag in her open suitcase, it’s thrown harder than necessary. She walks to her closet, flicking through the clothes on the hangers. The hangers make loud scraping noises on the rod as she looks through them, occasionally pulling clothes off the hanger and tossing them onto the bed.“You know packing all of this isn’t necessary,” I note, picking up a sweater that seems to have seen better days. I hold it by the collar, noting the fraying threads scattered throughout the worn knitting.Margo turns around, giving me a dirty look. I’d never tell her this, but the look is far more endearing than it is intimidating. “I ne