All Chapters of FAKING LOVE: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Chapter 23 -Hailey POV"What happening babe?" Anna asked worriedly.With a dizzy giggle, I drained the last swallows of my bottled water and shook my head slowly. "Oh Anna, I admire your optimism sweetie. But the next few months with Miles are going to be nothing short of ritualistic soul-flaying."I leaned in conspiratorially, "That maniac won't rest until I'm laying every last ravaged fiber of my raw, shuddering essence onto the alter of his sadistic ambitions. You'll be lucky if there's enough left over to fill a thimble when he's through with me!"My voice had dipped to a heady, almost sensual purr by now - equal parts exhilaration and trepidation thrilling my senses anew at the prospect of whatever crucibles awaited.Something animalistic flickered in Anna's heavy-lidded eyes as she traced a fingertip along the swell of my cleavage."If that's true... then you'd best enjoy THIS while it lasts. No sense holding anything back before that prick tries to devour your light entirely!"

CHPTER TWENTY-FIVE -MEGAN POINT OF VIEWPresent"Well, that's my cue," I said to Chris with a lopsided grin as Jane stuck her head in the doorway."You coming or what? We have much to do today!" she barked leaving me behind.I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "Yes, mother. Give me a sec." Turning back to Chris, I clapped him on the shoulder. "Stay out of trouble while I'm gone, writer boy. I expect you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for our next session."A faint blush crept up his neck, but he met my gaze steadily. "I'll do my best to contain my wild ways until you return," he deadpanned.I chuckled low in my throat. "That's what I like to hear." With wink, I walked away following a muttering Jane."Ah! Finally, there you are!" A voice made me stopped!"I looked all over for you," she added with smile."Miss Williams! It's an honor." She leapt to her feet, practically vibrating with excited energy. "I'm Lilly Carson, your new assistant."My eyebrows hiked upwards as I took in her petite

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN -MEGAN POINT OF VIEW"Okay just an hour!" I slide the phone back in my pocket.Inhaling the cool morning air, it felt refreshing after the frustration I had been feeling.And with every step I take, I could feel the tension leaving my muscles.I turned the corner onto the riverside trail, enjoying the peace and quiet of the almost empty path so early.Up ahead, I saw a familiar figure stretching on one of the creaky benches overlooking the water.Josh looked up as I got closer, grinning from under his worn baseball cap."Well, well, if it isn't the famous Megan Williams herself!" he said teasingly as he stood up straight. "What brings you out here?"I rolled my eyes good-naturedly, grateful for his irreverent ability to instantly defuse any lingering tension.Josh had been my closest friend for as long as I could remember - the one steady, stabilizing force who never wavered or faltered, no matter how chaotic the currents of life got."Can it, you jackass," I sho

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE -CHRIS POINT OF VIEW"Animal in the sack..." The mocking words replayed in a malicious loop as I paced the cramped confines of my studio apartment, the discarded groceries forgotten on the sagging futon.I paused, running my hands through disheveled locks as I wheeled towards the laptop again."Okay, Chris... deep breaths," I murmured, flexing my fingers to dispel the lingering sting from when I'd pounded the wall."Time to learn more about this Miles asshole and what horrors he inflicted on Megan."The search engine was already loaded, so I simply punched out the name, the web exploding with an avalanche of results.My eyes boggled at the sheer volume - movie premieres, charity galas, People Mag covers – all glossily depicting the same chiseled, generically handsome face with an oily smile plastered on."Holy shit..." I swallowed hard against the lump of indignant revulsion creeping up my throat. "This Miles character is like... the quintessential douche-bro cele

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE -Megan POVThe punching bag swayed violently with the impact of my assault, the rhythmic thudding echoing through the gym.Sweat poured down my face and back as I drove my fists into the battered leather with merciless precision."That's it, kiddo!" Jane's gravelly bellow cut through the haze of exertion. "Channel that pent-up hellfire and give it hell!"I grunted, redoubling my effort and slipping into the trance-like state where the rest of the world melted away.Just me, the bag, and the relentless need to exorcise the roiling turbulence from my mind through punishing physical output.Thrust, pivot, weave, strike - the sacred dances of violence ingrained into my very marrow over years of spilled blood and sacrifice.They flowed through me as naturally as breathing now, unlocking a profound inner tranquility no external chaos could ever touch.Eventually, even the howling din of my own ragged breaths faded to white noise as I surrendered fully to the ritual.Each