Faking It With a Billionaire || MaAn

Chapter 16 | Anuj

Anupama's beauty is as much a captivating marvel as it is a vexing distraction. 

While Alex tends to the ever-growing array of outfits she's trying on, I keep up the pretense of focusing on my phone. Sitting in this dressing room, observing Anupama's impromptu fashion show, is far from what my priorities should be right now. My to-do list stretches into infinity, thanks to my sudden urge to drop everything and jet off to California to persuade Anupama to hear me out and accept my proposal.

Last night, I returned home, and instead of tending to my work today, I've been preoccupied with getting her settled in. As a result, my backlog of tasks has piled up to monumental proportions.

Sending Anupama on this shopping expedition by herself would have been the sensible approach. Initially, that was the plan. I intended to have Hugo drop me off at the office before he chauffeured her to Fifth Avenue for a shopping spree. But at the eleventh hour, I frustratingly deviated from that plan, opting to accompany her instead of tending to my pressing work.

"I don't think there's a single outfit you've picked out that I dislike," Anupama reassures  Alex. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch her gazing at herself from every conceivable angle in the mirror.

"I'm thrilled to hear that," I reply, finally tearing my gaze away from my phone and focusing on Alex. "Feel free to bring in some more options. As for specific requests..." I pause, glancing at Anupama in the mirror. "Well, how about something that combines elegance with a touch of casual? I trust your judgment."

Anupama's spinning comes to a halt, and I sense her eyes on me through the mirror. I resist the urge to meet her gaze, still preoccupied with the earlier moment of desire I'd experienced—a desire I hadn't anticipated for my little brother's ex-girlfriend.

If Alex hadn't intervened, I might have acted on that desire without restraint. Anupama's lips had looked so inviting, and I had yearned to ravish them, to witness her tan skin flush with the intensity of our kiss. I had wanted it so intensely that I was ready to ignore the consequences and disregard the terms she had set.

The jury was still out on whether Alex's arrival had been a blessing or a curse. One thing was certain, though: the image of Anupama undressing behind the door to my left had been a distracting temptation. It had taken all my self-control not to demand Alex's departure so I could follow Anupama into that room, close the door, and continue what we'd started in the elevator.

The memory of my heart pounding when I realized I wanted to kiss the woman who was both my assistant and my soon-to-be fake fiancée occupied my thoughts. To keep myself in check, I buried myself in answering emails on my phone—it was the only thing preventing me from succumbing to temptation.

As I return to the present, I find Alex at the door to the VIP suite. My expression must convey confusion, prompting her to offer an explanation. "I'm going to select a few more casual," she winks at Anupama, "outfits, along with some versatile pieces that can easily transition from day to night."

I give a brisk nod, my heart racing at the prospect of being left alone in this room with the woman who's been occupying far too much of my thoughts.

As I tear my gaze away from Alex, I notice that Anupama has retreated into the private dressing area.

I release a heavy sigh, dragging my hand down my face in an attempt to regain some composure. My intentions weren't entirely innocent when I proposed the whole fake fiancée charade. However, I certainly hadn't planned on giving in to the temptation of kissing her so soon. Just the idea of it adds a layer of complexity to this arrangement that I hadn't anticipated. Yet, it doesn't change the fact that I'm practically itching to do it, damn the consequences.