Faking It With a Billionaire || MaAn

Chapter 45 | Anupama

"Maybe this isn't the best idea," I say in a rush, my words coming out jumbled.

Anuj stops in the middle of the sidewalk. His hand tightens around mine as he pulls me through the crowd of people walking, stopping us in a secure nook between two shops. His eyebrows knit together in a frown.

"Why are you saying this?"

I take a deep breath, wondering if the outfit I'd picked out was a good idea. I'd opted for a jumper I'd got from the shopping spree I'd had with Anuj. It's a plaid pattern with black and emerald green details. Underneath, I wear a sheer black bodysuit with a high neckline and have it paired it with a long camel colored trench coat to stay warm in the brisk night air. To cover my legs, I chose a pair of sheer black stockings and a pair of kitten heels. I adore everything about the outfit, so had Devika and Stella when I'd spoken to them on FaceTime and asked if it was worthy for meeting the parents. It's just now that I'm moments away from coming face to face to my ex's parents only to tell them I'm now engaged to their other son, it seems weird. How the hell does one dress for that occasion?

"I'm just worried that the outfit screams Catholic school girl and not billionaire's wife," I explain, running my hands down the front.

Anuj literally laughs out loud, apparently finding my inner turmoil hilarious.

"Anuj," I whine, adjusting the headband in my hair. "It's not funny. I just want to look good when meeting the parents of my fiancé to announce to them that we're engaged."

His eyes soften as his face becomes serious again. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me against his warm body. Of course he never has the problem of looking too naive or silly in an outfit. Anything he puts on he looks like a model straight from a catalog. Tonight is no different in a suit that isn't as formal as the ones he wears to work, but one he looks delicious in either way.

"If we're being technical, this isn't you meeting them for the first time. So you don't have to worry about first impressions at all. Which even if you did, you'd kill it because you look absolutely breathtakingly beautiful tonight, Violet. Have I not told you that enough?"

I sigh, playing with the zipper of his coat. He had told me I looked beautiful countless times from the time I slipped the outfit on until the moment we stepped out of the car. I'm just so full of nerves I keep wondering if it's something he's just saying to make me feel better.

My nose scrunches. "I think the first impression comment makes me feel even worse." I crane my neck to look up at him. He's so handsome it makes my chest hurt. Every single one of his features are perfect, all things I've been obsessed with sketching as of late.

"Trust me. It won't be weird. They'll be excited. Our story seems natural. You worked for me, we were together a lot and then we fell in love. They know my personality. I always go all in when I want something. It won't seem too far off that we got engaged quickly."

His fingers brush against my temple tenderly. When he does simple things like this, it makes my heart long for things it shouldn't. Things like I wish this was actually real, that he wasn't known to be so closed off and that we weren't just pretending.

Well at least that he wasn't pretending, I often wonder if I've reached the point where I no longer have to fake it.

I think I've caught feelings for Anuj Kapadia. Terrifying, massive, powerful feelings. The kind that have overtaken my every thought, every feeling, my entire being. I'm afraid I've done the one thing I told him I couldn't do, allow myself to blur the line. I need to reign myself in some, to have a reality check. Tonight won't be the night, however, because I need to play the lovesick fiancée to Anuj to make it believable. It won't be that hard, considering it's not really faking it when it feels so incredibly real.