Acting The Part

Chapter 13: Megan

Britney's eyes never left Caleb as I introduced them, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the way she was looking at him—like she was trying to figure out if he was real or some kind of hologram. I mean, I couldn't exactly blame her.

Caleb Drake wasn't just any guy. He was tall, devastatingly handsome, with that powerful, commanding presence that made you feel like the world snapped to attention when he walked into a room. That, and the fact that he was a billionaire, made him seem almost too good to be true.

Britney's lips twitched as she shook his hand, but I could see the skepticism already forming in her eyes. Caleb, for his part, flashed her one of his charming, practiced smiles—the kind that could probably make most women melt on the spot.

But Britney wasn't most women. She eyed him like he was some kind of puzzle she was determined to solve.

"Nice to meet you," she said, her voice polite but cool. She didn't let go of his hand right away, like she was testing him. "Megan's told me a lot about you."

I shot her a look. I hadn't told her anything at all about Caleb, but I did talk about the best sex of my life. Britney knew me well enough to see through the cracks in my story. My cheeks heated up.

It was only a matter of time before she started asking questions. I just hadn't expected her to start with him.

"Good to meet you too," Caleb replied smoothly, his eyes flicking between the two of us. "I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about, so I'll get out of your hair."

I didn't stop him as he stepped back toward the car. I was still a little annoyed, if I was being honest. His comment about my place being a dump had hit a nerve, and despite his apology, I wasn't ready to let it go just yet.

"I don't want you to contract anything from this dump," I muttered, rolling my eyes as I said it. I regretted the words almost immediately, but I couldn't help it.

There was a part of me that was still defensive about my situation, about the fact that I lived in a shitty apartment because that was all I could afford.

Caleb's world was so far removed from mine that it was hard not to feel like he was looking down on me, even when he didn't mean to.

He stopped, turning to look at me with a serious expression. "I didn't mean to insult you, Megan. I just want you to be safe. That's all."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. The fight had drained out of me, and I could see that he was trying. He wasn't just some rich asshole throwing money at a problem. He genuinely cared, I think. And that made it harder to stay mad at him.

"I know," I said softly, meeting his gaze. "I just... I'm not used to this. To someone worrying about me like that."

He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was so gentle, so intimate, that it made my heart squeeze in my chest. "Get used to it," he said, his voice low. "Because I'm not going to stop. "

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way his words made my stomach flip. This was supposed to be fake. A business arrangement. But moments like this? They didn't feel fake at all.

But his next words tethered me to reality. "You're going to be my wife, the one and only Mrs. Drake."

My smile stiffened, the edge of my lips twitching minutely.

"Let me make it up to you," he said, his hand lingering on my cheek for a moment before he dropped it. "Come out with me tomorrow. A proper date."

I hesitated for a second, but really, could I say no? The way he was looking at me, the way he made me feel like I was the only woman in the world when we were together—it was impossible to resist.