The Billionaire’s Pretend Fiancée

Roman’s POV “Mio nipote, how are you doing today?” Nana asked from the other end of the phone, to which I just shrugged even though she couldn’t see me.

“Good. How are you, ma?”

“I’m good too. No, even good is an understatement. I am elated, delighted, excited and slightly nervous too.” Nana chattered excitedly which made a smile curve my lips.

“Today is D-Day, Romano. Hope you haven’t forgotten about it?”

“Of course not, ma. What do you take me for?” I huffed.

“I’m sorry, darling. You know you’ve deceived this old woman so much that she doesn’t even know when you are telling the truth. Remember some years back when you told me you were dating one lady, Lana or what was her name? Correct me.” She said.

“Yes, Lana. You got it right. Well, things didn’t work out between the both of us. I’m sorry, ma.”

“It’s fine. There’s no need to apologize. You haven’t done anything wrong. You have to choose someone who you are sure you want to spend the rest of your life with and vice versa. But I know you and Sofie will live happily forever. I’m so happy, Romano.” She paused for a moment before I heard sniffling.

Grandma sounded so happy about this whole stupid facade that I had put together, and I couldn’t help but feel bad whenever I thought of it.

As much as I wanted her to be happy, and give her the great-grandchildren that she desperately wanted, I had to consider myself first.

I admitted Sofie made me feel things, and she made my stomach tingle pleasantly whenever I was around her but I still didn’t want to get married to her nor did I want to commit to a true relationship with her.

“Don’t mind me, my boy. I’m just really happy that you finally got engaged and are even planning to settle down.” Grandma laughed, her voice teary.

“It’s something to be happy about, Nana. You shouldn’t cry, okay?”

“Okay, my boy. I have to get back to the kitchen now. The chef is currently preparing the food and I don’t want anything to go wrong. I’ll see you soon.” She said and ended the call.

I placed my phone on the desk with a sigh before I stood up to look through the glass walls at the pedestrians and vehicles passing below.

It was the day I had chosen to introduce my “fianceé” to Nana.

I still felt slightly stressed out about the thought of something possibly going wrong during the meeting that I made Sofie practice how she was going to act with Nana.

I had also paid some people to act like Sofie’s parents if it was ever needed, since Sofie always changed the subject whenever I asked her about her parents.

I couldn’t underestimate Nana.

I knew she’d surely have her secretary do a background check on Sofie, and I didn’t want to risk anything by being too careless.

A knock on the door broke me out of my reverie, and back to reality.

“Come in.”

Even before the glass walls could reflect his form, I already deduced who it was.

Nathan was the only person who knocked in short, quick successions.

“Good morning, sir.” He said, to which I nodded with my gaze still on the moving passersby.

“Morning. What is my schedule for today?” I asked.

“You have a meeting with Guilon corps to finalize the  investment discussion, and you are also meeting the delegates from Ebenezer software at lunch.” Nathan recited.

“Great. I have to leave work before three in the afternoon. Make sure no one tries to delay the meeting, if they want to, just cancel on them or postpone the date altogether.” I instructed, glancing down at my wristwatch.

“Yes, sir.”

“By the way, have you done what I asked you to do yet?”

“Yes, sir.” Nathan replied, to which I nodded.

“Are you sure they are good? Did you critically assess their ratings before you called them?”

“Yes, sir. Be rest assured that everything will go smoothly.”

I clapped him on his shoulder, impressed, “Thank you.”

I mentally noted it down to triple his bonus for that month.

“You don’t have to thank me, sir. It’s my job to do anything you ask of me.” Nathan said, and I fought the urge to scoff.

Trust Nathan, and his forever professionalism.

Moments later after Nathan left, I sat down on the swivel chair as my thoughts strayed to Sofie for the umpteenth time that day.

I remembered how timid she seemed on that night, four days ago.

On her first night as my fake fiancée.

She had looked almost frightened to see me when I got back from work and when we slept, she had folded herself in a way I didn’t think or know was humanly possible, to take up just a tiny part of the bed.

All my efforts to cover her with the blanket had been in vain.

Even though she’d been shivering, she still declined my offer to warm her up with the blankets.

She didn’t want to trouble me. She had argued.

Everything about her was often surprising and weird.

But I felt myself getting more and more intrigued by her as the days flew by, as much as I hated to admit it.

I suddenly craved to hear her honeyed voice at that moment and before my logical reasoning could kick in to stop me, I picked up my phone and dialed her number.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

She answered almost instantly like she had been expecting my call, and the thought made something pleasant simmer within me.

“Roman?” Sofie said and for a split moment, the ability to form sensible, coherent sentences evaded me.

“Sofie.” I said, after getting my voice back.

“Uhm, did something happen?” Her enthralling voice floated into my ear.

“No. I-uhm,” I racked my brain for a reasonable-enough statement to utter.

Fuck. Why was I acting like this?

Now that I had finally gotten the opportunity to listen to her talk, I couldn’t even find the words to properly express myself.

“Some people will come over to the house soon. Be ready. That’s all I wanted to say.”

“Oh. Who are they?”

“Stylists. They are stylists. I hired them to help you get ready to meet my grandmother.”

“Very well then.”

“Yes.” I muttered before hanging up.

I couldn’t believe what I just did.

“Sofie Diaz, what are you doing to me?” I groaned, my head clasped between my hands.