At the office, I’d told one little lie and it was totally justified. To get the promotion, they wanted someone serious who doesn’t hit every cocktail hour with my friends. My skin buzzed I’d been called out so I lied and said I had a fiancé. Now I was in line for the promotion and everything was perfect… until everything almost blew up in my face.
It didn’t because a trillionaire came to my rescue, offering to help me. I jumped at the offer but we made rules… everything was temporary. He needed a wedding date. I needed a promotion.
I could play devoted for a few weeks and then have a public breakup.
Except I was starting to like the man in the business suit.
He’s low key hysterical, the hottest man I’d ever met, determined to get what he wanted, and he had a little bit of my heart.
I realized a few things about him no one knew…
- The man behind the big deals he made was a bit of a cute nerd.
- He’s the most respectful man who listens.
- And he might be the only person I could ever see myself with.
The temporary fake relationship was getting complicated when feelings get involved and now I was in danger of destroying everything because I might love him. This wasn’t good at all! But you’d never have expected what happened next because I never had.
Avril
Three Weeks Later
Flying back to the penthouse in New York on a helicopter not only felt completely normal—it felt restful too. We’d left Vegas to see Paris and to visit my sister in Switzerland. Now we were on our way home. I rested my head on his shoulder as we landed. He squeezed my hand as the staff opened the door and we deboarded.
As we stepped through the doors to the apartment and took off our shoes, I said, “We have to meet your parents here soon and then my friends.”
He rubbed my shoulders and locked the door behind us. “It’s going to be fine.” He walked me forward. “We have time.”
“What if no one believes us? We were faking before.”
He kissed my cheek. “They believed us when we were pretending, and now we’re not. We have the license to prove it.”
“You’re right. I’m just nervous.” The bedroom door was in front of us. “Where are we going next?”
He squeezed my ass. “We have hours till we have to be anywhere.”
I opened the door, remembering our cross-Atlantic trip and the use of the private bedroom. “On the plane—“
He nibbled my ear. “You’re getting tired of me already?”
I pivoted and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Not at all. I don’t think that will ever happen.”
Then our lips merged, and I forgot everything. I unbuttoned his shirt, and he tugged my blouse out of my pants as we stepped toward the bed. When our lips parted for air, I stripped off my pants and tossed them next to my shirt, and he did the same.
His gaze captured my attention. I wanted to please him as I reached behind me to unhook my bra and stepped back toward the bed. Kir came forward and traced my body. Despite how we’d taken our time less than two hours before, his hunger for me was clear as his cock was thick and ready. We’d talked about letting nature take its course when it came to children, so we didn’t bother with a condom. I fell backward onto the bed. I rubbed his dick as he kissed my neck and shoulders
I sighed, and my nipples hardened as he lowered himself and then suckled, which sent a thrill through me that caused my toes to curl. I ran my finger through his thick dark hair until I lost the ability to even see. I was lost.
Then he slipped inside my core, and I was entirely filled. All I could smell was Kir and his woodsy cologne. He drove me wild. My eyes were glazed, and we were in a bubble. An orgasm rocketed through my body, and the aftereffects were sweet. I trembled and ached with release, and I saw stars.
I held on, waiting for him to join me. Then I rested, and he lay beside me, safe in his cocoon. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been like that, but soon, I stared into those deep-dark-brown eyes of his and smiled.
My entire body tingled. I loved him more and more every second. He started kissing me, but then I heard a ring. For a second, I wondered if I’d imagined it, but it became clear that the doorman downstairs was calling.
I jumped up and ran to the closet. “They’re early.”
He tugged his pants on. “Get dressed. I’ll stall.”
I grabbed a simple pink dress to throw over my head, but I held it and called out, “Wait.”
Kir came to me and held my waist. “What?”
“I love you.” I went on my tiptoes.
He kissed me, and the world felt better. When the kiss ended, he said, “I love you too.”
Then there was a knock at the door. He tossed a T-shirt on and raced out. I cleaned myself in the bathroom, but I heard him say, “Maman. Pedar. You’re early.”
Roxanne said, “We had a bet going and couldn’t wait.”
My eyes widened as I tugged the dress over my head. He asked, “Bet?”
Roxanne said, “If I’m right, your father donates a million dollars to my cancer foundation.”
I checked myself in the mirror and quickly brushed my hair.
Kir asked, “And if Pedar is right?”
She said, “Then I’m hosting a Labor Day party for his colleagues so he can make a deal, and I can run it as a benefit for cancer.”
Dressed, I rushed out and threw open my arms to hug everyone. “I’m here.”
His mother and father kissed both my cheeks. She said, “And you look lovely. So, what’s the big news?”
Kir stood beside me, took my hand, and said, “Maman, Pedar, Avril and I eloped in Vegas.”
I held my hand to my chest.
His father said, “That wasn’t what we expected.”
“Stop. They’re perfect together,” Roxanne said.
I breathed.
She took my hands. “Okay, so, we’ll tell everyone you’re engaged, and I’ll have Maddie plan a beach wedding at our house in the spring, unless there is a reason to push it up sooner…” Her gaze pierced me.
I said, “No, there is no reason.”
“We were both wrong, then,” his father said. “And my wife is right—we’re happy you’re part of the family now, Avril.”
Family. I’d only had my sister for years. Being part of Kir’s family was another benefit to our life together.
Roxanne then stared at me for an answer, so I smiled and said, “Kir said you’d want us to have a family wedding.”
She asked, “Is that okay?”
I hugged her. “Of course. In the spring, hopefully, my sister will be back and fully recovered. I’d want her there too.”
She pulled me close. “Perfect. Now I need to say I’m thrilled you’re my new daughter-in-law.”
Tears welled in my eyes. I hadn’t expected that. She let me go.
I said, “Absolutely, and whenever you need help with your cancer foundation, let me know what I can do.”
His father placed a hand on Roxanne’s back. “We’ll leave you two now. I know you’re going out tonight. Have a wonderful time.”
We walked them to the door and hugged and said goodbye. Kissing both cheeks was still new for me, but it was a nice custom and much warmer than a wave.
Once they were gone, and Kir had closed the door, he said, “I told you Maman and Pedar approved of you.”
Life together was good. “It’s great to hear.”
He took my hand. Then my phone rang. I grabbed it, as it was next to my shoes. “My sister’s calling.”
He kissed my forehead. “Talk to her. I’ll get cleaned and dressed, and then we’ll leave.”
He headed to the bathroom. I followed and grabbed my makeup bag as I said, “Abby, hi.”
I used cream foundation to smooth my face as she asked, “How did it go with his parents?”
I laughed and grabbed the eye brushes. I chose a nice pink to match my dress. “They were happy, just like he said they would be.”
“Good. Did they see that ring of yours?”
I held it up and stared at the three-carat diamond that was impractical if I wanted to wash dishes. “Yes, I’m wearing it.”
“Well, I’m taking a walk to breathe fresh air for an hour. But I wanted to check in with you first.”
I put all my brushes down. “I was so sad leaving you, but I’m glad you’re doing great.”
“Have fun.”
Kir finished with the shower and towel dried as I hung up with my sister. I patted on the last of my makeup and put it away. When I glanced over. He was fully dressed.
He winked at me and kissed my cheek. “Don’t worry about me.”
Abby’s care was secure, and I was happy. My body pulsated as I ached to be his and stay home. However, I’d avoided direct questions in phone calls, texts, and emails for weeks. I needed to tell everyone the news. So we hopped into the limo, which drove us to a bar two blocks away.
He held my hand, and we walked in. My friends and some of his brothers were sitting at a round table. Britney was first to spot us and waved. “There you two are.”
I stood over everyone who was sitting. This was my family too. I said to my friends, “We’re back.”
As we took our seats, Isabel asked, “How was your sister?”
Kelly nudged her. “Never mind that. Look at her hand.”
Britney reached over and whistled.
I laughed and showed her the ring. “So, Kir and I have news.”
Kelly narrowed her eyes at me. “Yeah?”
My heart grew warmer. No one was judging me. “We eloped in Vegas, but we’re having an official spring wedding to celebrate with all of you.”
Britney said, “Amazing. Wow. Kir, you have good taste.”
He laughed and toasted with his brothers across the table. I had no idea where the champagne had come from, and I didn’t ask when he handed me a flute and said, “I like to think so.”
Hope squealed. “We’re going to be partners and sisters.”
Partners. I couldn’t fathom the idea when Kir had first mentioned it, but working with my friends and new family would be a recipe for success.
Hope said, “I’m so happy for you.”
“Me too,” I said, though the whole concept of being in charge of anything struck me as strange.
Xerses tapped the table. “So, cheers to the happy couple.”
We all sipped, and then Kir asked, “This weekend, the trip to Mexico is still on for everyone?”
Britney shrugged. “Well, I guess you two rescheduled for a good reason.”
Kelly stared at Xerses. “Will your brothers be there?”
I’d forgotten that she’d mentioned she liked him. If my friends became my real family, then I’d be even happier.
Xerses said, “We’ll be there, but we might be late on Friday.”
Roman laughed. “Xerses is being nice. We decided to move Ziff and Lauglin to the portion of the company that’s not being bought.”
My old life. I hadn’t heard those names in weeks, but I was glad about the decision. “So, they’re downsized but not fired?”
Roman said, “Avril, you’re a sweetheart, the best worker on the floor according to our data, and we figured they’d get whatever they deserved without our interference, but Xerses and I are against bringing them into our company, so we worked out a compromise.”
I hugged Kir.
Britney held up her champagne. “Cheers to the happy couple.”
I hoped she would find someone who made her happy too. We all drank again. Then I said, “Thank you, everyone.”
For once, I had my happily ever after, which was strange to think about. I’d never believed in the idea, but I wasn’t stupid. Life with Kir was the best because we were in love, and that truly was all that mattered.
Thank you for reading this and Britney’s up next in Shameless so check out her story now.