Fake Dating The Tycoon Lawyer

Electra stares at the man sitting across from her at the table in the restaurant. Hands folded across her chest and her face set in defiance, she listens to him.

"Listen. Like you, I don't want this, but if we ever want this to stop, then we have to give them something. Something that'll get them off our backs." Anders says, his eyes search hers, checking to see if she gets his point.

This is the second date their families have set both of them on in less than a week.

Anders has lost count of the number of blind dates he has been on in the last months. His grandmother is intent on seeing him get married before she leaves this world as she puts it. Anyone would think Anders is a grown àss man but his granny had a strong hold on him and he'd do anything for her.

And although he didn't know much about Electra, he was certain she was under some kind of pressure too.

"So what you're basically saying is that we pretend to be a couple for the oldies?" Electra asks, referring to both their parents.

"Exactly!" Anders emphatically concurs. "We'll pretend, but we both know that that's all it is; an act with no strings attached." He says with a wave of his hand.

She eyes him in suspicion. "What's the catch? What's in it for you?"

Anders shrugs. "My peace." There's more, but he can't tell her.

Electra's brows grow together.

"Just that?" She asks, incredulity lacing her tone.

"Isn't that enough?... What? You think I enjoy going on dates with random bimbos sticking their overly done makeup up my face? Well, no. I'll take my peace any day." Anders says in a strong tone.

Electra cocks a brow at him. She tries to hide the anger that rises in her guts.

"Bimbos huh... And you want this bimbo to play your girlfriend?"

"Let's be realistic. I don't like you and you just as much don't like me." He says remembering the first time they met at the workshop.

He had taken his friend's car for repair that day and instead of meeting his usual mechanic, Paul, he met her.

Having a rough start to his day and thinking she was a new receptionist, he snapped at her, asking her to go call the mechanic. What he did not know was that Paul no longer worked there and that Electra had taken up Paul's place.

When he did know, he passed her a look that questioned her skill at the job, questioning her abilities.

Electra was appalled by his assumption of her capabilities. She hates it when anyone undermines her and her work.

It made everything worse when he found out later that evening that she was his blind date. A disaster.

The date had been memorable, consisting of a nice meal, barely touched and hot exchange of insults which they both lashed at each other.

It was a tug of war with words and each wanted to have the last word, they ended up spending more than the one hour the date was supposed to last, causing their parents to think that it was a good match.

Usually, Electra goes back home half way through any date, cussing and listing all the big X she noticed in her dates.

But her date with Anders had been different. She got home late and went straight to bed, not uttering any words to her family as her anger had boiled over.

Anders on the other hand had called his granny to complain about Electra. Something he had never done. His grandmother was pleased to hear that Electra could evoke a reaction in her grandson.

For both families, it was a good enough reason to set them up for another date.

Anders picks his glass of wine and sips from it to quench the dryness in his mouth before he continues.

"We can't stand each other. That works fine with me. You won't wake up one morning and claim to be in love with me."

Electra scrunches her face. Anders' words sound like a bitter pill in her mouth.

"That's very unlikely." She tells him, eyeing him and refuting any possibility of that ever happening.

"Exactly my point."

Electra rolls her eyes, still irritated at the thought of falling for Anders.

Anders smiles as he reads her repulsion.

"Don't even think about it. Women like you beg to be with me. I'm rich and I'm hot." He says, his arms spread out in prideful arrogance.

Electra scoffs. "Yeah right. A hot piece of shit you mean." She mutters.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing... So how long is this- act supposed to last?"

"A year." Anders says noncommittally.

"A year!" Electra yelps.

"Yup! One long year of peace. No blind dates. No meeting random men-"

"Or bimbos." She cuts him, still angered by his reference to her as one.

He tilts his head and points a finger to her as though the word was in front of her.

"And that too... Think about it. We could do whatever we want. After one year, we'll come up with a good excuse for a break up and then we go our separate ways. It's that easy." He shrugs.

Electra pauses to think about his proposal. As much as she hated the idea, she had to admit he did have a point.

One year.

It was just the right amount of time she needed. A good excuse to escape her father's dottingness and live the life she wanted. She eyes him as she thinks about it.

"Okay. Deal!"

"Great! Now let's celebrate." Anders says as he picks up his fork, ready to feast on the delicious looking steak.

"We get to eat on this date." He says with a chuckle.

"Sure... A caveat though." Electra looks him squarely in the eyes. "You don't fall in love with me."

Anders scoffs and an arrogant smirk lifts the corner of his lips.

"Don't you worry about that. I'm not into girls like you." His eyes trail her outfit in disapproval just before he fills his mouth with a piece of steak.

"Girls like me?"

"Yes." He says, not noting her annoyance, he continues. "I mean who wears slacks, chiffon sleeves, a pair of flats and packs their hair into a messy ponytail for a date?"

It surprised her how detailed his description of her outfit is. He did look at her. Really look at her.

Anders waves his other hand over her. "I like my women- feminine. You're not."

Electra grows rigid but she manages a smile. A tight smile that doesn't reach her eyes. It's the best she could do to hide her hurt at his words. This is not the first time she has been told that.

Having grown up as the only girl amidst four boys, a father and no mother for a model female, Electra counts herself a part of the male gender. She dresses and behaves like one. She doesn't know any other way to live. She grew up with no interest in makeup, pretty dresses and high heels.

"By feminine, you mean clad in a tight little dress that leaves very little to your imagination. All smiling and blushes over everything dumb thing you say?... Like the bimbos you're avoiding?"

Anders' pauses.

She titles her head at him in a dare.

He quickly recovers and continues to chew. He clears his throat.

"That's not exactly what I meant. You sound offended."

"Offended? Oh no I'm not. I'm just really glad I'm not so feminine for you. That's definitely one less thing I have to worry about."

She picks up her cutlery and cuts angrily into the steak on her plate.

Anders drops his fork and throws his hands in the air.

"Great! Officially our first lovers quarrel." He says in a flat tone.

"We are not lovers!"

"Right. You're just one angry pretend-girlfriend." He smirks and continues to eat.

"It's a good thing this is all an act." Her irritation fills her tone.

His mouth, too full to speak, he bobs his head in agreement.

"It's the perfect relationship." He adds in a muffled voice.

The rest of dinner goes quietly. Electra continues to seethe and Anders finds it entertaining. Very entertaining. Most entertaining is the way she purses her full lips in anger.

He pays for their meal, refusing Electra's offer to split the bill. She loves to take care of things for herself.

"Yearning for our second fight, pumpkin?" He asks as he places the bill on the table.

Pumpkin?

She thins her lips and looks away. Her objection, gone.

"I'll drop you." He tells her.

"You don't have to." Stubbornness graces her features.

"You are a stubborn one, aren't you? Always gonna go against me." He half-smiles. "Taming you is going to be fun, pumpkin."

The amusement in his eyes tickles her rage.

"Stop calling me that!"

"What? Pumpkin?" He raised a brow at her.

"Let's go." She agrees with reluctance. She didn't want to argue with him as long as he didn't call her that.

Once they step out of the restaurant, Anders leads her to his car and she falls into step with him.

The floodlight at the parking lot gives her a good view of him. Strong jawline with trimmed short boxed beard. A sharp strong nose that seems to have been broken a time or two. Thick full brow. He looks so young, but something about him seems to go against that theory.

He suddenly pauses to look at his phone. She takes one step ahead before stopping to wait.

She continues her assessment of him.

Square shoulders and a nicely toned muscled chest stretches the fabric of the black suit he wore. A hint that he hits the gym daily.

He lifts his head as soon as he finishes. He looks at her.

His eyes. Fox eyes with a striking greenish hue. Magnetic.

He begins to walk again, talking long confident strides.

He is handsome.

Electra bites the inside of her cheeks at the train of her thoughts. She shouldn't be feeding his ego even in her head. He's already cocky enough.

"I'm hosting an event next week. We'll have to attend." He says, pulling her out of her head.

"We?"

He turns to her with a raised brow.

"As my girlfriend." He reminds her.

Girlfriend. The word sounds strange to Electra's hearing.

"It's a big event. Our first official outing as a couple and your first official assignment."

"Assignment?" She asks.

He sighed. "Yes. You'll play the good girlfriend. Would I always need to remind you, pumpkin?"

She eyes him as hisses. "What kind of event is it?"

"Work related." He stops and looks at her, scanning the length of her. "I'll send you a dress... No arguments." He says immediately as she parts her lips to protest.

She says nothing and clutches the sling of her purse tightly over her shoulders and continues to walk beside him.

They stop in front of a black, sleek Bugatti Chiron.

Electra's jaw drops.

"Is this you?" She asks.

He doesn't respond.

She looks up at him just as he presses the car unlock.

"Who are you?"

He smirks. "I'm your boyfriend."

She gaped at the car. Her love for fast cars. The mechanic in her kicks off, accessing the car and recounting its amazing features.

"Get in." He orders.

Trying not to show her excitement, she hops inside.

The drive is exhilarating for Electra. Just how it loves it. Speed. Fast. Heart racing.

"Take the next turn." She directs him.

She points to a building ahead and she tells him to stop.

He peeks through the windshield at the house. "Is this you?"

She looks towards the house. "Yes." Her voice came out smaller than she intended.

Anders sights the blinds on one window shift.

"Looks like we've got an audience." He says, his hands working the buckle of the seatbelt.

She doesn't look. She doesn't need to. Her cousins are standing by the window, watching them.

"My brothers." She says in embarrassment. Electra has always seen them as more than just cousins.

"Well then, let's give them a show."

Without warning, he leans in and crush her lips with his in a fiery kiss.

Electra's heels click against the marble floor as she walks into the event hall. The smell of expensive champagne hit her nostrils. Men and women clad in expensive formal clothes formed small groups around and their lively chatter filled the hall. From her observation, she can already tell that this is a corporate event, confirming what Anders had told her.

She stands by the entrance, craning her neck, scanning through the crowd for Anders.

She immediately begins to regret refusing his offer to pick her up when he had called to ask. She wouldn't have been standing here, having so many eyes scope her up and down. But she didn't want to sit in a car with him after how he had kissed her the other night.

She pulls the hem of her black dress down.

"Damn! That's one hell of a hot chick." Orion whistles. His eyes gleam with admiration and a flirtatious glint. "Who is she?"

Anders looks to his friend and partner in the law firm. Following Orion's gaze, Anders' eyes land on the striking woman by the door.

It takes him a moment to recognize who she is. He knocks back the content of his glass and hands the empty glass to his startled friend.

"That's my girlfriend." He says, leaving Orion gapping at him.

His eyes trail the length of the woman as he approaches. Silver stilettos hide her feet. He travels up through her long nicely shaped legs until they disappear underneath the black glittering dress. He stands in front of her.

"Sorry, I got here a little late-" she stops, noting how intense his gaze is on her.

She shifts. "Something wrong?"

"This is not the dress I sent." His tone is hard.

"I didn't like the one you sent." Defiance laced her every word.

His eyes narrow. "You're testing me, pumpkin."

Electra hiss. "Stop. Calling. Me. That!" She grits.

Amusement glints in his eyes. So far, he enjoys seeing her riled.

He accesses her. The dress accentuates the flare of her hips, the slim curve of her waist and the thrust of her breast. Perfect.

Anders' eyes stop at her face. Electra had drawn her hair back into a neat ponytail. A few curly strands left to dangle over the sides of her face. The slightest bit of make-up worn. She looks beautiful.

"You're wearing a dress." He says almost unbelievably, his eyes raking the length of her.

She huffs out a silent breath. "I really should have worn those slacks." She says, pursing her lips regretfully.

His eyes rest on her full lips set in rebellion. Painfully, he recalled how soft they felt when he kissed her the other night. A kiss he somehow hasn't stopped thinking about.

He could never have imagined that Electra had all these curves hidden behind those hideous slacks and coveralls he's seen her on.

She feels his gaze burn her lips.

The kiss.

She hasn't stopped thinking about it either. Anders had taken her by surprise with the kiss. A kiss she was finding difficult to erase from her memory.

Her lips tingled under his gaze. She bites a corner hoping to still the sudden current zapping through her. But it's useless.

Instead, her mind trails to the memory of the kiss. His lips against hers, hard yet soft and in control. She wanted him to kiss her again. She cussed herself for even daring to think that.

Her cheeks colour at the train of her thoughts. She swallows.

The moment too intense, Electra takes it up on herself to diffuse the growing tension.

"Why are you gawking at me?"

Anders clears his throat. "Nothing. You look-"

Her expression becomes masked.

"Feminine? Bimbo-ish?" She interrupts him, expecting to get insulted by him again.

"-Different." Anders finishes.

Electra's pump flatters. She was preparing to give him a piece of her mind if he said something in that line. She relaxes.

"That's new."

They stand in awkward silence. For once, they aren't hurling words at each other.

"Do I get the pleasure of knowing who this electrifying beauty is?" Orion is standing by Anders. His eyes not once leaving Electra.

Electra is grateful for the interruption by the strange man.

Gesturing between them, Anders introduces. "This is Electra. Electra, Orion, my partner-"

"And best friend." Orion finishes for Anders.

Anders glared at him. Orion ignores him, moving past him to stand closer to Electra.

"You, my dear, are stunning." He takes her hand and plants a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. His hold lingers, lazily caressing Electra's hand, a charming smile splaying his lips.

Something tightens in Anders' chest. "Orion." He calls in warning.

Orion rolls his eyes and lets go of the soft yet strong feminine hand. He places a hand over his mouth, pretending to whisper but loud enough for Anders to hear.

"He's a freak. And pretty annoying too."

Anders frown deepens. Electra smiles.

"It's good to meet you, Orion." She says.

"The pleasure is all mine, pretty." Orion says flirtatiously.

"Orion, that's enough." Anders says. His voice holds the same warning tone.

Orion looks at Anders then at Electra. "I can't believe you agreed to be his pretend girlfriend." He says, shaking his head.

Electra's brows grew together. She looks at Anders. "He knows?"

"He tells me everything. Well, most things." Orion answers for Anders. "I must thank you for agreeing to do this even though he's quite a difficult man. He's trying to fulfill Granny's wish. And granny is trying to fulfill the promise she made to his parents." Orion smiles softly.

"Granny is everything to Anders." Orion continues. He wants to make her happy all through her last days. She has cancer -"

"Orion." Anders growls.

Electra glances at Anders. His expression is masked, but she senses his fear. The fear of losing a loved one. She's been there. Her gaze lingers on him. He's not so rock hard after all.

Orion stops. Realizing he has run his mouth ahead of himself, he tries to lighten the mood. He holds his hand over his mouth again in mock whisper.

"Told you he's annoying."

Grasping Orion's intention, Electra grins and plays along. "I already figured that one out."

"Ah!" Orion turns to Anders. "She isn't just pretty. She's a smart one too." He beams with smiles.

Electra laughed. "You're a charmer, aren't you?"

Orion flashes his brows and smirks. "And aren't you just so sweet?"

Electra laughs a little harder, concluding in her heart that she liked Orion's personality. "I see what you're doing."

Orion turns to Anders. His gaze wide, big and filled with excitement. "I like her!"

He turns to Electra. "And I'm certain granny will like you too."

Electra looks between both men. "She's here?"

"Oh yeah. She has never missed any of Anders' corporate events. She wants to spend every time she can with him." Orion supplies.

Electra peels her eyes to Anders. His jaw clenches as he returns her gaze.

Someone calls Orion. He looks in the direction of the call. "I'll be back, I've got to handle this." He says and leaves.

But Andres and Electra are too absorbed in themselves that they don't hear him.

"Electra?" Someone calls with uncertainty and perplexity.

Electra jolts and stills. She knows that voice. She remembers it too well.

Anders lifts his head first, following the call. His eyes land on Karl, an associate in his firm.

Anders doesn't like Karl. He's an ass kisser following him around seeking to get a promotion from grovelling at his feet.

Karl walks up to them. "Sir." He greets Anders. "Electra." He calls with conviction.

"You know him?" Anders asks, passing glances between them.

Karl's gaze doesn't leave Electra as he responds. "She's my girlfriend."

Shocked, Anders' brows pull together at the information he'd just heard. But he is even more shocked when Electra suddenly grabs the lapels of his suit jacket, stirs him towards her and locks her lips with his.

His surprise only lasts for a brief second as he gets into the kiss. His hand circles to the slim of her waist and he pulls her in, closing whatever distance lay between them. He deepens the kiss, savouring the taste of her.

Damn! She tastes divine. And she fits perfectly in his hold. Why is he thinking this?

The smell of her perfume fills his nostrils, making him forget he is supposed to be pretending. He inhales sharply, feasting on the intoxicating aroma. Involuntarily, his hand begins to journey down the flare of her hips.

He is quite disappointed when Electra pulls away. Her face flushes and her lips red and swollen from the kiss. His gaze lingers on her, darkening as he reads the effect of their proximity in her eyes. She is aroused.

Not wanting to confront what just happened between them, Electra turns to Karl.

"You were saying?" She asks in a breathless tone. Her hand finds Anders' elbow and she loops her hand in them, holding him close.

Anders tugs his jacket, smoothing the creasing that formed from Electra's pull. His intimidating gaze rests on Karl.

"Sir." Karl calls respectfully. He forces a smile at them, nods before he leaves. But Anders doesn't miss the anger that flashes across his eyes.

Anders' gaze wanders about the hall. The pair of eyes looking in their direction is a testament that their little display was very entertaining.

He looks down at Electra. "What was that about?"

"Just doing my assignment. I'm your girlfriend, remember?" She is wearing a false smile.

"Not that. I mean with Karl." He clarifies.

"Well, you heard him."

"He's your boyfriend?" The sheer perplexity in Anders' voice cannot be missed.

"Ex. He's my Ex."

Anders flashes his brows. "You had a boyfriend?"

She doesn't get to respond.

"There you are!"

Anders is pissed with the distraction, but Electra is grateful for it. Karl is a past she doesn't like to discuss.

Simultaneously, they turn in the direction of the voice. Anders rushes to the older woman who comes to stand by them.

"Granny, you shouldn't be moving around too much." He scolds and Electra catches the worry in his voice.

"I was eager to see my future daughter-in-law." The old lady says. She turns her gaze towards Electra and smiles warmly at her.

Daughter in-law? The title sends a cold shiver down Electra's spine.

"Granny, this is Electra." Anders introduces as he moves to hold Electra. Electra stills from the contact. He's close. Too close.

"Electra, my granny" He forces a smile.

Granny's smile widens. "I'm Laurel." She says.

Electra steps closer, smiling at her. "Ma'am." She calls with a slight bow of her head in greeting.

"You don't have to be so formal with me! We're practically family!... And I heard the good news." Grandma Laurel beams with excitement. "But I'm not happy that I had to hear it from outsiders first."

Electra passes a look to Anders. The expression on his face reveals that he knows nothing about the good news Laurel is talking about.

"What good news, granny?" Anders asks.

"You asked Electra to move in with you!" Sheer joy lit the woman's voice. Her eyes sparkled with lively excitement.

Anders furrows his brows. "What?"

"Everyone is talking about it." Granny says, and looks around the hall.

Anders looks around. The few gazes he catches, glint with amusement, confirming Granny's words.

Electra's wide surprised eyes rest on Anders. Her mouth parts as her shock intensifies when she sights someone approaching them.

"Dad?" Electra calls as her father appears behind Laurel. He smiles at her. "What are you doing here?"

"I invited him." Laurel supplies. "He is family too. He should be here." Laurel says.

Electra's father, Kleon, was a good friend to Laurel's husband. Although there was a huge gap in their age difference, Laurel's husband considered Kleon his equal and they had a good relationship. And even after his death, Laurel maintained that relationship with Karl.

When Laurel's son and his wife met with the unfortunate accident that took their life, she promised them on their deathbed that she would ensure Anders marries right this time.

After several, countless failed blind dates, he decides to set Anders up with Kleon's daughter. Kleon was thrilled and revealed he had been trying to get a good man for his daughter.

Laurel was more than happy when they interpreted that Anders takes an interest in Electra. Her husband would be pleased too if he were here. Now she can die peacefully.

Electra swallows. Her father moves to shake Anders' hand. Anders takes his hand and nods courteously.

"I didn't think my baby girl would be leaving me so soon..You're moving really fast." Kleon strikes a conversation with Anders.

Granny chuckles. "Better fast than slow. I think this would let them know each other faster and better." Laurel contributes. She is overjoyed about this.

"Have you told him about your new job at Brimstone architectures?" Kleon asks.

"She got the job?" Laurel squeals.

"Yes. She's the new in-house architect for Brimstone." Kleon says and pats Electra's back proudly.

"Congratulations." Laurel says to Electra. "They're not only moving in together, and she's got a new job. How wonderful!" She claps her hand together. "If things continue to go at this pace, I won't be surprised if we start planning a wedding by next month." She finishes with a laugh.

Kleon joins her. Electra lets out a nervous chuckle and Anders' hard expression doesn't stir.

Anders glances at Electra. Their eyes met. They know they are stuck.

Anders cannot break Granny's heart by telling her they are not moving in together.

Electra is too terrified to break her father's heart and let him find out she's nothing like the daughter he'd envisioned.