The Billionaire's Pretend Fiancée

Sofie's POV

I sighed as I rubbed my clammy hands on the apron that was firmly looped around my waist.

The day had gone quite tiring for me.

I wanted to do nothing more than go home, flop myself on my bed and sleep till the next day, afternoon even though I knew that was impossible.

I was about to sit down on a stool behind the counter to rest my aching legs briefly, when I felt a shadow loom over me.

Regardless, I sat down but I scoffed inwardly on seeing who it was.

"Take that order to table fifteen and be fast with it. Stop being a sloth," Daphne Humphreys, a co-worker who was also the restaurant owner's girlfriend spat condescendingly at me.

"I have been working since the day began, Daphne. How exactly am I a sloth? And if you cared to know about the affairs of the restaurant, you would know that we are on a break at the moment." I responded coolly, but with a warning note to my voice.

I was exhausted, and I didn't want to take my anger out on anyone.

Especially not on Daphne who could easily get me fired by the boss.

I often wondered whether Daphne or the boss ran the restaurant.

"Are you talking back at me? The fucking nerve you have, you dirty brat! Don't worry, I will report you to Richard. How dare you speak to me in such a rude tone?" Daphne barked like someone who had just gotten bitten by a dog.

I squeezed my eyes shut to repress the biting insult that was threatening to tear out of my mouth before I fluttered my eyes open once more.

I got up from the stool, and looked Daphne in the eye. "I never spoke rudely to you. I was just enlightening you on what you may have forgotten."

I paused to glance down at her wristwatch. "I have to go now, break is over. Excuse me." And with that, I trekked back to the kitchen before Daphne could respond.

I had lied.

I wasn't on a break. My break had long passed.

But since Daphne was dumb as fuck, I easily fooled her.

I inwardly praised myself as I carried the tray of piping hot food to the main area of the restaurant.

I made sure to avoid Daphne's piercing glare as much as I could.

And before I knew it, I was done with work for the day.

I peeled off my work clothes and placed them into my assigned locker before pulling on my t-shirt and denim pants.

Afterward, I grabbed my bag and left the restaurant.

The thought of heading home caused my heart to throb with trepidation and a heavy feeling of foreboding.

I lived with my abusive parents in a small house situated a few blocks away from the restaurant, and I hated it.

I hated going back home to my parents, and desperately hoped for the day that I would move out of their place.

They were chronic drunkards, and thieves that always stole my money to fund their disgraceful alcoholic lifestyles, and whenever I confronted them about it, they would flare up at me and sometimes, they would even beat the living hell out of me.

Lately, I had started saving some money to get my own apartment but I was yet to save a quarter of the money that I needed.

With a sigh, I pushed the wobbly gate to the house open while inwardly hoping my parents were out of the house.

The sight that met my eyes when I turned around made me gasp in fright.

Four muscular men with clean-shaven heads were standing in front of the main entrance to the house.

They were all dressed in black suits with dark sun shades to match which made them look even scarier.

My voice failed me for a brief moment as I tentatively walked toward them.

Had my parents borrowed money from a loan shark again? Had they come to take the house as collateral?

"Welcome home, Madam." They all bowed to me in unison which made me frown and step back.

Madam? What was going on?

"Who are you people and what do you want?" I asked, ignoring their greetings.

They didn't respond anymore and instead, they just stood stiffly.

That made my heart hammer violently against my chest.

It seemed my parents were around because I could hear low murmurings from inside the house.

Were my parents being tortured? Who else was inside the house with them?

Taking a deep breath to calm my anxiety, I hurriedly brushed past one of the scary-looking men into the house.

"Mum. Dad. I told you to st-" The rest of my statement got hitched in my throat as I took in the scenery of the sitting room.

My parents were comfortably seated on a sofa beside a strange, old man and they were chatting animatedly with him as if they were long-time friends.

The man couldn't be their friend. He looked too wealthy to even be associated with them.

Sitting at the center of the sitting room in his expensive suit and a cigar in between his fingers, he looked like a misfit in the midst of the shabby furniture.

"Darling, you have arrived. We have been waiting for you for quite some time now," Mum spoke with a false cheerfulness to her voice as she darted a fake smile toward me.

Something wasn't right.

I couldn't even remember the last time I was called "Sofie" by my parents talk less of a pet name.

They always called me a slut or a whore.

"You were right, Alphonso. She is such a dazzling beauty." The man nodded as he lasciviously stared at me.

I had to bite on my lips to prevent myself from rudely telling the man off.

"Of course, she takes after her mother. She is Veronica's splitting image." Dad said and they all laughed heartily, the man's lustful gaze still not leaving my body.

"Have you greeted our visitor yet?" Dad asked, in his usual demeaning tone as he darted a glare at me.

"Oh, no. It's alright, Alphonso. She's probably shocked to see me. Don't worry about that." The man waved him off, and instantly, the fake smile was back on his face.

"Sweetie, come sit next to your mother." Mum said and somehow, my legs led me to sit beside her.

Mum wrapped a firm arm around me, almost crushing my shoulder in the process, "Alexander, this is Sofie, our daughter, and Sofie, this is Sir Alexander Guilon, my former boss and your soon-to-be husband." She grinned and I saw red.

I yanked myself up from the chair and glared from Dad and Mum to Alexander who still had that shit-eating grin plastered to his wrinkled face.

"What the fuck do you mean by that? Who is whose soon-to-be husband?" I barked.

"Honey, calm down. We discussed this earlier and you were okay with it, what is with the sudden rage?" Dad lied smoothly and I scoffed.

*You discussed what with me? Even if you did so, why the fuck would I have agreed with you? When it's not as if I'm insane or something." I hollered, enraged.

Turning to Alexander, I mustered the sweetest smile I could offer. "I don't know what they may have told you but I never agreed to this bullshit of an engagement. I'm not getting married to you. You should look for your bride elsewhere, thank you."

"Pearl, we can work this out like responsible adults, can't we? I will take good care of you, my darling. I will treat you right." Alexander said, to which I snorted maliciously.

"I am not your pearl. I am Sofie and I would rather eat mud than get married to you. Excuse me." I retorted and darted one final glare at my parents and Alexander before I picked up my bag and trudged out of the house.

I ignored the confused stares that I got from the bodyguards as I stepped past them and out of the gate with angry tears welling up in my eyes, and blurring my vision.

I had no idea where I was even going at that time of the night but one question sizzled in my mind as I walked.

What the hell had just happened?

Roman's POV

I reclined against the swivel chair with an exasperated sigh as I flapped my eyes closed.

It was not easy being the president of GV group of companies.

At the rate I was going, I knew I was likely to end up with a face full of wrinkles and stress lines before I clocked thirty.

I groaned inwardly when I heard a knock on the door but nevertheless, I said, "Come in."

My secretary/assistant, Nathan Gonzalez walked in with an iPad clutched to his chest, he bowed slightly before saying, "You sent for me, sir."

I frowned as I rubbed at my temple, "I did?"

"Yes, sir."

Great. So, I was now going through memory loss too.

Could life get any better?

Don't misquote me, I really loved my job but sometimes, the pressure got too heavy on me that I ended up missing out on other stuff that I should be doing at my age.

My last relationship had even ended because of my hectic schedule but strangely after it ended, I felt immense relief instead of despair.

I shrugged the thought off as I sat upright, "Do I have any more appointments for the day?"

Nathan scrolled through the iPad and shook his head in negation, "No, sir. You are done for the day."

I nodded, "That's great. By the way, I'm heading to Nana's place after work, so you are free to leave. I will drive myself." I said, rising to take my coat from the coat rack and put it on.

"Okay, sir. I will see you tomorrow then." Nathan said then bowed to me before he left.

I retrieved my car keys from the drawer, and grabbed my phone and my briefcase.

I darted one final glance at my reflection in the glass walls that encompassed my office and raked my fingers through my rapidly growing jet-black tresses.

I was due for a haircut. I thought as I headed out to the parking lot.

I thumbed my Ferrari Monza open and with a sharp exhale, I plopped behind the steering wheel and inhaled deeply before I revved up the engine and set out for Nana's place.

Nana was a fond term that I called my grandmother.

I was a man who couldn't be easily shaken but if there was someone or something I feared most in the world, it was Nana and her constant nagging for me to find a wife and give her a great grandchild.

Honestly, I didn't think that was ever going to happen because I just couldn't find it in myself to fall in love with anyone after my ex-girlfriend, who I didn't think I ever loved either.

Frankly speaking, I didn't think I could ever fall in love and I wanted things to remain that way.

I couldn't handle the pressure of dating anyone at the moment.

I had my neverending workload to think of.

Barely thirty minutes later, I arrived at my grandparents' mansion and I got out of my car.

My eyes scanned around the surroundings of the sprawling three-storey mansion as I trekked into the humongous building.

As usual, Nana's butler of many decades, Daniel Perez was at the door to welcome me as well as the household staff, "You are welcome back, young master. It's been a while, The elder man said as he sidled closely beside me.

I nodded, patting the man's back, "I came here two weeks ago, Daniel. It hasn't been that long." I muttered.

"The chairwoman doesn't seem to think so. She claims you haven't been picking up her calls."

I just huffed and shook my head, "She's not asleep, is she?"

"She just woke up from her evening nap, sir."

"Alright then." I gave the man a final back pat before I strolled down the hallway to Nana's bedroom.

I knocked lightly on the door and waited calmly for her to answer.

"Romano, is that you, Mio caro?" Her soft voice came from the inside which made my lips curve up in a smile.

I had missed Nana but not her constant nagging.

"Yes, ma. Can I come in or are you busy with something?" I replied.

"Come in, my darling." She said.

I gently pushed the door open and was greeted with the sight of Nana laying on the bed with a book pressed to her chest, her expression soft and her cheeks sunken.

She had lost some weight.

"You remembered me today." She scoffed as she put the book away but with a doting smile imprinted on her face.

I sat down on the empty space beside her on the bed, "I'm sorry, Nana. I was busy with work. What happened to you? You look pale and lean. Is everything alright? Do you need to go to the hospital? Should I take you there right now?"

"Calm down with your questions, Romano. I'm fine, nothing is wrong with me. At my age, it's normal to gain and lose weight in short periods." She said, placing a warm, wrinkled hand over mine.

"Are you sure, Nana?"

"I'm not sure, I'm Benedicta." She said, stifling a laugh which made me chuckle.

Grandma was such a case at times.

After losing both of my parents in a car crash when I was just three years old, Nana had affectionately nurtured me to adulthood and had made sure I never felt the loss of my parents.

Having lost her own husband after giving birth to my dad, she strove hard to build the GV corporation and made it into the billion dollar company it was worth today.

She had retired five years ago after her doctor advised her to cut down on any stressful activity, and so, I became the president of the company when I was just twenty four.

I couldn't be prouder of her.

"How about that matter?" Nana started after a moment had passed which drew me out of my everie.

"What matter?" I asked, feigning ignorance even though he very well knew what she was talking about.

"When will you get a wife, Romano? I'm worried about you honestly. I know you must think of me as a nagging grandmother but honestly, I just want the best for you." She said in a broken voice, with tears pooling in her eyes.

I sighed, exasperated.

I really didn't want to do this today.

"I know, I'm just taking my time, Nana." I lied.

"Nonsense, figlio. That is what you have been saying for the past three years. I'm getting older and I want to see my great grandchild before I die. You know I've been getting weaker and weaker as the days go by." She wept quietly as she clutched onto my hands.

I remained quiet for a while, trying to process words in his head before I inhaled deeply, "Actually, grandma. I-uh," I trailed off and Nana gazed expectantly at me.

"I have someone that I have been seeing for a while now and we just got engaged two days ago." The first set of lies slipped out of my mouth and as soon as it did, regret enveloped me.

Fuck. What the hell did I just say?

Nana's eyes lit up, "Oh my goodness! This is great news! Why didn't you tell me about this earlier, Roman? You are not lying to me or anything, vero?"

I swallowed harshly before feigning a smile, "Of course not, Nana. I would never lie to you. I just wanted to give you a surprise."

"So, when can I meet her? I want to meet her as soon as possible. Can we do tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?" She rambled out.

"No, that's too fast. I will have to ask her first and get back to you. Maybe next week." I fibbed again.

"Okay, That's fine by me. Oh my God, Romano, I'm so elated, I can't wait to meet her. I love her already." Nana declared excitedly.

I could only force a grin on my face even though I knew I was in deep shit for my stupid lie.

I had no idea where I was even going to find a fiancée before the week ended.

Fuck my stupid big mouth that couldn't seal itself when it wasn't needed, I thought, on my way to the bar, half an hour later.

I needed to clear my head first with some alcohol.

Sofie's POV

"Thanks." I muttered to the waitress as she placed the glass of margarita on the bar island.

It was my fourth drink that night, and although I was starting to get drunk, and everyone and everything I saw seemed to be in doubles, I didn't stop.

I wanted to drink my frustration and sadness away, even if that meant drinking myself to a stupor and waking up with a terrific hangover tomorrow.

My fuzzy vision trailed to a man who had Alexander's burly physique, and had his hand looped around a pretty lady's waist. Instantly, I shuddered as the thoughts of the older man bristled in my head.

I had no idea what I was going to do.

I was sure rejecting Alexander's proposal had definitely gotten me in more trouble with my parents.

I knew my parents won't stop until they frustrate me to the point where I would have no option but to accept the old man's proposal.

I couldn't allow that to happen.

But, I would also have no place to stay when my parents chased me out of their place.

My best friend, Amy Dumas, was the only person that I could stay with but the problem was that she was not even in town at the moment.

"Fuck me." I cursed underneath my breath as I downed the remnant of the alcohol in the bottle.

The alcohol had now fully kicked in and my head felt lighter.

"Gladly, princess." A man's voice came from beside me which made me giggle drunkenly.

I tilted my head sideways to take in whoever the man was.

To be honest, he was quite good-looking, and he also looked young but the weird smirk that he had on his face made him look like the joker.

As I thought of his resemblance to the fictional character, I had the sudden urge to burst into a peal of laughter and I did.

I laughed so hard that I felt tears rolling down my cheeks as I stupidly pointed at the man whose smirk had dissipated.

In place of the smirk, he now had an annoyed expression glued to his face.

I came down from my crazy laughing bout as I cleaned my tears with my thumb, and directed a gaze at the man.

"Care to enlighten me about the cause of your amusement?" He asked, his vexed countenance dissipating.

"Nothing. I-I just remembered something funny." I slurred, and shrugged intoxicatedly.

He grinned, "So, I would like to take you up on your offer. I will gladly fuck you, kitten." The joker-esque smirk was back on his face but this time around, I didn't feel amused, I felt pissed off.

"No, thank you and I don't appreciate the offer either." I drawled, bibulously tapping on the bar island with my fingers.

"You've got such a feisty, little mouth on you. Don't you?" He asked, his voice tinged with mild annoyance.

I just waved him off, and turned back to my empty glass cup.

I was really going to use up my meager salary on alcohol.

"I want another glass of this." I said to no one in particular with my hand dangling weightlessly in the air.

"Let me pour you a glass of wine. By the way, I'm Kieran, and you?" The man's voice seeped into my ears, and I rolled my eyes in annoyance, before turning toward him.

"I thought we were done talking. Why are you still here?" I questioned, nodding my head drunkenly at him.

He shrugged, "Well, I'm not done with you. Your glass is empty and I was just being generous." He made to pour the wine into my glass, and I smacked his arm.

"I don't want it! Don't you understand English? I don't want your stupid wine and I most certainly don't want you. Just leave me alone, please!" I yelled at him with my last bits of reasoning.

I watched his expression change from amused to perplexed, and then to anger before he mumbled something incoherently.

I heaved a sigh of relief as I watched him get up.

"Let's talk in private. My car is packed over there. I promise you it won't be long." I felt his hot, annoying breath at my nape, and I clenched my teeth angrily.

If I was in the right state of mind, I would have given him a befitting slap but at that moment, I was physically helpless, and could only rely on my sharp tongue.

"I don't want to speak with you. We don't have anything to discuss. Please leave me alone. Go home." I said as politely as I could, and to my utter respite, I sensed him leave my back.

I felt a harsh grip on my wrist afterward and when I gazed up, my eyes met with Kieran's dark, evil orbs.

He smirked wickedly at me, "If I'm going home, then you are coming home with me." He whispered.

"Let me go." I said weakly, trying to pull myself away from him.

Extracting my arm from his vice-like grip proved to be a futile task as he effortlessly dragged me up from the stool, and ignored me when I pinched him.

"This won't take long. Before you know it, we will be done." Kieran said, and I shook my head, hot tears now spilling down my face.

"Please, leave me alone." I whimpered.

"She is not interested in you, let her go. Can't you see that you are hurting her?" I heard a deep, baritone voice boom from behind me and instantly, Kieran released my hand.

My wrist was sore and reddened.

I spun around to see who the powerful timbre belonged to, and my mouth gaped in awe as I took in the man's tall, aura-exuding form.

I looked like an insect beside his imposing height.

From my drunken haze, I could still make out his handsome features, his regal nose, his thin, pink lips, his piercing grey eyes, his black hair, and the sexy undercut beneath it.

The man looked unreal.

There was no way a person could look as perfect, and gorgeous as the man looked in just a black dress shirt and black slacks.

No fucking way.

The way his ripped muscles flexed as he stood with his arms akimbo made me shudder wantonly with lust.

"And who the hell are you?" Kieran barked.

What I didn't expect was for the man to pull me closer to himself and gaze into my eyes before glaring at the pervert, "Her fiancé. Now fuck off, you perverted bastard." He snarled before leading me back to the bar island.

"Are you even real? I've never seen a person as handsome as you are." I blurted out as he helped me onto a bar stool before he also took his seat beside me on another stool.

"I-err, thanks?" He said in a tone set between a question and a statement.

I was gradually starting to snap out of my drunken haze into an aroused haze, the more I stared at the gorgeous man.

"I should have thanked you first. Thanks for saving me from that situation."

He nodded, "You don't have to, but you are welcome."

"How can I thank you? Do you want a bottle of whiskey? You look like you only take expensive stuff and I really don't have enough for that. If you don't mind, can you please take a cheap bottle of alcohol?" I rambled out, to which the man chuckled.

A deep, rich sound that made me cream my panties with desire.

"Thanks for the offer but you don't have to. I'm fine." He said.

"You don't want the whiskey? Is it too cheap for you to drink?"

The man seemed hurt, "Of course not. I had some earlier and I still have to drive myself back home."

I nodded and silence prevailed between us for a while before a great deal of effrontery summoned itself inside me which caused me to leave my seat, stand in between the man's legs and cup his face.

I expected him to smack my hands off him but he didn't, even though he looked befuddled.

"I love your eyes. They are pretty." I slurred and the man's face relaxed to form a smile.

"Thanks." He said.

What would they taste like? I thought as I stared at his lips.

The urge to taste, and feel his lips with mine simmered within me.

I swallowed harshly as our foreheads met and his eyes darkened.

Ignoring my logical reasoning and throwing caution to the wind, I kissed him.