The Pretend Girlfriend (A Billionaire Love Story #1)(45)

But that, she knew, was just a distraction from her real concerns. Like why she'd just turned down the free out that Henry had just offered her.


It's because you still think you have a chance, Gwen thought. She glanced furtively up at the driver again, as though he might have some way of hearing her thoughts and reporting them back to his boss.

But that, of course, was ridiculous. However, ridiculous seemed to be her new way of life. Who in their right mind did the sort of things she'd been doing these last few days, signing girlfriend contracts and all that?

No, this was all Aiden's fault, she knew. He'd lured her in with good looks and a good mystery (the mystery being: just who is this guy?). And just like a good fish, she'd taken the bait and now found herself stuck on the end of his line. Not that she was doing much to free herself.

And that was the thing, she knew as she watched the river flash by beneath them, she'd thrown that pen back at Henry because she wasn't about to give up on Aiden.

This really could be something special, if only he'd let it be. But every time she tried to feel him out, to see if maybe he felt the same way, he stonewalled her.

Of course, this whole thing was absolutely exhausting. When the driver pulled the car up in front of the building, she almost let him get the door for her. But it wasn't the time to give in. She flung the door open and got out. Inside the lobby, she checked her phone. Just after seven.

She sighed as she jabbed the button for the elevator. Both Aiden and his father seemed to think she was at their every beck and call. They would send her a message (more like an order) and expected her to simply jump and obey.

Though, she had to admit, every time one of them told her to jump she did indeed respond by asking just how high.

By the time she got back into her apartment, the exhaustion well and truly set in. Rubbing at her eyes, she kicked off her shoes and just flopped down onto her bed, telling herself that she was just going to take a day and sleep in. No Aiden, no Henry. If Aiden wanted something from her, he was just going to have to wait.

She closed her eyes, hoping for sleep to take her quickly.

It didn't. She thought maybe it was the slice of that sadistic morning sunlight coming in around the curtain, so she pulled the blanket up over her head. But then she kept getting a tickle right at the tip of her nose. When she finally managed to calm that, she found she couldn't keep her eyes closed.

"Come on, I'm tired..." she said, trying to convince her mind to go along with her body's desires.

But it just wouldn't stop thinking. About Aiden, of course, and what just happened.

"Fine!" she said, grabbing the blanket and flinging it down. Getting up, she found her phone.

"If I can't get any sleep, then guess what, pal, neither can you!" she muttered, quickly scrolling through her contacts.

It rang twice.

"Hello," Aiden said.

She'd expected him to sound groggy. You know, a little dry-voiced and annoyed at being awoken. However, Aiden sounded normal. Not at all like a person just jarred from sleep and trying not to sound like it.

"Did I wake you?" Gwen said, figuring it must just be the phone changing his voice. It annoyed her. Sound tired, you jerk! Gwen thought.

"No. I've been up for a few hours now," he said.

Gwen sat on the foot of her bed. She wasn't sure what to say. Could it be true? Could Aiden really be one of those awful morning people? I can't be with a morning person, she thought, that's just insanity!

"So is there something going on?" Aiden said, and she realized that she'd been staring at the door to her closet, deep in thought on this morning person issue. Anything to avoid thinking about actually important things, apparently.

"Yeah, there is. There's no way I'm getting back to sleep now. Are you free today?" Gwen said.

"Actually, my schedule is pretty full..." he started.

That got her going. She stood up from the bed, pacing back and forth. "No! We need to talk. Something's happened..."

"Is everything okay? No one's hurt or sick? You're not sick, are you?" He said. And she actually detected some real concern in his voice.

"Yes, I'm fine. Look, just meet me, okay?"

He sighed. Had he been holding his breath? Hearing some genuine worry from him was nice, as weird as that sounded. And apparently all she needed to do to get a rise out of him was to imply something was wrong with her.

If that was the case, she thought she had more than enough ammo. Oh, what is wrong with me; let me count the ways!

"I'll come over to your apartment in..." she heard paper in the background as he checked something, "An hour. See you then..."

"No!" Gwen said. She didn't want him over here. She felt cooped up, alone. And hungry, her stomach added with another gurgle. Besides, after that visit to Henry's office, she needed a shower. "I'll see you at the Starbucks in... an hour and a half." That ought to be enough time to get ready. And maybe have a slice of peanut butter toast or something.

"Fine. I'll see you then," he said.

A little spark of triumph tickled at her. She'd managed to tell him what to do for once. That's right, she thought, let's see how you like last minute plans. She hoped he would have fun rushing about to try and be ready in time. But then another thought soured her victory. He could probably just run a comb through his hair, throw on a tailored suit, and be ready in fifteen minutes. He seemed like that sort of lucky jerk.