Faking it with Damian Black by Louise Jane

Chapter 34

-MILLIE-

“Okay, what’s up with you?” Candice’s fingers were solid restraints around my

biceps as she draggedtowards her car.

We were parked on the highway. The rolling hills of Rossendale were behind us,

overlooking Malyons Lake on the other side of the road.

Candice’s eyes warily slide behind us. Constance and her fiance Petterson slid

out of their rental car, their eyes round in awe, n*eck strained as they admired

Rossendale Hills. This place was popular with the locals all year round. In

winter, skiing down the snow covered hills attract every adrenaline enthusiast.

They even held a competition every year. From spring through summer,

wildfiowers grow on the bed of green hills, perfect for Constance’s vision of

their laid back and boho inspired prenup video. The sunset over Malyon’s lake

today was an added perk that we are sure Constance would love.

Constance called our names, her thumbs thrusted up the air while she grinned

excitedly. Yep. This place was definitely a sell out. Then she turned to Petterson;

his phone was already up and filming his fiancee’s reaction. Constance made a

twirl, her yellow lily-printed summer dress fiowing as she moved. She made a

few poses for the camera and started gushing about how beautiful Roslin City

was to her followers.

Candice tugged on my arm. I glared at her, hissing. “What?!”

My best friend’s eyes thinned; her winged eyeliner made her eyes sharp, they

could cut steel. “You know what. Tellwhat’s bothering you.”

I shrugged, rubbing my arm when she let go, focusing on the majestic view of

nature around us instead of Candice’s probing

eyes. “Nothing.”

Back in high school, we used to spend our afternoons on this highway. This

place was filled with my childhood memories, and I’m glad I decided to finally

chome. Although my reason for coming hwas not in the picture

anymore, still, I’m happy I continued with my plan.

“You were never a good liar, M Millicent,” her tone was whetted.

I winced. This was the downside of knowing someone since you were in

kindergarten. “I hate that you can readlike a book.

She sighed, the warm summer air sweeping her raven curls. “It’s both a blessing

and a curse.”

I blew a breath and leaned against Candice’s car, watching Constance pranced in

the middle of the road, Petterson was on her heels with his camera raised in the

air, filming everything his fiancee does.

“Is it Damian?” It’s still foreign to my ears when Candice addresses Damian by

his name. I was used to hearing them bicker all the time, calling each other

names when the other was not around.

I played coy, nudging a pebble on the roadside with my boots. “What makes you

think “he” is bothering me

“Please,” her narrowed eyes widened as she rolled them at me. “It was like

watching a cheesy romantic movie, you two. Andrea and I noticed something

was up since he visited us with lunch in the office. Then, at the party, you

disappeared together. Then he drove you to work on Monday. I don’t need a

master’s degree to figure s hit out.”

Those were facts, but Candice wouldn’t know how deeply this s hit goes.

When I stayed silent, she pressed for more. “So, are you two like a thing now?

Did you do more than smooching over the weekend?”

I groaned, pinning her with a sharp sideways glance. She grinned cheekily. It

was my turn to do an eye roll.

Constance and Petterson were now itching up the hill closest to the highway,

tracing a path through the bed of wildfiowers. At the top of the hill was a lone

tree. It was old and huge, and a wood swing hung from its giant branch.

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09:27 Sat, Feb 10 M

Chapter 34

Looking at Constance, there’s no doubt she’d choose us to plan her wedding.

She loved all the places in Roslin City we’d visited today. And what we predicted

was happening. This highway was the selling point for this couple to choose

Effortless

Events

“It’s nothing like that.” I searched my brain for the right words to explain what I

was feeling towards Damian, but there was no use in hiding things from Candice.

She would know that I am sugarcoating the galling truth.

“Then what is it?” Candice pressed, raising a thumbs up at Constance when she

asked if we could stay for another twenty minutes before we headed back to the

city.

“Things got complicated in New York.” I murmured.

“Hal” Candice’s excited timber was startling. “I knew it! I f ucking knew it.

Something happened, right?”

My eyebrows creased. “We didn’t have S**, if that’s what you mean.”

He just shoved his fingers in my coochie and madeclike no one ever

did before. Damian’s skills were porn worthy. Thoughts of him doing more to me

make my knees f ucking buckle.

“P” Candice dismissed. “Sex is not the only thing that could happen between a

man and a woman, Millie. So, did he g

до down on you, or was it the other way around.”

“Candice!” Scandalized. I nailed her with a questioning look. “I’m not talking

about Damian with you that way. brother.”

He’s your

We talk about each other’s S** life, but I can’t bring myself to talk about my

intimate session with Damina with his sister.

“Step sister, Candice cleared. “He’s not really my brother.”

“Well, do you want to hear how your not so brother madecwith his

fingers while he sucked on my n*pples?”

“Ew! Okay,” she grimaced. “Maybe not too detailed.”

“Thought so.” Just to p iss her off, I said, “but he did all that and more.”

Her face pruned, daggers shooting from her emerald eyes.

“You wanted to know what my problem is, right?” 1 giggled, eyes rounding on

feigning innocence. I took my tcollecting my thoughts. “It started there. I’ve

always been attracted to Damian, and this forced proximity our fake

relationship forced uponmade it kindle again. And..” I stared at the tip of my

boots. Admitting this to my best friend also felt like acknowledging my stu pid

decisions. “And I liked the attention he was giving me. Can.”

Her voice softens. “You fell for him.”

I mulled over my response. “I’m getting there, so I built the boundaries we

crossed up again. Then, on Saturday, something happened.”

Candice waited patiently, her eyes round with expectation. Eyes narrowing, I

grumbled, “We didn’t have S**. Get your head out of the gutter.”

She giggled and letcontinue.

Heaving a breath, I prepared myself for Candice’s outburst at what I was about

to spill. “I got assaulted in the ladies’ room of the Black Hotel.”

She blinked at me, waiting for confirmation if it was a punchline “You what!?”

Constance and Petterson stopped and looked in our direction. I smiled at them

apologetically. If Candice’s emerald eyes could shoot fire, she’d be setting

Rossendale Hills on fire by now

Candice gripped my shoulder, forcingto focus my attention on no one but

her. “What do you mean, assaulted?”

O

Sat, Feb

Chapter 34

I told her everything, play-by-play, except for the guy’s threat, I trust Candice

with my life, but I don’t want to take risks and put people I care about in danger.

Hunter still hasn’t contactedabout the attack. I remember Damian insisting

that Hunter call him for any development about my case, but knowing how

stubborn Hunter could be, he’s probably waiting forto make the call. And

until I know more about the guy, I’ll keep things to myself for now.

“You-”

“Oh, my g od!” Constance interrupted Candice. “I’m in love with Roslin City! You

guys this place is more than perfect for our prenup video,” she gushed,

unadulterated excitement sparkled in her eyes. “Right, babea”

Petterson threw an arm around Constance’s shoulder, k*ssing the top of her

head. He was remarkably taller than all of us girls, but lanky We had to crane

our n*ecks just to meet his gaze. Whatever you want, babe. I just want to marry

you.”

I wanted to roll my eyes. He was a total cheeseball, but what the hell do I care

about that? Constance had stars in her eyes. They were so in love it’s nauseating

TE

“Aw” she leaned on his chest. “We better head back to your office and sign the

paperwork. Better get the show on the road early.”

-“That’s great. Let’s head back, then.” Candice had been working overtto

lock this contract. Constance had a considerable following on social media, and

this was a good exposure for Effortless Events. Strangely, she wasn’t even

jumping up and down in happiness about Constance’s decision.

Once Constance and Petterson were inside their car, we slid inside our ride, and

Candice started where we left off our conversation. But she was less agitated

now. The icebreaker definitely tamed her annoyance by a few octaves. “What

were you thinking. Millicent? Why would you hide something as big as that from