The Fiancé--A Sexy Billionaire Romance by Stefanie London

Author:Stefanie London
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-10-13T18:16:37+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Daniel

AFTER WE ARRIVE in Nice, France, things between Ava and I are...different. We’re somehow more and less comfortable with one another. We’re sleeping in separate rooms, but every time we pass one another in the airy, light-flooded villa there’s a tension that crackles. A little spark that threatens to catch if I don’t remain vigilant.

The day after we arrived, I took Ava out for a tour of the Promenade des Anglais and talked about the varying architectural styles which spread from Paris to Nice and other parts of France during the Belle Époque period. She soaked it all in, eagerly asking questions until I found myself lost in my personal passion for historical architecture.

It’s not often I get to geek out with a willing ear, let me tell you.

Then we had dinner at a small, intimate restaurant and she told me all about the gap year she spent backpacking around Europe. We’ve been to many of the same places and we swapped stories about our favourite piazzas in Italy and the Christmas markets in Germany and Austria. By the following morning, there were several pictures of us floating around online and I have to admit that if I didn’t know any better... I would assume we were in love.

But ever since I showed Ava the images, she’s been distant. Standoffish. I know it must make her uncomfortable—media attention isn’t something I’ve gotten fully used to myself. My uncle sat me down a few years back, and explained that attention is like a tool. It’s sharp-edged and dangerous if you’re not careful, but when wielded by someone with skill it can accomplish great things. Ever since then, I’ve tried to view it for what it can give me: exposure for my company, recognition for the hard work of my staff, raising the profile of my family name.

“If only that’s where the focus stayed,” I mutter to myself as I stare at my laptop screen. A second later, the familiar ringtone of Skype slices through the quiet air. It’s Marc.

Bracing myself, I accept the call. My brother’s face fills the screen. He’s sitting on a balcony. I recognise the glittering view behind him—the line of lights along Chapel Street, the growing cluster of towers from the CBD in the distance. These days he lives in the city with Lily, but this view is from his old apartment. An apartment I thought he was planning to sell.

“You can stop what you’re doing, Dan.” He rakes a hand through his hair in a way that’s like looking into a mirror. “I see through your bullshit, okay? Even if the media doesn’t.”

I clench my jaw. I knew Marc would be a tough sell, but I’d hoped there was some part of him that still wanted to see the best in me.

A part you were hoping to exploit?

I shove the inconvenient thought to one side. “Excuse me?”

“I know your relationship is a sham,” he says bluntly. “And I know you think diverting my attention will make me forget about you and Lily.

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