A Guide to Fake Dating Your Enemy by Nikki Bright

Author:Nikki Bright [Bright, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-01-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Samuel

Tip #19: Celebrate small victories. Today, it’s a fake engagement; tomorrow, it’s convincing her family you’re perfect together.

Iflung open the door to the meeting room and charged in with a grin plastered across my face. Miguel sat at the table, lounging in an office chair like it was a La-Z-Boy recliner. Clad in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, he looked more prepared for a gym session than our late-evening debriefing.

“Natalie said yes!” I said.

Miguel leaped to his feet. “She said yes?”

“She said yes!”

We shared a laugh before exchanging the typical male shoulder pat/hug.

“Samuel Warner,” Miguel said, his smile threatening to split his face, “allow me to congratulate you on finally achieving your dream of getting engaged to Natalie Mann.”

My mind raced with thoughts and memories.

I had been smitten with Natalie since high school. While I’d tried to forget her while away in college, my feelings for her had instead flattened me. I knew I was head over heels in love with her way before I became Warner Print’s CEO.

My infatuation with Nat was a poorly kept secret within the Warner family. Everyone from Logan to my grandfather knew about my long-standing crush. But now, it seemed my dreams were coming true—even if by unconventional means.

“The only negative,” I said, some of my elation leaving me, “is she was backed into saying yes to my proposal through public peer pressure. Even though we’re engaged, we’re technically not dating.”

“That’s semantics. Who cares? Now you’ve got her neatly tied to you with the engagement,” Miguel pointed out, his voice full of mischief. “That should get rid of the impending deadline of your fake relationship.”

“True,” I agreed, relieved to have made progress in my pursuit of Natalie’s heart. “And just in time. Owen and Jenna look at each other like a pair of sappy teenagers.”

Miguel snorted. “As if you have room to judge in that area, Mr. Loyal Till My Last Breath Samuel Warner!”

I laughed, and the edge of intensity that had dogged me for weeks finally started to fade. “Can you believe it took this long to get here?” I said, both tired and ecstatic. “To be in an actual relationship with Natalie?”

“Don’t celebrate yourself,” Miguel replied tartly. “If Natalie hadn’t approached you about the fake romance, who knows how much longer you would’ve been pining away.”

I couldn’t argue with that. When Natalie first asked me about this scheme, I thought I was dreaming.

I laughed. “Remember when I frantically called you after she proposed the idea at Literum? You thought I was either hallucinating or having a panic attack.”

“Because it sounded too good to be true,” Miguel said. “Although in hindsight, it’s probably the only way Natalie would have voluntarily stayed around you.”

“Yeah.” I rubbed my jaw, almost drunk on my elation. “It’s been pretty dicey, though. There were so many times my family all but told her I’ve loved her for years.”

“They have been quite the liability,” Miguel acknowledged. “Isaac’s taking time off to meet Natalie and making the effort to interact

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