Lahat ng Kabanata ng The CEO's Fake Girlfriend : Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

Lucien’s jaw tightened as he checked the mirror. “The hell—?” He switched lanes sharply, eyes narrowing. “Drunk driver.”The phone buzzed from the center console. Rafael’s name flashed on screen.Lucien answered without looking away from the road. “Talk to me.”Whatever Rafael said on the other end made Lucien jerk forward in his seat."What?"The car behind slammed into us before he got the answer. My seatbelt bit into my chest. The world jerked sideways.“Shit—it’s an attack!” Lucien barked into the phone. “Brace yourself, Camila!”The line went dead. The engine roared as he floored the gas. We shot forward, weaving between lanes.Headlights blurred. A black SUV that had been cruising ahead of us suddenly swerved sideways, blocking both lanes. The passenger door flew open.A man leaned out with a rifle.“Get down!” Lucien yelled.Gunfire exploded. Bullets pinged against the windshield until it cracked into a spiderweb. Each impact sounded like thunder trapped inside the car. I ducke

"I'll be right back." Mama Cortez turned off the hairdryer and disappeared into her closet. I stared after her, wondering what she was up to this time.She came back a minute later holding a folded dress and a small bottle. Her frail hands placed them on my lap like they were something precious.“What’s this?” I asked, touching the soft fabric.“An old nightie I used to wear for Papa Cortez before he died.” Her smile was wistful, faraway. “And that’s a special body wash. Use it tonight and Lucien won’t know what hit him.”My face went hot instantly. “Mama Cortez—stop, please.”She waved me off. “I’m serious, niña. You enjoy that man tonight, you hear?”I nearly dropped the dress. What kind of grandmother talks about seduction with a straight face?Mama sat behind me again, comb in hand, parting my hair down the middle with the pointed end of her comb. “Lucien looks like the type who likes surprises,” she said casually.“Mama Cortez,” I groaned. “Please stop talking about him like that

My breath hitched. Heat spread down my neck, settling low in my belly."That's not—" The words tangled in my throat when his thumb brushed the side of my neck, a slow circle. His touch stayed light, but it was enough to feel my pulse hammering beneath his skin."Your heart's racing," he said quietly. "Why is that?""It's not.""Camila." He said my name like a warning, soft but edged. Like he could see through the tiny tremors running down my body, the shallow breaths I couldn’t hide, the way my thighs pressed together as if that would calm anything."Let me go, Lucien.""Not until you tell me why you wore this dress.""It's none of your business."He leaned closer. “Everything about you is my business. Or are you scared, Fiera?” His breath skimmed across my lips.Every nerve screamed to close the distance, to just lean forward and—No.Ronan's voice echoed in my head. 'Men like Lucien use pretty things like you to get their dick wet, make you think you matter in his world for a minut

I heard her approach. The soft pad of bare feet on tile. The hesitation before she rounded the corner. The way she stopped feet away instead of coming closer.I kept my eyes closed, whiskey glass balanced on my stomach, listening to her breathe.She was looking at me — I could feel it. That sharp gaze tracing the bruises across my chest, down my arms, probably wondering if they hurt as much as they looked.They did, and it was worth it.The silence stretched until she finally spoke.“When are we leaving?”I opened my eyes, turning my head just enough to see her. Arms crossed, staring at my forehead, not my eyes.“Soon,” I said.“That’s not an answer.”"It's the only one you're getting right now."Her lips pressed together. “I’m tired of being stuck here. Tired of wearing oversized t-shirts while you get to raid Rafael’s wardrobe.”“You could always wear nothing.”Her face flushed. “You’re disgusting.”“You keep saying that.” I sat up slowly, letting her see the way my ribs protested.

For a moment, I couldn’t move. Her breath still brushed my lips, her pulse still raced under my fingers, and yet she was already retreating, curling into herself like I’d burned her.A second ago, she’d leaned into my touch like she needed my warmth, let me hold her. Now, she couldn’t even look at me.Well, she wasn’t supposed to want this, not after what I was and what I almost made her do.Hell, neither was I.But when she looked away, it hit deeper than I expected.I leaned back, jaw tight, forcing distance between us. If she wanted to pretend this never happened, fine. So could I.After all, It was just a test gone far. An impulse I'd control next time. I can't afford to forget what matters most; protecting Kassim from entering Hayes Corp, and figuring out Camila's employer, now that I've confirmed it isn't Kassim. I looked at her again—half asleep, cheek flushed, lips parted. The same lips that had pulled away from mine. She looked harmless, and that's what made her more dangero