The Billionaire's Hired Girlfriend

Chapter 17

Jayden came down to breakfast, still thinking about Kelly's words. Surely she didn't mean everything would fall apart. What about Alex when all this was over?

He wondered what her reaction would be if he were to tell her he wasn't gay. He had never thought about that. She'd probably slap him in the face and call him a liar.

"You seem to be deep in thought, Jay," Gracie called out.

Jayden looked up to see his mother and Alex at the dining table. Alexandra was smiling at him.

"Yeah," he said, the dilemma wiped out of his mind. He came to sit opposite them and took a slice of toast. Then he poured himself a cup of black coffee.

"Alex has been telling me how you two met," Gracie said.

Jay glanced at Alex. He saw her blushing. "Really? Do tell. I'm curious."

Gracie chuckled. "She spilled tea on your jacket."

Jay took a bit of his toast. After a bit of chewing, he said, "She did."

"Then you spilled beer on her." Gracie continued. "How clumsy of you, Jayden."

He threw the half-eaten toast down and grabbed for the coffee.

"It's already 9:30," Beth announced at the door as she rushed into the room. "Come along now. We are late for Vera Wang." She tsked loudly. "Where's Kelly?"

"Calm down, Beth. She'll be down soon," Gracie said.

Jay saw Alex hiding a grin. God! How she affected him. He wanted to leap over the table and kiss her. Only he couldn't because a) he was supposed to be gay, b) his family was with them, and c) he had promised himself not to touch her.

He thrust back the chair with a loud screech and stalked out of the room. "I'll get the car ready," he announced as he was leaving.

A moment later, Kelly appeared. "Oh gosh! We are late. Come along, Alex. You're coming, too."

Alex widened her eyes. "Me?" She pointed a finger at herself, her brows raised.

"Yeah. We can't just leave you here. Besides, Vera Wang is on Madison Avenue where all the fashionable boutiques are. We can go shopping for your dress when we're done," Kelly said, her hands clasped together in anticipation.

"Yeah," Alex said, somewhat reluctantly.

Gracie grinned. "Come on. We're late."

Alex nodded, and then she was led by Kelly and Gracie on either side of her to the car.

* * * * *

Leaning his shoulder against the black limo, Jayden watched as his family and hired girlfriend finally made an appearance.

"Oh, we are late, we are late," muttered Beth. "We do not want to be late for lunch with Britney, too."

Jayden saw Kelly smirk and whisper something into Alexandra's ear. Jay wondered what they were gossiping about. Him, perhaps? They were eyeing him with some sort of interest.

He opened the door for his grandmother, who muttered something about the weather being too hot for her frail body to handle. Then Gracie slid in, followed by Alex. He nodded at her with a masklike face, and that was the most he was going to interact with her from now on, he vowed to himself.

Kelly said, "You look like you want to murder someone, Jay. Don't worry. We won't take long. I know how much you hate shopping."

"Just get in the damn car," he snapped and gave her a nudge.