Page 86 of Pretend To Be Mine

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “No. Maybe. I don’t know.”

“That’s not like you. You always know.” He watched me, scrutinizing me. Sebastian could play the uncaring, who-gives-a-fuck guy pretty well, but it was part of his charade. People never took him seriously but he was just as smart and capable as the rest of us Blackwell brothers. He chose to pretend not to care because he didn’t like to be bothered with boring work.

“What’s going on, Adrian?”

“Nothing. Everything. It’s complicated.”

“Complicated how?”

I looked around, making sure we were alone in this section of the ballroom. “Things have gotten messy with Elizabeth. The lines are blurring between what’s real and what’s fake, and I’m not sure what to do about it.”

Sebastian’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, Mr. CEO doesn’t know what to do? The man who always has a plan and is always three steps ahead can’t figure out his own shit? You’re so good at telling everyone else what to do and how to live.”

“Forget it.” I started to walk away. “I should have known you wouldn’t take this seriously.”

“Adrian, wait.” His hand on my arm stopped me. When I turned back, the teasing had dropped from his expression entirely. “I’m not making fun. I’m just surprised. You’ve always been so adamant about not doing relationships. Real ones, I mean. Even your hookups were casual. Detached.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“You’ve been hiding. Ever since Dad died, you’ve used work as an excuse to avoid actually living your life.” He held up a hand before I could protest. “I’m not judging. We all dealt with it differently. I went the opposite direction—too much living, not enough thinking. But Adrian, this is the first time I’ve seen you actually care about someone since… I can’t even remember when.”

Just hearing him say it made me feel twitchy. “It’s too fast. I’ve known her for barely two weeks. Reality and the business arrangement have just gotten tangled up. And with Love Week driving me insane, it’s a terrible time to make important life-altering decisions.”

“When is a good time?” Sebastian challenged. “You’ll always have something more important. Another show, another crisis, another responsibility. That’s who you are. You put everything else first.”

“Someone has to.”

“Sure. But don’t wait too long to figure out what you want with Elizabeth.” He glanced toward where she’d disappeared. “The world is starting to notice her, Adrian. She’s talented, beautiful, and suddenly very visible. If you don’t lock that down, someone else will. Hell, I might even⁠—”

“Stop right there.” The words came out more like a snarl than actual words. “Don’t even joke about that.”

Sebastian laughed, but there was sympathy in his eyes. “See? I knew you were into her. Damn, brother. You’re fucked.”

“I know.”

“Does she know? Have you told her how you feel?”

“We agreed to talk after Love Week. When things calm down.”

“And if someone else talks to her first? If she decides this fake engagement is too painful and walks away?”

The thought made my stomach drop. “She wouldn’t.”

“Why? Because you’re paying her? Because you promised her a job?” Sebastian shook his head. “Adrian, you’re smarter than this. That woman is falling for you. Anyone with eyes can see it. But she’s also scared, and she thinks this is still just an arrangement. If you want something real with her, you need to tell her. Before it’s too late.”

“After Love Week.”

“Could be too late.” He clapped me on the shoulder, the gesture almost pitying. “Look, I’m the last person who should be giving relationship advice. My longest commitment is to my dry cleaner. But even I can see this is different. Don’t let the perfect moment keep you from having any moment at all.”

Before I could respond, a production assistant appeared, needing Sebastian’s approval on something. He shot me one more meaningful look and followed her toward the stage area.

I stood alone in the opulent ballroom, surrounded by centuries of history and luxury. Tonight, when the show was underway, it was going to be impossible to ignore the feelings rampaging through me. The setting was meant to turn people on. Fire them up. And Elizabeth and I had no problem in that department.

I felt like we should talk before we fucked again. But what would I say?

I didn’t want to risk saying the wrong thing and messing this situation up more than it already was.

What if I told her and she didn’t feel the same way? What if this was just adrenaline and proximity and the intensity of the situation?