Page 37 of Pretend To Be Mine

“Then you better make time,” Dash said. “Because if she can’t look comfortable with you, this whole fake engagement thing falls apart, and we’re back to square one with the PR narrative. They’ll be back to calling us jokers who can’t fill their Daddy’s shoes.”

I groaned and reached for my glass of wine. I’d been so focused on the logistics that I’d completely missed the actual problem.

Me.

I was the problem.

12

ELIZABETH

Ilooked around my apartment and couldn’t help but dream of a brighter future. I had been looking at one-bedroom places. Nothing fancy but an actual bedroom. Maybe two. I would love a sewing room. A place that I could work and not worry about leaving the mess. I could just close the door and not have to stare at the unfinished sketches and fabric scraps all over the place.

But all of that hinged on me getting a decent job. And I wasn’t sure I could take the job at Blackwell.

I needed help. I called my brother for advice. He would tell me what to do.

“Hey, Lizzie. What’s up?”

I could hear pots and pans clanging, which told me he was working.

“Are you busy? I can call back.”

“No, no, I’ve got a few minutes. Just prepping for tomorrow’s gig. Corporate lunch thing, nothing exciting.” The noise quieted as he presumably moved to a different room. “How’s it going? We haven’t really talked since all this craziness started.”

I wasn’t sure how to answer him. Honesty? Fake it? Tell him it’s been overwhelming? Terrifying? The best and worst week of my life? “It’s been a lot.”

“I saw the press conference. You looked great. Super convincing.”

“I looked scared out of my mind.”

“You looked nervous, which made it seem real. That’s good, right?” He paused. “Lizzie, what’s wrong? I can hear it in your voice.”

I stared out my window that looked directly at the brick wall of the building next to mine. “Would you be upset if I backed out?”

The line went quiet for a moment. “Of course not. Lizzie, if you’re not comfortable, you should absolutely back out. I’d never be upset about that.”

“Really?”

“Really. You’re my sister. Your happiness is more important than any job or any favor I asked for. This whole thing is just to help you out, so if it’s not working for you, absolutely call it off.”

I almost started crying with relief. “Okay,” I murmured.

“What’s wrong? Did Adrian do something? Because if he hurt you⁠—”

“No! No, Adrian’s been a real gentleman. Nothing but gracious and welcoming. Honestly, he’s been amazing, considering I can barely function around him.” I laughed, but it came out watery. “That’s kind of the problem, actually.”

“I’m not following.”

I stood up and started pacing, needing to move. “I just don’t think I’m good at this. All the interviews, the photoshoots, and the public appearances are too much. It’s so much faking. And I’m not a fake person, Chris. I don’t know how to lie to thousands of people and act like it’s normal.”

“Okay, that makes sense.” Chris’s voice was much calmer than I expected. He had gone out on a limb to ask Adrian for a favor. I hated that I was making him look bad. “You’ve always been honest to a fault. That’s what makes you you.”

Despite everything, I smiled. “Are you saying I’m blunt?”

He laughed. “Honest. Truthful. You’re a good person, Lizzie. A sincere person. And there’s nothing wrong with that.” He paused, and I heard him moving around again. “But can I ask you something? Is it really the lying that’s bothering you, or is it something else? I know Adrian. Are you sure he didn’t do something that made you uncomfortable?”

I stopped pacing. “What do you mean?”