One Midnight Kiss: A Billionaire Fake Fiancée Holiday Romance
One Midnight Kiss: Chapter 32

Christa really had outdone herself this time. I stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom, twisting this way and that in the emerald green dress she insisted I borrow.

“You need something festive,” she had said, her eyes flashing with that mischievous glint she always had when she was meddling.

The dress was a vision. A deep, shimmering green that clung in all the right places and flared just slightly at the hem. It felt a little too glamorous for a Christmas party, but I had to admit it made me feel pretty.

I borrowed the dress for my company Christmas party but wearing it to Fox’s party was fine. It wasn’t like there would be anyone at his party that would be at mine. I could totally pull it off twice.

I stared at my shoe rack. Originally, I was going to wear my sensible black heels with the dress, but my eye was drawn to the shoes that I had never actually worn.

I picked up the strappy gold sandals that glittered in the light. Slipping them on, I felt a surge of daring. These heels were not the kind I usually chose for any event, much less a corporate one. But tonight, they felt just right. They made me feel taller, more powerful, and certainly more visible.

And a hell of a lot sexier.

The four-inch heel was not something I typically wore, so I did some practice walks and turns, not stopping until I was strutting like a model.

Satisfied I wasn’t going to fall on my face, I added my accessories, keeping it simple and classic with a gold necklace and bracelet and simple gold hoop earrings.

I glanced at the clock. It was nearly time for Fox to arrive. My heart beat a little faster at the thought. It was ridiculous. This was nothing more than a business arrangement that suited us both. Or so I had told myself repeatedly since we’d agreed to it.

The doorbell rang, pulling me from my thoughts. I took a deep breath, smoothing down the fabric of my dress once more before heading to answer it.

Fox stood there, looking impeccably handsome in a black suit that seemed to fit him as perfectly as a second skin. The man knew how to dress. His eyes traveled over me, lingering just a moment too long in a way that made my stomach flutter. “Wow,” he said. That single word was laden with more than simple admiration.

“Shall we?” I asked, trying to sound more composed than I felt.

He offered his arm, which I took, letting him lead me to the sleek black car parked outside.

“No truck?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Not tonight. I figured we might have a drink or two. I hired a driver.”

“Good thinking,” I replied.

We slid into the back, the leather seats nice and comfortable.

I found myself glancing over at Fox. He turned to me and smiled softly. “I’m really glad you agreed to come,” he said, his voice low. “I love my employees but socializing with them is complicated. Lines get blurred.”

“It’s just a party,” I replied, trying to match his casual tone, but my heart was pounding fiercely in my chest. “Don’t overthink it.”

“Of course.”

The short drive to the party felt quicker than I had anticipated. I was a little nervous to be attending his Christmas party with him. I knew everyone believed we were engaged but there was still that feeling of breaking the rules. Our relationship, whatever it was, had mostly been in the privacy of our homes. Not out in the public.

When we arrived, the place was already buzzing. The party was being held at a swanky downtown Seattle bar, surrounded by the brightest minds in tech. I couldn’t even begin to guess the average IQ in the room. I caught snippets of conversation. They were speaking English, but the words were foreign to me. They were talking tech, something I knew little about.

Fox seemed to sense my unease. He tightened his grip slightly on my arm, guiding me through the crowd with a confident ease that I envied. “Don’t worry,” he whispered close to my ear, making me shiver slightly despite the warmth of the bar. “You don’t need to talk tech tonight. Just enjoy the party. We don’t have to stay for long.”

He navigated us toward a group of people who looked a bit more relaxed than the rest, holding drinks and laughing over what seemed like a personal story rather than a technical discussion. “Natalia, meet some friends from the office,” Fox introduced smoothly.

“The fiancée!” one of the women exclaimed.

I offered a smile. “It’s nice to meet you all.”

We exchanged a few words before Fox led us toward the bar. The place was packed with people, mostly young and energetic, all of them clearly awestruck by Fox, their reclusive and enigmatic CEO. Being on Fox’s arm was like being on the arm of some hotshot, A-list celebrity. He shook hands, cracked dry jokes that made people burst into laughter, and basically lit up the whole room.

I couldn’t help but notice how his gaze drifted to me every so often, checking to make sure I was okay. It made me feel warm and fuzzy.

I took a sip of the champagne Fox got for me. “I need to talk to someone,” he said. “Shop talk.”

“Go,” I said. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m a big girl,” I said. “Go.”

“I’ll be back in five minutes,” he said.

I stood off to the side and watched the people. I enjoyed studying them. It helped with marketing. I noticed Jerrod approaching me. He gave me a nod, a friendly smile on his lips. “You look beautiful, Natalia,” he said, raising his glass to me.

“Thanks,” I said, smiling back. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”

He chuckled, glancing down at his tailored three-piece suit. “I try.”

We stood there in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the crowd. Fox was on the far side of the room, talking animatedly with a group of younger employees, all of whom seemed to hang on his every word. I could see why. He was magnetic with other eggheads, the kind of person who drew you in even if you knew better.

“You two seem to be getting along,” Jerrod said casually, though there was an edge to his voice that made me turn and really look at him. I heard an undercurrent of something that felt off.

I raised an eyebrow. “We’re working well together, if that’s what you mean.”

Jerrod gave a noncommittal hum, taking a sip of his drink. “I’ve known Fox a long time. Since college, actually.”

“That’s what he said,” I replied, leaning against the bar. “You guys go way back.”

“We do.” He turned to face me, his expression serious now, like he was about to say something important. “Which is why I need to ask—what are your intentions with him, young lady?”

I nearly choked on my champagne. “My intentions?” I repeated, incredulous.

Jerrod didn’t flinch. He looked like a father grilling his daughter’s date, and it would have been funny if it didn’t feel so pointed. “Fox isn’t like other people,” he said carefully. “He’s rough around the edges, but he’s got a good heart. He just doesn’t show it to most people. Everyone wants something from him and they take advantage.”

I glanced over at Fox, who was laughing at something one of his employees had said. He didn’t look rough around the edges right then. He looked relaxed, almost boyish. But I knew what Jerrod meant. Fox could come off as cold and calculating. It was why his image had needed softening.

“You’re protective of him,” I said.

Jerrod shrugged. “He’s been through a lot. And the last time he was in a serious relationship, it didn’t end well.”

The mention of a past relationship caught my attention. Fox wasn’t exactly forthcoming about his personal life. I had never heard him talk about any exes. “What happened?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual. “I thought he bounced from girl to girl like a hummingbird through flowers.”

“Mia,” Jerrod said like it physically tasted bad. “They were engaged.”

I blinked, surprised. “Engaged? Really?”

Jerrod nodded. “He doesn’t talk about it. It was years ago. She was a nice girl—bubbly, happy, the kind of person who lit up a room just by walking in. But Fox is Fox.”

I could see where this was going. “Why didn’t it work out?”

Jerrod let out a sigh, like he’d been holding it in for a long time. “They just weren’t a good fit. Mia was the type who wanted someone who could meet her in the middle. Someone lighthearted. Fox thought getting engaged was the logical next step, but it never felt right. They realized it before the wedding, thankfully. She’s married now, has two little girls. Her husband works for Google.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, feeling a sudden wave of unease.

Jerrod looked at me, really looked at me, like he was trying to see inside my head. “Because I think you’re the one person on this earth who could actually break his heart, Natalia.”

The words hit me hard. My breath caught in my throat. I had to force myself to swallow. I glanced around the room, my eyes immediately seeking out Fox. He was in the middle of the crowd now, handing out white envelopes to his employees. Their faces lit up as they opened them, and I realized with a jolt what they were—Christmas bonuses.

“Out of his own pocket,” Jerrod said quietly. “He does this every year. Never tells anyone. I insist he give them out himself. Every year, he tries to get out of it.”

I felt a strange twist in my chest. I had seen flashes of Fox’s generosity before, but he always downplayed it, acted like it wasn’t a big deal. He didn’t even realize how kind he was, how deeply he cared about the people who worked for him.

Fox caught my eye from across the room, his lips quirking up into a smile when he saw me watching him.

“Just remember what I said,” Jerrod said. “He’s strong but he’s not unbreakable.”

Jerrod walked away, leaving me alone to watch Fox. I sipped my champagne, mulling over Jerrod’s words. Fox looked at me again before he excused himself from the group and made his way over, his presence commanding even in the crowded bar.

“You enjoying yourself?” he asked, stopping just a few inches away from me. His gaze was warm, almost tender, and it made my pulse race.

“I am,” I said softly. “You?”

“I am now,” he said, his voice low enough that only I could hear it.

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Will you come home with me tonight?” The question was out before I could second-guess it. It felt bold, reckless, but I couldn’t stop myself.

Fox’s eyes darkened, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. “I will, if you give me your number.”

I laughed, rolling my eyes. “We’re really still doing this?”

“You’re the one who started this game,” he reminded me, leaning in closer. “But I’m happy to play it as long as it takes.”

I hesitated, spinning the ring on my finger—a constant reminder of the lie we’d built together. I knew I should just give him my number, let this thing between us become real. But I was afraid. Afraid that once I did, I would lose whatever fragile thing we had. It would crumble under the weight of reality. The fantasy world was a lot easier to live in.

“What if I make you a deal instead?” I said, meeting his gaze head on. “Be my date to my company’s Christmas party tomorrow night. And then I’ll consider it.”

Fox’s smile was slow, almost lazy, like he was savoring the moment. “Deal.”

He surprised me then by brushing a soft kiss to my forehead, a simple gesture that felt far more intimate than any kiss on the lips. My heart squeezed, the ache of something I couldn’t name spreading through my chest.

I should just give him my number. This game has gone on for too long, hasn’t it?

But I felt like once I did, I might lose whatever this was between us, the thing I’d been trying not to acknowledge.

That I was falling in love with him.

I just didn’t know how to be like I was before Andrew. I was terrified to fully trust him, to let him in. I really didn’t want to go through that kind of hell again.