The Billionaire’s Pretend Fiancée

Roman’s POV

Sofie and I walked into the luxurious villa which was one of the various properties Nana had bequeathed to me, grim-faced and awkward with each other.

She had been ignoring me for the past three days, after our spat.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I regretted uttering such derogatory remarks to her, and I really wanted to apologize to her and make things right between us.

We had to be cordial with each other at least, to make our charade more believable to the public.

I had no idea why I had gotten so enraged toward Sofie at the sight of Nana’s gift. After all, Nana was the bearer of the lewd gift.

All my efforts to mend our relationship went down the drain as Sofie paid no attention to me.

She’d only spoken to me earlier today to ask if I’d packed my passport and ticket and when I’d answered that I had done so the night before, she just nodded stiffly and faced sideways.

“Young master, you are here.” Dave Martins, the elderly caretaker of the villa, walked towards us, his eyes drawn into tiny slits in the form of a smile.

“Dave, how have you been? It’s been quite a while.”

“I’ve been well, sir. Thank you, sir. I hope Madam is also faring well. I should make time to visit her one of these days if my old bones cooperate with me.” The elderly man sighed as he wrung his shoulder as if to lay more emphasis on his statement.

I laughed and clapped his other shoulder before casually hooking an arm around Sofie’s small waist, “Nana must have told you about her.” Dave nodded.

“Let me formally introduce her to you. Dave, meet my fiancée, Sofie, and my love, this is Dave, Nana’s good friend.” I said, and Sofie smiled as she shook hands with him.

“Nice to meet you, Dave.”

“Same here, Madam Sofie.”

“Forgive my rudeness, sir. I shouldn’t keep you two on your feet after such a long flight. Everything has been prepared, go in and relax.” Dave beamed, gesturing toward the entranceway.

I nodded as two formally dressed men trekked up to us, bowed robotically, and hoisted our luggage upstairs.

“Shall we?” I glanced at Sofie.

All I got as a response was a curt nod.

When we entered the room, Sofie made a beeline to the adjoining bathroom without uttering a word to me or even acknowledging my presence.

I had to put an end to this before it got out of hand.

I’d gladly apologize to her if it meant she’d put the past behind me and forgive me but she didn’t even want to look in my direction, talk less, or engage in a conversation with me.

She came out soon after with a towel wrapped around her head and walked straight to sit on the bed.

“Sofie.” I started, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.

She threw an irritated stare toward me, “Yes?”

I made to apologize to her but instead, what came out of my mouth was, “Would you like to share a bottle of wine with me by the pool?” I gestured to the pool outside our bedroom.

She scoffed and I expected her to snarl and refuse but instead, she nodded wordlessly as she entered the bathroom again.

When next she trekked out, her hair had been freed and the lustrous auburn locks floated gently as she walked out of the room.

I rolled my slacks up to my knees after grabbing the bottle of wine and two wine goblets. Then, I joined Sofie who was already sitting by the pool with her legs dipped in the cold, scintillating water.

Sitting beside her, I commented, “The view is nicer than I expected it to be.”

“You’ve never been here before?” Sofie asked and for the first time in three days, she looked at me with an expression devoid of disgust.

“I have when I was about six or seven. I can’t remember clearly.” I replied, screwing off the wine cap.

“Oh.” She mumbled before silence ensued between us.

“Hey, about the other day. I fucked up and acted like a jerk toward you, I had no idea what got into me. I’m sorry for being an asshole.” I said, handing her a half-filled wine goblet.

“I didn’t know you had it in you to apologize.” Her tone was cold and scathing as she sipped her wine.

“I didn’t know I had it in myself to apologize either. You make me do strange things, Sofie.” I confessed, and she just stared at me, blatantly surprised.

“What?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t mind me, so am I forgiven?” I said, to which she nodded.

“Sure. I don’t keep grudges. I’ve never been a malice keeper, so I guess you are forgiven.” She replied before chugging down her wine.

“By the way, can I ask you a question?” Sofie asked.

I nodded, “Sure, what is it?”

“Why did you help me that day?”

“Which day?”

“That day at my parents’ place. You could have just ignored it and walked out, you know. Since you are not obliged to defend me or anything.” She said, twirling the now-empty wine goblet.

“I already told you that day that I did what had to be done. Nothing more.” I replied casually.

“Right.”

“Yes.”

“Sometimes, I wonder if my life would have turned out better if I were born to normal parents. Not dirtbags like them.” She said quietly.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just settled on staring at her side profile.

She continued, “Maybe I’d be done with college by now and probably have a good job somewhere. Living happily with people who love me.” Her voice wavered at the end and I couldn’t help but feel bad for her.

I felt bad for all the times I’d treated her like she was nothing.

She stared at me, “You are lucky to have such a caring grandmother like Nana. You should cherish every moment with her. I wish I also had someone like her in my life.”

“You do. Nana can fill up that space for you, you don’t have to wish anymore because you have her now.” I said and Sofie gaped at me as if I had suddenly grown three heads.

“What?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“You are being weird right now and it’s creeping me out. Why are you being so nice to me ?” She blurted out.

I chortled with a shrug, “I’m not being nice. I’m just being honest.”

“Right.” She nodded and stared intently at me.

I held her gaze before it dropped to my lips, and she licked her bottom lip.

I could already sense what was coming.

I had promised myself that I wasn’t going to give in to my carnal urges no matter what happened.

Why then was I standing inside the pool, between Sofie’s legs, with my tongue slotted inside her mouth?