The Billionaire’s Pretend Fiancée

Sofie’s POV

I nervously twirled the engagement ring around my left ring finger as I stared at the professor on the podium.

She was saying something about a group project but my mind couldn’t really decipher anything at that moment.

It was filled with thoughts and regretful memories of how I had fucked everything up the previous evening.

If only I hadn’t gone to Roman’s study or initiated the stupid kiss, then he’d never have known about this mess. I knew Roman and I knew he’d never sit back and wait for me to tell him about Cornelius.

He’d probably kill Cornelius if he found out that he was the bastard that gave me the hickey and I didn’t want that.

I just wanted to peacefully graduate without drama but it seemed the universe was clearly against serenity being in my life.

I wondered if Cornelius had survived that hit. It wasn’t like I cared if anything had happened to him, he deserved it anyway for even attempting to molest a woman.

I just didn’t want to be tagged a murderer for the rest of my life but then again, I thought, if something had happened to him, my course mates would have said something but they didn’t and the school atmosphere was relatively normal today.

“Is that an engagement ring, Sofie?” Katie whisper-yelled, motioning to the diamond ring cinched around my left ring finger.

I smiled dimly, “Yes. I forgot to mention it yesterday. I’m engaged.”

Her eyes twinkled in awe as she gazed at it, “That’s cool. Can I touch it?” She stared up at me, hope brimming in her eyes.

I nodded, “Sure.”

She grinned like a child who has just been handed a packet of their favorite candy as she gingerly touched the exquisite stone on it, “Your fiancée must be rich rich. This is a diamond ring, you are so lucky, babe.” She said, and shook her head.

Guilt clutched my heart as I feigned a grin, “Tell me about it.”

Sometimes, I wished Roman and I had met in a normal setting, and had grown to fall in love with every little perfect imperfections of each other before getting engaged for real.

It’d have been so nice instead of having a falsely labeled relationship, where I was probably nothing more than a cum slut to him.

“You are so lucky, babe,” She reiterated, then added, “Thank goodness, the professor is done. Let’s go get lunch.”

“Alright.” I got up and looped my tote bag around my arm.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

We trekked into the cafeteria, and I sighed at the massive outpour of students at the food station.

Katie and I had no option but to resign ourselves to fate as we stood at the end of the queue.

After what felt like hours, we got to the front of the queue and we got some food.

“The food here is nicer than the average college cafeteria. It’s not a ten but it’s at least a seven.” Katie explained as we walked to an empty table.

“Really? That’s cool, my former college’s food was literally inedible. Their soup always looked and smelled like rotten pepper.” I sat down and placed my tray of food on the table.

“Wow, that’s crazy. Can I ask you a question?” Katie inquired, shoving some scrambled eggs into her mouth. I nodded, “Sure.”

“Why did you get engaged so young? I didn’t mean to pry but I checked your file yesterday and I saw your age. You are just two years older than me, and I really can’t imagine myself getting engaged at twenty three.” She said.

I took a generous bite out of my toast as I mulled over what she had said.

If the universe was nicer to me and I didn’t have to conspire with Roman, would I have gotten engaged so young? Probably if my fiancé was as hot as Roman, a voice in my head said which made me blush.

“I guess that’s how the universe wants it. I never thought I’d get engaged so young either.” I fibbed smoothly, to which Katie nodded before her face suddenly contorted into a flabbergasted countenance.

“Or is it a shotgun engagement?” She gasped. I stifled the urge to burst into a peal of laughter and just shook my head in negation, “No. Of course not.”

Roman had always been clear about the fact that he didn’t want children and honestly, I didn’t know if I wanted them either. Perhaps, I’d know in the future.

“That’s good then because a lot of young people I know are getting married simply because the woman got pregnant. I mean, I don’t really understand it but why would I want to get married to a man because he knocked me up?” She asked, reaching for her cup of orange juice.

“You know there are different customs, and traditions that aren’t quite accepting of the baby mama and baby papa stuff without the expectant parents being married. Not everywhere is America.” I simply said, and she made a show of thinking about my opinion before she nodded.

Afterward, she changed the topic to  time when she had an argument with her boyfriend and they almost broke up but then, they had angry makeup sex which brought them back to their senses.

I was about to say something when a middle-aged woman rushed over to our table which brought the attention of the whole cafeteria to us.

“Miss Diaz, you have to come with me right now. Your fiancé is in the chancellor’s office and he asked to see you.” She rambled out, worry dripping from her voice. Katie and I exchanged glances as I instantly shot up from my chair.

“What do you mean?”

“Sir Roman Giovanni is asking for you and is in the chancellor’s office. What part of my sentence do you not understand, or isn’t he your fiancé?” She reiterated, irritation lacing her voice.

My heart pounded with inexplicable fear as I yanked my tote bag and darted an apologetic smile at Katie, “I’ll see you.” “Sure. Take care.”

How could it not have occurred to me that Roman would do something like barging into the school without informing me?

I just hoped he wouldn’t wreak havoc because of the hickey. I thought as the woman, and I hastily walked in the direction of the chancellor’s office. I desperately hoped not.