Real Fake Husband: Happy Ever After Bad Boy Series

By Sloane Peterson

My job on the line, a woman who can't stand looking at my face, and a secret contract. 

 

Will my fake fiancée help me get my job back? 

 

Football is my life blood. It's the only thing I've ever been passionate about. Maybe it's the only thing that I've ever loved. 

 

When I find out that I won't be re-signed after this season due to the 'bad PR' I bring to the team, I'm gutted. 

 

I need to come up with a plan. 

 

Her name is Lia Cohen, and we can't stand one another. 

I've never been anywhere near pleasant toward her. 

 

But I need her help. 

 

I need her to pretend to be my fiancée for 10 months. 

That'll buy me enough time to save my job and my reputation.

 

She reluctantly agrees and we proceed with our façade.

Hell we even tie the big fake knot. 

 

Until we hit one big hitch in our plans….

 

I start to develop feelings for my fake bride.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sloane Peterson
• Release date: Apr 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9798223248415

Book preview

Chapter One...........................................5

Chapter Two..........................................10

Chapter Three.........................................15

Chapter Four..........................................22

Chapter Five..........................................27

Chapter Six...........................................31

Chapter Seven.........................................36

Chapter Eight..........................................43

Chapter Nine..........................................47

Chapter Ten...........................................56

Chapter Eleven........................................64

Chapter Twelve........................................69

Chapter Thirteen.......................................75

Chapter Fourteen.......................................81

Chapter Fifteen........................................91

Chapter Sixteen........................................99

Chapter Seventeen.....................................104

Chapter Eighteen......................................113

Chapter Nineteen......................................122

Chapter Twenty.......................................126

Chapter Twenty-One...................................129

Chapter Twenty-Two...................................133

Chapter Twenty-Three..................................138

Chapter Twenty-Four...................................144

Chapter Twenty-Five...................................147

Chapter Twenty-Six....................................152

Chapter Twenty-Seven..................................157

Chapter Twenty-Eight..................................161

Lia......................................................161

Chapter One

Jesse

Jesse, I have to be blunt here. I don’t think there’s any other way to say it. Our PR team thinks you’re too much of a...whore. It’s not good for our brand.

That wasn’t what I was expecting to hear from my boss today.

I expected to walk into the office and resign my contract with the team. No big changes, except a bigger payday. Clearly, that’s not the case.

I’m not offended, Irvin, but what are you saying?

Irvin Cain runs a hand through his thinning, grey hair. He looks at the paper between us on the small wooden table and then back up at me.

What I’m saying is at this time Jesse, we’re not looking to re-sign you. The plan is for you to finish out the rest of the season and after that, you’ll part ways with the LA Stallions. You’ll leave with good references. I’m sure any team will be happy to have you as their running back.

I’m struggling to process what Irvin is telling me. I’m not going to be re-signed. I’m too much of a...whore? I don’t really get it. Why does what I do in my personal life matter so much?

I’ve been a damn good representative for this team, Irvin. I’ve done great in interviews. I’ve done all the charity work that you could ask for. You’re telling me that you’re willing to throw me away because of my personal life? That’s bullshit.

Let’s settle our tempers, Jesse. Normally, nothing would be said. You’re free to date whoever you wish in your free time. However, our PR team has learned that an ex of yours plans on writing a tell-all memoir about her time with you. Learning of that made us reevaluate your history and we concluded that you’re a huge risk to us and our brand.

I’m sure annoyance is clear on my face. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. All because some girl I have a past with thinks she can make some money off of using my name in her book. I doubt anyone’s going to read it anyway.

I rake a hand back through my hair, trying to keep my composure as much as possible. I don’t want to explode and make an even bigger scene. I just can’t believe what I’m hearing. It’s the most ridiculous thing anyone has ever said to me.

And there’s no chance that this can change? No chance you’ll change your mind if I play exceptionally well this season? I ask.

I know that I’m going to play well anyway. I’m damn good at what I do. But maybe if I play even better, Irvin will change his mind.

He sighs. "Jesse, you’re a damn good player. We both know that. Unfortunately, that’s not going to change our decision here. The only thing that could possibly change our decision is if you change completely. If you show us that you’re more than your poor dating decisions."

What he’s saying is that he wants me to settle down. He wants me to change who I am as a person to better fit the ‘image’ he wants for his team. What complete bullshit.

You expect me to settle down with someone in what? Seven months? I scoff.

When Irvin speaks again, his voice is full of disbelief, I don’t expect anything of you, Jesse.

That tells me everything. No one expects me to change. They’re just presenting the option to make it seem like I have one, to make it seem like they’re not just throwing me away.

I do my best to try and keep it all together. I want to blow up, ask if this is the appreciation that I get after all these years. Instead, I force myself to remain calm.

Understood. Thank you for letting me know, Irvin. I’ll see you at the pre-season party.

I don’t give him any time to backtrack or walk out of this saving face. I don’t want him to think that I’m okay with this because I’m not.

I just don’t know a way out of it yet. I’m working on that.

***

Did he seriously say that? That’s messed up, man.

I knew that I wouldn’t be the only one who thought that way. Before I can speak, Trevor continues.

I know that normal employers can fire employees for their personal lives but can someone like Irvin?

I shrug, picking up my drink from the bar top. Guess it doesn’t matter. His mind is made up. I gotta ‘change my ways’ or whatever for him to think twice about re-signing me.

Trevor Haynes has been my closest friend for years. We go back to our freshman year of college. We rushed the same frat and bonded over the actual hell we were put through together.

I think calling people your ‘best friend’ is childish. It reminds me of the bubbly girls on the playground, braiding friendship bracelets and promising to be close forever.

I have no expectations of being ‘close’ with Trevor forever. I’m sure that eventually, life will run its course and the two of us will be separated. Hell, I’m sure that that’s coming soon. I’m probably going to have to leave LA to find a new job.

I’ll savor the company while it lasts.

So, what are you going to do? he asks.

I shrug again, downing the rest of the amber liquid in my glass before answering.

Suck it up? Play out this season and show Irvin that he’s losing the best damn running back he’s ever going to get because he’s old and out of touch? Drown my pain in another glass of whiskey?

With that, I snap my fingers toward the bartender, getting his attention. Without a word, I gesture toward my glass.

You’re giving up? That sounds nothing like the Jesse Fitzgerald that I know.

I scoff. It’s not giving up, Trev. It’s knowing that this is a battle that I can’t win. My options are limited here. You weren’t in the room. You didn’t see the ‘finality’ written on his face when he told me I wasn’t going to be re-signed. Not unless I ‘change my ways’ at least.

The bartender finally makes his way over to us. Without a word, he pours more whiskey into my glass and then Trevor’s before going back to the conversation he was having.

So, change your ways? Trevor throws that out there like it’s easy, like it’s something that’s absolutely doable in just a few months. All I can do is glare at him before the two of us burst into laughter.

Like that would ever happen. But I decide to play along.

And what? Get married tomorrow? I roll my eyes. Trevor, you’re missing a huge part of this. I need to settle down, with a woman. Do you really think Irvin’s gonna buy it?

Silence falls between the two of us; we both sip from our glasses, lost in our own thoughts. Trevor breaks that silence.

I think you could make him. What if you were to settle down with someone so completely not your type? Everyone thinks that you only date models and socialites. What if you were to date a –

Book nerd? Scientist?

Trevor rolls his eyes.

"No, you idiot. What if you were to date somebody normal?"

He says that and we both burst into laughter once again. My standards are far too high to date somebody ‘normal’. I don’t think I even know a normal woman.

Do I want to sacrifice who I am to date someone ‘normal’?

Trevor shrugs. It was an idea, Jesse. I mean, you could fake it. Hire someone to be your ‘normal’ girlfriend until Irvin buys it. There are enough network romance movies with that plot, and it works.

He’s joking. I know that Trevor is joking...so why am I thinking about it?

I take another sip from my whiskey. What if Trevor has a point? I don’t want to lose my job; I don’t want to leave LA. I like it here. My life is here. What if I were to just fake it for a few months?

Celebrities do it all the time, right? Fake a relationship for mutual benefits? If I could get a woman to agree just until Irvin agrees to re-sign me...things could very well go my way.

But I don’t know any normal women. I can’t just put out an ad online. I have to find someone who would benefit from this just as I would. She has to be normal, far from a model or rising Hollywood star.

I take another sip from my drink. Maybe I do know someone. She’s only an acquaintance and I’m pretty sure that she hates my guts but...maybe.

Jesse? Trevor breaks the silence we’ve been sitting in. I don’t like that look on your face. Please tell me you’re not thinking about actually hiring a girlfriend to keep your job.

I finish off my drink, slamming the glass down onto the bar.

I wouldn’t date someone just to keep my job.

A look of relief crosses Trevor’s face when I say that, at least until I tack on, But I’m pretty sure I could fake it.

Chapter Two

Lia

I should be used to waking up early, but I still absolutely despise it. I struggle to make it through my workday, which is almost every day. I can’t afford to take any days off.

Mostly, I work the morning shift. I arrive at the station at three in the morning and make sure that the anchors look good. It’s not the luxurious LA dream that I had when I moved out here, but things change.

It’s not like I hate my job either. My co-workers and I get along well enough, my boss is pretty fond of me and I meet celebrities weekly. It’s just not what I dreamed of.

Did I do okay out there, Lia? I feel like I stuttered over that fluff piece a little too much, says Emily, one half of the morning anchor team.

I run the blush brush over her cheek, blending out the soft pink color.

You did fine, Emily. I didn’t notice you stutter. Not one bit. Now, sit still or you’re going to go back out there looking like a clown.

She laughs but settles down her shifting.

You’re right. I’m probably overthinking it. I just know that I’m reaching the age where I’m no longer bubbly and new. Once May rolls around, I’m sure they’re going to be looking at the college grads who start applying.

Emily’s not that much older than me. She’s hardly old enough to need to use a wrinkle cream, but I guess that’s how the business works. Men want eye-candy. They want what sells. I think that’s what I hate the most about LA.

I finish up her blush, taking a step back to lean against my vanity. You’re overthinking it, Emily. They love you. You rock it every morning. They’re not going to replace you.

I wish I could guarantee it, but she knows better than I do. She’s been in this business longer.

Emily offers me a sweet smile, nodding her head slowly.

You’re right, Lia. I just can’t help it. Things change so quickly in this town.

I wish I understood that statement. I’ve felt stagnant since my arrival when I couldn’t even get a call back from any of the big makeup companies. I know I have the talent. Maybe I’m just not meant to make it in LA.

Before I can continue the conversation with Emily, I’m interrupted by a man wearing a black polo and a pair of jeans.

Are you Lia Cohen? he asks.

My mind immediately defaults into a panic. Am I being sued for something? Am I losing my job? Are my parents okay back home? I swallow before nodding my head slowly.

I am.

Great. This is for you. He doesn’t give me a chance to question what he’s talking about. He just shoves a yellow rose toward me, a note tied to the stem with a white ribbon.

Before I can ask who it’s from, he leaves just as quickly as he appeared.

"Oh. I didn’t know you were seeing anyone, Lia, Emily says as she grins up to me. You’ve left that out of our chats."

I’m...not. I’m confused. I can’t think of a single person in my life who would send me a rose.

Somehow, that lights Emily up even more.

Ooh, she giggles. Looks like someone has a secret admirer.

I’m still just as clueless as when the rose was handed to me, but I know there’s only one way to fix it. I just need to read the note. I slide the ribbon off the stem of the rose, dropping the rose on the top of my vanity.

I open the folded-up card, hardly able to process what I’m reading.

‘Lia, I know that this is random, but I would like to formally apologize for how I acted the last time we met. I would love for you to join me for dinner.

Sincerely,

Jesse Fitzgerald’

Underneath his signature is his phone number. My gut reaction is to just toss the note and rose all together, tell Emily that it was addressed to the wrong person.

I want nothing to do with Jesse Fitzgerald.

But...curiosity gets the better of me. Does he really want to apologize for his atrocious behavior? Every interaction I’ve had with that man has struck me in the wrong way. He’s rude, selfish, and completely obnoxious. It would be best for me if I never see him again.

Maybe it’s not even the real Jesse. Maybe it’s a prank by one of my coworkers. I glance around, trying to see if anyone is watching me right now. No one is.

Let me make a phone call real quick, I tell Emily. I don’t wait for a response, stepping away from the makeup area and into a corner. I pull out my phone and dial the number on the note.

It rings a few times before a gruff voice answers, Who the hell is this?

It’s Jesse.

I swallow the venom that threatens to spill from my lips.

It’s Lia. Lia Cohen. I just got your note.

It’s like someone flipped a switch. I hear rustling on the other end of the phone like someone’s sitting up quickly.

Oh, Lia, Jesse says, his tone changing completely. I hope you’re calling to say that you agree to have dinner with me.

So, you really sent that to me?

Who else would sign it Jesse Fitzgerald?

I roll my eyes despite him not being able to see it.

I was double-checking that it wasn’t a joke. I wouldn’t put it past you.

He sighs on the other end. His frustration is almost radiating through the phone.

Lia, I understand that you didn’t get the best first...or second...or even third impression of me. That’s why I want to make it up to you. I may be leaving LA soon so I’m trying to make amends with people who I’ve hurt. Will you give me this chance?

Everything inside of me is screaming ‘no’. It’s a dumb decision. Jesse has never struck me as the type of guy to apologize and even with his reasoning, it’s clear that he’s only doing this to clear his own consciousness. He doesn’t care that I can’t stand him.

So why do my lips betray me?

Yes, I answer.

Great. I’ll see you tonight. I’ll text you all the details you need.

Before I can say anything else, Jesse hangs up. I’m left flabbergasted in the corner. What did I just agree to?

Inside, I