CEO Dane Romano, My Fake Boyfriend

Chapter 5 - Let's go clubbing

Lexi POV

“How about more kisses then?”

“Okay.” I breathed out. I stood on my tiptoes and held on to Dane’s shoulders. I looked up at his eyes first before closing the gap between our lips. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and pressed my lips to his, and was about to pull back when I felt him press his lips to mine. He moved his lips with expertise and I only had to copy what he was doing.

Then the kiss became more heated when Dane opened his mouth.

“Let me in, baby.” And I did what he just told me. His tongue explored my mouth with eagerness. He tasted sweet and minty. I wanted this to go on forever. But there was something inside me that says that his kisses were somewhat familiar. I could not put my finger on it.

It must be because I have kissed him inside his office. Yes, that must be it. The only other guy I had kissed was a guy I never got to meet and know personally.

How I wish this was true. However, our relationship was just a contract.

“Ahem.” A clearing of the throat brought me back to my senses. I opened my eyes even when Dane and I were in the middle of passionate French kissing. That was when I noticed someone standing by the opened door. Dane was not able to close it when we came in.

I immediately pushed Dane from me before turning around to wipe my lips.

“Dane? What is this?” The voice was firm and stern.

Dane stood beside me and whispered, “Are you alright?”

I only answered with a nod before looking up at him in fright. She must be his mom, a slender woman who must be in her fifties. I was not prepared to face her right away, just when I had transferred to Dane’s apartment. I was planning on asking Dane about her earlier, but I got sidetracked with the apartment tour.

“Don’t worry. She’s, uhm, kind of nice.” He whispered, then smiled at me before turning to face his mom. I did too, as to not upset the older lady.

“Mom, I didn’t know you were coming. What a pleasant surprise.” Dane’s voice was somewhat sarcastic.

Mrs. Romano raised an eyebrow at his son.

Is this someone who’s nice?

Girl, he said she’s kind of nice. That means not so nice.

I’ll be damned.

My mind was sending me warning signals about Mrs. Romano. She may look regal, but she could also be one of those snobbish, rich villains in movies.

“This is Lexi Scott. My girlfriend.” Dane side-hugged me and gave me an encouraging smile. “Lexi, this is my mom, Susan Romano.”

“Hello, Mrs. Romano. It’s nice meeting you.” She looked at me from head to foot and back again. I made a move to step forward, but Dane restrained me from doing so. His hold on my waist stopped me from moving forward. I looked up at him, confused.

“New girlfriend you say, Dane?” She was frowning when I glanced at her.

“Yes. We met a few months ago.”

I kept myself composed even though I was surprised when he told that to his mom.

We had just met a few days ago, on the day of the interview.

“More like a sugar baby to me.” Mrs. Romano’s frown deepened further.

Sugar baby? How old is Dane, anyway? Shoot! Is he old enough to be my dad? I supposed not.

“Mom, don’t start. That’s enough. Lexi is my girlfriend and that’s it. Oh, and she’s also my new personal assistant.” Dane gave me another smile. “She’s moving in with me, actually.”

He looks young. But he could not be a billionaire if he’s indeed young. He must have inherited his riches. How come I missed knowing his age?

I wanted to kick myself right then and there.

“How old are you, Lexi? Lexi Scott, am I right? I don’t know any prominent Scott family in New York.” She said condescendingly at me.

 “Mom…” Dane hissed. I placed a hand on Dane’s arm.

“Yes, Mrs. Romano, my name is Lexi Scott. I’m twenty-two,” I said politely, but confidently. “My family is from Virginia. My father is of Irish descent, while my mother is Filipino-American.”

The older lady’s face scrunches up as if in disgust. Apparently, she didn’t seem to like the place where I came from and she was not impressed with my lineage.

“Dane is already thirty-five. I think you should consider finding yourself a new boyfriend or a new sugar daddy. Not my son.”

Ouch! I didn’t sign for this.

And ooh la la! Dane is thirty-five? A yummy thirty-five? He looks younger!

I could not say anything in reply. I would like to tell her to talk to her son and not to me, but I didn’t want to open my mouth. Otherwise, I might say something I will regret later on.

“Mom, I said that is enough,” Dane said lowly.

“Dane, what did you get yourself into? You have women waiting for you, but you chose a girl from an unknown immigrant family?” She scoffed. “I have prominent and decent ladies lined up for you. That’s why I’m here. You are ignoring my calls and messages. I have someone for you to take out on a date. I have taken care of everything. You just need to show up”

My breath hitched. I looked at her in surprise. I tried hard to calm myself. This was not my battle to fight. I was only hired to be an accessory.

But how could she say that to someone? And who does she think I am? She thinks I’m not decent?   

“I won’t be going anymore to the dates that you had set me up. I know you mean well, but I already got myself a girlfriend.”

“Your dad will hear of this, Dane.”

Dane took a deep breath before releasing it. “I don’t mean to disrespect you, Mom. I don’t know why you should control my love life. I don’t care about your rich and snob friends and their daughters. You can tell Dad whatever you want. Just don’t mess around me and Lexi.”

It was really awkward to be witnessing this now. These two people were strangers to me and I didn’t have to be here to see them fight.

How could a mother fix his son’s love life? No wonder that Dane had to hire a girlfriend to keep his mom away from him.

“Lexi, come. Let’s just eat out.” Dane gripped my waist and tugged me out of the room. I could not say anything to his mom, so I pointed my stare at the floor to avoid her judgmental glare.

“What was that about?” I carefully asked Dane.

We were in a quaint, cozy coffee shop near his place. I wouldn’t have noticed it if not for my fake boyfriend. The atmosphere was very light and relaxing, just the thing Dane and I wanted after the unwanted visit from his mom.

“Mom kept on setting me up with her friends’ daughters. But they are not my type and I don’t really like being set up.” He told me blatantly. “I can do my own choosing. She just wouldn’t back off. I know she meant well, but not really.” He scoffed at the last part. “She wanted me to marry me into a rich, prominent family. As if what we have is not enough for her.”

“Are you really thirty-five years old?” I asked him curiously.

Dane chuckled at my question.

“What do you think? Do I look older or younger?”

“You look younger. Well, at least, by five years, I think.” That got Dane laughing out loud.

“Well, thank you.”

“But why me?” I blurted out the question that has been swirling in my mind.

“And why not?”

“Shouldn’t you find someone your type and settle down? That way you didn’t have to hire a fake girlfriend and have a fake relationship.”

“You are right. Yes, I think I may have already found my type of woman. But I don’t know if I am her type. You know what I mean?” What he said hurt me. He had already found his woman.

“Then why don’t you ask her?” I didn’t know why I have to keep on asking questions. I would only get hurt.

“I just want to get to know her more and I want her to get to know me more, too. I might frighten her if I ask right away.” Dane smiled widely at me like he was teasing. “What if I ask you? Lexi, do I stand a chance? Or am I your type? What would be your answer?”

I was silent for a moment, finding words to answer his questions. Then I gave up.

“You are right. It is better to get to know each other more.” I said sadly. I could not even pretend.

“Hey. Why the sad face?” He became concerned.

“No. It’s nothing.” I was getting into this fake relationship so deep and so fast. I think I should caution myself and not fall for him too soon. “By the way, why did you tell your mom that we met a few months ago?”

“I will answer your question tonight, Lexi. You wait for it.” He smiled at me mysteriously. It looked like he was keeping a secret from me. He knew something that I don’t know.

“Did we really meet each other before? I’m racking my brain now, but I can’t remember meeting you. I’m sure I would have remembered.”

Dane chuckled. “Don’t stress yourself thinking. How about we go out next weekend? Let’s go clubbing.”