The Billionaire's Rumor

Chapter 4: The Rumor

The last thing Felicity expected was to ever see Levi again, let alone watch him storm into her place of work and ask her on a date. That charming smile sent an unwanted flutter through her belly. She hadn't noticed a man since Marco passed away and she didn't want to. She didn't want to notice how it felt to have a man touch her hair, smell his cologne the ocean breeze blessed her with, and just smile at her.

She didn't want anything to do with that ever again, and now the man she'd spent a couple of days trying to erase was right there in front of her at her place of work that she never told him about asking her on a date.

Mandy's jaw dropped at the question; Felicity had just successfully convinced her that it was just a walk home and nothing more. Now there stood Levi Bennett, making it so much more.

“You want me to go out on a date with you?" Felicity asked.

Mandy leaned into the counter next to Felicity. “She'd love to."

Felicity smacked her shoulder, “Mandy!"

“Hey! I'm just helping you out! Don't you think it's time to get back in the saddle?"

Levi arched his right brow. “Back in the saddle?"

“She was widowed two years ago."

Felicity was annoyed, but now she was angry, “Mandy, tend to the line please."

“You're welcome…" Mandy said in a sing-song voice.

“I'm very sorry to hear that you were widowed." Levi hesitantly chimed in.

Felicity shook her head vehemently, “It's…not–it's…Mandy I'm taking my break!"

“Go on girl! Take fifteen if you want!"

Felicity took off her apron and smiled at Levi. “Let's go sit down outside, shall we?"

“Sure." He replied as he put on his sunglasses and baseball cap.

“It's cloudy out today." Felicity told him as she sat down at a corner table.

“It's also not good to be recognized right now."

“So, you're asking me on a date while hiding from the world?"

“In a sense, yes."

“Well, thank you for coming to ask me, but I'm going to have to decline."

“Decline," Levi chuckled wryly. “What is this, a credit card transaction? I'm asking you to spend some time with me."

“Why do you want me to go out with you? You don't even know me, and I have to say despite how good-looking you are, it's creepy that you came here when I never told you where I worked."

“So, you think I'm good-looking, huh?" he smirked.

“Do you think I am?"

Levi blinked as the question that turned the tables threw him off. Most women would giggle and tell him of course he is, and he knows it. She was the first to shoot back and put him on the spot. He hated and loved it at the same time.

He flashed her that infamous panty-dropping smile. “I think you're a beautiful woman. Walking you home the other day had nothing to do with the inconvenience. I wanted to talk to you. That sand in your hair, you could've gotten that out yourself, but I wanted to touch it; and when I say the feeling was beyond expectation…"

“Stop! Stop that!" Felicity cut him off. “Why are you here? Why do you want me to go out with you?"

Levi heaved a deep sigh and looked into her soft brown eyes beneath his sunglasses. “Look, I'm sure you've seen the tabloids by now. How I'm supposedly seeing a mystery girl."

Felicity furrowed her brows. “You want to make it true?"

“I have a proposal for you, we won't really be dating; it'll all just be pretend. I promise to make it worth your while."

She sat there staring at him a long moment. Was he actually serious? She should have known that a guy like him approaching her had to have some kind of catch to it. She absently placed a hand over her belly. The pregnancy hadn't been confirmed yet, but in the event it was, she hadn't decided what she was going to do. “What would you do, to make it worth my while?"

“My family has money. I'm bound to an arranged marriage I signed for at the tender age of eight. I don't want to marry her, but if I can be with someone else, this could possibly get me out of it. You and I fake a relationship until I can expose my said fiancé and I will take care of anything you want. Just work with me, please."

Felicity listened to his explanation and sat quietly, digesting it all. He really wanted this to happen. “How exactly does this benefit you again?"

“I need to break it off with my fiancé. To do that, I will have to pretend I've fallen for another. We have to sell this Felicity. These tabloids are perfect because it's a step."

“What exactly do you need to expose her for?"

“Let's just say she's not holding up her end of the deal and I can't marry her. You can help me with this."

“How can I help you? Whatever you're doing, you're asking the wrong girl."

“You don't need to worry about anything because I'm going to take care of it all. I just need you to play a little part. Few months, tops. It has to be you, Felicity, because it's you in the tabloids. I'll give you anything you want."

“Can I think it over?"

Levi sat quietly for a long moment before nodding, “of course." He pulled something out of his jacket pocket. “This is my number, please do think it over. Despite what you might think, I think you're perfect for the job."

“What makes you say that?"

He looked inside towards Mandy and then back to her, “I don't have to worry about you getting attached to me."

The arrogance that came from that statement was a turn off for Felicity, but she agreed with him. She wouldn't fall for him. Marco still took up too much of her heart. “No, I won't get attached to you."

“So you'll take this?"

“Yes."

She took his number and promised to think about it. For argument's sake, she decided to keep this little arrangement to herself. She took a week to really think about it. That morning, she pulled out the pregnancy test, went to the bathroom, and waited anxiously for the results. The decision was now clear to her. She called the number and was given an address to go meet Levi. She pulled up to the place and met him inside where he was waiting patiently for her.

“What's your answer?"

“I don't think you want me for this. I'm pregnant and I don't know who the father is."

Levi's eyes fell as the situation at hand complicated things. Felicity gazed at him, anxiety bubbling up in her stomach as she watched for a reaction. Any reaction. She couldn't read the expression on his face at all and it was killing her. Just say something dammit. His eyes finally met hers and there was a twinkle in them, as though he had just gotten a bright idea. “I'm the father."