The Stand-In Boyfriend Chapter 1

I was the stand-in boyfriend for a billionaire's daughter. My brother was the arm candy for an A-list starlet.

Our plan was simple: get the cash and get out.

But before we could secure the money, we both got dumped.

We had no choice but to pack our bags and vanish into the night.

Two years later, the starlet found my brother.

I was watching the drama unfold from the sidelines when a hand smacked me on the back of the head.

"You run, fine," she said. "But you take my dog with you?"

* * *

The moment Celeste Zhao walked through the door of the apartment, my brother, Liam, was shoving an iPad in my face, frantically trying to pick out a birthday gift for her.

The buzz of the downstairs lock echoed up the stairwell, and Liam tossed the tablet aside. "Hide. Now. She hates it when anyone else is here."

I quickly contorted my six-foot frame into a question mark and crammed myself under the bed.

A second later, Liam, who had been all business, transformed. He spread his arms like a lovesick puppy, ready to embrace the returning queen. "You're back!"

Celeste, however, was in no mood. She shoved him away, her face a mask of impatience.

"This has your fingerprints all over it, doesn't it? Leaking that story about Julian being born out of wedlock!" she snapped. "His gallery just opened. This kind of scandal could ruin him! If you have a problem, take it out on me! Why would you go after him?"

A flush of red crept into Liam’s eyes. "You think I did that?"

Celeste threw her purse down in a rage. "It happened right after you went to his gallery and saw him. He said you were the only person he told!"

Liam opened his mouth to protest, but Celeste’s assistant rushed in.

"We can't get ahold of Mr. Ashworth."

Celeste, who had just picked up a glass of water, slammed it back down on the table. She shot Liam a look of pure ice and turned to leave.

"Celeste, it wasn't me, I swear," Liam pleaded, his voice cracking.

She scoffed. "You threw a fit last week just because I supported his gallery. If it wasn't you, who was it?"

Liam sniffled, a single tear falling and darkening the leather of his shoe.

"Can you go tomorrow? Today is your…"

"Shut up. Just stop," she cut him off, her voice dripping with disgust. "I can't believe you're this kind of person." Without another glance, she slammed the door behind her.

"Did you ever… feel anything for me at all?" Liam yelled, wrenching the door open and shouting at her retreating back.

The click-clack of her heels paused for a few seconds. There was no reply, only the sound of a car engine roaring to life and speeding away.

Liam retrieved the iPad, rubbed his nose, and collapsed onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Well," he sighed, "at least I don't have to spend money on her birthday this year."

I poked my head out from under the bed and gave him a thumbs-up. "That was some Oscar-worthy stuff, bro. For a second there, I almost believed you were actually in love with her."

He kicked at me playfully. "Julian is your girl's childhood sweetheart."

"Hey, I didn't hurt him!" I protested.

"And you think I did?"

"What are you saying?" My voice trembled slightly.

"We need to get some money together and run," Liam said, his eyes now hard and serious.

"Why?"

"Last week at the gallery, Julian told me he was going to 'choose' between our two lovely patrons. I called him a shameless bastard, and now this shitstorm lands on my head." He sat up, his voice low and urgent. "He’s Celeste’s great unrequited love, and he's your Chloe's childhood friend. You know what Chloe is like. If she thinks you've wronged her precious Julian, you won't live to see next week."

That was all I needed to hear. I scrambled out from under the bed and started pulling on my shoes. "Okay, okay, say no more. Let’s figure out how much cash we can pull out. We need to go. Now."