The bathroom door swung open.

"I’ve never appreciated indoor plumbing this much in my entire life."

Kylie announced, as she stepped back into the suite, drying her hands with the towel she’d borrowed.

The crisis had been successfully avoided.

She smiled to herself. "Thank you."

Christian looked up from where he stood beside the window.

For a second, he simply watched her.

She’d tied her blonde hair back into a high ponytail, though a few loose strands framed her face from all the rushing around she’d done. Her smoky eye makeup softened her bright eyes, and the bold red lipstick she wore made her smile impossible to ignore.

Her outfit looked effortless.

She was wearing a dark denim playsuit that hugged her waist before ending several inches above her knees.

The neckline of the demin dipped lower than most people would’ve dared, revealing just enough to be distracting without trying too hard.

She looked like she’d walked straight out of a fashion campaign.

He hadn’t really noticed earlier. Mostly because she’d been declaring herself his girlfriend.

Now...

He noticed.

"You’re tall," he observed. His gaze swept over her once. "Beautiful outfit."

Kylie looked down at herself. "I should hope so. This outfit cost me emotional damage and half my savings."

A quiet laugh escaped him.

She pointed toward the door. "Well... thanks again."

"You owe me."

She paused. Slowly turning back around, she folded her arms.

"I owe you?"

"My date left." He shrugged.

Kylie raised a brow at him. "You weren’t enjoying your date." She pointed out.

"That’s beside the point."

"It really isn’t."

Christian pushed away from the window. "I lost a perfectly attractive woman."

Kylie tilted her head. "So?"

"So..." His eyes held hers. "What exactly are you planning to offer as compensation?"

She gasped dramatically. "The audacity."

He nodded. "I’m listening."

She reached into the pocket of her playsuit.

After a moment she pulled out nothing.

"There." She nudged at her open palm.

He looked at her empty palm.

"My compensation." She smiled at him.

"Air?"

"It’s premium air."

He laughed softly in disbelief. "I don’t want your premium air."

"Then we’re at an unfortunate stalemate." She gave him a cheerful wave. "Goodbye."

She made it exactly three steps before his voice stopped her again. "Can I at least know the name of my new fake girlfriend?"

Kylie smiled to herself. She turned around slowly. "I’m Kylie."

He repeated it quietly. "Kylie."

She pointed toward him. "And you’re Christian."

"I am."

"I’ll probably forget by tomorrow."

"I somehow doubt that."

She shrugged. "I met a lot of people."

His eyes travelled over her again. "Are you here with someone?"

"My best friend."

"So this wasn’t a date?"

"Oh, it was." She gently moved a strand of her hair from entering her eye.

He frowned.

"With my best friend."

Understanding crossed his face.

"It’s my birthday."

Christian nodded. He looked down at her outfit again.

She followed his gaze, and looked down again. "You like it?" She asked him, referring to her outfit.

"I do."

She grinned.

"It suits you."

"You’re surprisingly nice."

"I’m usually nicer than women pretending to be my girlfriend."

She laughed. "I said I was sorry."

"You didn’t."

Another silence settled comfortably between them.

Christian studied her for another second before extending his hand.

"Phone."

She frowned. "My... phone?"

"Phone."

Without really thinking, Kylie reached into her small handbag and handed it over. Halfway through the motion she blinked. "Why am I giving you my phone?"

"You’ll see." He promised.

He unlocked it after he held it up for her Face ID. His thumbs moved quickly across the screen afterwards.

Afterwards, his own phone vibrated on the table.

He ended the call immediately. He handed her phone back.

She looked at the recent call. It was a new contact with his name on the ID display, Christian.

She smiled.

"You know..." She slipped the phone into her bag. "I’m never answering."

"I know."

"You still put your number in."

"I did."

She folded her arms.

He mibed to the table, and slipped his own phone into his pocket. A familiar, easy grin spread across his face.

"It’s a dare."

She raised an eyebrow. "A dare?"

"You said you’ll never answer."

"I won’t."

"Then prove it."

She laughed, shaking her head. "I might as well block you. You’ll never meet me again, that I’m sure of."

She found herself studying him properly now.

He was unfairly good-looking. Tall enough that she had to look up slightly with broad shoulders that filled out his black shirt effortlessly, the sleeves rolled to his forearms.

He looked athletic without looking like he lived in a gym. The kind of man magazines would describe as "effortlessly handsome."

Unfortunately, he seemed to know it.

He smiled cheekingly at her. She met his eyes without the slightest embarrassment.

"Do you always introduce yourself as someone’s girlfriend?"

She smiled innocently. "Only in emergencies."

He walked towards her, and opened the suite door for her. "I sincerely hope we don’t have another emergency."

"Oh, we will."

She stepped into the hallway before looking back over her shoulder.

"Nice meeting me, Christian."

He leaned against the doorway, smiling despite himself.

"I’m beginning to think meeting you was an emergency." He straightened. "Also, happy birthday to you."

She did not respond. Finally, she walked away. Christian watched her disappear into the corridor, and then she was gone.

For some reason, the suite felt noticeably quieter.

He glanced down at his phone, and saw one missed call.

Kylie.

A slow smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He saved the number anyway.

Not because he expected her to answer, but because he wanted to see if she’d keep her word.

........

Outside, Kylie let out a long breath the moment the door clicked shut behind her.

"What... was that?"

She laughed to herself, shaking her head as she walked back toward the music.

She’d entered a stranger’s room, pretended to be his girlfriend, destroyed his date, used his bathroom, and somehow left with his phone number.

"Happy birthday to me." She scoffed softly.

Her phone buzzed in her hand.

Emilia: Still alive?

Kylie grinned.

Kylie: Very.

A second message followed almost instantly.

Kylie: You’ll never believe what just happened.

She slipped the phone back into her purse, already excited to tell Emilia every ridiculous detail.

As she disappeared into the crowd, Christian remained standing in the doorway of the private suite, watching the empty hallway.

He didn’t usually chase people. He certainly didn’t chase women. However, Kylie wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met.

She’d barged into his night like a hurricane, and somehow walked away smiling.

Christian looked at his phone one last time before locking the screen.

"Let’s see if you really never answer, fake girlfriend."

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