Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three...

"What are you doing?" Daan mumbled in my ear when I stalled halfway down the hallway leading into the lobby of our hotel.

"Counting the floor tiles. I'm so bloody nervous." My stomach knotted in three different sections and the tips of my fingers and toes tingled with all my anxious energy. My gaze stayed on the marble flooring. Even the loose grip of his hand around mine wasn't enough of a distraction. I can't believe I agreed to this.

"Well, can we do that later? We're holding everyone up," he said, his voice strained. The words escaped through gritted teeth, but not from anger. Daan was just as apprehensive as I was. After all, his job depended on our evening going well more than mine did.

Or so I was led to believe.

I glanced over my shoulder, and sure enough, a group of people stood behind us, waiting to enter the lift we were blocking. Their impatience only deepened my unease.

Instead of moving us forward, Daan veered off to the side and placed his hands on my cheeks. "Hey, come here. What are you so nervous about? It's just a party." Soulful brown eyes roamed my face, and I found myself desperate to have them lock on mine. They never settled on a specific point and I hated having to guess what he was thinking.

The night I agreed to be his fake girlfriend for the duration of his work event, Daan failed to mention we were also sharing a hotel room because his boss' assistant had booked it and he hadn't dared request two rooms. What kind of girlfriend would want a separate bed from her gorgeous boyfriend when she was meant to be madly in love with him?

If we hadn't just travelled over four hours to get to this secluded hotel on the outskirts of Manchester, I would have snuck out at some stage to make my way back home or booked myself into a more affordable hotel. But even the taxi fare was out of my budget this far out into the countryside. I'd spent most of my latest pay check on my outfit for the evening—a simple black satin V neck dress with a split through the skirt up to my thigh. It had cost me a small fortune with the added expense of new shoes, tasteful gold jewellery and a last minute trip to a hairdresser to freshen up my pink hair dye.

Daan had been nothing but apologetic and even called the reception desk when we unpacked to see if they could add an extra foldout bed without it showing up on the booking invoice but they had nothing else free. He'd also insisted on paying for my outfit and anything else I needed for the night but I refused, fearing that if I didn't control part of the trip, I would forget why I was here.

I couldn't admit that my worries laid more in what could happen once alcohol became involved and the lights were off. We'd been down this road before.

"What if he knows we're lying and it costs you the promotion? Maybe it would've been wiser if we'd met up at least once before tonight." I gnawed the inside of my bottom lip and shot a furtive glance around the hallway. His boss could walk past at any moment but with Daan stroking my cheek, any onlooker would buy that he was soothing his neurotic girlfriend.

"Trust me, Mr Thomas isn't that interested. As long as we say hello and then dance together, he'll buy it. He won't ask questions. The guy doesn't give a shit if we're happy together or not. Just that I have some arm candy. The wives and Janice are the ones to watch out for. Massive gossips and busybodies. Stick by my side and you'll be fine."

I nodded, his little speech not giving me much confidence, but what else could we do but smile and play along.

"Just pretend you like me for a few hours." He grinned and brushed his thumb across my lip, forcing me to stop chewing on it. "I didn't get to tell you earlier, but you look stunning."

Not giving me any time to digest his comment, he linked his arm with mine and walked us back towards the lift where we were finally all alone—no one to hold up or witness my last-minute jitters.

The small gold control panel inside the cabin displayed a handful of buttons with only two floors noticeable; one for the current ground floor and another leading to the basement of the countryside manor.

Daan pressed the button leading to the basement and leaned against the rail on the back mirrored wall. He closed his eyes for mere seconds and loosened his black tie ever so slightly. His Adam's apple visibly bobbed when he swallowed and the sight alone filled me with the need to take a step forward but instead, I moved to his side, my bare arm brushing against the fabric of his fitted suit as I gripped the railing.

The tailored three piece suit hugged his broad shoulders and a part of me couldn't help picturing the man underneath the clothes. All hard muscle and soft skin with a scattering of rugged hair on his chest, if my memories were accurate.

Hyper aware of the friction, I held my breath and stared at the lift door through the mirror. It was all I could focus on while in the confines of the ornate metal box. Anything to keep my mind off him. Surely they would open soon but I wasn't sure we'd even moved.

"Thanks for doing this by the way. I'll treat you to any spa treatment you want in the morning," he said without taking his eyes off the ceiling.

I shook my head and let out a subtle laugh when I caught the edge of his mouth twitch. "Funny. They're included with the booking. I saw the note on the desk in our room."

"Was worth a shot. I would've done it if they didn't." This time his smile was wide and he spun me round and grabbed my hand just as the doors opened.

Garth Thomas Associates had hired what must have been the largest function room in the hotel. The entire basement area was one enormous modernised space with black fabric draping on the walls and gold embellishments. The decor was worlds apart from the more traditional style of the upstairs manor house. No wonder it needed its own lift to access it. Some of their guests probably weren't even aware of its existence, which meant we would be left well enough alone throughout the night.

Once we stepped further into the ballroom and strolled through the banquet area and past the dancefloor, I noticed the casino style tables set up along the back wall. A red velvet curtain separated the event into a gambler's paradise on one side and a more demure gala on the other.

Daan snatched two glasses of champagne off an almost empty tray as a waiter hurried past us. Only a handful of party goers had stayed out in the dining area while some hovered around the bar, glasses of golden liquor over ice in hand. Roars of laughter filtered out from behind the curtain where most of Daan's work colleagues were already fully immersed in the Las Vegas themed event.

"Do you want to stay out here or see what that's all about?" Daan asked between sips of his drink, his voice low and unusually unsure of himself. "We could dance first if you like?"

The dance floor we passed on our way over was deserted and even with most of his colleagues occupied, I preferred not bringing too much attention to myself.

"We'd be the only ones dancing. Maybe we should save that for when your boss is around."

He nodded and tossed back the rest of his champagne without making eye contact. "Another drink then before we go in?"

His hand slipped to my lower back and a shock of awareness sparked across my bare skin. Too stunned to answer, I followed as he made his way to the bar. Daan was nervous, probably even a fraction more than I was and part of me felt reassured that he was.

***

Dinner was announced an hour after Daan and I entered the casino section of the room. We'd played a few games of roulette and one hand of blackjack but neither one of us could relax long enough to fully enjoy the experience.

At every turn, I questioned if their prying eyes saw Daan's constant touch on my lower back or forearm as protective and not controlling and if I had hidden my nerves well enough that my glances seemed adoring and not fearful.

We had yet to be approached while we navigated the dining area but when we sat in our allocated spaces, I realised that our luck might have run out.

"Mr Thomas. Mrs Thomas." Daan shook their hands and gave a curt nod. "This is my girlfriend, Noa. Noa, this is my boss and his wife." He placed his hand on my shoulder and gestured to the couple who were already sitting down, napkins covering their laps.

The moment he said their names my muscles tensed. This is it. I couldn't mess it up. "Lovely to meet you both."

My grin was wide as I gave a shy wave but Mrs Thomas had other plans. She stood up and extended her hand for mine. "Likewise, but please, call me Christine. And this is Garth. You should know that by now, Daan." She gave him a pointed stare, but smiled.

She settled back into her chair and the conversation turned to the wine selection available on the single-sided card menu. The dishes for the night were pre-selected at the time of the bookings but I had yet to see them as Daan, in a moment of panic, ordered his girlfriend's dinner before I agreed to be his date. I hope he didn't choose the salmon for me.

"So, Daniel, how did you meet such a stunning girl?" Mr Thomas's wife asked between bites of her mushroom pate starter.

"Well, uni. Isn't that right, babe? We shared a few classes together and she couldn't resist my charms." He tugged me into his side in what should have been a loving embrace, but felt wooden. If I left it to him, no one would buy that we were in love and he was only months away from proposing like he'd stupidly told his boss.

"But you were single at the Christmas Party, weren't you? Didn't you leave with Anna from marketing that night?" A lady with deep auburn hair pipped in, unaware of the glare from Daan and Mr Thomas' wife. If I wasn't playing the role of the besotted girlfriend, I would have laughed at her apparent need to gossip and Daan's obvious discomfort.

"Oh do behave, Janice. I'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation for that," Christine added.

"He was single then." I nodded and smiled, taking a slow sip of my drink so I could buy myself a couple more seconds to get my story straight in my head. "We met at university but I had to move away in my final year after I lost my grandfather. We reconnected when I returned home and it's like I never left." I beamed up at him and planted a soft kiss on his jaw. When I turned back to the group, they held back their comments, eagerly awaiting more details.

"We didn't actually meet in class the first time." I hesitated, stalling to find the right words. "That came a bit later. Daan probably doesn't remember this part or likes to pretend he doesn't. Isn't that right, honey boo?" I added in a high-pitched voice, poking his side for extra effect. If he wanted a loved up girlfriend, I was prepared to lay it on thick.

"I was putting up posters around campus a couple of weeks before classes started. I can't remember what they had on them. But there I was, up a ladder, with no one to hold it for me and unfortunately lost my footing. Danny boy here happened to be passing by at the right time and caught me before I hit the floor. Our eyes met and bam, sparks flew and it was love at first sight."

"Freshers' week."

"What?"

"The posters you were putting up. It was the fresher's week schedule." His expression softened and he leaned into me. "I remember."

My tongue darted out to wet my lips and my voice cracked when I finally found the strength to speak. "You do?"

"Yeah." He skimmed his fingers down my side and tightened his grip when he reached my hip. "I'm going to dance with my girlfriend now." His gaze never left mine as he stood and pulled me to my feet.

Someone replied but their voices were lost amongst the ringing in my ears. While I fumbled to think of a story that would ring true, I inadvertently gave them one that was closer to reality than I was comfortable with. That was exactly how Daan and I first met. The love at first sight part being the only fabricated part.

The sparks, however, were anything but a lie.

***

I would say happy Tuesday update but I'm a day late. It's worth it though.