My Bestie Used My Photo to Catfish a Man—She Never Knew He Was My Boss Chapter 06
So the business dinner Adrian tnentioned earlier-it was this exact one. The one supposedly introducing some business mogul. And the mogul himself was walking straight toward me.
Before I could react, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and guided me into the main seat at the table.
The whole room stared.
Leo shot Lauren a sharp look and muttered under his breath, “Why didn’t you say your friend was this close with Adrian Sterling?”
Lauren was speechless. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her grinding her teeth, her face cycling between
red and white.
Leo raised his glass with a sycophantic smile. “So this is Mr. Sterling’s girlfriend. Gorgeous, classy-exactly
what I’d expect. You two look perfect together.”
The flattery made my head spin. First time so many people had praised me all at once.
Meanwhile, Lauren’s perfect makeup and try-hard outfit looked out of place here. All these years, she was
always the one in the spotlight while I trailed behind like a sidekick.
Now the roles had flipped. How could she stand it? And the man she’d personally dismissed-turned out to
be someone like this.
A few rounds of drinks in, I headed to the restroom to clear my head. I’d just stepped out of the stall and
turned on the faucet when a shadow appeared behind me.
I jolted fully awake. After what just happened, being alone with Adrian made my skin prickle. His face had a light flush from the alcohol. It made him look even better.
He tilted his head down, lashes lowered. “Iris. You still haven’t answered. Who called me ‘babe’? I can’t figure out why you’d be right next to me every day-and still choose to date me online?”
He stepped closer, his warm breath grazing my ear. “Or is this all on purpose? Toying with me. You knew I
liked you all along, didn’t you?”
My whole body jolted.
He-Adrian Sterling-the famous heir-liked me? Liked a girl who’d vanish into any crowd?
Wake up. This isn’t real. I’d sooner believe he was the reincarnation of some old-money tycoon. Was I drunk
and hallucinating? Or was he drunk and messing with me?
I replayed all the times I’d picked him up after networking dinners. His tolerance was insane. My mind was a
wreck.
I gritted iny teeth. Fine. I’ll just tell him the truth. Tomorrow I’ll be redownloading every job app.
“Actually… I’m not the one you’ve been talking to.”
The words barely left my mouth when a soft sound came from behind us.
“She’s right. The one you’ve been talking to is me!”
Lauren appeared at the restroom doorway, eyes red-rimmed, looking pitiful. Her voice trembled with fake tears. “Adrian, don’t let her fool you. I’ve been meaning to tell you-you’ve got the wrong girl. It’s me. I’m the one you’ve been talking to.”,
Her voice was soft and sweet. Two perfect tears rolled down her pretty face. “As for why I sent Iris’s photo… it was a test. To see if you were only interested in looks.”
That excuse made me laugh. She’d dismissed him because she thought he was poor. Now suddenly it was all a test?
Adrian’s eyes flickered. I couldn’t read him.
“Look at her. She’s plain. She doesn’t belong next to you. I’m the one who actually makes sense for you.”
I didn’t expect Lauren to go that far. To win Adrian back, she was willing to tear me apart in public.
I knew I was average-looking. She didn’t need to keep rubbing it in. And in front of Adrian, no less-I’d never felt so humiliated.
Besides… Lauren was beautiful. That was just a fact. If Adrian accepted her right now, I had no idea what I’d do.
I held my breath and waited. He listened to every word, then his face went completely cold. He didn’t even spare her a glance.
“The one I like has always been Iris.”
