Chapter Eleven

Lydia awoke the next morning feeling sore and thoroughly used. As she started to rise from the bed, Drake's arms locked around her waist, yank her back against him.

"Ahhh," Lydia squealed.

"Just a few more minutes," Drake sleepily yawned back in return, closing his eyes.

"Drake, if I stay in this bed any longer I am going to pee myself!" Lydia exclaimed trying to wiggle free of his grasps. Drake grumbled something incoherent under his breath and reluctantly released her. Lydia quickly scampered off to the bathroom.

As the warm water splashed over her face, Lydia couldn't help but smile. She had woken up in bed with a man, his arm draped over her waist, and it felt like the perfect way to start her day. But reality quickly set in, and her smile turned into a grimace, as she remembered that this wasn't real. It was all part of her job as a high-end escort pretending to be a billionaire's girlfriend for the month. She sighed and turned off the tap, preparing herself for another day of playing a role instead of being herself.

Lydia quickly slipped into a plush, white robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door. As she made her way back to the bedroom, she mentally rehearsed asking Drake what she should wear for their trip to meet his parents. But when she reached the bedroom, he was nowhere to be found. She tightened the strings of the robe around her waist and set off in search of the elusive billionaire. It didn't take long for her to spot him.

He stood in the spacious kitchen, dressed only in loose grey sweatpants that hung low on his hips. The sunlight filtering through the windows illuminated his bare chest and sculpted muscles, causing Lydia's breath to catch in her throat. She couldn't help but admire his toned back, a physical trait she found incredibly sexy in a man. It spoke of strength and sensuality, drawing her in with its smooth lines and chiseled contours.

"Are you just going to stand there and ogle me all day, or would you like a cup of coffee?" Drake asked, catching her in his peripheral. He smiled as he turned to greet her.

A deep blush crept across Lydia's chest and up to her cheeks, "I wasn't ogling." She stammered, "I was just trying to figure out what other secrets you are hiding. Drake Alston. Playboy Billionaire. Generous Lover. Home Chef."

"Hah, I bet you would like you know all my secrets, wouldn't you?" Drake joked, while reaching up in his cabinets and grabbing out two coffee cups. "Cream and sugar?"

"Just cream please," Lydia replied, leaning against the counter beside him, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Nope. I'm just about finished. Wait, actually, if you could take our coffees to the table? I'll meet you in there in just a second." Drake grinned, grabbing the coffees and passing them to Lydia, dismissing her as he turned his attention back to the stove.

With a grateful smile, Lydia accepted the cups and gracefully made her way towards the dining room table. The bar high table, crafted from rich mahogany wood, stood tall and proud in the center of the room. It was set for a comfortable breakfast for two, complete with elegant place settings. Lydia carefully placed the cups down on the smooth surface, admiring the intricate patterns carved into the wood. However, when she attempted to climb onto one of the bar stools, she was reminded of her shorter stature. Despite her best efforts, she struggled to find a comfortable position on the elevated seat. But as she settled in, she couldn't help but feel a sense of sophistication at being seated at such a grand piece of furniture.

As she took a sip of her coffee, Lydia couldn't help but drift off into another daydream about what it would be like if this was her real life. "I'll just embrace being Cinderella for the time being," she said to herself a bittersweet smile on her face, "and when midnight comes and reality sets back in, at least I'll have these memories to hold onto."

At that exact moment, Drake walked in with two plates piled high with scrambled eggs, bacon, and fresh fruit, interrupting Lydia from her morning musings. "And your breakfast is served beautiful." Drake grinned, leaning in and placing a plate in front of her, followed by a gentle kiss to the forehead.

"Drake!" Lydia exclaimed, her face lit up with surprise, "You really didn't have to do all of this."

"I told you before, spoiling is my favorite part." Drake shrugged, taking his seat opposite her, "And it's been a while since I was able to make breakfast for someone else." His face flushed red, "Also, we have a long drive ahead of us today. You'll need all your energy. You're going up against the entirety of the Alston family today."

Lydia's stomach twisted with butterflies. She felt anxious at the thought of meeting Drake's entire family. She still felt like she knew next to nothing about them. Swallowing down her nerves she popped a bite of eggs in her mouth and moaned in delight. "Drake, these eggs are heavenly. They are by far the best scrambled eggs I've ever had."

Drake leaned in closer, "The secret is the cream. It makes them more fluffy. Amelia taught me how to cook when I was younger."

"Can you tell me more about Amelia?" Lydia asked, hoping the more she learned about his nanny, the more she would discover about him.

"No." Drake replied, his eyes pinched as he pushed his now empty plate away from him. "I would rather not talk about Amelia."

As soon as she mentioned Amelia, his face hardened like stone and his posture straightened. The friendly smile he had earlier disappeared, replaced by a cold, business-like expression. It was as if a switch had been flipped and he had transformed into a completely different person.

"I need to hurry and get dressed. Your bags are already packed with your clothes for the weekend in Hampshire. For your brunch outfit you'll want to wear a blouse, a skirt, and some heels. If you check our closet you'll find you have clothes there now. Oh, and make sure you pair your outfit with a pair of pearl earrings and a necklace. I already have your dress for the evening in the car." Drake announced, rising from his seat and excusing himself from breakfast.

The cold businesslike transaction was all it took to bring Lydia back down to reality. She wasn't Cinderella. She was nothing more than his hired escort. Here to trick his family into believing that Drake was in a serious relationship. Swallowing down her feelings, Lydia quickly finished her coffee and meal, and headed to Drake's room to get ready for the day. She let out a heavy sigh of relief when she discovered he wasn't inside. She hadn't felt like running into him so soon after his attitude had changed.

As she browsed through her closet, Lydia's eyes landed on a light pink satin blouse with long sleeves. She paired it with a tan pencil skirt and slipped into nude pumps. The outfit hugged her figure perfectly, accentuating her curves in all the right places. With just the right amount of confidence, she applied a light layer of makeup and added a matte light pink lipstick to complete the look. For jewelry, she chose a choker-style pearl necklace and a pair of small studded pearl earrings. She parted her hair down the middle and let it hang long and straight. After admiring herself in the mirror, Lydia made her way to the sitting room to wait for Drake, feeling confident and beautiful.