Amanda tried to hide it, but she was worried all through breakfast. Last night after she left Billy, she had a long conversation with Josie who reported that Ripley put his car in the shop and was using a company car from his job, which would make him more difficult to track. Also Josie was trying to obtain more advanced monitoring systems, but the costs were prohibitive. Amanda made good money over the years since graduating from law school, but donated much of what she earned to various charities dealing with children in the foster care system. Josie offered her discounted services due to their friendship, but Amanda insisted she pay Josie's company in full to protect her from Ripley once he began to stalk her.

Amanda took the current job dealing with Katherine Chancellor's will in Genoa City for the opportunity to get out of Madison so she didn't negotiate the best contract for herself. She agreed to be paid an initial retainer then she would earn a portion of what she recovered for her client. Also she would bill for expenses such as living at the Grand Phoenix,food, cab fare, etc. She agreed not to bill for hours since her client planned to do most of the legwork in terms of retrieving the original pages of the will. She was basically there to argue the case on his behalf, which would take a few hours here and there tops.

So aside from very meager savings she was basically broke and could not help Josie upgrade. And the irony was she was sitting across from her very wealthy and very fake fiance. The thought occurred to ask him for a loan, but the idea just seemed very unseemly. Besides pretending that she was in a new relationship in a new city might be the wake up call that Ripley needed and he would leave her alone. Once she was free of him, she'd work full-time again, build up her war chest and invest heavily in Josie's company.

"You seem to be deep in thought," Billy said from across the table. "Worried about your case with Devon?"

"Why worry when I know I'm going to win?" Amanda said and she wasn't lying. The case was easy compared to her personal life which was a wreck.

"Something is obviously on your mind."

"Sorry if I'm not much of a breakfast companion this morning."

"It's alright if you'd rather…"

"Well if it isn't Billy Abbott," a voice said, drawing her attention. The same reporter from the Grand Phoenix was approaching their table. His eyes were trained on Amanda "and your lovely companion." Not waiting for an introduction, the man extended his hand. "Frank Ellias."

So Billy knew this supposed "hack". Why the hell didn't he say so? She waited for Billy to say something, but when he remained silent continuing to calmly stab pancakes onto his fork, she filled in the awkward silence. "I saw you earlier today," she said with what she hoped was a photogenic smile."You're a reporter right?"

"That I am," he addressed Amanda directly. "And you are…"

"She's eating breakfast right now as you can see," Billy cut in. "So beat it." He nodded his head in the direction of the entrance. Fixing Frank Elias with a steely gaze.

"Hey now Billy I was just being friendly," Frank said and winked at Amanda. "Since he obviously got up on the wrong side of the bed, I hope I'll see you around." Frank gave a mocking bow and then walked away in the direction of the bar.

Amanda leaned over and whispered. "Billy, why did you just do that?"

"Do what?" Billy shoved a fork full of pancakes into his mouth.

"First why did you act as if you didn't know Frank Ellias when we were at the Grand Phoenix. And why did you chase him away just now?"

"That's what I'm supposed to do. Haven't you ever seen celebrities when they're harassed by the press during a private moment?"

"Oh, I didn't think of that." Amanda realized she'd have to defer to Billy on certain matters since celebrity was not something she was familiar with. She had not granted an interview since she graduated at the top of her class from law school. One of her talents as a practicing attorney was settling cases so that her clients emerged victorious without ever going to court. Big court cases got the press, while quiet settlements had the ability to fly under the radar, which is what her clients typically preferred.

"But if you continue to be rude how will the story get out?"

"The more covetous I am of you, the more interested they'll be in the story."

"Covetous?" Amanda couldn't help but smile before she took a sip of her lime infused water. She was on high alert after Ripley's obsessive behavior, but Billy's teasing didn't alarm her.

"Yes, I want you all to myself during times like these anyway."

Amanda felt all gooey inside at his words. Then chastised herself immediately. She was in no position to even consider anything real while still on run from the last disaster of a relationship. Falling for a fake finance was not in the plans. "That's a good line," she said so that he knew that she knew he was keeping up their pretext of a relationship and did not mean what he said literally. "In fact we never worked out exactly what you're going to say to the press. Maybe we should draft something."

"You mean a script?" Billy eyed her skeptically.

"Talking points is maybe a better way to look at it."

"I don't do talking points. I speak extemporaneously. However," he paused. "I'll need to know a lot more about you aside from your profession, your resemblance to Hilary, your romantic frustrations with Timmy Turner in the fourth grade, your troublesome ex and the facts that you sing better than you dance."

"It's Timmy Thompson and I thought I practically dictated the autobiography of my early life if I told you about him. And my dancing is not that bad."

"In terms of the dancing," Billy held his hand above the table rocking it in a "so-so" gesture. "In terms of your life, you told me quite a bit, but we had been drinking. I'd like for you to tell me about yourself now that we're both sober."

"Not much to tell. I grew up in foster care, overcame many odds, graduated with honors and I'm on my way to becoming the best damn attorney in Wisconsin, then the Midwest then the entire country.'

"That's the cliff note version I take it." Billy leaned back in his chair. "I want details." He watched her carefully in an assessing manner that made Amanda want to squirm from his close scrutiny.

"I really don't like talking about myself."

"I guess it's another sacrifice you'll have to make like wearing dresses from The First Lady boutique. This whole charade won't be believable unless you do it. I want to know you."

Amanda was touched by Billy's obviously keen interest in her. Ripley didn't care about her past only that he possessed her in the present and forever more. And no other man was curious about her story. They all seemed to accept whatever she chose to reveal.

"It's just my luck to find the one guy who wants to listen to my story when I'd rather not tell it," she said downing the last of her water. And even tho the drink was cold, her body heated as Billy continued to gaze expectantly at her. Four weeks pretending to be Billy's fake fiance with him looking at her with solemn undisguised interest. He meant what he said. How would she manage to get through it?

"I'm sure there's far more to your story than that one brief paragraph."

"I'd be lying if I said it was completely uneventful."

"How about we do it this way. What do you want to tell me?"

That was a damn good question. She really didn't want to talk about the struggles of her childhood, but if it was appropriate she would love to tell him how good he looked sitting across from her. She would have loved to tell him how his presence warmed her and the energy they shared was exciting and electrifying. She would tell him how she loved spending time with him and when he called and asked her if she wanted to go for breakfast, she was downstairs like twenty minutes early which is how she saw Frank Ellias. But even if this were a real dating situation, there is no way she would volunteer all of that information upfront after a few days and risk getting played.

"What do I want to tell you?" She repeated his question, trying to buy more time before answering. "What I've been telling you. You're such a nice guy. I can't thank you enough for what you're doing to help me."

"I'm glad. In fact I'm honored to now be part of your story."

"What the hell is going on here?"

Amanda jerked her eyes away from Billy as they were interrupted again. This time it was Jill, Billy's mother who had approached the table.