Chapter 3 — The AnnouncementLia Carter had thought she knew humiliation.
She was wrong.
This….this was worse.
Her phone wouldn't stop ringing from different people, which she wasn't sure if it was genuine care or for their inquisitive nature. Messages kept coming until she lost count of them from friends, former classmates, even distant relatives flooded in, all saying the same words, if she did not know better she might as well assume they were programmed to say the same thing.
Is it true?
You're marrying Adrian Blake?!
When's the wedding?
By the time she reached her small design studio, her assistant, Sophie, was practically bouncing in place, phone in hand.
"Lia, please tell me this is a joke." Sophie's eyes were wide as saucers, she looked like the words from her mouth could make or break her. "It's all over the city and everybody is talking about it! Adrian Blake just announced his engagement to you!"
Lia dropped her bag onto the nearest table and sank into her chair defeatedly, not willing to disclose much. "I know."
"You know?" Sophie shrieked from unbelieve. "You're not even denying it?"
"I can't," Lia said flatly.
Sophie in disbelief stared at her. "Lia, you hated him! You used to call him 'Mr. Arrogant in a Suit!' You threw an entire cup of coffee at his picture once!"
"It was symbolic," Lia muttered under her breath, trying not to give too much information.
"No, it was hot!" Sophie snapped. "You nearly burned down your wall!"
Lia pressed her fingers to her temples knowing that Sophie us not about to back down. "Sophie, please. I don't have the energy to explain."
Her best friend crossed her arms across her chest in a dramatic manner. "Then explain to me why the man who made your college years a living nightmare is suddenly your fiancé. And don't you dare say it's 'complicated.'"
Lia sighed, meeting her friend's glare. "I have the only word you don't want to hear, it is complicated. It's business."
Sophie blinked. "Business? What kind of business requires a ring and a public announcement?"
Lia didn't answer. She didn't need to. She just sat her head facing the ground like it was the most catchy thing at the moment.
Sophie's expression softened, realization dawning Om her. "Oh, Lia… is it the company?"
Lia nodded silently.
Sophie sat beside her, squeezing her hand. "There should be another way we could resolve this, not you getting married to someone you do not love."
"There isn't any other way," Lia whispered. "He knew it. And he used it to his own advantage ."
For a few minutes neither spoke. The hum sound of the sewing machines in the back room filled the silence.
Finally, Sophie said gently, "You know people are going to have to talk to him, right?He's… Adrian Blake."
"I don't care what they say," Lia lied. "It's only for six months."
Sophie frowned. "That's a very long six months when you're living with someone you hate and want to tear down."
Lia forced a small smile. "Who says I'll be living with him?" With a bit of a questioning eye.
Sophie hesitated a bit, then pulled out her phone. "Because according to the news on The Daily Spotlight, it says you already moved into his penthouse."
Lia's eyes widened. "What?"
Sophie turned the screen toward her. There, on the front page, was a photo of Lia leaving Blake Enterprises yesterday her face half-turned, the wind catching her hair with the headline:
Billionaire CEO Adrian Blake Announces Engagement to College Sweetheart Lia Carter.
Lia felt the air leave her lungs. "Sweetheart?" she whispered more to herself than her friend.
"Oh, it gets better, look," Sophie said, scrolling. "He called you his 'first and only love' in the interview."
Lia stood abruptly, her chair scratching against the floor making an annoying sound. "He what?"
Sophie's tone softened. "You should see for yourself."
Lia stormed into Blake Enterprises an hour later with a printed article she got on her way, the article still burning in her mind. She didn't wait for permission to enter his office she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Adrian looked up from his laptop, calm as ever. "Ah, my fiancée. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
She slammed the magazine onto his desk furiously. "Explain this."
He arched a brow looking between her and the article. "You're upset about the press release?"
"Upset? You told the world I'm your college sweetheart! You're rewriting history!"
He leaned back in his chair, unbothered and calm. "You should know,the public prefers a romantic narrative to a business based transaction. 'College sweetheart' sounds better than 'woman I blackmailed into marriage, I think.'"
Her glare could've cut glass if possible. "You had no right."
"I had every right," he replied evenly. "Our deal includes maintaining appearances. Consider this part of the package. For a more realistic narrative"
Lia took a step closer, anger bubbling. "You could have at least asked me first."
"I could have," he agreed, "but then you would have said no."
"I still say no!" she snapped.
He smiled faintly. "Too late. It's already trending."
"Adrian"
"Relax, Lia," he said, standing. "It's just a story."
Her heart pounded as he walked toward her, closing the distance between them a little. "You don't understand what it's like having your name dragged across the internet."
He stopped just inches away from her. "I understand more than you think."
For a moment, the air shifted less hostile, more charged. The sunlight framed his face, softening the sharpness of his features. She hated that her chest tightened when he looked at her like she was the only person in the room who mattered. But she knows better.
Then he said quietly, "There's a press event tomorrow. We'll announce the date. Be ready by seven."
Lia blinked in disbelief. "Press event? I'm not"
"Lia," he interrupted her gently but firmly. "You wanted this deal as much as I wanted it. That means playing the part. You'll need to act like you're in love with me."
Her lips parted to say something, but words failed. She could feel the weight of his gaze burning into her, steady and unreadable.
Finally, she said softly, "You're asking for too much."
He smiled a little, a sad curve on his lips. "No, Lia. I'm only asking what you already promised in the agreement."
That night, Lia sat in her tiny apartment, staring at the diamond ring Adrian had sent over through his assistant.
It wasn't subtle, a flawless stone surrounded by a halo of light.
Beautiful, cold, and heavy on her finger.
Sophie's text came in:
You okay?
Want me to come over?
Lia replied her back:
I'm fine. Just tired.
She wasn't fine, she wasn't a bit okay.
She was scared.
Scared of losing her freedom, her peace, her self.
Terrified of history repeating itself, meaning her falling for him again.
She closed her eyes and whispered to the empty room trying to believe it herself, "It's just six months." She said,
But even as she said it, the words rang hollow.
Because deep down, she already knew there was nothing simple about loving Adrian Blake. And this time, walking away might not be so easy as before.