Ariana sat stiffly as the car moved through the city, her hands twisted nervously on her lap. Adrian Cole typed on his phone, ignoring her completely.
"Relax," he said without looking up. "You're shaking the seat."
She swallowed. "I've never been in a car like this."
"That's obvious."
Her cheeks burned.
Heartless man.
"Where are we going?" she asked quietly.
"To my office," he said.
Her heartbeat doubled. "W-Why? What job is this exactly?"
He didn't answer.
Typical.
The car stopped in front of a massive glass building.
Ariana's mouth fell open.
COLE INDUSTRIES
The largest tech corporation in the country.
People paused to stare as Adrian stepped out — tall, powerful, cold as ice.
Ariana hurried after him, feeling out of place.
Employees whispered:
"Is that a woman with him?"
"Mr. Cole hates women."
"She must be special."
Her cheeks grew hot.
Adrian led her into a huge private office.
The moment the door closed, he finally faced her.
"Ariana Blake."
She nodded nervously.
He slipped his hands into his pockets.
"I'm going to offer you a job."
She held her breath.
"But first, you need to understand something."
His eyes locked onto hers — intense, dangerous.
"I don't do emotions. I don't do relationships. And I definitely don't do love."
Ariana frowned. "O…kay?"
Adrian took a deep breath.
"I need someone to play a role for me."
She blinked. "What kind of role?"
He stepped closer.
"I need a fake fiancée."
Ariana's heart stopped.
"…What?"
"My company is negotiating an international partnership," he said. "They want stability. They want my 'family life' to look good."
Ariana stared at him, stunned.
"But—I'm not— We don't even—"
He cut her off.
"I'll pay you more than you've ever earned in your life."
Her breath caught.
Money.
For her mother.
For rent.
For survival.
She whispered, "How much?"
Adrian's lips curved slightly — not a smile, but something close.
"Enough," he said, "to change everything."
Ariana felt her world tilt.
She came looking for a simple job…
And walked into a contract that would trap her in the billionaire CEO's world.
And nothing would ever be the same again.