EPISODE 5: secret In the west wing
600 Words
Bianca paced the length of the billionaire’s office, her heels clicking against the marble tiles. She hated that she felt nervous… especially with him watching her so intensely.
Alexander Cole sat behind his massive glass desk, fingers steepled, eyes fixed on her like she was the only thing in the room worth looking at.
Cold. Calculated. Controlled.
Exactly the type of man Bianca tried to avoid.
But she was stuck now… because her name was already on the marriage certificate.
“Sit, Bianca,” Alexander said quietly, the authority in his voice sending an unexpected shiver down her spine.
She sat. Cautiously.
He slid a document toward her a thick envelope stamped CONFIDENTIAL.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“A contract,” he replied. “Terms of our… temporary arrangement.”
Bianca’s brows shot up. “Temporary? I thought we’re stuck with this mistake forever.”
Alexander leaned forward, his intense blue eyes locking onto hers.
“Nothing in my life is permanent.”
Her heart skipped.
He continued, “This marriage will last for six months. Just long enough to secure a merger that requires me to appear… settled.” His jaw hardened. “After that, we divorce. Quietly. Cleanly. You walk away with a generous settlement.”
Bianca’s jaw dropped. “A settlement?”
“Yes. A house, a car, and enough money to set you up for the next decade.” His voice was calm, as though discussing groceries, not her life.
Bianca blinked. “Why me? You could’ve married any model, actress, or heiress.”
Alexander’s lips curved into a wicked half-smile. “Exactly why I chose you. You don’t want my money. You don’t want my fame. And you… are unpredictable.” He paused. “You challenged me yesterday. No one challenges me.”
Bianca swallowed hard. She didn’t like how his voice dipped at the end… almost like he enjoyed it.
“And what do you get?” she asked softly.
His gaze darkened. “Control. Stability. A wife who doesn’t love me, doesn’t expect anything from me, and won’t interfere in my life.”
Bianca scoffed. “You really think I want to interfere? I want this mess undone as fast as you do.”
“Good,” he said, standing. “Then sign.”
He held out a pen.
Bianca reached for it… but her hand trembled. She hated that he noticed.
His hand brushed hers warm, steady, infuriatingly confident.
A spark shot up her arm.
His eyes flicked to their touching hands, then back to her face… unreadable.
“Bianca,” he said quietly, “if you agree, we start living together tonight.”
Her breath hitched. “Already?”
“You’re my wife,” Alexander said, voice deepening. “We have to be convincing.”
Bianca hesitated.
Six months of pretending.
Six months of living with a man who made her heart jump and her brain freeze.
Six months of danger emotional danger.
But… she needed the money. And she needed this marriage to end cleanly.
She lifted the pen.
“A deal is a deal,” she whispered.
But just before she signed, Alexander spoke again softer this time.
“And Bianca… one more thing.”
She looked up.
His eyes held something she couldn’t place something dark, something guarded.
“In this arrangement,” he said slowly, “no falling in love.”
Her chest tightened.
“Trust me,” she said, voice steady, “that won’t be a problem.”
She signed.
Alexander watched her like she’d just stepped into the lion’s den.
Because she had.
- Writer
