Pretending To Be His

Eight : Do Something

As Aria pulled into the street leading to her office, her heart sank when she realised the Press had already found their way there, too. Camera crews, reporters and a swarm of photographers were gathered at the entrance, creating a chaotic frenzy as they buzzed around, hounding anyone that approached the doors as they waited for her arrival like a swarm of vultures. She barely had time to process the scene before the crowd turned toward her, having recognised her car, cameras pivoting to catch a glimpse of her wide-eyed and frantic look.

Just as panic began to set in, the building's security stepped out from his post, motioning for her to turn. He waved her away from the road she’d normally park on and toward the underground car park reserved for managers and directors. Aria hesitated for a split second, but when faced with the flashing cameras and reporters closing in she quickly swerved into the garage, her beat-up car sticking out like a sore thumb among the sleek luxury vehicles already parked there.

As garage doors slid shut behind her, she parked in one of the empty spaces, letting out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. Turning off the engine, she grabbed her bag and had just stepped out the car when she spotted a figure by the elevator: Marcus. She paused mid-step, the hand clutching the strap of her backpack tightening. He was pacing, his expression taut and as soon as he saw her, his posture stiffened.

“Marcus.” She greeted, trying to sound steady. “Is everything okay?”

“We need to talk.”

“Is this about me parking here?”

Marcus ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that immediately set off alarm bells in her mind. He never did that—he was always composed, always in control. Even that awful year when the company had fallen short of their targets, when stress was at an all-time high, he hadn't lost his cool and seeing this side of him made her stomach churn with dread knowing she was the reason behind it.

“I didn’t want to ambush you in the lobby with everyone else around.”

Aria swallowed hard. “Then I take it this isn’t just about parking.”

“I’ve been asked to bring you to Patterson’s office.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Patterson. As in Jeffrey Patterson, their CEO.

“…Why?”

He glanced around the empty garage. “It’ll be explained when we get there. Come on, we’ve kept one of the elevators free.”

She followed him into the waiting elevator, both of them stood in silence as they watched the numbers tick upward. When the elevator doors slid open on the fifth floor, Aria felt a new wave of anxiety wash over her. This floor was where the power resided and even when she had been new and had been given a tour of the building, it had never included this floor where the executive offices of the CEO and directors were. Each office one was lined with sleek glass walls, giving a clear view of the men and women who ran the company… Men and women who were all looking at her.

As she and Marcus made their way down the corridor, she could feel their eyes following her. Directors and department heads, some speaking into phones, others typing away furiously at their desks, all took subtle glances in her direction as she passed that by the time they reached the large double doors leading to Jeffrey Patterson’s office, her palms were clammy with nerves.

“You’ll be okay, Aria.” Marcus said as they paused by the doors, his voice soft enough that only she could hear. “Remember, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

She nodded, though the reassurance did little to calm her nerves. With a deep breath, Marcus pushed open the doors and they stepped inside. The windows inside were tinted, offering only a dull reflection of the massive building opposite and Aria couldn’t help but think of Grayson and the awe-inspiring view from his office. Though both men were CEOs, the contrast between them couldn’t have been more obvious as Patterson’s office was cozy, almost personal with family photos dotting the tables and worn paperback books on his shelves. The furniture, too, had a warmth to it—light woods and cream-colored upholstery making the space feel welcoming and almost inviting.

Her eyes moved from the furniture to the man who owned the office, pausing there with a mix of awe and fear. Jeffrey was an aging man with kind, weathered features and salt-and-pepper hair and although he didn’t exude the same intensity as Grayson, his presence was still one of steady authority.

“Marcus.” Jeffrey greeted, standing from behind his desk to shake his hand. “I assume you’ve brought with you the lady that’s caused all the commotion this morning?”

“This is Ms Hart.” Marcus introduced, stepping aside.

Aria forced a tentative smile. “It’s good to meet you, Sir.”

“Have a seat, Ms. Hart.” He said, settling back into his own. “We have a lot to discuss.”

She sat obediently. She could feel the weight of Jeffrey’s gaze on her, his Fatherly appearance doing little to ease her nerves.

“Our phones have been ringing non-stop since last night and our marketing team is close to exhaustion.” He stated flatly. “Now, I understand that this might not have been intentional, but when an employee brings this level of attention it becomes a concern”

His tone wasn’t harsh, but the message was clear: this was a problem and it was her fault. Aria shifted in her seat, fingers gripping the armrests as she struggled to find the right words. She could feel the weight of Jeffrey’s gaze bearing down on her, every second of silence only deepening her unease and her eyes darted to Marcus for some kind of encouragement. But despite his earlier words outside the door, it was clear now that she wouldn’t find help from him in this room.

She was on her own.

“I understand how this looks and I know the attention isn’t ideal, for either of us.” She began, voice as steady as she could manage. “But I promise I’ll do everything in my power to fix this.”

Jeffrey’s eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers drumming an impatient rhythm on the desk. “Tell me, how do you plan to fix this?”

Her mind scrambled for an answer, but the truth was, she didn’t have one. What can I do? Grayson Stone held all the cards right now and she wasn’t entirely sure what his game plan even was. Every move seemed calculated but he hadn’t shared them with her, not even when it seemed like she was the one who would suffer because of it.

“Well… Mr. Stone has been handling the media attention.” She admitted.

The silence that followed was deafening and she fidgeted again, wondering what she could have said to cause Jeffrey’s frown marring his face.

“So, let me understand. You intend to sit back and let your boyfriend handle everything?”

Boyfriend. He’d said it like a pointed accusation and the weight of the word twisted something inside her. Was he annoyed that she wasn’t doing more, or was he scolding her for allowing Grayson to take the lead?

“I’m not sure what you mean…” She finally said, voice small.

“What I mean, Ms. Hart, is that this is your career on the line. You brought this attention to our company and yet you’re willing to let someone else handle it? If you think that letting ‘Mr. Stone’ deal with it absolves you of responsibility, you’re mistaken.”

Aria’s cheeks flushed, the heat of embarrassment rising as her confusion and frustration intertwined into a tight knot of shame in her chest. Jeffrey wasn’t outright angry—his voice was never raised, never sharp—yet he made it painfully clear he expected more from her. That he was disappointed in her. Somehow that disappointment stung more than if he had scolded or even fired her on the spot. She wanted to defend herself, to explain that she hadn’t asked for this mess with Grayson Stone, that she hadn’t intended for the media frenzy to erupt, but the words caught in her throat. No excuse felt good enough.

The guilt curled tighter inside her, making her feel small. She wasn’t sure how to fix this. How could she, when Grayson Stone was pulling all the strings, when the entire situation felt beyond her control?

“I’m not sure what to do.” She finally confessed.

Jeffrey watched her for a moment longer, expression unreadable, before he gave a slow nod. “I understand that Mr. Stone has influence, but if you rely on him to fix this then you’re handing over your power. You need to make a choice, Ms. Hart: will you sit back passively, or will you be proactive and take control?”

The words hung in the air, striking something deep inside Aria, her breath catching in her throat. Handing over her power—it stung. Hadn’t the whole point of her negotiating with Grayson been so she could keep control? So that she could handle this situation on her terms? She sank back in her chair as she realised how much of a hypocrite she was. When Sara had first told her about the PR statement Grayson’s team had released—without even consulting her—she should have spoken up, should have done something. But instead, she had rolled over and let him take the reins and control the situation in a way that only benefited him.

“I ask again, Ms Hart. How do you plan to fix this?”

Aria thought back to her education. One of the core elements of her training as an architect wasn’t just about the designs themselves—it was about handling elite clients. Her courses had touched on the media attention that often surrounded large projects and high-profile individuals involved, how to manage egos, mitigate bad press and present oneself with confidence. She had been trained for this, had learned to be prepared to deal with demanding clients and the scrutiny that often came with them.

Why had she forgotten all that?

She had all the tools to take control of this situation and didn’t need to wait for Grayson to do it for her. In fact, she was the one who said she didn’t want this lie to derail her career, yet she had been standing by, letting it affect her anyway. It was clear now that Grayson had no real interest in protecting her—his moves were only calculated for his own benefit. If she didn’t take the reins, if she didn't learn to protect her own interests then it was clear no one else would.

“I’ll talk to the PR team to make sure our message stays consistent across the board: No comments on my personal life but we should absolutely talk about the companies upcoming projects, our clients—anything to draw the focus away from me and to the work we’re doing here. The key will be making it clear to the press I won’t talk about my personal life, only work. If we don’t give them anything to latch onto, they’ll get bored eventually.”

Jeffrey regarded her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. There was no grand approval, but she decided that was a whole lot better than his disappointment.

“That's a start.” He said slowly, and Aria flushed with pride.