His Fake Wife, His Real Love

Amara Blake stared at the email on her laptop screen, barely breathing. She had read it six times. The words remained the same. Termination of Employment. Her hands slowly fell into her lap. “No…” The word escaped her lips like a whisper. She read the email again, hoping she had misunderstood something. She hadn't. After three years of working at Kingston Enterprises, she was being dismissed effective immediately. No warning. No meeting. No chance to explain herself. Just one cold email. Amara closed the laptop and leaned back in her chair. For several seconds, she stared at the ceiling of her tiny apartment. Then reality hit. Her rent was due in less than a week. Her electricity bill was already overdue. There were groceries to buy. And, most importantly, there was her mother's medication. Amara reached for her phone and opened her banking app. Her heart sank when she saw the balance. “This can't be happening.” She placed the phone face down. She had always believed that hard work was enough. For three years, she had arrived at the office early and left late. She had taken on extra assignments when other employees refused them. She had stayed awake answering work emails when she was sick. And now, after all of that, she was unemployed. Her phone suddenly vibrated. A message from her landlord appeared. Your rent is due in five days. Please make payment on time. Amara closed her eyes. Five days. She had five days to somehow find money she didn't have. The next morning, she returned to Kingston Enterprises. Maybe there had been a mistake. Maybe the email had been sent accidentally. Maybe someone would look at her records and realize they had dismissed the wrong person. She stepped through the glass doors of the company's headquarters, clutching her handbag tightly. The reception area looked exactly as it always had. Employees moved around with coffee cups in their hands. Phones rang. Conversations filled the air. But something felt different. People were looking at her. Some whispered. Others quickly looked away when she noticed them. Amara ignored everything and headed toward the elevators. She found Mr. Harris, her former manager, outside his office. “Mr. Harris.” He looked at her with sympathy. “Amara.” “I need an explanation.” He sighed. “I was afraid you'd come back.” “Then you knew this was going to happen?” His silence answered her. “Why was I fired?” “The decision came from above.” “Above?” Amara's eyebrows pulled together. “Who made it?” Mr. Harris glanced down the hallway. “Mr. Kingston.” Her stomach tightened. Daniel Kingston. The billionaire owner of Kingston Enterprises. She had heard plenty about him. Everyone had. Daniel Kingston was young, wealthy, powerful, and notoriously private. Business magazines constantly wrote about his success. His photographs appeared at charity events and corporate meetings. But inside the company, people knew better than to get too close to him. He was respected. Feared. And almost impossible to read. Amara had met him only once from a distance. She had never spoken to him. So why would he personally order her dismissal? “Did he even see my performance report?” Mr. Harris looked uncomfortable. “I can't discuss that.” “So that's it?” “I'm sorry.” Amara shook her head. “Sorry doesn't pay my bills.” She walked away before he could answer. By the time she reached the elevator, she felt humiliated. She had entered the building hoping to save her career. Instead, she left carrying a small cardboard box filled with the personal belongings from her desk. Three years reduced to one box. Outside, the city continued as usual. Cars moved through traffic. People hurried along the sidewalks. Nobody knew that Amara's entire future had just collapsed. --- The next four days were a nightmare. Amara applied for every job she could find. She updated her résumé. She contacted former colleagues. She attended two interviews. Nothing worked. One company rejected her through an automated email. Another promised to call her back. They never did. On the fourth evening, Amara sat alone in a small café with her laptop open. A cup of coffee sat untouched beside her. She was scrolling through another list of job openings when her phone rang. “Hello?” “Amara?” Her mother's voice immediately softened her. “Hi, Mom.” “How are you?” Amara looked at the job listings on her screen. “I'm fine.” It was a lie. Her mother continued talking about her doctor's appointment and the medication she needed. Amara listened quietly. “Don't worry,” she said. “I'll send you the money tomorrow.” She ended the call and stared at her phone. She had no idea where tomorrow's money would come from. A shadow suddenly fell across her table. “Ms. Blake?” Amara looked up. A man in a dark suit stood beside her. “Yes?” “My name is Marcus Reed. I'm Mr. Kingston's personal assistant.” Amara's expression immediately changed. “Daniel Kingston?” “Yes.” “What does he want?” “He'd like to speak with you.” “About my job?” “No.” “Then what?” Marcus placed a business card on the table. “Mr. Kingston is waiting for you.” Amara stared at the card. “Now?” “Yes.” Every instinct told her not to go. But curiosity won. “Fine.” --- Twenty minutes later, Amara stood outside Daniel Kingston's private office. Marcus opened the door. “Mr. Kingston.” Daniel stood beside the enormous windows overlooking the city. He turned. Amara had seen photographs of him before, but photographs didn't prepare her for his presence. He looked calm. Completely in control. His dark suit was perfectly fitted, and his expression gave nothing away. His eyes settled on her. “Ms. Blake.” “Mr. Kingston.” “Sit.” Amara remained standing. “I'd rather stand.” Something flickered in his eyes. Perhaps surprise. Perhaps amusement. “Very well.” He walked toward his desk. “You're angry.” “You fired me.” “Yes.” “And you know I need that job.” “Yes.” Amara stared at him. “Do you enjoy making people's lives difficult?” “No.” “Could have fooled me.” Daniel ignored the remark. “Your employment record is excellent.” Amara frowned. “Then why did you fire me?” “Because I needed you for another arrangement.” “What arrangement?” Daniel opened a drawer and removed a black folder. He placed it on his desk. “Read this.” Amara approached cautiously and opened it. Her eyes moved across the first page. Then stopped. She looked up. “What is this?” “A contract.” “For what?” Daniel's gaze remained fixed on her. “A marriage.” Amara blinked. She looked back at the paper. Then at him. “I'm sorry?” “I want you to marry me.” For several seconds, the room was completely silent. Then Amara laughed. It wasn't because she found it funny. She simply couldn't believe what she was hearing. “You're serious.” “Completely.” “You fired me four days ago, and now you're asking me to marry you?” “Yes.” “Why?” “My family expects me to settle down.” “So marry someone you actually know.” “I don't want a real marriage.” Amara folded her arms. “Then what do you want?” TO BE CONTINUED.....