THE CEO'S ONE YEAR BRIDE

Rain hammered against the roof of the café shop, drowning out the surrounding chatter. Mia Clarke looked at her phone, the words on the screen burning into her mind: FINAL NOTICE: EVICTION IN 7 DAYS. Her hands shook. Rent was three months behind. Her salary barely kept her fed. And now_ She bit her lip hard, forcing back tears. Not here. Not in public, she told herself. "Mia." She froze at the sound of her name. Deep, smooth, commanding. She turned and nearly dropped her phone. Alexander Kane. He was impossible to miss. Six-foot-three, all sharp suit and sharper eyes-the kind of man who looked like he owned the world and was bored with it. Which, technically, he did. Alexander Kane wasn't just rich-he was the billionaire CEO people whispered about among themselves. The kind of man who never entered a room unnoticed. "What... what are you doing here?" Her voice came out smaller than she intended. He sat down across from her without asking, his presence swallowing the small space between them. The faint scent of expensive cologne mixed with the smell of rain. "I heard you're in trouble," he said, his gaze flicking to the phone she still clutched. "Seven days is not much time." Mia's breath caught. "Who told you?" He leaned back, crossing one leg over the other, casual yet dangerous. "I have ways of knowing things. You should be more careful about what you post online." Her mind flashed back to her late-night rant on social media about losing hours at work, about bills pulling up. she hadn't mattered. "I don't need your pity" she snapped, trying to overcome her unease. His lips curved slightly-not a smile, more like the shadow of one. "I'm not here out of pity. I'm here with a proposition." Mia's stomach tightened. "What kind of proposition?" He studied her in silence for a moment, as if weighing whether she was worth the effort. "I need a wife." She blinked at him. Then they laughed-short, humorless. "That's the worst pickup line I've ever heard." "I'm not joking." His voice dropped an octave, the weight in it making her laughter die in her throat. "This is business, Mia." Purely business. A one-year contract. You marry me, and in return..." He reached into his coat and slid a small envelope across the table. Inside, she caught a glimpse of numbers-too many zeroes to count. "That would more than cover your rent," he said. "And a great deal more." She stared at the envelope but didn't touch it. "You're insane. Why would you ask me ?" "Because you're not from my world," he replied smoothly. You're not a gold digger. You're not connected to the media. And you..." His gaze swept over her, lingering just long enough to make her pulse jump.".... are believable. " She swallowed hard. "Believable for what?" "For making people think I've finally settled down." Mia's mind raced. This had to be some kind of joke. But the way he was watching her-steady unblinking-her he wasn't playing. " And what happens when the year is over?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. " We divorced. You walk away with the money and your life back. No strings." She looked away, staring at the rain sliding down the glass. It was crazy. Dangerous. And yet... the eviction notice burned in her mind like a brand. "What's the catch?" she asked finally. " Three rules," he said without hesitation. " One-you live with me. Two-you attend all public events as my wife. And three-you follow my lead at all times." Her brow furrowed. Follow your lead? Like I'm some kind of puppet? His eyes hardened. Like someone who understands the stakes. Mia opened her mouth to argue but stopped when she saw the flicker of something else in his expression. Not arrogance. Not even control. Something darker. Something that made her wonder what his stakes were in all this. " Why are you really doing this? She asked. He leaned forward, close enough that she could see the faint shadow of stubble on his law. Because sometimes. Mia... having the right woman by your side is the only thing keeping the wolves at bay. A shiver ran through her-not from the cold, but from the quiet intensity in his voice. He pushed the envelope closer. You have until tomorrow night to decide. If I don't hear from you by then, the offer disappears. And just like that, he stood, adjusted his cufflinks, and walked out into the rain, leaving her staring after him. Mia sat frozen, the sounds of the café rushing back all at once. Her phone buzzed again, flashing the eviction notice like a cruel reminder. She looked at the envelope. Then at the door where Alexander Kane had disappeared. Her heart pounded. She didn't know it yet, but saying yes would be the most dangerous decision of her life.