FAKING IT WITH THE CEO

Chapter 15: The Jealous Rival

Harper could feel the shift the moment she stepped into the office the next morning. It wasn’t overt—no one openly stared or whispered within earshot—but there was a tension in the air, an unspoken awareness that something had changed.

Olivia’s knowing smirk when she passed Harper in the hallway confirmed her suspicions. Great. Word had started spreading.

The fact that she and Nathan had been caught in the act last night had only fueled the rumors already circling their engagement. And while Olivia hadn’t said anything outright, Harper knew one thing—office gossip had a life of its own.

She sighed, pushing open the doors to Nathan’s office, ready to face whatever fallout awaited them.

But she wasn’t expecting her to be there.

Sitting comfortably on the sleek leather couch across from Nathan’s desk was none other than Sophia Langford, Blackwood Enterprises’ biggest rival in business—and in Harper’s personal hell.

Sophia was stunning as always, dressed in a tailored white pantsuit that accentuated her long legs, her perfectly manicured nails resting elegantly on her lap. Her blonde hair was swept up into an effortlessly chic bun, and her signature red lipstick made her smirk all the more infuriating.

Harper immediately knew what this was.

Sophia wasn’t just any business competitor—she was Nathan’s ex-fiancée. The one who had left him humiliated at the altar two years ago.

And now, she is back.

Harper clenched her fingers around the file in her hand, schooling her expression into neutrality as she stepped into the room.

Nathan glanced up at her arrival, his expression unreadable. “Harper, come in.”

Sophia’s smirk widened as she turned to face her. “Oh, Harper Reed,” she drawled, her tone dripping with condescension. “How lovely to finally meet you in person.”

Harper plastered on her best polite smile, the kind she used when dealing with difficult clients. “Sophia. The pleasure’s all mine.”

Nathan, sensing the tension, cleared his throat. “Sophia was just leaving.”

Sophia, however, made no move to get up. Instead, she tilted her head, eyeing Harper with a curiosity that made her skin prickle. “I was actually hoping to chat with your fiancée for a moment,” she said, emphasizing the word as if it were some kind of joke.

Harper arched an eyebrow. “Oh? About what?”

Sophia leaned back against the couch, feigning nonchalance. “I just find it fascinating, really. One moment, Nathan’s the most eligible bachelor in New York, utterly heartbroken, and the next, engaged to you?” She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. “It’s quite the fairytale, isn’t it?”

Harper didn’t miss the sharp edge beneath Sophia’s words.

She was testing her.

Trying to get her to slip.

Harper met her gaze head-on, refusing to rise to the bait. “It really is,” she said smoothly, stepping closer to Nathan’s desk. “I suppose when it’s real, things tend to move quickly.”

Nathan’s lips twitched slightly, as if holding back a smirk.

Sophia’s eyes narrowed, but her expression remained cool. “Real, huh?”

Harper tilted her head. “Is there something you’d like to ask me directly, Sophia?”

Sophia sighed dramatically, shaking her head. “Oh, no, darling. I wouldn’t dare question such a whirlwind romance.” She turned to Nathan then, her expression softening just slightly. “I just hope you’re truly happy, Nate. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Harper barely resisted rolling her eyes. Please.

Nathan’s expression remained impassive. “We both know that’s not true.”

A flicker of something passed over Sophia’s face, gone too quickly for Harper to place.

After a tense pause, Sophia rose gracefully to her feet, smoothing down the front of her suit. “Well, I should be going,” she said, turning back to Harper with an almost patronizing smile. “It was lovely meeting you. I look forward to seeing how this… engagement plays out.”

Harper kept her smile firmly in place. “Likewise.”

With that, Sophia strode out of the office, her expensive heels clicking against the marble floor.

The moment the door shut behind her, Harper let out a slow breath, turning to Nathan. “What the hell was that?”

Nathan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Sophia being Sophia.”

“She was testing me,” Harper stated, crossing her arms. “She doesn’t believe we’re real.”

Nathan leaned back against his desk, studying her. “She’s not the only one.”

Harper frowned. “What do you mean?”

Nathan’s jaw tightened. “Donovan’s been stirring up doubts with some of the board members. He’s been pushing for more transparency about our relationship. The rumors about us… they’re making things messy.”

Harper exhaled, the weight of their lie growing heavier by the second. “So what do we do?”

Nathan met her gaze, a determined glint in his eyes. “We do exactly what Sophia doesn’t expect.”

Harper raised an eyebrow. “Which is?”

He smirked. “We give them a show.”

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That evening, Harper found herself standing beside Nathan at an exclusive gala event—one that she now realized was orchestrated just as much for damage control as it was for business.

Dressed in a sleek emerald gown that hugged her curves, Harper felt every eye in the room on them. The whispers, the side glances—it was all there.

And of course, Sophia was in attendance.

Harper spotted her near the bar, effortlessly charming a group of investors. But her gaze flickered toward them, watching. Waiting.

Nathan leaned in slightly, his breath warm against Harper’s ear. “You ready?”

She turned to him, forcing a confident smile. “Always.”

Then, with practiced ease, Nathan slid a hand around her waist, drawing her close before leaning in—his lips brushing just below her ear, his touch possessive.

Harper knew what he was doing. And God help her, she played right into it.

She placed a hand on his chest, tilting her head slightly as if sharing an intimate moment. From the outside, they looked every bit the blissfully engaged couple.

And it worked.

Sophia’s smirk faltered, just slightly.

Harper suppressed her own smirk. Checkmate.

Nathan pulled back just enough to whisper, “She’s watching.”

Harper glanced toward Sophia, then back up at Nathan. “Then let’s make it count.”

Without thinking, she reached up and kissed him.

It wasn’t planned.

It wasn’t rehearsed.

But the moment her lips met his, everything else faded away.

The whispers, the doubts, the lies—none of it mattered.

Because for that moment, it didn’t feel like an act at all.