My Cold CEO Husband

Mia's hands were shaking as she balanced the tray of coffee. "Mia! You're late again!" Her supervisor hissed at her. Mia didn't answer. She was already 10 minutes late. Her bus had broken down halfway and she had walked the rest of the way in the hot sun, her old heels pinching her feet. But she couldn't afford to be late. Not today. Her rent was due tomorrow and her mother had called last night crying about her younger brother's school fees. She needed this job more than air. She pushed open the heavy door to the CEO's office, holding her breath. Adrian Cole didn't look up. He was sitting behind his big black desk, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His face was hard. Cold. Like stone. Everyone in Cole Enterprises feared that face. Last week, he had fired a manager in front of everyone just because the man brought the wrong file. Yesterday, he had made a senior executive cry because she misspelled one word. He was cold to everyone. "You are late," he said, his voice low and sharp. Mia swallowed. "I'm sorry, sir. The bus-" "I don't care about the bus." He finally looked up. His grey eyes locked on hers. For a second, Mia forgot how to breathe. And then, something strange happened. His eyes softened. Just a little. Just for her. Nobody else would have noticed it, but Mia noticed it. Because it happened every time he looked at her. His voice, which had been sharp like a knife a second ago, became quieter. Softer. "Put the coffee down. And sit." Mia blinked. "Sir?" "I said sit down. You walked all the way here, didn't you? Your feet are hurting." How did he know? Mia looked down at her old heels. She hadn't told anyone. Adrian stood up and walked around his desk. He pulled out a chair for her. "Sit. Drink water first." Mia sat slowly, confused. "Sir, I need to-" "Mia." He said her name like it was something soft. Something precious. Outside this office, he was a monster. Inside this office, with her alone, he was different. "Why are you always soft to me?" She finally asked the question that had been burning her chest for three months. "You shout at everyone. You fired Mr. James yesterday. But me, you never shout at me. Why?" Adrian went quiet. He turned away and looked out of the big window at the whole city below them. Because you are the only reason I still come to this office, he wanted to say. But he didn't say it. Instead he said, "Because you are not like them. You are trying. You work here in the day, you take night classes. You send money home to your mother. You are from a poor background, but you refuse to stay poor. You are building yourself to greater heights. I respect that." Mia's eyes filled with tears. Nobody had ever said that to her. People always looked down on her because her clothes were not expensive, because she ate bread in the office kitchen while others ordered pizza. But he saw her. He really saw her. "Thank you, sir," she whispered. He turned back to her. For a moment, his cold mask fell completely. He looked almost shy. "Don't call me sir when we are alone," he said quietly. "Call me Adrian." Before Mia could answer, the office door burst open. "Sir! Your fiancee is here!" Mia jumped up from the chair, her heart beating fast. Fiancee? Adrian's face changed instantly. The softness disappeared. The cold CEO came back, hard and dangerous. "Tell her I'm busy," he said coldly. Adrian looked back at Mia, and his eyes softened again. Only for her. Only ever for her. "Mia, I need you to do something for me tonight. Something important." "What is it, sir... I mean, Adrian?" He leaned closer, so close she could feel his breath. "Pretend to be my wife “