THE QUESTION
945 Words
Maya had learned three things about being engaged to Adrian Vale.
First, everyone watched them.
Second, everyone had an opinion.
And third, pretending to know a man for eight months was much harder when you had actually known him for only a few weeks.
Especially when his family asked questions.
“So,” Adrian's aunt said, lifting her wineglass, “where was your first date?”
Maya nearly choked.
She glanced at Adrian.
He looked completely calm.
“Luna,” he answered.
Maya blinked.
Luna?
That wasn't the restaurant they'd agreed on.
His aunt smiled.
“And what did you eat?”
Adrian looked at Maya.
For one terrifying second, neither of them spoke.
Then Maya smiled.
“Pasta.”
Adrian nodded.
“Pasta.”
His aunt laughed.
“You two really do remember everything.”
Maya smiled politely.
If only she knew.
---
After dinner, they stepped outside.
Maya immediately turned to him.
“Luna?”
Adrian loosened his tie.
“I forgot.”
“You forgot our first date?”
“It isn't real.”
“We're supposed to convince everyone it was.”
“I remembered eventually.”
“When?”
“When you said pasta.”
She stared at him.
“You're impossible.”
“And yet you're marrying me.”
“Temporarily.”
He gave her a look.
“Right.”
They walked toward the car.
Maya hesitated before getting inside.
“Adrian?”
“Yes?”
“What if they keep asking questions?”
“They will.”
“And what if we contradict each other?”
“We won't.”
“How are you so sure?”
He looked at her.
“Because we'll learn.”
The simplicity of his answer surprised her.
They were going to have to learn each other.
Not because they wanted to.
Because their lie required it.
---
The next morning, Maya found a file waiting on her desk.
She opened it.
MANHATTAN DEVELOPMENT — UPDATED FINANCIAL REPORT
Her eyes moved quickly across the pages.
The numbers still didn't make sense.
She pulled up the previous report.
There was a discrepancy.
Not a huge one.
But enough.
Someone had moved money between two accounts.
She immediately took the documents to Adrian.
He was in a meeting, so she waited outside.
Twenty minutes later, he walked out.
“You've been waiting?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
She handed him the file.
“I found another discrepancy.”
Adrian scanned the pages.
“Could this be an accounting error?”
“I thought so at first.”
“And now?”
“Now I think someone is deliberately moving money.”
His expression became serious.
“Have you told anyone?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Maya frowned.
“Why?”
“Because we don't know who we can trust yet.”
She nodded.
That made sense.
“We'll investigate quietly.”
“Together?”
“Yes.”
There was something reassuring about hearing him say it.
Together.
---
That afternoon, the board held another meeting.
Maya wasn't required to attend, but Adrian asked her to join him.
Richard was already seated when they entered.
His eyes moved from Adrian to Maya.
“I didn't realize we were discussing personal matters today.”
Adrian pulled out a chair for Maya.
“We aren't.”
Richard smiled.
“Of course.”
The chairman cleared his throat.
“We're here to discuss the Manhattan project and Adrian's succession.”
Adrian remained composed.
“The project is progressing.”
“Despite the financial irregularities,” Richard said.
Maya spoke before Adrian could.
“The irregularities are being investigated.”
Richard looked at her.
“By whom?”
“By me.”
His expression changed slightly.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“You're an employee.”
“I'm also the person who discovered the discrepancies.”
Adrian looked at her.
There was the faintest hint of approval in his eyes.
Richard leaned back.
“Be careful, Miss Carter. Corporate investigations can become dangerous when you don't understand the people involved.”
Maya held his gaze.
“Then perhaps you should tell me what I'm missing.”
The room went silent.
Adrian's eyes moved toward Richard.
Richard smiled.
“You're quite bold.”
“I've been told.”
The chairman interrupted.
“Enough.”
The meeting continued.
But Maya noticed something.
Richard wasn't angry.
He looked worried.
And that was more interesting.
---
That evening, Adrian drove Maya home.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Finally, Adrian said, “You shouldn't have challenged Richard like that.”
Maya looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because he's dangerous.”
“You said not to investigate alone.”
“I did.”
“And I wasn't alone.”
He glanced at her.
“You're becoming difficult.”
“You hired me.”
“I know.”
Maya smiled.
The car stopped outside her apartment.
Before she opened the door, Adrian spoke.
“Maya.”
She turned.
“Thank you for standing up for me today.”
Her smile softened.
“You don't have to thank me.”
“I know.”
They looked at each other.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Maya opened the door.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
She stepped out.
Adrian watched her walk toward the entrance.
He didn't understand why he suddenly didn't want her to leave.
And Maya didn't understand why she had started looking forward to seeing him every day.
Neither of them was ready to admit it.
Because this was supposed to be a contract.
Nothing more.
And yet, somewhere along the way, something had begun to change.
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